- The Groove (band)
Formed in mid 1967, The Groove are considered to be Australia's first "supergroup" in that all members had considerable experience behind them in a number of successful bands. They were formed in Melbourne Australia and gathered together by well known manager and agent
Garry Spry , who teamed up with respected keyboard player Tweed Harris from theLevi Smith Clefs to put the band together. With Tweed Harris himself on keyboards, they recruited Peter Williams from Max Merritt & The Meteors lead vocals and guitar, Rod Stone fromThe Librettos lead guitar, Geoff Bridgford fromSteve and the Board drums and Jamie Byrne fromRunning Jumping Standing Still on bass.They specialised in doing songs in the Stax Soul /60's R'n'B style of artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, Arthur Conley and the Isley Brothers, their particular style suited Peter Williams vocals.
Their most successful single record was a cover of Sam Cooke's
"Soothe Me" . In 1968 they won the Grand Final ofHoadley's Battle of the Sounds . Then followed a trip to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), which was part of their Hoadley's prize, they left in March 1969 where they worked and recorded for two years before breaking up in 1971. They released one more single as The Groove before changing their name to Eureka Stockade and released a single and recorded an album for Decca which was not released. On breaking up Tweed Harris and Rod Stone did tours in the UK and Europe backingCliff Richard also playing withThe Echoes behindJohn Rowles , while Geoff Bridgford joined theBee Gees and Peter Williams teamed up with The Cookies also managed by Garry Spry to become The Spirit of Progress and toured the UK. Later on he joinedThe Mixtures and toured Europe, the UK and Australia with them.Discography and Chart Positions
Singles 45rpm)
* Simon Says/With This Ring - 1967 (#6 Sydney, #4 Melbourne, #16 Brisbane)
* Soothe Me/I See A New Day - 1968 (#8 Sydney, #8 Melbourne, #3 Brisbane)
* What Is Soul/Goin' Back - 1968 (#13 Melbourne, #30 Brisbane)
* You Are The One I Love/Merry Go Round -1968 (#20 Melbourne, #30 Brisbane}
* Relax Me/Dance To The Music - 1969
* The Wind/Play The Song - 1969 As Eureka Sockade
* Sing No Love Songs/Jump Down Turn Around - 1970 Extended Play (45rpm)
* Soothe Me/Simon Says/What is Soul/Goin' Back Compilation LP
* Things Go Better With Coca-Cola - promotional release. various artists compilation of ads forCoca Cola performed by various pop groups including The Groove and The TwilightsAlbums (33 rpm)
* The Groove (self-titled)- 1968References
* The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop - Ian McFarlane - Allen & Unwin, Sydney - 1999
* Noel McGrath's Australian Encyclopedia of Rock & Pop - Rigby Publishers - 1978* The Who's Who of Australian Rock - Chris Spencer - Moonlight Publishing
* Gavin Ryan's Chart BooksExternal links
* [http://www.milesago.com/Artists/groove.htm Milesago - The Groove article]
* [http://home.bigblue.net.au/~rodstone/ Rod Stone Website]
* [http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=126 Poparchives feature - Simon Says]
* [http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=129 Poparchives feature - Soothe Me]
* [http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=815 Poparchives feature - You Are The One I Love]
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