I'm Talking

I'm Talking was a 1980s Australian funk-pop rock band, noted for launching vocalist Kate Ceberano.

History

After the break-up of the Melbourne-based experimental funk band Essendon Airport in 1983, members Robert Goodge (guitar), Ian Cox (saxophone) and Barbara Hogarth (bass) set about forming a band to create inventive, commercial, funk-pop music.

Although their songs were credited to the band as a whole (i.e. I'm Talking), in fact Goodge and Cox wrote virtually all the music and lyrics. They recruited 17 year old Kate Ceberano (vocals), along with Zan Abeyratne (vocals), Stephen Charlesworth (keyboards) and Cameron Newman (drums), and attracted the attention of fledgling manager Ken West.

The group won Best New Talent (1984) at the "Countdown" Awards. Ceberano won Best Female Vocalist (1985) at the Countdown Awards as well as Best Female Singer (1985) at ARIA Awards. I'm Talking performed "Lead the Way" in the 1985 Oz for Africa concert (part of the global Live Aid program). It was broadcast in Australia (on both Seven Network and Nine Network) and on MTV in the US.cite web |url=http://liveaid.free.fr/pages/ozforafrika-uk.html |title="Oz for Africa" |publisher=liveaid.free.fr |accessdate=2008-03-12 ] After three charting singles in 1985, I’m Talking recorded their only album "Bear Witness" in Melbourne in March 1986. Produced by Fred Maher and Martyn Webster, it spawned three more hits for their Australian label Regular Records. They signed to London Records in the UK but disagreements between the band and that label lead to only one single ("Do You Wanna Be") being released outside of Australia. A few of their songs appeared in the film "For Queen and Country".

After returning from a 1986 UK tour supporting Five Star, there was a line-up change, which saw the exit of Abeyratne, Charlesworth and new drummer Warren McClean, and the arrival of John McCall (keys), Philip Jackson (drum machine, electronics) and rapper Tricky J. New material was performed live in 1987, but Ceberano soon split to pursue her long solo career. After the break-up of I'm Talking, Abeyratne released three solo singles. Goodge went into partnership with Gavin Campbell to form Filthy Lucre, specialising in remixes. They were responsible for transforming Yothu Yindi's folk-rock song "Treaty" into a dance-groove hit single. Manager West handled Ceberano for a brief time before going into partnership with Vivian Lees and launching their national rock festival The Big Day Out.

In 2003 Goodge revived a trio of Essendon Airport with David Chesworth and Graham Lee.

In 2007 Kate Ceberano appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 performing version's of I'm Talking's "Trust Me" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore".

As of 2008 Cox is a conservator at the State Library of Victoria [ [http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/exhibitions/kmg/2008/medieval_imagination/online/exhibition_promo/exhibition_promo_video.html Video: Documentary Trailer - The Medieval Imagination, State Library of Victoria ] ]

Members

*Kate Ceberano – vocals (1983-1987)
*Zan Abeyratne – vocals (1983-1987)
*Robert Goodge – guitar (1983-1987)
*Ian Cox – saxophone (1983-1987)
*Barbara Hogarth – bass (1983-1987)
*Stephen Charlesworth – keyboards (1983-1987)
*Cameron Newman – drums (1983-1986)
*Warren McClean – drums (1986-1987)
*Kevin Wiltshire – keyboards (1986-1987)
*John McCall – keyboards (1987)
*Philip Jackson – drum machine, electronics (1987)
*Tricky J – rapping (1987)

Discography

Albums

*"Bear Witness" (1986)
*"Dance" (1989) – compilation album

EPs and singles

*"Someday" (1984)
*"Trust Me" (1985) AUS #10
*"Lead The Way" (1985) AUS #25
*"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" (1985) AUS #21, a cover of the Rose Royce song.
*"Do You Wanna Be?" (1986) AUS #8
*"Holy Word" (1986) AUS #9
*"How Can It Be?" (1986)

Videos

* Music videos were made for each single, from "Someday" onwards.
*"Australian Made" (1988) - live festival video with INXS, Divinyls, The Saints, The Triffids and Models.
*"Countdown - The Wonder Years" (2006) Retrospective compilation DVD from the TV show "Countdown"; one track from I'm Talking, "Trust Me"

References

Further reading

*"Pay to Play" by Wendy Milson, Helen Thomas and Ponch Hawkes, Penguin 1986
*"Australian Made" - 1987 book of the January 1987 live tour

External links

* [http://www.kateceberano.com Kate Ceberano Official site]
* [http://hem.passagen.se/honga/database/i/imtalking.html I'm Talking entry in Australian Rock Database]