Australian soul lady Renee Geyer

[Funky Dude]

Though Australia's homegrown bands didn't make a big contribution to the soul/funk/disco genre and were more in the rock industry we did have some homegrown soul artists and Renee Geyer is one of the finest examples. I haven't heard that many songs from her but heard some great hits of hers such as:
Stares & Whispers 1973 (Made the top charts in Australia)
If Loving You Is Wrong 1975 (the Countdown studio clip looked great with the green lighting and lens blur effects)
Sweet Love 1975 (a great piece of soul/funk music, she performed this song on the Norman Gunston Show in 1975)
Shakey Ground 1975 (a cover version of the Temptations version which sounds very similar and just as funky)
Say I Love You 1981 (great disco song)

Anyhow watching some old Countdown episodes from the 70's Molly Meldrum mentioned that Renee has toured USA quite a lot. So I was wondering was Renee well-known in USA and did any of her songs chart on the US Billboard or R&B charts?

Also have any of you's heard any of her records?

_________________________
Funkin' for Australia 8)

[Forrrce]

Indeed. I have (possibly) 3 LPs by the lady buried in 'the vaults'...'Ready To Deal', one with a pink cover with a close-up of her looking rather sweaty (presumably dealt with-ouwwwch!) and another(???) I can't recall, but I'm lookin' for them as we speak. I haven't spun them for a long time but they reminded me a little of Lydia Pense and Cold Blood.
An Aus. LP I used to play a lot was Hot City Band, with versions of EWF and Jimmy Castor tracks. Remember that one?

[Funky Dude]

Hi Mr Forrrce. I'm pretty sure you're referring to "Hot City Bump Band" as they were another soul group of Australia in the 1970's. They've performed a soul hit on our old pop music TV show "Countdown" called "Do What You Wanna Do", heard of that one? I've got the whole episode of Countdown that features that performance which dates 31st August 1975.

Anyhow, did Hot City Bump Band perform any disco or funk songs during the 70's?

______________________________
I'm gettin down in the land down under 8)

[Forrrce]

"Anyhow, did Hot City Bump Band perform any disco or funk songs during the 70's?"

...that's for you to know and me to find out, Funky! :D
Seriously though, I've only ever met one other person who'd had this particular LP (wonder if they made others?) - it's called 'Come Together' and it's on Wizard. This copy has 'Margaret McKinney lead vocals on...' hand written on the sleeve, as well as a date (26/2/75). It's good quality stuff...do let me know if there's more! Were they a big deal down under?

[Jimaras]

Gooday Funkydude
Yeh ! Renee I have I think 3 of here Lp's .Did you know she also sampled a Cameo loop to open on of here songs .Im not sure of the track and lp name , but this was all done way before it became common . I also know she breifly worked with Bootsy in the late 80's . More later if you like as these records are truly deep in the dusty part of my vault .
cheers Jimaras

[Kinetic]

Gooday Funkydude
Yeh ! Renee I have I think 3 of here Lp's .Did you know she also sampled a Cameo loop to open on of here songs .Im not sure of the track and lp name , but this was all done way before it became common . I also know she breifly worked with Bootsy in the late 80's . More later if you like as these records are truly deep in the dusty part of my vault .
cheers Jimaras

Renee geyer and the Hot City Bump band are prime examples of funk and disco music from Australia in the 70s. They are, however, only the tip of the ice-berg. i have pics and sound clips of a number of other records along those lines on my "Aussie Funk" Blog. Check it out.