Hunters & Collectors

The 'classic' Hunters and Collectors line up (for the last ten years together):. The word tympany is an old-fashioned one meaning, "swollen, inflated, puffed-up", etymologically related to timpani, or "kettle drum", but historically separate.
. The Broadway show, Five Guys Named Moe was devoted to Jordan's music. Their breakthrough commercial success was the album Human Frailty which featured the single "Throw Your Arms Around Me". Jordan died in Los Angeles, California. However, the record, regular airplay on the radio station JJJ (then Sydney-based) and video play on Countdown and other music video shows, and especially their consistent live performances brought Hunters & Collectors a strong and devoted following on the Australian pub scene. After this, however, Jordan's popularity waned and he recorded only for a small following of enthusiasts.

It featured the single "The Slab", which was an underground success (mainly thanks to the support of radio station Triple J), but didn't make any inroads on the commercial music scene, possibly because of the masturbatory subtext of the lyrics. At Mercury Records, Jordan managed to update his sound and released more hits, including "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Salt Pork, West Virginia". The first album featuring the new line up was The Jaws of Life (1984). By the mid 1950s, Jordan's records were not selling as well as they used to and he began switching labels. This line up also featured keyboards and a three-piece horn section. This was the period during which Hunters & Collectors enjoyed their greatest success. One of Jordan's biggest fans was Chuck Berry, who modelled his musical approach on Jordan's, changing the text from black life to teenage life. In 1984 they briefly disbanded but reformed later in the year without Lubran. Jordan's recordings celebrated African American urban life and were infused with good humor and energy that had a great influence on the development of rock and roll; his music was popular with both blacks and whites.

The band was signed to White Label, part of Mushroom Records. Their first single was "Talking to a Stranger" which was accompanied by an influential music video directed by Richard Lowenstein, who went on to make many successful videos for INXS and the features 'Strikebound' (1984) and 'Dogs In Space'(1987) (which starred INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence). His biggest hit was "Caldonia", with its energetic punchline, banged out by the whole band, "Caldonia! Caldonia! What makes your big head so hard?" After Jordan's success with it, the song was also recorded by Woody Herman in a famous modern arrangement, including a unison chorus by five trumpets. Seymour is also the older brother of bassist Nick Seymour of Crowded House and in the mid-1980s he was romantically involved for a time with Do Re Mi (band) lead singer Deborah Conway. In the 1940s, Jordan released dozens of hit songs including "Saturday Night Fish Fry" (one of many contenders for the title of "First rock and roll record"), "Blue Light Boogie", "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens", "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?", "Ain't That Just Like a Woman", and the multi-million seller "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". As lead singer, guitarist and principal songwriter, Seymour was the lynchpin of the group, and Archer and Falconer are widely regarded as one of the best rhythm sections ever to emerge from the Australian rock scene. The band's sound was similar to that of Fats Waller and his rhythm, but louder, with more pronounced rhythm, and that touch of the Caribbean sound commonly called "the Spanish tinge". Tosti-Gueira was later replaced by Martin Lubran, then Barry Palmer. Jordan played alto sax and sang.

The first version of the band was: Mark Seymour (guitar & vocals); John Archer (bass); Doug Falconer (drums); Geoff Crosby (keyboards); Greg Perano (percussion); Ray Tosti-Gueira (guitar); and Robert Miles (who would stay with the band throughout their career, usually being credited with "live sound" and "art direction/design"). Though this was recorded with The Elks Rendezvous Band, Jordan would go on to play with His Tympany Five, which eventually included Bill Jennings and Carl Hogan on guitar, Wild Bill Davis and Bill Doggett on piano, Chris Columbus on drums and Dallas Bartley on bass. The band took its name from the track "Hunters & Collectors", on the German band Can's album Landed. In 1932, Jordan began performing with Chick Webb and Clarence Williams, recording "Honey in the Bee Ball" for Decca Records in 1938. The sound was in the vein of Remain in Light, the Talking Heads album of 1980. Alto saxophone became his main instrument-- although Jordan became even better known as a vocalist with his ebullient personality. The original band was influenced by the Krautrock genre and the productions of Conny Plank and featured strong percussive influences, coupled with noise guitar and driving bass lines. Jordan started out on clarinet, and also played piano professionally early in his career.

They were noted for songs such as "Throw Your Arms Around Me", "Talking To A Stranger" and "Say Goodbye" and were renowned as one of the best live acts of their day. Louis Jordan was born in Brinkley, Arkansas; his father was a local music teacher and bandleader. Hunters & Collectors were an Australian rock band, formed in Melbourne in 1980. Louis Jordan (July 8, 1908 - February 4, 1975) was an African-American jazz and rhythm & blues musician, and one of the few such to sell well to mainstream audiences in the post swing music era. Ray Tosti-Gueira - guitar, backing vocals (1981-1982). Download sample of "Caldonia". Greg Perano - percussion (1981-1983).

Chris Malherbe - trumpet (1981-1982). Andy Lynn - trumpet (1981-1982). Martin Lubran - guitar (1982-1983). Geoff Crosby - keyboards, artwork (1981-1985).

Nigel Crocker - trombone (1981-1982). Michael Waters - trombone, keyboards, finance (1981-1998). Jeremy Smith - French horn, guitars, keyboards, programming, backing vocals (1981-1998). Mark Seymour - lead vocal, lyrics, guitar (1981-1998).

Barry Palmer - lead guitar (1988-1998). Robert Miles - live sound/mixing, art/design (1981-1998). Jack Howard - trumpet, keyboards, backing vocals (1981-1998). Doug Falconer - drums, percussion, programming, backing vocals (1981-1998).

John Archer - bass guitar, P.A., backing vocals (1981-1998). Natural Selection (CD, 2CD, DVD) (Liberation BLUE034.5, 13 October 2003). Collected Works (CD, video) (White Label TVD93338, 19 November 1990). Under One Roof (live) (White Label MUSH33176.2, 11 November 1998).

In Large Rooms And Lounges (White Label D98017, 27 November 1995). Living .. The Way To Go Out (CD, video, DVD) (White Label L27148, 6 May 1985). Living Daylight (April 1987).