The Sports were a popular Australian rock group that performed and recorded between 1976 and 1981.
Based in Melbourne, Victoria, the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fit well with both 1970s British pub rock bands (such as Brinsley Schwarz) and British New Wave (such as Elvis Costello). Their best known songs include Boys (What Did The Detective Say?), Don't Throw Stones, When You Walk In The Room, How Come, Who Listens To The Radio?, Perhaps and Strangers on a Train.
Biography
The Sports were formed in 1976 by Stephen Cummings who was the singer of Melbourne rockabilly group, The Pelaco Brothers, (which comprised Cummings, Joe Camilleri, Peter Lillie and Johnny Topper). Cummings, togther with Andrew Pendlebury (ex-Myriad), Ed Bates (Ex-Pelaco Brothers), Robert Glover (ex-Myriad), Jim Niven (ex-captain Matchbox Whoopee Band)[1] and Paul Hitchins. Cummings recalls
"I just vaguely met people and dragged them into it. I always wanted Andrew in the group as a guitarist and I had an idea for a rockabilly country sound. But I always wanted to change it because I really liked the MC5 and wanted to make it more like that as well."[2]
The Sports started its recording career in early 1977 by pressing 500 copies of an independently produced EP, Fair Game. A friend in London posted the record to the New Musical Express which declared it 'Record Of The Week'.[3] The Sports finding themselves right in tune with the very latest music trend dominating London rock. They became part of the promise of a new beginning for song-based rock as an antidote to punk, dubbed New Wave. "We were totally surprised," Cummings says of the NME review.
"It was the last thing you'd expect. It was my making and my undoing in some ways. When you have everything go right so quickly you expect that everything after that is going to be good and that easy. It meant that I probably didn't put myself out as much as I should have."[2]
The Sports broke up in 1981 with lead singer Stephen Cummings going on a successful solo singing career. Guitarist Martin Armiger became a successful composer for film and TV.
Members
- Martin Armiger - guitar (1978-1981)
- Ed Bates - guitar (1976-1978)
- Stephen Cummings - vocals (1976-1981)
- Robert Glover - bass (1976-1981)
- Paul Hitchins - drums (1976-1980)
- Iain McLennan - drums (1980)
- Jim Niven - vocals, keyboards (1976-1980)
- Andrew Pendlebury - guitar, vocals (1976-1981)
- Freddie Strauks - drums (1980-1981)
- Red Symons - keyboards (1980)
Discography
Albums/EPs
- Fair Game (EP) - Zac Records (1977) - limited to 500 copies
- Reckless - Mushroom Records (1978) #43 AUS
- Don't Throw Stones - Mushroom/Arista/Sire (February, 1979) #9 AUS
- So Obvious (EP) - Stiff (1979)
- O.K., U.K.! (EP) - Mushroom (August, 1979) #40 AUS
- Suddenly - Mushroom/Arista (1980) #13 AUS
- Sondra - Mushroom (May, 1981) #20 AUS
- The Sports play Dylan (and Donovan) (EP) - Mushroom (1981) #70 AUS
- All Sports - Mushroom (1982) #35 AUS
- Missin' Your Kissin' - Raven (1987)
- This Is Really Something - Mushroom (1997)
- Definitive Collection - Festival (August, 2004)
Singles
- "Boys! (What Did The Dective Say)"/"Modern Don Jaun" - Mushroom (March, 1978) #55 AUS
- "When You Walk In The Room" - Mushroom (July, 1978) #42 AUS
- "Who Listens To The Radio?" - Mushroom/Ariola (November, 1978) #35 AUS, #50 US
- "Reckless"/"Mailed It To Your Sister" - Mushroom (1979)
- "Don't Throw Stones"/"Terror Hits" - Mushroom/Arista (March, 1979) #26 AUS
- "Suspicious Minds"/Bruises" - Mushroom (April, 1979) #74 AUS
- "Poor Mouth"/"Heart Of Darkness" - Mushroom (1980)
- "Strangers On A Train"/"Can't Ever Decide" (live) - Mushroom (March, 1980) #22 AUS
- "Perhaps" - Mushroom (April, 1980)
- "Stop The Talking"/"Big City Lights" - Mushroom (October, 1980)
- "How Come"/"Drug Sluts" - Mushroom (March, 1981) #21 AUS
- "When We Go Out Tonight"/"Some Brass Thing" - Mushroom (July, 1981)
- "Sunshine Superman"/"Cargo Cult" - Mushroom (November, 1981) #72 AUS
References
External links
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