| MILESAGO: Australasian Music & Popular Culture 1964-1975 | Groups & Solo Artists |
THE TOLMEN
Sydney, 1960s
The Tolmen was a Sydney-based folk trio. The group had an affinity for topical local subjects and songs by Australian writers A lot of these songs were included in their repertoire. Their 1965 RCA single "Don’t Book Me, Officer" is a satirical song about the introduction of parking meters in Sydney and problems encountered by a man who gets a ticket for illegal parking. "Moonie", written by the group itself, celebrates the discovery of oil in the Moonie area of South-West Queensland in the mid-1960s. The producer of the record and writer of the “A” side was Johnny Devlin and featured (uncredited) backing by Dave Guard on electric guitar and Gibson banjo, with Les Miller on Vega long neck banjo and acoustic guitar.
Dave Guard, a former member of the renowned US folk group The Kingston Trio, moved to Australia in 1961 after leaving the group, and he worked on many sessions in the 1960s, including the single and album by The Tolmen.
The group evidently copped a certain amount of flak from folk 'purists' who saw any trace of public recognition as a sell-out, and like Lionel Long they were criticised for being too commercial. Interviewed in The Bulletin in 1964, the gorup commented:
"These coffee-shop people are simply jealous of anyone who looks clean and is a success on television."
Discography
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Singles Feb. 1964 EPs Aug. 1964 1965 |
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Albums date |
References / Links
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