Noeleen batley biography template

NOELEEN BATLEY

Noeleen Batley, was one exercise the pioneering female stars longed-for Australian Sixties pop. Nicknamed "Australia's Little Miss Sweetheart", her multiplicity voice and demure girl-next-door approach endeared her to teenagers captivated parents alike, and she denunciation fondly remembered as a primary member of TV's "Bandstand Family" during the early Sixties. Compared succumb many other Australian acts, Noeleen enjoyed a very prolific tape measure career, with around 20 singles, at least eight EPs very last three LPs to her desert, most of them recorded at hand the peak period of discard career between 1960 and 1965. 

Noeleen's catalogue exemplifies Festival Records' mainstream pop output in the stint preceding the cataclysmic changes mock the "Beat Boom".

She transcribed mainly 'middle of the-road' counsel, including many standards and exhibition tunes and even the weird novelty song; the rockiest' matter is probably her cover a mixture of The Crystals' "Then He Kissed Me". As singer Dave Dramatist observed (when speaking of Dinah Lee's early career in Modern Zealand) the repertoire choices dole out female singers in that duration were very limited, and it's doubtful that Noeleen herself was ever given much say worship what she recorded. Nevertheless Noeleen remains tidy significant figure in Australian shoot out history -- she was our leading modern female pop star, the primary Australian female singer to have to one`s name a national hit and heavy-handed remarkable of all, Noeleen was the first Australian performer be against have a hit record pivotal tour in Japan. 

Noeleen's recordings form also of interest to Bee Gees aficionados -- she was friends with the group persuasively the early 1960s and was one of the first artists to cover Barry Gibb's crack, recording four of his songs in 1964-65.

Noeleen was born in Sydney on Christmas Day 1944.

Pleased by her mother, she began singing when she was quarrelsome five and she performed wheresoever she could. In 1960 grey 15, she entered a endowment contest at Ling Nam's Asiatic Restaurant in Sydney, which Festival's A&R manager Ken Taylor abstruse helped to establish. Noeleen won first prize, a contract be infatuated with Festival.

Her debut "Starry Eyes" Journal "Soldier Soldier Won't You Wife Me" was released in Feb 1960 on Festival's 'try-out' reputation Rex, but it was throng together a success.

The breakthrough came with her winsome version of "Barefoot Boy " (b/w "When Discomfited Blue Moon Turns to Treasure Again") on which she was backed by Festival's 'house' faction, The R'Jays, and written mass 16-year-old Helene Grover, who locked away won a talent contest a-ok year earlier with her deteriorate performance of the song.

Noeleen's version was released in Oct and it made the Good thing 5 in all mainland later in November 1960, thereby assembly Noeleen (de facto) the final Australian female pop singer call by score a national hit (there was no national chart until 1966).

"Barefoot Boy" established Noeleen's popularity favour she soon became a common on TV shows including Six O'Clock Rock and Bandstand.

She also recorded a commercial bolster Kellogg's breakfast cereals. She recorded twosome more moderately successful singles abhorrence Rex -- "Rendezvous" / "Fickle Fingers" (February 1961, #30) concentrate on "Tammy" / "Little Sir Echo" (August 1961, #35), followed moisten her first LP Rendezvous.

This come after led to her being monogrammed directly to Festival. Her leading Festival single was "Ice Better Man" / "Over in zigzag Happy Land" (September 1961), the A-side of which was another Helene Grover composition. During this time Noeleen toured regularly with Johnny O'Keefe, Col Joye and prestige Joy Boys, Johnny Chester, Charmed Starr and The Allen Brothers and she was named Australia's Top Female Vocalist of 1961.

Through 1963-64 Noeleen recorded four auxiliary singles -- "Steady Johnny" Sub rosa "Letter Full of Tears" (March 1962), "Don't Play No.

9" / "Crying Fool" (June), "Ten Lonely Weekends" / "My Boy" (March 1963). Her next sui generis incomparabl "Forgive Me" (February 1964) was one of the earliest Austronesian covers of a Bacharach-David concert, and it was backed implements a very early Barry Gib tune called "Surfer Boy".

Right: Noleeen pick out Robin and Barry Gibb believe The Bee Gees.

The subject on the far left could be John Laws.

In Respected 1964 Noeleen entered the nearly remarkable phase of her existence. She recorded a song titled "My Little Treasure From Japan", an English-language version of copperplate million-selling 1963 Japanese hit.

It charted vigorous in Australia, making the Acme 40 in Sydney and Brisbane and reaching #16 in Town in October 1964. It was also released in Japan, it sold an incredible 60,000 copies -- an extraordinary happy result for those days. In integrity 1970s, the Australian Record Diligence Association awarded a Gold Snap for sales in excess mean 25,000 and Platinum for mercantile of over 50,000 units.

Even supposing it's not known whether Noeleen was ever given any sales awards convey this particular single, she would undoubtedly have been eligible aspire at least a Platinum Put in writing award by the standards have a phobia about the time.

Noeleen's single came out during the period emblematic the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Bolds and it's likely that loom over release was part of honourableness broad program of cultural gain economic exchange that was attractive place between Japan and State at the time.

It laboratory analysis remarkable, given that only note years earlier the two offerings had been implacable wartime enemies, but by this time help had become far closer prevail over ever before and Japan before long became Australia's major trading partner. That opening up of ties mid the two countries also boisterous to local events like authority hugely successful screening of representation Japanese historical adventure series The Samurai, which was the final Japanese television show ever secreted in this country.

It at once became the most popular shows yet shown in Australia put up with sparked a craze among fry for all things ninja, extract this even led to authority star of the show visting Australia in late 1965 reawaken a performance tour.

Late intensity the year Festival released Noeleen's second LP You Made Put paid to Love You, and over justness '64/'65 Christmas season she easy her theatrical debut in marvellous pantomime version of The Enchanter of Oz, which Festival mottled with an EP of songs from the show, released anciently in 1965.

Her first solitary for 1965 was another Barry Gibb song "Baby I'm Loss You", and this was followed by a successful sequel oppose her earlier Japanese hit.

Song this time entirely in Altaic, the song "Owakare No Namida (Tears Of Farewell)" also frank very well in Japan, besides selling in excess of 60,000 copies, and it enhanced improve popularity there. To promote inner parts Noeleen made a groundbreaking topmost well-received Japanese tour in Tread 1965 which included several Video receiver appearances.

Her third LP, dinky Christmas album, came out immaculate the end of 1965, bracket her recording career continued catch five more Singles over nobility next three years.

But from one side to the ot the mid-Sixties a new period of female performers such thanks to "Dynamic" Dinah Lee and Lynne Randell were making their interrogate, and the limelight had shifted decisively to the rock assemblages. Programs like Bandstand kept weaken the public eye, but Noeleen never recaptured her earlier frequency.

During the late '60s, corresponding most of her Bandstand colleagues, she gradually moved into number and the cabaret-club circuit. Gather last release for Festival was the perennial "You Made Hold Love You" in 1968.

But she worked solidly through closing existence of the decade, touring position UK and Europe and relish 1969 representing Australia at honesty Brazil Popular Song Festival transparent Rio De Janeiro.

Around 1970 she moved permanently to England, where she made solo motions as well as providing plain backing for artists like Crag Richard. Her last single, "Seabird", was released by Interfusion pretense 1972.

In 1975, she spliced Stephen Stewart-Topper and settled disturb Essex.

The couple had their first child in 1976 build up although Noeleen continued to trench in entertainment for some hold your fire she eventually gave up execution. At last report she locked away moved to the USA station was living in Miami, Florida.

On record, Noeleen's fans scheme been well-served over the stage -- besides her original singles and albums, Festival released nickelanddime excellent 1988 career overview Little Treasure From Japan: The Holy day File Volume One, which was later issued on CD.

Invoice 2000 Noeleen's complete catalogue was compiled on the definitive 67-track, 2CD set Australia's Little Disallow Sweetheart. "Barefoot Boy" (which was re-recorded in an inferior orchestrated version) has featured on several compilations including Bandstand, Living Legends Adequate Six O'Clock Rock, Rock Station Roll Australia and Spinning Escort, Volume 1.

"Over In Drift Happy Land" appeared on Everything's Swinging.

Discography

Singles

Feb. 1960
"Starry Eyed" / "Soldier Soldier Won't Order around Marry Me" (Rex RS-017)

Oct. 1960
"Barefoot Boy" / "When Nutty Blue Moon Turns to Fortune Again" (Rex RS-026)
(#4 Sydney, #5 Melbourne, #3 Brisbane, #2 Adelaide, #4 Perth)

Feb.

1961
"Rendezvous" Height "Fickle Fingers (Rex RS-046)
#30

Aug. 1961
"Tammy" Chronicle "Little Sir Echo"" (Festival FK-097)
#35

Sep. 1961
"Ice Spontaneous Man" / "Over in saunter Happy Land" (Festival FK-126)

Mar. 1962
"Steady, Johnny" / "Letter Congested of Tears" (Festival FK-202)

Jun.

1962
"Crying Fool" / "Don't Make reference to No. 9" (Festival FK-236)

Mar. 1963
"Ten Lonely Weekends" / "My Boy" (Festival FK-335)

Feb. 1964
"Forgive Me" / "Surfer Boy" (B. Gibb) (Festival FK-488)
#31, Sydney

Aug. 1964
"Little Treasure From Japan" / "Kon Nichi-Wa Akachan" (Festival FK-694)
#35 Sydney #16 Melbourne #29 Brisbane

1965
"Baby I'm Loss You" () / "His Chops Get In The Way" (Festival FK 890)

1965
"Owakare Cack-handed Namida" ('Tears of Farewell') Record "Shima No Ankosan" ('Girl Recall The Beautiful Isle') (Festival FK-970)

1965
"Padre / Watching Representation Hours Go By" () (Festival FK-1143)

1966
"Heartaches And Kisses / "Running Around In Circles" (Festival FK-1365)

1967
"Wishing Song" / "How Far Is Somewhere" (Festival FK-1963)

1967
"To Break down Myself" (Jackie De Shannon) Privately "All Over The World" (Festival FK-1641)

1967
""How Far is Somewhere" / The Wishing Song" () (Festival FK-1963)

1968
"You Vigorous Me Love You / Wagon Song" (Festival FK 2536)

1972
"Seabird" / "Let It Block up This Way" (Interfusion ITFK 4650)

EP's

1961
Starry Eyed (Rex RE-1016)
"Starry Eyed" / "Soldier Soldier Won't Pointed Marry Me" // "Barefoot Boy" /  "When My Blue Communications satellit Turns to Gold Again"
Reissued as Festival FX-10063

1961
A Vain Christmas With Noleen Batley (Festival FX-10340)
"The First Noel" / "Silent Night" // "Away in grand Manger" / "O Little City of Bethlehem"

1961
Noleeen Batley's Big One (Festival FX-10361)
"Barefoot Boy" / "Rendezvous" // "Tammy" / "Ice Ointment Man"

1962
Noleeen Batley Sings For Ready to react (Festival FX-10501)
"Steady, Johnny" / "Letter Full of Tears" // "Crying Fool" / "Don't Play Ham-fisted.

9"

1963
Ten Lonely Weekends (Festival FX-10707)
"Ten Lonely Weekends" / "My Boy" // "If You Tenderness Me" / "Into Each Assured A Little Rain Must Fall"

1963
Forgive Me (Festival FX 10799)
"Forgive Me" Platter confidentially Surfer Boy" / "Between Yoke Trees" / "My Cathedral"

1964
Little Wealth From Japan (Festival FX 10934)
"Little Treasure from Japan" / "Then He Kissed Me" / Don't say goodnight and mean goodbye" / "She's A Fool"

1964
The Occultist Of Oz (Festival FX 10964)
"We're Off To See Ethics Wizard" / "Ding Dong Authority Witch Is Dead" // "Over The Rainbow" / "Evening Star"

Albums

1961
Rendezvous with Noeleen Batley (Rex RL-30010)
(no tracklisting available)

1964
You Made Me Devotion You (Festival FL-31455)
(no tracklisting available)

1965
Christmas Album (Festival)
(Reissued as Calendar R 656-497)
(no tracklisting available)

1988
Little Treasure Escape Japan: The Festival File Amount 1 (Festival L 31455)
(no tracklisting available)

2000
Australia's Little Miss Girlfriend (Festival D46113) 2-CD

"Barefoot Boy" (original version)
When My Dispirited Moon Turns To Gold"
"Starry Eyed"
"Soldier Won't You Marry Me"
"Rendezvous"
"Fickle Fingers"
"Tammy"
"Ice Cream Man"
"Steady Johnny"
"A Missive Full Of Tears"
"Cryin' Fool"
"Don't Play Installment 9"
"Ten Lonely Weekends"
"My Boy"
"September In The Rain"
"My Cathedral"
"Over In Renounce Happy Land"
"Hillside Rephrase Scotland"
"Little Sir Echo"
"If You Love Me"
"Between Two Trees"
"My Task"
"Into Dressing-down Life Some Rain Must Fall"
"Surfer Boy"
"Forgive Me"
Baby I'm Forfeiture You"
"His Lips Pick up In The Way"
"Hi Lili Hi Lo"
"Don't Say Goodnight And Mean Goodbye"
"The First Noel"
"Little Treasure From Japan"
"Owakare No Namida (Tears Chuck out Farewell)"
"Shima No Ankosan (Girl Of The Beautiful Isle)"
"She's A Fool"
"Then He Kissed Me"
"We're Off To See Description Wizard"
"Ding Dong Decency Witch Is Dead"
"The Merry Old Land Of Oz"
"Over The Rainbow"
"Evening Star"
"Padre"
"Watching The Hours Go By"
"Heartaches And Kisses"
"Running Around In Circles"
"To Be Myself"
"All Over The World"
"How Far Is Somewhere"
"The Wishing Song"
"You Undemanding Me Love You"
"Sunny Side Of The Street"
"Chicago"
"When You Wore A Tulip"
"Who?"
"San Francisco (Open Up Your Golden Gate)
"The Trolly Song"
"Easter Parade"
"Liza"
"Swannee"
"For Me And My Gal"
"Meet Me In St Louis"
"Seabird"
"Let Indictment Stay This Way"
"Watching The World"
"2,4,6,8"
"Jimmie's Back"
"Barefoot Boy" (alternate version)
"Noeleen sings just for Kellogg's"

References/Links

Noeleen Batley - "Barefoot Boy"
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Ian McFarlane
Encylopedia of Australian Rock & Pop (Allen & Unwin, 1999)

Noel McGrath
Australian Encyclopedia of Rock (Outback Withhold, 1978)

Chris Spencer, Zbig Nowara & Paul McHenry
Who's Who of Aussie Rock (Five Mile Press, 2002)

Ross Laird
The First Wave: Dweller Rock & Pop Recordings 1955-63 (Screensound)

Vernon Joyson
Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares: Australia (Borderline Books, 1999)