Mother Goose

Background

Mother Goose formed in late 1975 in Dunedin, New Zealand, when singer Craig Johnston and keyboardist Steve Young left Biggles to assemble a six-piece group. Young recruited school friends guitarist Pete Dickson and bassist Denis Gibbins from the local band Argus. Their drummer Marcel Rodeka also joined, followed by rhythm guitarist Kevin “Dwarf” Collings.

Argus worked the Dunedin pub and club circuit for eighteen months from 1974 and supported touring groups Osibisa and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Johnston and Young recently completed university studies. The new group rehearsed for three weeks before December engagements at the Shoreline in Dunedin and the Aranui in Christchurch.

Mother Goose developed a theatrical stage act with individual character costumes: Johnston as a sailor, Dickson as a baby, Gibbins as a mouse, Rodeka as a pixie, Young as a ballerina, and Collings as a bumblebee. In early 1976, the sextet toured Auckland and played a free Radio Hauraki concert at Albert Park.

In October 1976, Mother Goose relocated to Australia for engagements at Cloudland in Brisbane and the Playroom on the Gold Coast. Queensland promoter Ivan Dayman introduced the group to Melbourne manager Garry Spry, who flew north to see the act and assumed personal management. Spry brought Mother Goose to Melbourne and showcased the band at his Babes nightclub.

On April 1, 1977, Mother Goose signed with Mushroom Records. The sextet cut nine original songs at Armstrong Studios in Melbourne with engineer and co-producer Ross Cockle. Mushroom selected “Baked Beans” for the July debut single ahead of the album Stuffed.