Brian Cadd -

Brian Cadd (born Nov. 29, 1946) is an Australian singer/songwriter from Sydney who made two albums with rustic-rockers Axiom, followed by five solo albums between 1972 and 1978 on Bootleg and Interfusion.

Background

Brian George Cadd was born Nov. 29, 1946, in Perth, Western Australia. His mother sang soprano and encouraged his early interest in music. He began piano lessons at age ten and studied classical music. Cadd won a television talent quest at age twelve and accepted a pianist position in a junior band on a children’s program. Cadd attended Mount Lawley High School, where he played in the school band and a group led by a cousin.

The Cadd family moved to Hobart, Tasmania, in 1962, where Cadd played with John Struther’s Planets. His family relocated to Melbourne the following year, where Cadd joined the Beale Street Jazz Band. Cadd joined the Castaways in 1965, and the group became the R&B-oriented Jackson Kings. CBS issued “Watch Your Step” (b/w “Come On Now”) in February 1966 and “Watermelon Man” (b/w “Lawdy Miss Clawdy”) that April. Singer Ronnie Charles replaced Carl Bennett after the second CBS single.

The Groop

The Jackson Kings supported the Groop in late 1966 at a farewell party for departing founder Peter McKeddie. Groop bassist Max Ross and drummer Richard Wright invited Cadd into a revised lineup. Cadd secured a place for singer Ronnie Charles, while guitarist Don Mudie joined from Sherwood Green. Go-Set writer Ian “Molly” Meldrum suggested the surname Caine for Cadd, who soon returned to his birth name after family objections. Cadd and Wright co-wrote “Woman You’re Breaking Me,” Cadd’s first composition. Along with bassist Max Ross, Cadd co-wrote “When I Was Six Years Old,” recorded by Australian singer Ronnie Burns and ex-Manfred Mann frontman Paul Jones. The pair also wrote “Elevator Driver,” which the Masters Apprentices released as a February 1968 single.

The Groop won the 1967 Hoadley’s National Battle of the Sounds, which brought a return trip to Britain and guaranteed engagements. They played England, Scotland, and Wales, followed by club and television work in Germany. The Groop returned to Australia in October 1968 and disbanded the following May. Cadd played piano and Hammond organ on the Russell Morris single “The Real Thing.” Drummer Richard Wright and bassist Don Mudie also played on the session. Cadd read a BASF tape-box guarantee in a mock British accent for the spoken coda.

Axiom

Between bands, Cadd visited The Easybeats‘ flat in Earl’s Court and heard a reel-to-reel copy of the debut Band album, Music from Big Pink, which sparked his embrace of country-rooted rock.

Cadd and Mudie formed Axiom in Melbourne with singer Glenn Shorrock (ex-Twilights), guitarist Chris Stockley (ex-Cam-Pact), and drummer Doug Lavery (ex-Valentines). Axiom signed with Parlophone and released “Arkansas Grass” in October 1969, followed by “A Little Ray of Sunshine.” The group recorded Fool’s Gold at Bill Armstrong Studios in Melbourne. Axiom travelled to Britain in April 1970 and secured a Warner Bros. contract. The band returned to Australia for a national tour late that year, then resumed work in Britain. Axiom dissolved the following March after completion of If Only….

Cadd and Mudie returned to Australia as a duo and recorded “Show Me the Way,” issued in December 1971 on Fable. The single reached No. 15 on the national chart. In January 1972, Cadd and Fable founder Ron Tudor established the Bootleg subsidiary. Cadd planned a regular house band for Bootleg recordings and tours. He joined Fable in early 1972 as A&R manager and house producer. Cadd and Mudie wrote “Marshall’s Portable Music Machine,” and Cadd produced the Robin Jolley recording. He also produced the Hans Poulsen album Lost and Found, Coming Home the Wrong Way Round.

Cadd recorded “Sure Feels Good,” “Making It on Your Own,” and “Come with Me” for producer G. Wayne Thomas and the soundtrack to Morning of the Earth. He then recorded his self-titled debut at Bill Armstrong Studios in Melbourne with John Sayers as co-producer. Bootleg introduced the album with the August 1972 single “Ginger Man,” which reached No. 16 in Australia.

Discography: