Town Criers (band)

The Town Criers were an Australian pop band formed in 1964.[1] By 1967 their line-up was Andy Agtoft on lead vocals, Mark Demajo on bass guitar (ex-Gemini 5), Sam Dunnin on lead guitar (ex-Gemini 5), Chris Easterby on drums, and George Kurtiss on keyboards.[2] Their first single was a cover version of the Kinks' album track, "The World Keeps Going Round", which was issued in 1965 but did not chart.[3]

Town Criers
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresPop
Years active1964 (1964)–1972 (1972)
Labels
  • Trend
  • Astor
  • Festival
  • HMV
Past members
  • Andy Agtoft
  • Mark Demajo
  • Sam Dunnin
  • Chris Easterby
  • George Kurtiss
  • John Taylor
  • Barry Smith

They released a cover version of American singer, Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love", as a single in February 1968, which reached No. 17 on the Go-Set National Top 40 alongside United Kingdom's Love Affair's rendition which peaked at No. 23 on the same chart at the same time.[4] Kurtiss left the group in May 1968 and was replaced on keyboards by John Taylor (ex-Strings Unlimited).[2] Their next single, "Unexpectedly", did not reach the top 40.[2]

Agtoft was replaced early in 1969 by Barry Smith from Adelaide and Taylor left without being replaced.[2][3] Town Criers released further singles, "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)" (March 1969), "Love Me Again" (October 1969) and "Living in a World of Love" (May 1970), before disbanding in 1972.[2][3] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, opined, "[they] made a name for themselves with a melodious, commercial pop sound and squeaky-clean teen idol image... By the end of 1971, [their] sound had become outmoded, and the members went their separate ways."[2]

Discography

Compilation albums
Title Details
Complete Recordings
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: The Town Criers
  • Format: CD

Extended plays
Title Details
Everlasting Love
  • Released: 1968
  • Label: Astor Records (AEP-4057)[3]
  • Format: LP
Love Me Again
  • Released: 1969
  • Label: Astor Records (FX-11655)[3]
  • Format: LP

Singles
List of singles, with Australianchart positions
Year Title Peak chart
positions
AUS
[4][5]
1965 "The World Keeps Going Round"[3] -
1968 "Everlasting Love"[3] 17
"Unexpectedly"[3] -
1969 "Any Old Time (Your Lonely And Sad)" 53
"Love Me Again" 35
1970 "Living in a World of Love" 42
1971 "Laughing Man" -
"Love, Love, Love" -

References
  1. Nuttall, Lyn; Walker, David. "'Everlasting Love' The Town Criers (1968)". Where Did They Get That Song?. PopArchives – Sources of Australian Pop Records from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Town Criers'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004.
  3. Kimball, Duncan (2002). "Town Criers". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. Nimmervoll, Ed (24 April 1968). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  5. Nimmervoll, Ed (15 November 1969). "National Top 40". Go-Set. Waverley Press. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
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