Formed in late 1968, Tully the First were wild, expansive and unpredictable, their live shows now the stuff of legend. Terry Wilson (vocals), Richard Lockwood (reeds), Michael Carlos (organ), John Blake (bass) and Robert Taylor (drums) employed extended improvisation, spacious dynamics and an intuitive intensity, so impressing Australian jazz icon John Sangster that he called them “the best band in the world at the time.”
In mid 69, Tully became the house band for love-rock musical Hair, recording the original cast album later that year. They also starred in a six part live-in-studio series Fusions, which premiered on ABC TV in August 1969. Ken Firth (later of the Ferrets) replaced John Blake on bass in December 1969.
After Tully’s 1970 self-titled debut, Wilson and Taylor left the band, which then assimilated Extradition’s Shayna Stewart and Colin Campbell before releasing two more albums, Sea Of Joy (1971) and Loving Is Hard (1972), both markedly calmer and quieter than their fiery and often thunderous early form.
Related Artists & Releases
By Tully Released March 2013
Luminous third and final album Loving Is Hard, originally released in 1972, is the latest in Chapter Music’s reissues series by Australian psychedelic icons Tully. This follows the 2010 release of Live At Sydney Town Hall 1969-70, and last year’s reissue of solemn, dreamy 1971 surf soundtrack Sea Of Joy.
Even before they began recording [...]
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Check out Richard Lockwood’s Highest Of the High on the Chapter Soundcloud.
Across two discs, In the Doorway of the Dawn – The Chronicle Of A Song, Volumes 1&2, 1972-2012 presents almost 40 years of previously unheard songwriting from Richard Lockwood, renowned as the driving force behind early 70s Sydney folk-psych icons Tully, and for [...]
Richard Lockwood is best known for his work with Sydney late 60s/early 70s folk-psych outfit Tully, whose three landmark albums are in the process of being reissued on Chapter Music. Chapter also released Tully – Live At Sydney Town Hall 1969-70 in 2010.
But unknown to many, Richard Lockwood did not stop writing songs or recording [...]
By Tully Released July 2010
Chapter Music presents two rare live recordings from quintessential Sydney prog group Tully, including their 1970 performance of Australia’s first ever rock opera. These recordings capture the band in their first incarnation, before they joined forces with members of revered folk-psych band Extradition to explore more contemplative territory.
Sights & Sounds Of 69, from a May show of the same name, [...]
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“Doyens of the Sydney underground/progressive scene in the late 60’s and early 70s” – Milesago
Chapter Music presents two rare live recordings from quintessential Sydney prog group Tully, including their 1970 performance of Australia’s first ever rock opera. These recordings capture the band in their first incarnation, before they joined forces with members of revered folk-psych [...]
