All prices quoted are in Australian Dollars. Selected CDs in the blue boxes can be purchased by credit card through the incorporated PayPal facility. If you have a problem using PayPal, you can purchase all the CDs on this page by mailorder. Simply write out your order and send it, plus your cheque (or money order) made out to Mike Rudd & Bill Putt, to PO Box 1181 Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia. Postage is just $5.00 AUD worldwide up to $100.00 AUD worth of CDs. Please feel free to email us with any suggestions or enquiries. Read some customer feedback

This month's feature CD (see previous months' CDs)
The Story of.. Sound Vault Records has compiled these tracks from albums released by acts on its roster, which happens to comprise largely of Melbourne musicians, so it's a useful indicator of the musical diversity in this town that's usually ignored by radio. All the songs are narrative in approach (hence the title), so if you're in the mood for a story, this is the CD for you. Spectrum's track is I Know There Was Another Man There, (from No Thinking), which was bound to sound kinda naïve wherever it was - and does here - but it does have that rootsy country break in it which fits with the predominantly country-ish tone of the album.

BREATHING SPACE EP

Breathing Space - Spectrum - Volcano Records VR003
After a trifling thirty five years, Spectrum is back on the recording scene with this very tasty morsel, the first of an alleged quartet of Breathing Space EPs. Whether it's a smart marketing move, or simply getting the ball rolling after too long procrastinating, it's a relief to have something to talk about besides re-issues. Personally, I think there's a lot to like about this six-track EP, from the opening song Second Coming, a classic Spectrum live track, to the surprising and virtually unheard live Star Crazy (dedicated to the late Paul Hester). With guests including Tims Gaze and Neal. $15.00 + postage

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MILESAGO

Milesago - Spectrum - Aztec Music AVSCD033
Well, after all the huffing and puffing, the (double) album that everybody has been saying they're waiting for is finally here! And I can testify that Gil Matthews and Ted Lethborg have done another exquisite job in bringing this baby home. To say the packaging is lavish is an understatement, and, if anything, it underlines the visionary artwork done by Ian McCausland all those years ago. I won't attempt to explain the music, suffice to say that it goes places where few bands were even contemplating and remains a unique testament to the times. Check the track list. and the odd review. An extremely reasonable $30.00 + postage

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SPECTRUM PART ONE

Spectrum Part One - Spectrum - Aztec Music AVSCD026
Something new at last! Well, maybe not new new, but Aztec Music's Ted Lethborg and Gil Matthews have done their label's usual spiffy job re-presenting Spectrum's very first album with luxurious packaging and copious notes by Ian McFarlane, and more bonus tracks than there were tracks on the original vinyl version. A great commercial injustice has been righted with the inclusion of I'll Be Gone and Launching Place Parts One and Two. Gil Matthews has done marvels resurrecting the harmonica-less demo version of I'll Be Gone b/w You Just Can't Win from the original ancient acetate.track list read reviews $25.00 + postage

SPILL BLUES

NO THINKING BLUES

No Thinking - Spectrum plays the Blues - Sound Vault SV0430
The first Spectrum Plays The Blues CD since Spill was released late last century, the first to be produced from Mike Rudd and Bill Putt's Accidental Music Studio, and the first to be distributed by Sound Vault Records, No Thinking varies the Spill formula only slightly, adding to the predictable core of blues tunes an eclectic collection of covers of tunes by Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, to name but a few. Most of the tracks were recorded at Ross Ryan's GI Recorders and Pete Dacy's Secret Sound Studio, with a couple of live favourites recorded at the Thredbo Blues Festival. Price $25.00 + postage listen to tracks

Living On A Volcano - Mike Rudd & Bill Putt - Volcano Records VR001
The third most recent of Mike and Bill’s albums, it marks quite a departure from their previous work. It’s received glowing reviews and the feedback Mike and Bill have been getting from Volcano owners is extremely touching. Featuring lyrics by Mike’s late wife, Helen, it’s a laid-back, almost ambient album that will hardly leave your player, especially if you’re the forgetful type…
This classic Rudd/Putt collaboration is now back in stock after a long absence - make sure you vouchsafe your copy ASAP. $25.00 + postage listen to some tracks

I'LL BE GONZ COMPILATION

I’ll Be Gonz - Various - Rare Vision RVSN-001
A truly fantastic/ridiculous anthology of old and new recordings of the Mike Rudd classic hit I’ll Be Gone especially compiled to mark the 30th anniversary of the song hitting the magic No. 1 spot on the Go-Set National Top 60 Chart on May 1st 1971. read the story With John Williamson, Manfred Mann, Margret RoadKnight, Ariel, Dili All Stars, The Bushwackers, not to mention Colleen Hewett, and a host of new and up and coming stars. All proceeds go to the Kids Under Cover charity. $20.00 + postage listen to some tracks

A Strange Fantastic Dream - Ariel - Rare Vision RVSN-002
Lovingly re-mastered classic Ariel album on Spectrum’s own Rare Vision label with bonus track Red Hot Momma. As the Herald Sun's Pete Best said recently; "Ariel was to explore Rudd's progressive rock ambitions and this was their extraordinary first step. Tim Gaze was on board with Rudd's mate Bill Putt in perhaps their most powerful combination." read more This was a controversial album in its day, three tracks being banned for airplay by the FACB. You can add it to your collection for a reasonable.. $20.00 + postage

ROCK & ROLL SCARS

Rock & Roll Scars - Ariel - Rare Vision - RVSN-003
Again lovingly re-mastered Ariel album dedicated to the memory of the late Ariel drummer John Lee, with the bonus inclusion of the single Yeah Tonight. Some people think this is the definitive guitar band that Rudd and Putt had to this point - which is not saying much as it was the only guitar band they had to this point. It is true to say that the re-interpretations of the Spectrum /Murtceps material compare favourably with the originals, and the superb Abbey Road / Air Studios sound fairly leaps out of the speakers. $20.00 + postage

The Jellabad Mutant - Ariel - Rare Vision RVSN-004
The Ariel with Harvey James and John Lee demo'ed Rudd’s rock opera, The Jellabad Mutant, at EMI in 1974, only to have the project shelved. The session has been digitally re-mastered plus the single tracks I’ll Take You High and I Can’t Say What I Mean and a Double J live broadcast of the Mutant medley with Glyn Mason and Nigel Macara. With lavish background notes and nice pictures, this CD is a lost masterpiece that's been found again. Hooray! $25.00 + postage

Ghosts: Post- Terminal Reflection - Spectrum / The Indelible Murtceps - Raven Records RVCD-18
A Raven compilation of early Spectrum and Murtceps material including two versions of I’ll Be Gone, as well as Murtceps' Esmeralda, We are Indelible and Some Good Advice, and Spectrum's Make Your Stash, Fly Without Its Wings, But That's Alright from Part One and Milesago. The vinyl versions are selling for inordinate money - when you can find them - and this is not a bad selection, with comprehensive cover notes by the effusive Glenn A. Baker. $25.00 + postage

 GOLDEN MILES COMPILATION

Golden Miles - Various - Raven Records RVCD-39
A Raven double CD compilation of Australian Progressive Rock from 1969-1974. Featuring acts such as Tully, Tamam Shud, King Harvest, Wild Cherries, Company Caine, Daddy Cool and, of course, Spectrum, this collection has been a surprise best seller, so we've been encouraged to include it on our list of CDs available on our handy PayPal service. Please check out all the artists and classic Oz tracks on this enormously important double CD. Maybe it’s a best seller because we can sell it so cheap. Normally $40.00, for you $35.00 + postage