"when I walk, down the street, pretty girls, I chance to meet"
Johnny Devlin and the Devils are hard to write about. They had a full blown career in New Zealand before crossing the Tasman. His version of Floyd Tillmans "Slippin' Around" is a killer track from that period, and his "Short Skirts" showed his songwriting potential.
Johnny recorded prolifically in Australia, cutting a great "Pointed Toe Shoes/I Was The One" for HMV and "White Lightnin'/Doreen" for Leedon, before finding a home at Teen Records (remember the jingle Green Teen Is Keen? I wish I didn't too). He recorded umpteen covers such as "Tiger" "Such A Night" ,"I Need Your Love Tonight","Gigolo", and originals like "Wicked Wicked Women", "Gotta Be True", "I'm Gonna Love You" and "Turn The Lights Down Johnny". He wasn't scared of novelty songs either, doing "Got A Zac In The Back Of Me Pocket" and "Charlie Mopps".
Johnny was probably the only 'name' artist to have a release (Tiger) on a "Recard".
Hands up all who remember recards, a sheet of cardboard, plastic coated, square, with two 45 rpm tracks on the one side. The corners had a habit of knocking away the stylus arm. Oh, to be young again!
When the hits quietened off his went into songwriting and production, doing some great stuff with instrumental band The Denvermen.
He went to England for a while and cut some ballad sides there, before returning to tour with The Beatles
He keeps popping up when least expected and perhaps we haven't seen the last of him.
I think the time may be right for my second coming.
Back to Australian 50's Rock and Roll
Copyright © 2001 Brian Brett
