The Numbers (band)

The Numbers

Origin| Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres| Power pop
Years active| 1978 (1978)–1984 (1984)
Labels| Deluxe
Members| Graham `Buzz' Bidstrup
John Bliss
Craig Bloxom
Russell Handley
Annalisse Morrow
Chris Morrow
Marty Newcombe
Colin Newham
Marcus Phelan
Gary Roberts
Simon Vidale

The Numbers were an Australian power pop band formed by siblings Annalisse (bass guitar, lead vocals) and Chris Morrow (lead guitar, lead vocals) in early 1978.[1][2][3] They issued two studio albums, The Numbers (October 1980), which peaked at No. 29 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart, and 39.51 (April 1982). The group disbanded in 1984, the Morrows formed another band, Maybe Dolls, in 1991.

## History

[edit]

The Numbers were formed early in 1978 in Sydney by Annalisse Morrow on bass guitar and lead vocals and her elder brother, Chris Morrow on lead guitar and lead vocals; they were joined by Marty Newcombe on drums.[4] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, observed that they "emerged from the post-punk Sydney scene with a clean sound and a strong sense of direction. In spite of a regular touring schedule and a brace of accessible pop releases, the band never made the commercial breakthrough for which they so vigorously strived."[4]

In January 1979 Newcombe was replaced on drums and percussion by Simon Vidale.[4] The group supported the Australian leg of a tour by United Kingdom rockers, XTC.[4] The Numbers released their debut three-track, extended play, Govt. Boy, on the Local Records label in September.[4][5] All the tracks were written or co-written by Chris.[5] McFarlane felt that it "featured three dazzling blasts of tough guitar pop reminiscent of The Jam or The Buzzcocks."[4]

Late in 1979 the group signed with Deluxe Records, which issued their debut single, "The Modern Song", in the following March.[4] The second single, "Five Letter Word", reached the Kent Music Report Singles Chart top 40.[4][6] A third single, "Mr President" (February 1981) failed to chart.[4][6] Their debut album, The Numbers, appeared in October 1980, which reached No. 29 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart.[4][6] It was produced by Cameron Allan and was recorded at EMI Studios 301, Sydney in mid-year.[4]

## Members

[edit]

* Graham `Buzz' Bidstrup
* John Bliss
* Craig Bloxom
* Russell Handley
* Annalisse Morrow
* Chris Morrow
* Marty Newcombe
* Colin Newham
* Marcus Phelan
* Gary Roberts
* Simon Vidale

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

List of albums, with Australian chart positions  Title  | Album details  | Peak chart
positions

|
|

AUS
[6]
The Numbers |

* Released: October 1980
* Label: DeLuxe (103546)

| 29
39.51 |

* Released: May 1982
* Label: DeLuxe (103637)

| 92

### Compilations

[edit]

Title  | Details

|

Numerology |

* Released: 2007
* Label: Aztec Music

### Extended plays

[edit]

Title  | Details

|

Govt. Boy |

* Released: September 1979
* Label: Local Records (Local 3)

### Singles

[edit]

List of singles, with Australian chart positions  Year  | Title  | Peak chart
positions

|
|

AUS
[7]
1980  | "The Modern Song"/"Take Me Away"  | 47
1980  | "Five Letter Word"/"Alone"  | 40
1981  | "Mr President"/"Private Eye"/"Guerilla"  | \-
1982  | "Jericho"/"Turn Back"  | \-
"Big Beat"/"Telephone"  | \-
"Dreams from Yesterday"/"Again"  | \-

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

### TV Week / Countdown Awards

[edit]

Countdown was an Australian pop music TV series on national broadcaster ABC-TV from 1974–1987, it presented music awards from 1979–1987, initially in conjunction with magazine TV Week. The TV Week / Countdown Awards were a combination of popular-voted and peer-voted awards.[8]

Year  | Nominee / work  | Award  | Result

|
|
|

1980  | Annalise Morrow (The Numbers)  | Most Popular Female Performer  | Nominated

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Zuel, Bernard (5 January 2008), "More than the sum of their past", Sydney Morning Herald
2. ^ Nichols, David (13 January 2008), "The Numbers: Keeping Count", Mess + Noise
3. ^ Nichols, David (11 October 2016). Dig: Australian Rock and Pop Music, 1960-85. Verse Chorus Press. ISBN 978-1891241611.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'The Numbers'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
5. ^ a b Numbers (1978), Govt. boy: Private eyes; Guerilla, Local Label, retrieved 28 March 2017
6. ^ a b c d Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
8. ^ "Countdown to the Awards" (Portable document format (PDF)). Countdown Magazine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). March 1987. Retrieved 16 December 2010.

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