AGE OF MOUSE

Original released on LP Sweet Peach SP 12001

(AUSTRALIA, 1970)

Doug Ashdown had released several albums in his native Australia in the 1960s prior to 1970's "The Age of the Mouse", which got an American release (Coral Records CRL 757514). It was slightly odd, but overall unimpressive, singer/songwriter folk-rock-pop. Vocally he sounded a little bit like a more overwrought, straighter Tim Buckley. While the production was at its essence commercial folk-rock, it was also loaded down with the kind of horns and backup vocals you'd expect to be more apt to come across on a late-'60s California pop record. "I've Come to Save Your World" he announces on one track, which can't help but beg the question: who asked you? For there's a slight sense of self-importance and over-seriousness to the singing and songs, which sometimes have a vague though not explicit judgment-day-at-hand tone, with references to Jesus Christ on the cross and the condemned being sent to death. Some more romantic ruminations like "I Remember Alice" and "Holly" break up the program, but not the ponderous mood. There's considerable ambition at work here, but the melodies are lukewarm and the lyricism not deft enough to make a lasting imprint. (Richie Unterberger in AllMusic)

DOUG ASHDOWN: "Leave Love Enough Alone" or "Winter In America"

Original released on LP Billingsgate L35294

(Australia, 1974)

Douglas Wesley Ashdown nasceu em Adelaide, Australia, no dia 29 de Julho de 1942. Cantor folk e country, aos 17 anos já tinha viajado para Inglaterra para tocar e cantar num conjunto de Rock, mas sem grande sucesso, regressando em 1961 à Austrália como vocalista do grupo The Bowmen. Em 1965 grava o seu primeiro album, "This Is Doug Ashdown". Nos finais da década de 60, edita dois singles que se tornaram muito populares na Austrália, "Something Strange", em 1968, e em 1969, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" (uma versão do êxito de Jerry Lee Lewis). Em 1970, assina contrato com a editora independente Sweet Peach e lança o single "The Saddest Song Of All", composta por Ashdown e Jim Stewart, que se tornou o seu co-produtor e co-autor da maior parte das suas composições. Segue-se, em 1970, "The Age Of Mouse", que foi o primeiro album duplo de originais gravado por um australiano. Depois de um album ao vivo em 1971, "Doug Ashdown Live", segue-se em 1974 este belissimo "Leave Love Enough Alone", muito provavelmente o seu melhor trabalho de sempre. Dois anos depois seria de novo reeditado, então com o nome de "Winter In America", e chegaria ao Top 14 em Melbourne.