Harry Vanda, guitar and vocals
George Young, guitar and vocals
George Alexander, guitar
Ian Campbell, bass and vocals
Freddie Smith, drumsWhen The Easybeats broke up in late 1969, following a final Australian tour, songwriters Harry Vanda and George Young returned to the UK to join forces with Young’s older brother Alex (who had changed his name to George Alexander as leader of Grapefruit) and they recorded under various aliases, including Paintbox, Moondance and Tramp.

While it cannot be said with any certainty who else was involved in the recordings issued under the names Paintbox, Moondance and Tramp, it is likely that Scottish bass player and singer Ian Campbell and Scottish drummer Freddie Smith, both of whom had worked with George Alexander in Tony Sheridan & The Big Six in the mid-1960s, were the remaining musicians involved. Both definitely played on later recordings, released under other aliases, including Grapefruit, Haffy’s Whisky Sour and Marcus Hook Roll Band. Freddie Smith also recorded on some post-Shel Talmy Easybeats recordings in 1967.

Paintbox’s lone single, released in June 1970, was a Miki Dallon production and was a typical British commercial soul number. The ‘A’ side was written by George Alexander while Harry Vanda and George Young composed the ‘B’ side. Interestingly, some copies came in a picture sleeve depicting five black musicians.

The same week the Paintbox 45 came out on Young Blood, A&M Records released a second single by the group under the name Moondance. “Lazy River” is a catchy Vanda and Young song while “Anna St Claire” is by George Alexander. In Germany, the single came in a picture sleeve, depicting two men, who bare no resemblance to the band members! In 1971 ”Lazy River” was released in Australia under the name Vanda and Young for Albert Productions with a different ‘B’ side titled ”Free And Easy”, also written by Vanda and Young.

In July, a second Young Blood single came out under the name Tramp. “Vietnam Rose” is a Vanda and Young composition while “Each Day” is by George Alexander. The single was also released in Germany and France. After this release, the group left Young Blood and signed to Deram, releasing two singles under the Haffy’s Whisky Sour and Grapefruit aliases. The Paintbox single was re-released in 1971 with “Get Ready For Love” having a slightly longer intro.

Paintbox
45s:
Get Ready For Love/Can I Get To Know You (Young Blood YB 1015) 1970
Get Ready For Love/Can I Get To Know You (Young Blood YB 1029) 1971

Moondance
45: Lazy River/Anna St Claire (A&M AMS 792) 1970

Tramp
45: Vietnam Rose/Each Day (Young Blood 1014) 1970

Article by Mike Griffiths and Nick Warburton

Copyright © Mike Griffiths and Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.

Copyright © Nick Warburton. All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced or transmitted in any from or by any means, without prior permission from the author.