Jigsaw (Australian band)
{{short description|Australian country pop band}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jigsaw
| image =
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| caption =
| alias =
| origin = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| genre = Country pop
| years_active = {{start date|1968}}–{{end date|1976}}
| label = Fable
| associated_acts = Johnny Chester
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members = * Ray Eames
- Alan "Ollie" Fenton a.k.a. Alan Wright
- Ron Gilbee
- Dennis Tucker
- Eddie Chappell
- Jon Calderwood
- Barry Roy
}}
Jigsaw were an Australian country pop band, composed of Jon Calderwood on lead guitar, Eddie Chappell on drums, Ron Gilbee on rhythm guitar and Dennis Tucker on bass guitar. Over the course of their career, the band released Australian top ten singles, "Yellow River" (1970) and "How Do You Do" (1972). They also served as the backing band for Australian singer-songwriter Johnny Chester throughout the early 1970s.
History
Jigsaw were formed in May 1968 in Melbourne by Ray Eames on lead guitar (ex-Tony Worsley and the Fabulous Blue Jays, Rockhouse), Alan "Ollie" Fenton on drums (ex-Phantoms, Rockhouse), Ron Gilbee on rhythm guitar and Dennis Tucker on bass guitar (both ex-Merv Benton and the Tamlas, the Rondells/Impala).{{cite book | last1 = McFarlane | first1 = Ian | authorlink1 = Ian McFarlane | title = Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop | chapter = Encyclopedia entry for 'Jigsaw' | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040419001541/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=959 | chapter-url = http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=959 | year = 1999 | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards, NSW | archive-date = 19 April 2004 | isbn = 1-86508-072-1 }}{{cite web | archiveurl = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20100314214800/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35967/20100315-0848/www.milesago.com/artists/bobby_laurie-2.html | url = http://www.milesago.com/artists/bobby_laurie.htm | title = Bobby & Laurie | last1 = Kimball | first1 = Duncan | publisher = Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions | year = 2005 | archivedate = 14 March 2010 | accessdate = 10 November 2019 | url-status = live }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} When the Tamlas disbanded in 1967, band mates Gilbee and Tucker decided to form a Shadows-inspired tribute band.{{cite web | url = https://www.sunshinesecrets.com.au/post/denis-tucker-s-musical-journey | title = Denis Tucker's Musical Journey | last = Brown | first = Graeme | work = Sunshine Secets | date = 26 May 2020 | access-date = 21 November 2021 }} They recruited their friend Eames and his Rockhouse band mate Fenton. The name, Jigsaw, is from a 1967 Shadows album.
After playing Melbourne's pub circuit, in July 1968, Jigsaw joined an Australian Government sponsored tour of South Vietnam to entertain Australian and American troops.{{cite web | url=http://www.laurieallen.net/jigsaw | title=Jigsaw | website=laurieallen.net | via=National Library of Australia | archiveurl=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20070831081058/http://www.laurieallen.net/jigsaw | archive-date=31 August 2007 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Also on that tour were Yvonne Barrett, Pat Carroll, Johnny Chester and compere-comedian Jack Perry. While backing Chester during the Vietnam tour Jigsaw members agreed to work together with the country pop singer upon return to Melbourne. Fenton had previously worked for Chester when he was a member of Phantom, Chester's earlier backing band. Jigsaw also performed and released material on their own, they were signed to Ron Tudor's new label, Fable Records. Fenton died in a work place accident in ca. 1969 and was replaced by Eddie Chappell on drums, while Jon Calderwood took over on lead guitar from Eames soon after.
Jigsaw's debut single for Fable, "To Love Means to Be Free", appeared in May 1970 and reached No. 49 on the Go-Set National Top 60.{{cite web | url=http://www.milesago.com/industry/fable-2.html | title=Record Labels – Fable Records | last=Kimball | first=Duncan | website=MilesAgo | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090319044804/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35967/20090315-0738/www.milesago.com/industry/fable-2.html | archive-date=19 March 2009 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web | url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19700808.html | title=Go-Set Australian charts | last=Nimmervoll | first=Ed | author-link=Ed Nimmervoll | website=Go-Set | date=8 August 1970 | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316175720/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19700808.html | archive-date=16 March 2017 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Also in May the 1970 radio ban, had started as a "pay for play" dispute between major record labels and commercial radio stations.{{Cite thesis|type=MA|title=The place of Go-Set in rock and pop music culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974 |chapter=Appendix 6: The Record Ban |last1=Kent |first1=David Martin |publisher=University of Canberra |date=September 2002 |location=Canberra, ACT |url=http://erl.canberra.edu.au/uploads/approved/adt-AUC20050509.095456/public/02whole.pdf |pages=265–269 |access-date=20 November 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904073704/http://erl.canberra.edu.au/uploads/approved/adt-AUC20050509.095456/public/02whole.pdf |archive-date=4 September 2015 }} Due to their label's independent status, Fable Records' artists were exempt from the radio ban.
Jigsaw's second single, "Yellow River" (July 1970), was a cover version of United Kingdom band Christie's single from April,{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/71/autumn/yellow-river | title = 'Yellow River' – Autumn | author = Nuttall, Lyn | work = Where Did They Get That Song? | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 26 March 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100326043913/http://www.poparchives.com.au/71/autumn/yellow-river | url-status = dead }} which was not played on commercial radio due to the ban. An English singer, Leapy Lee, also issued a cover version, as did Sydney-based group Autumn.{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19701031.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 60 | date = 31 October 1970 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 31 March 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180331024235/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1970/19701031.html | url-status = dead }} After ten weeks on the Go-Set National Top 60, "Yellow River" peaked at No. 1 on 31 October 1970 and was co-credited to all four artists: Jigsaw, Autumn, Christie and Lee. The radio ban had ended the week before.
"Gwen (Congratulations)" (August 1971) by Johnny Chester and Jigsaw, was a cover of American country singer, Tommy Overstreet's single from earlier that year.{{cite web | url=http://poparchives.com.au/2648/johnny-chester-jigsaw/gwen-congratulations | title='Gwen (Congratulations)' – Johnny Chester & Jigsaw (1971) | author=Nuttall, Lyn | work=Where Did They Get That Song? | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20150322105536/http://poparchives.com.au/2648/johnny-chester-jigsaw/gwen-congratulations | archive-date=22 March 2015 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It peaked at No. 26.{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19711225.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 25 December 1971 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 16 March 2017 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316181609/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19711225.html | url-status = dead }} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}Note: chart only displays Johnny Chester as artist Jigsaw's next single, "So I Tell You" (September), was written by Calderwood,{{cite web | publisher = APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society) | title = 'So I Tell You' at APRA search engine | url = https://www.apraamcos.com.au/search?works=true&title=So%20I%20Tell%20You&writer=&performer= | access-date = 20 November 2021 }} Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:' but it did not chart. "Shame and Scandal (in the Family)" (December), with Chester, is a cover of Sir Lancelot's 1943 song,{{cite web | url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=852 | title='Shame and Scandal (In the Family)' – Johnny Chester & Jigsaw (1972) | author=Nuttall, Lyn | work=Where Did They Get That Song? | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140126081730/http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=852 | archive-date=26 January 2014 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} which peaked at No. 13.{{cite web | url = https://gosetcharts.com/1972/19720610.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 10 June 1972 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 16 March 2017 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316181609/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1972/19720610.html | url-status = dead }} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}Note: chart only displays Johnny Chester as artist
Jigsaw issued "How Do You Do" as a single in February 1972, which reached No. 11,{{cite web | url = https://gosetcharts.com/1972/19720812.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 12 August 1972 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 16 March 2017 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316183350/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1972/19720812.html | url-status = dead }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and is a cover of Dutch duo Mouth & MacNeal's 1971 hit.{{cite web | url=http://poparchives.com.au/1026/jigsaw/how-do-you-do | title='How Do You Do' – Jigsaw (1972) | author=Nuttall, Lyn | work=Where Did They Get That Song? | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140127050219/http://poparchives.com.au/1026/jigsaw/how-do-you-do | archive-date=27 January 2014 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Their next charting single, "Mademoiselle Ninette" (August), reached No. 20.{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19730106.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 6 January 1973 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 16 March 2017 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316183939/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19730106.html | url-status = dead }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} It is a cover of German group Soulful Dynamics' 1970 single.{{cite web | url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/1788/jigsaw/mademoiselle-ninette.html | title='Mademoiselle Ninette' – Jigsaw (1972) | author=Nuttall, Lyn | work=Where Did They Get That Song? | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20160505001352/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43557/20160504-1246/www.poparchives.com.au/1788/jigsaw/mademoiselle-ninette.html | archive-date=5 May 2016 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Another single with Chester, "Midnight Bus", followed in September 1972, their rendition of John D. Loudermilk's 1960 track,{{cite web | url=http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=54 | title='Midnight Bus' – Betty McQuade (1961) | author=Nuttall, Lyn | work=Where Did They Get That Song? | via=National Library of Australia | archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20150321172227/http://poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=54 | archive-date=21 March 2015 | access-date=20 November 2021 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} which reached No. 25.{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19730303.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 3 March 1973 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 7 June 2014 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140607043425/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/43557/20160504-1246/www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19730303.html | url-status = dead }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Johnny Chester backed by Jigsaw released, "World's Greatest Mum", in June 1973, which peaked at No. 9.{{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19731006.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | date = 6 October 1973 | access-date = 20 November 2021 | archive-date = 16 March 2017 | archive-url = https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170316184059/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/19731006.html | url-status = dead }} {{cbignore|bot=medic}}Note: chart only displays Johnny Chester as artist In January 1974 Jigsaw and Chester separated, although they periodically supported Chester on tours. Jigsaw's last charting single, "A Rose Has to Die" (June 1974), reached No. 19 on the Kent Music Report singles chart. Their compilation album, Best of Jigsaw, appeared in 1975. They continued performing on the Melbourne pub circuit in the mid-1970s and issued their last single, "Every Day, Every Night", in January 1977. They disbanded shortly after. As for Chester from 1977 he was touring with the Blue Denim Country Band.McFarlane, {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040806231315/http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=192 |date=6 August 2004 |title='Johnny Chester' entry }}. Archived from [http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=192 the original] on 6 August 2004.
Members
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! Title ! Album details |
| scope="row"| Johnny Chester & Jigsaw {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
|
|
|---|
| scope="row"| Going Places (Just for Fun) {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| |
| scope="row"| Best of Jigsaw
| |
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! Title ! EP details |
| scope="row"| Jigsaw
|
|
|---|
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | |
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Title !colspan="2"| Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="45"|AUS
! width="45"|AUS | |
| rowspan="2"|1970
! scope="row"| "To Love Means to Be Free" | 49 | 50 |
| scope="row"| "Yellow River"
| 1 ||| 5 | |
| rowspan="4"|1971
! scope="row"| "Albert the Albatross" | – | 62 |
| scope="row"| "Gwen (Congratulations)" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| 26 || 19 | |
| scope="row"| "So I Tell You"
| – || – | |
| scope="row"| "Shame and Scandal (in the Family)" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| 13 || 13 | |
| rowspan="4"|1972
! scope="row"| "How Do You Do" | 11 | 8 |
| scope="row"| "Readymix Revenge" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| – || 37 | |
| scope="row"| "Mademoiselle Ninette"
| 20 || 18 | |
| scope="row"| "Midnight Bus" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| 25 || 31 | |
| rowspan="4"|1973
| – | – |
| scope="row"| "Clap Your Hands" / "Marilyn Jones"
| – || – | |
| scope="row"| "Sunday Girl"
| – || 99 | |
| scope="row"| "World's Greatest Mum" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}}
| 9 || 8 | |
| rowspan="3"|1974
! scope="row"| "She's My Kind of Woman" {{small|(Johnny Chester and Jigsaw)}} | 19 | 14 |
| scope="row"| "A Rose Has to Die"
| {{n/a}} || 19 | |
| scope="row"| "Light up the World"
| {{n/a}} || – | |
| 1975
! scope="row"| "Teach Me How to Rock and Roll" | {{n/a}} | – |
| 1977
! scope="row"| "Every Day, Every Night" | {{n/a}} | – |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jigsaw}}
Category:Australian pop music groups
Category:Australian country music groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1968