Sounds (Australian TV series)

Sounds, originally broadcast as Sound Unlimited, was a popular Australian television series featuring pop and rock music, live performances, music videos and interviews. It was broadcast on Saturday mornings, from 9 a.m. for three hours, on the Seven Network beginning in late 1974 to end in December 1987. For most of its run it was hosted by former disc jockey, Donnie Sutherland. It is often credited as the first of its kind in the world, created because Australia was too far away for artists to travel to for live performances.

Sounds
GenrePop music
Created byGraham Webb
Presented by
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons14
Production
Executive producerGraham Webb
ProducerLes Cook 1976-1980
Production locationsSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Running time3 hours
Release
Original networkSeven Network
Original releaseLate 1974 –
December 1987 (1987-12)
Chronology
Preceded byGraham Webb's Saturday Today Show
Followed bySaturday Morning Live

History

Sounds began as Sounds Unlimited in late 1974, just before its long-time rival, the ABC's Countdown.[1] The show's producer, and original host, was the former commercial radio DJ Graham "Spider" Webb. Initially it was broadcast as Graham Webb Saturday Today Show on Channel 7 in Sydney only.[1] Webb handed the compère position to the former 1960s pop singer and 1970s DJ, Donnie Sutherland.[1] Jeffrey James was a co-compère with Webb and later with Sutherland but left the show.

Sounds Unlimited (initially without the plural) was the first live studio programme broadcast in colour in Australia from 1 March 1975.[2] Many local and international music artists appeared on the show. By May 1978 it was screened on 21 stations across the country. According to Sutherland, "When colour was starting, families would be in the shopping centres on Saturday morning and they would see our show – and a lot of our material was in colour. Not only did that help sell sets, but it also established Sound Unlimited in people's minds."[3] It broadcast the final public appearance, on 30 September 1978, of Australian rock'n'roller, Johnny O'Keefe, who died a week later, on 6 October.

Broadcast out of a hangar in Rutherford NSW using NBN 3 OB facilities late 70's ... Blew the circuit on the power pole ... Only saving grace was NBN's small OB van with a generator ...

The theme song for the show was "Love's Theme", by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra.

See also

References
  1. Kruger, Debbie. "Australian Music Media". Debbie Kruger Official Website. Archived from the original on 3 May 2011. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  2. "Neon sign used in Channel Seven television program Sounds, 1986". Powerhouse Museum. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  3. "1978: May 13-19". Television.AU. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
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