Swanee (singer)
John Swan OAM (born 15 March 1952), better known as Swanee, is an Australian rock singer.
John Swan | |
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![]() Swanee in 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | John Archibold Dixon Swan |
Also known as | Swanee |
Born | Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom | 15 March 1952
Genres | Rock Hard rock |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, drums |
Years active | 1966–2014 |
Associated acts | The Party Boys Fraternity Feather Cold Chisel Jimmy Barnes David Campbell |
Website | www![]() |
He was born John Archibold Dixon Swan in Glasgow, Scotland in 1952. He is the older brother of singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes, and Alan Barnes, and is the uncle of stage performer David Campbell.
In 2015, Swan was announced as South Australia's Senior Australian of the Year.[1] and in 2017, was appointed an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
Career
1952-1978: Early life and bands
John Swan migrated to Australia with his family in 1961. When his mother remarried in the mid-1960s, he was the only child to keep the surname of his biological father, who was an adept boxer. Swan joined his first professional band, Happiness, as a drummer when he was fourteen. When he was seventeen, he enlisted in the Australian Army, and was discharged after two years of service. In early 1974 he was the drummer with The James Wright Band, moving on to Jim Keays' Southern Cross for a short time.
In 1975 he joined Adelaide band Fraternity MK II replacing Bon Scott on vocals for two years. In 1977, Swan became the vocalist with Feather. This band had been known as Blackfeather in the early 1970s, but by 1977 no original members were left so the name was shortened. Feather recorded one single with Swan, "Girl Trouble", before he left in 1978 to establish himself as a solo artist.
1979-1986: Solo career part 1
Under the name Swanee by which he was already known, Swan released his debut solo single "Crazy Dreams" in 1979. An album, Into the Night, and several other singles followed but met with little commercial success.
In late 1981, his version of "If I Were a Carpenter" became a national hit, peaking at number 5. The single was followed by the 1982 studio album This Time It's Different that spawned another two hits, "Temporary Heartache" and "Lady What's Your Name".
In 1986 Swanee featured in an advertising campaign for West End Draught, a South Australian beer. The brewer provided financial support to Swanee's tours and he in turn appeared in the company's TV commercials.
1987-1989: The Party Boys
In 1987, Swanne replaced Angry Anderson as lead singer of The Party Boys, a touring band with floating membership, formed in 1983 by Paul Christie of Mondo Rock. Swan's tenure with the band proved to be the group's most successful period. A cover of the John Kongos song "He's Gonna Step On You Again" peaked at number 1 on the Australian charts. The band's self-titled album made the Australian top 20. Swan remained with the band until 1989 before going solo again.
1990-present: Solo Career part 2
Since 1990 Swan's recording career has been less than prolific, producing only two singles that year, including a cover of Little Richard's "Lucille" for the The Delinquents film.
In 1997, Swan released Heart and Soul.
In 2007 Swan released the album Have a Little Faith (Liberation Records). The project was recorded with producer /guitarist Mark Moffatt.
In 2009 he worked with fellow Australian artists, Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel, John St Peeters and Marty Rhone to release the single, "Legends of the Southern Land".[2]
In July 2014 Swanee released the album One Day at a Time.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [3] | ||
Into the Night |
|
66 |
This Time It's Different |
|
22 |
Bushido |
|
73 |
Heart And Soul |
|
- |
Have a Little Faith (As John Swan) |
|
- |
One Day at a Time |
|
- |
Live albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [3] | ||
Ready for Action! Live in the Snow |
|
31 |
Compilation albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [3] | ||
Days Gone By - The Best of Swanee |
|
52 |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
Album |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [3] | |||
Credited as Swanee | |||
1979 | "Crazy Dreams" | 68 | non album single |
"Samantha" | - | non album single | |
1980 | "Ol' Rosie" | - | Into the Night |
"Linda" | - | ||
1981 | "Mathew" | - | |
"If I Were a Carpenter" | 5 | This Time It's Different | |
"Samantha" (re release) | 93 | non album single | |
1982 | "Temporary Heartache" | 18 | This Time It's Different |
"Lady What's Your Name" | 13 | ||
1983 | "Sail Away" | 52 | non album single |
"Motor Down" | - | Ready for Action! Live in the Snow | |
1984 | "I'm Ready" / "Carrie-Ann" | 22 | non album single |
1985 | "You Ought to Know By Now" | - | Bushido |
"Turn Away" | - | ||
Credited as John Swan | |||
1985 | "Say You'll Do Something" | - | non album single |
"It Could Have Been You" | - | non album single | |
1986 | " (I'm In Love With An) Angel" | - | non album single |
"West End Girls" | - | non album single | |
Credited as Swanee | |||
1990 | "Lucille" | - | The Delinquents (soundtrack) |
"Blood is Thicker Than Water" | - | non album single | |
2009 | "Legends of the Southern Land"[2] (with Ray Burgess, Tommy Emmanuel, John St Peeters and Marty Rhone) |
- | non album single |
Other singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [4] | ||
1985 | "The Garden" (as Australia Too) |
22 |
See also
References
- 2015 SA Australian of the Year Recipients Announced, australianoftheyear.org.au, 12 November 2014
- Pascuzzi, Carmine. "'Legends of the Southern Land' – a new Australian anthem". MediaSearch. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 302. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 22. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. The Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.