Laurie Allen Revue
Formed in Melbourne, Australia
Laurie Allen Revue Iwas modelled on the American soul revues of the early to mid-Sixties such as Booker T. & The M.G.s and the Memphis Horns) although Laurie’s band evidently had no horn section.
The datings in Who’s Who suggests that the group went through a couple of distinct rhythm-section changes. The earlier lineup (ca. 1967) was Lawrie Byrnes (drums, ex-Little Gulliver & The Children, Ram Jam Big Band), Barry Rogers (ex-Rondells, bass) and Phil Manning (ex Blue Jays, Bay City Union, guitar). The later (1968?) backline may have been Gary Young (ex-Rondells, drums) and Wayne Duncan (ex-Rondells, bass); another notable player who passed through was guitarist John Adolphus (later of the Hot City Bump Band).
The band gigged mainly around Melbourne and recorded three Singles for Festival during 1967-68. The Revue included some notable members, not least the long-serving Young and Duncan (who had been in Bobby & Laurie’s backing group, The Rondells) and it’s also notable for being the first major professional outing for sister vocalists Glenys and Colleen Hewett.
Bobby and Laurie reunited for about two years, until their final split in 1971, after which Laurie joined the short-lived Nite Train in 1971.