About the book
The Executives: Their Aim Was To Please You
Written and compiled by Jaesen Jones
160 pages, 17.6cm x 25cm
120 scans and photos
Paperback
In The Executives: Their Aim Was To Please You, author Jaesen Jones tells the story of one of Australia’s most multi-talented, musically ambitious and distinctive pop groups of the sixties, The Executives.
Today, The Executives are remembered as a vocal group, perhaps because that was how they first appeared on Brian Henderson’s Bandstand back in 1967, but the truth is, they were arguably the most musically capable group on the Sydney live circuit. The musical background of the group was staggering. Publicity from the era states proudly that, between them, they played over 30 instruments, and they used that musical mastery to good effect on their records, which have an artistry and a polish the equal of anything coming out of Los Angeles or London at the time.
But while they had no trouble cracking the market in their Sydney hometown with hits such as "My Aim Is To Please You", "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" and "Windy Day", success eluded them on a national level, particularly in the important music centre of Melbourne where, despite three promising tours, a perplexing lack of radio airplay prevented them from achieving the status they deserved.
Using inside stories, anecdotes and personal recollections from all band members, Jaesen takes you on an entertaining journey starting from the group’s formation in 1959 through to its initial split in 1971. He then delves into each member's subsequent careers - including the seventies and eighties reformations of The Executives - and provides an insight into what they are each doing today.
“The generous involvement of so many people connected to the band has made this book an absolute joy to write,” explains Jaesen. “The more I uncovered about them, the more determined I was to ensure that their story was documented for others to read. How many Aussie bands in the sixties were not only big in their hometown, but also played alongside international artists at big-scale events such as the inaugural UNICEF gala in 1969? Or went overseas, signed a record deal with a famous record company mogul in LA, received an advance, and recorded an album? People interested in Aussie music need to know that The Executives did!”
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