In 1834 six farm workers from Tolpuddle, Dorset were found guilty on trumped-up charges related to their membership in a clandestine trade union. The judge sentenced them to seven years transportation to Australia, a harsh punishment usually reserved for only the worst, hardened criminals. The case was symbolic of the new struggle of the British working classes for better wages and conditions, and it soon inspired a groundswell of public sympathy.

The six men became popular heroes, dubbed "The Tolpuddle Martyrs."

One hundred and thirty-two years later, some Australian teenagers decided, "Hey, what a cool name for a band!" And so a new (and hyphenated) Tol-Puddle Martyrs came into being.

Previously known as Peter & the Silhouettes they'd already released two songs on a local Victoria compilation LP, The Scene. With its urgent fuzz guitar riff and stompin' stop-start arrangement, Claudette Jones is an instant grabber  while the slower, moodier Natural Man is also worth a spin.

Both are on this CD, along with the four great tracks they went on to release in 1967 and 68 under their new, improved and historically conscious name.

Their first single, Time Will Come, is a foreboding slab of chug swathed in eerie organ lines and dramatic fuzz guitar flourishes, while its flipside, Social Cell, has a similar hardboiled throbbing quality that also connects
well.

By the time the second Tol-Puddle single rolled around they'd obviously been feasting on the Kinks, especially Face to Face and Something Else, and their mood had brightened considerably. Love Your Life is a pleasant Kinky pop tune, but its completely surpassed by its partner. Nellie Bligh is perhaps the best song Ray Davies never wrote - and maybe the best Ray Davies vocal he never sang to boot; only the Leopards ever came this close to the raw, swaggering delivery of the originals.

The Tol-Puddle Martyrs, the second incarnation of Peter & the Silhouettes (Claudette Jones), produced some of the rarest and most sought after recordings from the killer 60s punk period. Peter & the Silhouettes: Peter Rechter organ/vox Kevin Clancy lead guitar/vox Keiran Keogh bass guitar Manuel Pappos rhythm guitar Tony Truscott drums

The Martyrs developed a huge cult following in Central & Northern Victoria in the 60s with their wild and raucous fuzz guitar/organ drenched material.

Ian McFarlane, renowned Australian rock historian writes: The moody, magnificent Time Will Come is certainly one of the great Aussie psychedelic recordings; an enigmatic, organ drenched trip that still sounds amazing today.

Formed: 1966, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
Members: Peter Rechter (organ, vocals, 1966-69), Kevin Clancy (guitar, vocals, 1966-69), Russell Hogan (rhythm guitar, 1966-69), Keiran Keogh (bass, 1966-69), Len Gaskell (drums, vocals, 1966-69)

 

1. Claudette Jones
2. The Natural Man
3. Time Will Come
4. Social Cell
5. Love Your Life
6. Nellie Bligh
7. Claudette Jones
8. Time Will Come