The multi-talented Twilights were beloved in their native Australia during the 1960s, with a parade of hits and a huge fan base, and the group is still regarded Downunder as one of the very best Australasian acts of all time.

But they are also considered by many overseas aficionados as top-notch pop-psych, akin to the Hollies, Move, Idle Race or July. Add to that some exemplary vocal work, instrumental power and inspired original songwriting, and The Twilights emerge a world-class unit.

Best known as the starting point for Little River Band vocalist Glenn Shorrock and celebrated Cliff/Tina Turner songsmith Terry Britten, the original Twilights sextet are worthy of investigation by any student of 1960s mod, beat and pop-psych. Known Downunder for their uncanny ability to reproduce Beatles and other complex material, the group’s recorded legacy showcases a dexterous ensemble equally capable of tough mod-rock workouts, concise harmony-rich pop nuggets and some truly wiggy orchestrated pop-psych.

The brand new 3-CD set entitled Twilights Time: The Complete 60s Recordings comprises The Twilights’ complete vintage catalogue, numerous non-LP singles, rarely heard commercial spots and side projects such as Pastoral Symphony and Britten’s solo single ‘2,000 Weeks’, plus live material, much of it unissued.

Compiled and mastered by Alec Palao, the set also comes with a detailed 10,000 word sleeve note, including fresh interviews with Terry Britten and Twilights’ manager Garry Spry, while the booklet is loaded with photos and memorabilia.

Twilights Time! is thus not only the last word on an Australian pop institution but an exhaustive celebration of a tremendous and highly underrated 1960s outfit.

OK, well, as much as they most definitely were one of the better Australian groups of the 60’s, the Twilights were not especially innovative, and played competent, harmony-driven British Invasion-styled rock, strongly recalling both the beat and pseudo-psychedelic era Hollies to absolute perfection.

Relying largely on the original material of guitarist Terry Britten, they recorded over a dozen singles, as well as a couple albums, between 1965 and 1968, chalking up a few large Australian hits.

Like many Australian stars of the period, they traveled to England for a while in an attempt to crack the international market, managing to record a few tracks in London with renowned producer/engineer Norman Smith (who had worked with the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Pretty Things, and others).

Like other Australian acts in the U.K., with the exception of the Bee Gees and Easybeats, they (for the most part, on the grander scheme of things, shall we say) totally failed in this regard, returning to Australia for more sporadic success in the homeland before disbanding in early 1969.

That all said, and yes, basically one part ‘66/‘67 Beatles, one part Hollies and one part Left Banke, they still were a band chock full of all good things, though the results here are mostly in the ‘cute reverence for better bands’ category, if I am being totally honest.

For me, personally, one of the best albums to come out of Australia in the 1960s was the Twilight’s second and last album. It was largely influenced by the band’s journey to England in 1967, where they basically went and got hip and came back with a new bag of psychedelic tricks to record, what in my mind, was their genuine opus.

Admittedly, they go a bit overboard with the vocal treatments on several songs, but songs like Paternosta Row and Time And Motion Study Man are otherwise excellent songs (all be they had disturbing moments where some chorus’ sounded akin to Satan singing through a Leslie speaker!)

But, in truth, most all of the tracks contained here on this brilliant new 3CD collection are really pleasant to listen to and, at times, the odd wistful pop ballads comes up and puts you in a very happy space for nearly three minutes.

Again, overall, The Hollies seem to be a major influence to these guys with the vocal performance on What a Silly Thing to Do being almost a dead ringer for Graham Nash, but then again, imitation is the most sincerest form of flattery, they do say.

With all the live cuts included here, it is quickly evident (and yet not in a bad way) that the boys were also a huge cover band go-to, never really swerving out of their lane, always tackling tunes that they knew they could slightly make their own - such as She’s Not There, Shout, Drive My Car, My Generation and both Barefootin’ and Young Girl.

Disc One:
1. Sorry She’s Mine 2. La La La Lies 3. It’s Dark 4. Diddy Wa Diddy 5. Long Life 6. Needle In A Haystack 7. You Got Soul 8. Yes I Will 9. I’m Not Talkin’ 10. Let Me Go 11. Lucky Man 12. Satisfaction 13. I’ll Be Where You Are 14. I Don’t Know Where The Wind Will Blow Me 15. Come On Home 16. Wanted To Sell 17. If She Finds Out 18. John Hardy 19. Baby, Let Me Take You Home 20. You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me 21. Bad Boy 22. I Won’t Be The Same Without Her 23. Baby, Let Me Take You Home (EP version) 24. All I’ve Got To Do (live) 25. I Don’t Know Where The Wind Will Blow Me (live) 26. If She Finds Out (live) 27. She’s Not There (live) 28. Shout (live)

1-12 The Twilights LP // 13-23 Various singles and album tracks // 24-28 previously unissued.

Disc Two:
1. Once Upon A Twilight 2. What A Silly Thing To Do 3. Bessemae 4. Stop The World For A Day 5. Mr. Nice 6. Take Action 7. Blue Roundabout 8. Devendra 9. Found To Be Thrown Away 10. Tomorrow Is Today 11. The Cocky Song 12. Paternosta Row 13. What’s Wrong With The Way I Live 14. 9.50 15. Young Girl 16. Time And Motion Study Man 17. The Way They Play 18. Cathy, Come Home 19. Bowling Brings Out The Swinger In You 20. Bowling Brings Out The Swinger In You (instrumental) 21. Drive My Car (live) 22. I’m A Man (live) 23. Girl (live) 24. John Hardy (live) 25. My Generation (live) 26. Smokestack Lightning (live) 27. Bad Boy (live)

1-12 Once Upon A Twilight... LP (Stereo) // 13-20 Various singles // 21-25 previously unissued // 26-27 Not issued at the time

Disc Three:
1. Once Upon A Twilight 2. What A Silly Thing To Do 3. Bessemae 4. Stop The World For A Day 5. Mr. Nice 6. Take Action 7. Blue Roundabout 8. Devendra 9. Found To Be Thrown Away 10. Tomorrow Is Today 11. The Cocky Song 12. Paternosta Row 13. Always 14. Tell Me Goodbye 15. Comin’ On Down 16. Sand In The Sandwiches 17. Lotus 18. Things Go Better With Coke 19. 2,000 Weeks (Terry Britten) 20. Bargain Day (Terry Britten) 21. Love Machine (as Pastoral Symphony) 22. Spread A Little Love Around (as Pastoral Symphony) 23. Needle In A Haystack (live) 24. Barefootin’ (live) 25. Young Girl (live) 26. Night Of Fear (live) 27. Show Me (live) 28. What’s Wrong With The Way I Live (live) 29. “Say Goodbye” Medley 30. Good Day Sunshine (with Athol Guy and Laurel Lea) 31. Once Upon A Twilight (soundtrack version)

1-12 Once Upon A Twilight... LP (Mono) // 13-22 Various single and EP tracks // 23-28 Not issued at the time // 29-31 previously unissued

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