Sounds of the ’60s- Right: Groovy! Former ’60s pop musician Jack McGrath (Dream and New Dream) and writer David Johnston look over The Music Goes Round My Head. 58075

By Kath Gannaway
THE ‘new’ music of the Beatles inspired David Johnston to become a musician … and that’s another thing music-lovers in the Yarra Valley can thank them for.
David grew up as a teenager in the ’60s and while he was for a long time “Mr Johnston” to the many school kids he taught in Healesville, he is much more broadly known for his involvement with local bands such as Flight and Blow by Blow in the ’70s and ’80s to his current involvement with Dukes of Despair and the Ewan Cloonan Union.
The five-year era between 1964 and 1969 holds a particular passion and is the focus of a limited edition, 1000 copies, book just released.
The Music Goes Round My Head is a history of and tribute to the music and musicians of an era which he regards as a dynamic but also innocent time in Australian music culture.
“The book was assembled from my memories and focuses on the music,” he said.
He also called on more than 100 musicians and other music industry people as part of his research for the book.
Jack McGrath is one of those people. He scored a music contract with Geoffrey Edelsten’s label Scope, later joining Dream which became New Dream.
Their ‘bubblegum’ song ‘Groupie’ was a number two hit in Melbourne in 1969.
Jack was among the many recipients of an email from David asking for information.
As it turned out, he was almost a neighbour, and as they sit around Jack’s dining room table it’s clear they’ve struck up a friendship with music as a common thread.
The book is a who’s who of Jack’s contemporaries and through David’s research and own observations a great insight into the very different live music industry of the time.
While Jack left the teenyboppers behind a while ago, as ‘Jack the Music Man’ he has retained a very solid fan base entertaining older audiences in RSLs and retirement villages.
Both men have a special place in the ’60s, but their love of music is evolutionary.
“There is a lot of really exciting music and musicians around,” Jack says “ … and probably, technically a lot better and more creative.
“I think it’s an exciting time for young people to be involved with music.”
For anyone who was in their teens in the mid to late ’60s, it is a great way to revisit the music influences of the day.
“I think it is a great documentary of the era and I’m delighted that someone has gone to the trouble to put it together in such an interesting way,” Jack said.
“I love the way it’s written, the detail and David’s sense of humour which comes through in it.”
The book took three years to produce with David researching, writing, typesetting, designing and publishing it himself, at Signs Publishing in Warburton.
The Music Goes Round My Head is a 400-page paperback with more than 1000 photos and other archival images and retails for $40.
It’s very much a labour of love with all the profits being donated to Support Act, a charitable foundation which assists professional musicians and their families through health problems and other times of need.
Locally it is available at Monroe’s Place and Mocha and Lime cafes and Healesville Newsagents, or visit www.roundmyhead.com for other options.