Radio Freedom (band)

Radio Freedom
OriginSydney, Australia
GenresDance
Years active1991-1994
LabelsWestside/Phonogram
Past members
  • Paul "Pehl" Snashall
  • Brett "True" O'Hara
  • Ralph Alvaro

Radio Freedom were an Australian dance band, which were active in the early 1990s. They had a top ten hit with their single "I Can Feel It" (1992). Band members were Paul "Pehl" Snashall, Brett "True" O'Hara and Ralph Alvaro The group supported a tour by Elton John in 1993 and issued an album, Beyond the Peach Tree, before disbanding in 1994.

History

In November 1991 Radio Freedom were formed in Sydney as a duo by Brett "True" O'Hara on turntables and Paul "Pehl" Snashall on lead vocals, guitar and keyboards.[1] O'Hara was a local DJ while Snashall had completed an audio engineering degree before becoming a bass guitarist in a grunge band.[1] Snashall then played lead guitar in a pop group and keyboards in covers band.[1] Their debut single, "I Can Feel It", appeared in May 1992, which peaked at No. 7 on the ARIA Singles chart.[2][3] It was co-written by O'Hara and Snashall with Miguel Montoya.[4] The Canberra Times' Charles Miranda described its sonation, "'90s funk, Latin American Salsa with a little calypso island feel thrown in for good measure."[1]

"I Can Feel It" had been played on TV series, E Street, which was organised by their label, Westside Records through their same parent company, Westside Television Productions.[1][5] Their second single, "Proove", was released in August and reached No. 30,[2] which was written by O'Hara and Snashall.[6] Their third single released in February 1993, was a cover version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love". Early in 1993 the group supported an Australian tour by Elton John.[5] John informed Snashall that Westside had blocked plans for Radio Freedom to continue John's tour beyond Australia and that their label was insolvent.[5][7]

Following several delays, Radio Freedom's debut album, Beyond the Peach Tree, was released in November 1993. By that time they were a three-piece with Ralpha Alvaro joining on lead guitar.[8] Nicole Leedham of The Canberra Times felt it was "not too bad. Admittedly, [the band] is never going to win a prize for profundity but this debut album is, at least, pretty groovy."[9] The group disbanded in 1994.

In June 2022 Snashall revealed the band's problems with Westside in a podcast, A Journey Through Aussie Pop, "Episode 9: Radio Freedom with Paul Snashall."[5][7]

Members

Credits:[6][7]

  • Brett "True" O'Hara – turntables, scratches, loops
  • Paul "Pehl" Snashall – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Ralph Alvaro – lead guitar

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
Beyond the Peach Tree
  • Released: November 1993[9]
  • Format: CD, cassette
  • Label: Westside/Phonogram (514 244-2)

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
AUS
[10]
"I Can Feel It" 1992 7 Beyond the Peach Tree
"Proove" 30
"Is This Love" 1993 51
"Edge of the World (Love Storm)" —

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Miranda, Charles (11 June 1992), "Another hit from 'E-Street' studios", The Canberra Times
  2. ^ a b Hung, Stefan. "Radio Freedom – 'I Can Feel It'". Australian Charts Portal (Hung Medien). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  3. ^ Scott, Gavin (10 November 2017), "20 Australian hits from the '90s you completely forgot about", SBS
  4. ^ "Song Catalogue Search Results for 'I Can Feel It'". APRA AMCOS (Australasian Performing Right Association, Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d staff writer (13 June 2022). "'Elton John Told Me My Label Had Gone Bust': The Rise & Fall if Radio Freedom". theMusic.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Radio Freedom – Beyond the Peach Tree Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Scott, Gavin; Mollinar, Robbie. "A Journey Through Aussie Pop: 'Ep 9: Radio Freedom with Paul Snashall'". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  8. ^ Leedham, Nicole (14 October 1993), "More than pappy pop says Pehl", The Canberra Times
  9. ^ a b Leedham, Nicole (30 September 1993), "Nirvana follow-up will silence critics", The Canberra Times
  10. ^ a b Peaks in Australia:
    • All except noted: "Discography Radio Freedom". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
    • "I Can Feel It" certification and "Is This Love": Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 228.