Radio Freedom (band)

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.

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

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", appeared in August and reached No. 30,[2] which was written by O'Hara and Snashall.[6] Radio Freedom issued their debut album, Beyond the Peach Tree, via Westside/Phonogram. By that time they were a three-piece with Ralpha Alvaro joining on lead guitar.[7] 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."[8]

Their third single, in February 1993, is a cover version of Bob Marley's "Is This Love". Early in that year 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][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][9]

Members

Credits:[6][9]

  • 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: 1992[8]
  • 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. Miranda, Charles (11 June 1992), "Another hit from 'E-Street' studios", The Canberra Times
  2. 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. 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. "Radio Freedom – Beyond the Peach Tree Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  7. Leedham, Nicole (14 October 1993), "More than pappy pop says Pehl", The Canberra Times
  8. Leedham, Nicole (30 September 1993), "Nirvana follow-up will silence critics", The Canberra Times
  9. Scott, Gavin; Mollinar, Robbie. "A Journey Through Aussie Pop: 'Ep 9: Radio Freedom with Paul Snashall'". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  10. 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.
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