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Big thanks to Craig Charles @ccfunkandsoul for supporting the Col Nolan reissue on @bbc6music ! #craigcharlesfunkandsoul

This is Col Loughnan, the last surviving member of The Soul Syndicate, with his copy of ‘Whatever It’s Worth’ at his home in Sydney. Col played tenor sax with the band and sang the tender vocal version of “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” that closes the album. Col had lost his copy of the album decades ago and hadn’t heard the album since. He went on to form jazz-rock legends Ayers Rock with Soul Syndicate guitarist Jimmy Doyle in the early ‘70s, who found success in the US and opened stadium shows over there for some of the biggest touring rock bands of the era. He kept very busy playing, releasing his own albums and doing string and horn arrangements in Sydney for many, many years after that. He also became a long serving educator at the Sydney Conservatorium Of Music. Col is full spark (thanks to daily ocean swims) and has so many great stories from his decades in the biz, that we want to hear more of. A notable one was meeting and watching Stevie Wonder record overdubs for Innervisions while Ayers Rock were in the next studio at The Record Plant in LA! . . . . . . . #australianjazz #jazz #pacifictheatreencore #colnolan #colnolanandthesoulsyndicate #colloughnan

Posted @withrepost • @_lanceferguson_ 1968-2019! So excited that the long road to the release of the first official reissue of Col Nolan’s ‘Whatever It’s Worth’ has wound to its end today. From locating a scarcer-than-scarce original copy, professionally cleaning it, painstakingly restoring and remastering the music, recreating artwork, researching and creating liner notes, conversations with Col Nolan (before he sadly passed early this year) and last surviving album performer Col Laughnan, plus negotiating and organising the release officially with Col’s estate...the journey has been totally fascinating and rewarding. Above all, I’m really happy that this amazing and important music can finally get into the ears of a much wider audience. Huge thanks to The Col Nolan Estate, Col Laughnan , @thinwhitefluke @_johncastle_ David Thompson @recordscaptainstomp @stevesmartmastered Mark Egan @enniostyles Jaffa @northside_records @mikegurrieri Mark Egan, Paris Pompor XOXO

‘Whatever It’s Worth’ is out today on vinyl, CD and digital! Here’s our favourite cover from the album, “Ode To Billie Joe”. This is a slower, moodier version of the Bobbie Gentry classic than Lou Donaldson’s famous take that was released on Blue Note one year earlier. Once again John Sangster’s drumming is superb, but just as smokey are the solos from “Diamond” Jimmy Doyle on guitar and Nolan on Hammond, while Col Loughnan lurks behind them all on tenor sax. Thanks for all the great feedback we’ve been getting on the album and the label. We can’t wait to unearth more gems for you next year!

With just one day to go until ‘Whatever It’s Worth’ is out, we need to pay tribute to the man behind the album. Col Nolan has to be one of the most important people in Australian jazz history. His career spanned across almost six decades, and he proved deft at staying relevant throughout that time, from Dixieland to fusion, be-bop and beyond. He was a fixture at the legendary Trocadero and El Rocco Jazz Cellar clubs in Sydney in the early ‘60s and became the pioneer of Hammond Organ jazz in Australia, rivalling the likes of the greats like Jimmy Smith and Jimmy Witherspoon. Soon after that he formed the Soul Syndicate. If you ever see a copy of the band’s other album, ‘Live At Jason’s’ then grab it (won’t be cheap, though). The ’73 line up is different to ‘Whatever…’ but it’s killer none the less. Col also was a key member of fusion pioneers Galapagos Duck and a founding member of The Daly-Wilson Big Band, who were a huge success in Australia and who had an album released in the US. Their track “Dirty Feet” has one of the most recognisable breaks in Hip Hop history, being sampled by the likes of Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill, Pete Rock, DJ Krush, DJ Shadow and Large Professor. Sadly Col passed away earlier in 2019, only shortly after we were able to tell him about our plans to reissue ‘Whatever It’s Worth’. Needless to say he was overjoyed to know that it was getting a release and widely heard, and for probably the first time as the record wasn’t even to find even upon release. Here’s to you, Col!

Here’s another taste of the Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate ‘Whatever It’s Worth’ album, which is out this Friday Nov 29. ‘Rivera Mountain’ is one of the three amazing original songs on the record. This one is written by the band’s drummer, the mighty John Sangster. And his playing on this is pretty jaw dropping. Sangster would have to be up there with Ed Wilson of the Daly-Wilson Big Band (with whom Col Nolan played keys) as one of the most break beat friendly drummers in Australian music history. But of course make sure you contact us first if you want to sample this, beat makers. Order from our site (link in bio) or from your friendly music retailer of choice.

Machines Always Win ‘Runner’ is out today on vinyl! You can grab the 2LP Ltd Ed Turqouise 140g pressing at our website. Check out the brand new video clip for ‘LEM’ now. Animation by Ewen Farr @unfarr

Col Nolan stock has landed, and we can safely say that it looks and sounds fantastic. 140g LP, three panel digipak CD and the Shades Of McSoul 7” that is free with all LP pre-orders. All out Nov 29. NB the dinked DJ friendly 7” is out Dec 6. Head to our site to pre-order. #pacifictheatreencore

We are extremely proud to unveil our first reissue on Pacific Theatre Encore, ‘Whatever It’s Worth’ a lost '68 Australian soul jazz classic by Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate. It’s out Nov 29 on CD / LP / DIG. LP pre-orders incl a free 7”. Pre-order link in bio. Check out this trailer with actual footage from the Whisky A Go Go nightclub in 1968 in Sydney’s Kings Cross where Col Nolan & The Soul Syndicate were the in-house band here right at this time. The first single “Shades Of Soul” is out today digitally everywhere and the DJ friendly 7” is out Dec 6.