PETER WRIGHT
ANCHOR AND CROWN
Peter at The Crown Cabaret, Toowoomba
Performances spanned the period 1977-1979.
The motorcycle accident puts Peter on his back and in plaster, and the projected recovery period is eight months.
However, after six months, Peter receives a visit from an old friend - George Sklavos.
George operated the Crown Cabaret, a Toowoomba venue, then currently struggling with attendances, but where The Peter Wright Revival had
previously had huge attendance success in a 1972 engagement season. Despite Peter still being in plaster, George offers him a deal where he
plays for the total admission ticket sales, plus other considerations. The offer is accepted, and the first season commences in February,1977. It is
immensely successful and is extended three times. Over the next three years there are many return season engagements and in total, during
this comprehensive period, ninety thousand admission tickets are sold to Peter’s Crown Cabaret performances.
Songs written by Peter were part of the live performance and a 45 single pressing of two of those compositions was offered for sale as a
souvenir record at the venue. Apart from the strong venue sales, regional radio picked it up for airplay, record bars ordered it and their sales
surveys saw both sides chart individually in the two adjacent chart areas.
However, after six months, Peter receives a visit from an old friend -
George operated the Crown Cabaret, a Toowoomba venue, then currently struggling with attendances, but where The Peter Wright Revival had
previously had huge attendance success in a 1972 engagement season. Despite Peter still being in plaster, George offers him a deal where he
plays for the total admission ticket sales, plus other considerations. The offer is accepted, and the first season commences in February,1977. It is
immensely successful and is extended three times. Over the next three years there are many return season engagements and in total, during
this comprehensive period, ninety thousand admission tickets are sold to Peter’s Crown Cabaret performances.
Songs written by Peter were part of the live performance and a 45 single pressing of two of those compositions was offered for sale as a
souvenir record at the venue. Apart from the strong venue sales, regional radio picked it up for airplay, record bars ordered it and their sales
surveys saw both sides chart individually in the two adjacent chart areas.
Peter’s band was dubbed The Clan (Mark II), and consisted of long-time friend Danny Withington (bass), Graham Muller (keyboards) and
ex-Peter Wright Revival drummer, Glenn Ollier.
The record that resulted from these performances - and Crown Cabaret stage favourites - was the Double-A-Sided single
Big Glass Slippers / Ooby Doo Di (TOR TS003). The record was recorded in Brisbane and self-funded on Peter’s own TOR (Top Of the Range) label
and distributed through RCA. Sales in and around Toowoomba are brisk, and local radio stations 4GR and 4WK each promote a different side.
The record that resulted from these performances -
With only six weeks trading, this record also squeaks into the Kent Report Top 100 records at #98. Kev Mackie, a long-time friend and 4WK DJ
gives Ooby Doo Di some good exposure, and it climbs to mid-twenties. 4GR charts Big Glass Slippers and it climbs to #6.
At the end of 1979 Peter Wright and The Clan play the last gig of their epic 300 night engagement - and Peter Wright - without fuss or fanfare steps
out of the musical spotlight and retires into private life.
At the end of 1979 Peter Wright and The Clan play the last gig of their epic 300 night engagement -
Performances at the Crown Cabaret, Toowoomba (right) Peter Wright, Danny Withington and Glenn Ollier
