NORMAN GUNSTON

The Norman Gunston character was originally conceived by comedy writer Wendy Skelcher and first appeared as a minor character in the second series of the cult Australian TV comedy series The Aunty Jack Show in 1973. Cast member Garry McDonald portrayed Gunston as a dull and talentless local TV reporter from the industrial city of Wollongong – a locale that was the butt of many jokes throughout the series. The Gunston character made enough of an impression for him to be revived in a subsequent comedy mini-series made by the Aunty Jack team, Wollongong the Brave (1974), in which he starred in a satirical mock documentary Norman Gunston: The Golden Weeks. His segments as Norman in What's On In Wollongong became one of the most popular parts of the Aunty Jack Show, and Norman appeared on the 'Aunty Jack Sings Wollongong' album along with McDonald's other character, Kid Eager.

In his later and most famous incarnation, Gunston had evolved to become the unlikely host of his own national TV variety show, The Norman Gunston Show, which premiered with a live broadcast on ABC television on 18 May 1975. Dubbed "the little Aussie bleeder" (a play on the term "Aussie battler"), he satirised parochial Australian culture, media personalities and egocentric talk show hosts. After a faltering start, the Norman Gunston Show rapidly gained a huge national audience and the series became the pre-eminent Australian TV comedy program of its day, with McDonald winning a Gold Logie and having several pop hits.

He is, notably, the only Logie recipient who has received the award in the name of his character rather than in his own name. Gunston recorded intially with the Lamington label that released his debut album 'The Popular Ballad Animal'. The album covered both contemporary and classic era compositions, several of which Norman had performed on his show, including his theme song, "I Who Have Nothing". In particular, notable tracks include Gunston's bizarre but inspired interpretations of Liza Minnelli's "Liza With a Z", David Gates' "If", Tom Jones' "Delilah", Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns", "Jailhouse Rock", "Piano Man", "Vesti La Giubba", "A little love and understanding", "Daddy what if?", and the Judy Garland classic "Over the Rainbow".

In 1978, Gunston released another covers album 'Nylon Degrees' (sending up Boz Scaggs' 'Silk Degrees' in both title and cover art). His next album, 1984's 'Join The Dots', included out-takes and previously unreleased rare recordings, title and cover art parodying Culture Club's 'Colour By Numbers'. Gunston appeared as a guest harmonica player at Frank Zappa's concert at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia on 20 January 1976 which was later released as 'FZ:OZ'(2002). Gunston's single record releases sold sufficiently well to enter the Australian top 40 charts. Parody 45 single tributes included Punk rock - ''I Might Be a Punk But I Love Ya Baby'' (1977), ABBA - ''Salute to ABBA'' (1976), Sherbet - ''Howzat'' (1978) and Kiss - ''Kiss Army'' (1980).

SINGLES

Salute to ABBA

27 SEP '76

#9

I Might Be a Punk (But, I Love You Baby!)

23 MAY '77

#57

Kiss Army / Normdrum

10 NOV '80

#13

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Gunston

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/