The Simple Image Profile

Andrew Schmidt

7 May 2013

From small teen clubs in Wellington and national pop package tours to heavier times in the frantic Sydney scene of the late 1960s and early 1970s – every moment of The Simple Image's four-year pop and rock odyssey is in their parting single.

Barry Leef's aching widescreen interpretation of Guy Fletcher and Doug Flett's country soul ballad ‘Goodbye Birds’ (1971) is a wisdom filled lament and cautionary tale recorded by the Wellington band across the Tasman. The little-heard single was issued in Australia and New Zealand.

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Formed in 1967 by three Hutt Valley bred Todd Motors employees, Barry Leef (rhythm guitar), Ron "Cass" Gascoigne (bass) and Harry Leki (lead guitar), The Simple Image had three strong vocalists in a line-up completed by drummer Alan Gordon (succeeded in 1968 by Gordon Wylie). Ron "Cass" Gascoigne had been in an early pre-Fourmyula band, The In-Sect (also featuring Frankie Stevens on guitar/vocals).

The Simple Image's first gigs were on the Wellington wedding circut, improving no more than slightly when agent Tom McDonald signed them to his UBA agency. He sent the band off on a trip around the Pacific on a cruise liner.

The phaser-effect ridden ‘Spinning Spinning Spinning’ went to No.1 in June, aided by producer Howard Gable's inventive light psychedelic production.

After touring with Maria Dallas, and supporting Mr Lee Grant, The Simple Image were spotted by HMV A&R man Howard Gable and signed to the label. They released their debut single 'Two Kinds Of Lovers' in early 1968, produced by Gable. It reached No.11 but the sequel would establish the band.

The phaser-effect ridden ‘Spinning Spinning Spinning’ (also released in the UK and Holland) went to No.1 in June, aided by producer Howard Gable's inventive light psychedelic production. There it sat for a month, which prompted an album of the same name for HMV Records, featuring a fine close harmony take on The Beach Boys' ‘Hawaii’.

Better still was the proto-power pop of ‘The Grooviest Girl in The World’ (No.3, March 1969) and ‘Ulla’ (July 1969), two infectious, upbeat pieces of bubblegum pop.

Barry Leef left for Sydney in July 1969, forming Strawpatch with fellow New Zealanders Jack Stradwick, Mike Wilson and Mike Darby. With new singer Doug Smith, Bruce Walker on keyboards, and the NEBOA Entertainer Of The Year group award under their belts, The Simple Image followed, taking up a residency at Sydney's Whisky Au Go Go in September 1969. Leef soon rejoined and Gordon Wylie was replaced by Christchurch drummer Wayne Allen in October.

The Simple Image split in 1971, and Harry Leki returned to Wellington to join Andy Anderson's Arkastra. Leef joined Perth progressive rockers Bakery in 1973, impressing the touring Frank Zappa, who offered up a spot in The Mothers of Invention, which was stymied only by visa difficulties.

The Barry Leef Group followed in 1975, releasing two singles on Festival’s Infinity label before Leef settled into a well-regarded career as session vocalist and performing musican. He still plays out, currently touring an Eagles/Doobie Brothers/West Coast song revue around Australia.

Harry Leki passed away in 2009.

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An advert for The Simple Image's debut single in February, 1968

Photo credit: Grant Gillanders Collection

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Cass Gascoigne at Ali Baba's Wellington, circa 1969

Photo credit: Kevin Furey collection

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Gordon Wylie at Ali Baba's Wellington, circa 1969

Photo credit: Kevin Furey collection

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Simple Image at Wellington Zoo

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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Barry Leef at Ali Baba's Wellington, circa 1969

Photo credit: Kevin Furey collection

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Gordon Wylie at HMV Studios

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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The Simple Image and Gerry Merito in Gisborne in January 1968 for the Miss Gisborne show

Photo credit: Gisborne Photo News

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Harry Leki at Ali Baba's Wellington, circa 1969

Photo credit: Kevin Furey collection

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The Simple Image on C'mon '68

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Harry Leki, Barry Leef, Gordon Wylie, Ron Gascoigne

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Harry Leki at HMV Studios

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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The Simple Image fanclub flyer

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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The Simple Image, Civic Square, Wellington, circa 1968

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Barry Leef (second from left) in a pre-Simple Image band, The Shades, in Blenheim

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Cass Gascoigne's first band, The Termites, in Ohakune, 1963. Cass is second from left.

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The Simple Image at The Sydney Stadium in 1970 with members of The Four Tops: Wayne Allen is second from the left, centre front is Barry Leef, behind him is Cass Gascoigne and second from right is Harry Leki.

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Spinning, Spinning, Spinning hits the top ...

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Barry Leef at HMV Studios

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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Simple Image fanclub photo - Barry Leef, Gordon Wylie, Ron Gascoigne, Harry Leki

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Barry Leef

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A Silver Disc for The Simple Image. Nowdays 15,000 sales would get you a Platinum Disc

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HMV publicity shot of The Simple Image in the Wakefield Street HMV studio, 1968

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier

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Harry Leki and Cass Cascoigne with The Simple Image, Garden Island, Sydney, 1970

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Cass Gascoigne at HMV Studios, Wellington

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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The Simple Image's sole album, from 1968 with period psychedelic artwork. It was reissued in 2013 with 13 bonus tracks.

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A plug for the latest Simple Image single, sent out to fanclub members

Photo credit: Photo by Barry Clothier. Grant Gillanders Collection

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HMV

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Ron Gascoigne - bass, vocals

Alan Gordon - drums

Barry Leef - rhythm guitar, vocals

Harry Leki - lead guitar, vocals

Doug Smith - vocals

Bruce Walker - keyboards

Gordon Wylie - drums

Wayne Allen - drums

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In 1968 The Simple Image provided the "pop" sequence in an Education Department film promoting milk in schools and toured to support it during the school holidays with funding from the department.

AudioCulture

The Simple Image Profile