Chris Moraitis, who performed as Mándu, was an Australian rock music vocalist. He released his debut solo album, ''To the Shores of His Heaven'', in 1974. He joined
Lobby Loyde's Southern Electric group and was recorded on two of their albums, ''Obsecration'' (May 1976) and ''Live with Dubs'' (live album, 1980). According to Australian musicologist,
Ian McFarlane, Mándu had "a distinctive and emotional voice" and his solo album, "stands as a worthwhile period piece, a work graced with elegant songs, soaring arrangements and fine musicianship." However, in 1980 he "disappeared from view, re-emerging briefly during the mid-1980s with a band called Mándu Bándu."
Biography
Mándu (Chris Moraitis) moved to Melbourne from Queensland in the early 1970s.
[ Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'] He issued a concept album, ''To the Shores of His Heaven'', in 1974 using studio musicians: Steve Cooney on mandolin and guitar, Phil Manning on guitar, Barry Sullivan on bass guitar, Peter Sullivan on keyboards and Gary Young on drums.
It was recorded at Melbourne's
Armstrong Studios
Armstrong Studios, also known as Bill Armstrong's Studio and later renamed AAV (Armstrong Audio Video), is an Australian commercial recording studio located in Melbourne, Victoria. During the decade from 1965 to 1975, Armstrong Studios in So ...
and produced by Ern Rose for Image Records/
Astor Records
Astor Records was an Australian recorded music manufacturer and distributor that operated from the early 1960s to the early 1980s. Astor was the trade name of the consumer electronics manufacturer Radio Corporation Pty. Ltd, a division of Electron ...
.
, an Australian musicologist, felt that, "the cosmic concept album ... stands as a worthwhile period piece, a work graced with elegant songs, soaring arrangements and fine musicianship."
Mándu toured Australia with a backing band of Cooney, Peter Sullivan, Bob Bickerton on drums (ex-Rock Granite and the Profiles), Mike Clarke on bass guitar (ex-Skylight) and Greg Cook on guitar (ex-
Cam-Pact
Cam-Pact was an Australian soul and psychedelic pop band which formed in April 1967. Originally they performed as The Camp Act but soon changed to Cam-Pact (or CamPact). Although little known outside Melbourne at the time, the various lineups of ...
,
the Mixtures
The Mixtures were an Australian rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1965.
Biography 1965–1976: The Mixtures
Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of the Strangers, ...
, Skylight).
The album was retitled, ''We Ran Across the Sky'', and reissued in 1980.
A bonus track, "
Gimme Shelter
"Gimme Shelter" is a song by English rock band the Rolling Stones. Released as the opening track from band's 1969 album ''Let It Bleed''. The song covers topics of war, murder, rape and fear. It features prominent guest vocals by American singe ...
", a cover version of the Rolling Stones' single was added to a remastered and reissued version, ''To the Shores of His Heaven'', in February 2008 via Aztec Music.
Mándu joined Australian rock guitarist
Lobby Loyde's group Southern Electric, and sang on their album, ''Obsecration'' (May 1976).
He left for the United Kingdom and returned to Melbourne to record that group's live album, ''Live with Dubs'' (1980).
McFarlane writes that he subsequently "disappeared from view, re-emerging briefly during the mid-1980s with a band called Mándu Bándu."
He observed that the artist "was something of an enigma and a sadly overlooked talent. He had a distinctive and emotional voice, but only issued one album that was received with bemused indifference."
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
References
{{Authority control
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Musicians from Queensland
20th-century Australian musicians