jazz band Eclipse Alley Five

theme music Don Mori

The Eclipse Alley Five were originally a traditional jazz band working out of New Orleans in the blues style.

The local band played a similar style of music. They managed to get a single side of an LP dedicated to them in a release of three LPs by the Fred Starkey Jazz Foundation in December 1973.

One of the members of the band was Bruce Johnson, who placed his memories of the jazz scene online here.

Don Mori, who wrote the theme music, can be found at the same location discussing his career as a professional musician, and an opera he's composed, here.

(Below: Bruce Johnson)

(Below: Don Mori)

(Below: the band the Eclipse Alley Five as it appeared in the film. They first turn up in the bus for a singalong designed to smooth the public servants' bus ride into the bush for the office picnic)

(Below: then they turn up in the oval grandstand to get the picnic jumping to trad jazz)

(Below: and finally they turn up at the party, as the beer goes downand the tensions amongst the office workers erupt).

(Below: review of the Eclipse Alley Five LP in the Sydney Morning Herald on 9th December 1973)