The Moir Sisters were a Scottish-Australian pop and folk vocal trio which formed in 1970 by the eponymous sisters, Jean, Margot and Lesley. Their debut single, "Good Morning (How Are You?)" (1974), which featured their distinctive high-pitched harmonies, peaked at No. 8 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The group released two albums, Lost: Somewhere Beyond Harmony (1974) and State of Shock (as The Moirs, 1978), In 1989 Margot Moir (married name: Margot Cesario) released a solo single, "Scarlet Skies" and followed with her album, Strong and Mighty, in 1996. Margot died in 2015 from complications of her diabetes.
The Moir Sisters | |
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| Also known as | The Moirs |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Years active | 1970–1990 |
| Labels | |
| Past members |
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History
editThe Moir Sisters were formed in 1970 as a folk, pop trio in Melbourne by Jean (born 1956) on co-lead vocals, Margot Rae (born 1959) on co-lead vocals and guitar, and Lesley Moir (born 1961) on co-lead vocals.[1][2] They were born in Scotland, to Edward Hoy Moir and June Moir (née Stirling), and emigrated to Melbourne in 1962.[2] They returned to Scotland, where their youngest daughter, Leanne, was born in 1968.[3] Margot was given a guitar as a gift; she took to it immediately, and was soon writing her own songs.[4]
The sisters launched their musical trio upon return to Australia late in 1970.[1][3] In 1974 they won a heat of the TV talent quest, New Faces, on Melbourne's GTV-9, and then they competed in the national final.[1][5] To capitalise on the national exposure of their New Faces appearances, the trio were signed EMI Music Australia.[1] Their self-penned debut single, "Good Morning (How Are You?)",[6] was released in May 1974.[1][7] It was produced by Ian Miller, arranged by film critic and musician Ivan Hutchinson, and engineered by Roger Savage. It peaked at No. 8 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for 19 weeks.[7]
The Moir Sisters released their debut album in 1974, Lost Somewhere Beyond Harmony, with original songs co-written by the sisters.[1][6] It was produced by Miller, arranged by Geoff Hales (who also played synthesisers and keyboards), engineered by Ross Cockle, with backing from session musicians: guitarists Phil Manning and Billy Green (later known as Will Greenstreet), bass guitarists Barry Sullivan and Duncan McGuire, drummers Graham Morgan, Mark Kennedy and Gary Hyde, keyboard player Mal Logan, jazz saxophonist Brian Brown and backing vocalist, Dan Robinson (ex Wild Cherries).[8] The trio undertook a national tour supporting the Osmonds, but their career was limited as Lesley was 13 at the time, which meant that their live performances had to be approved by the Child Welfare Department of the Victorian Government.[5]
By the late 1970s they were managed by former musician, Glenn Wheatley (then-manager of Little River Band), and after leaving EMI, they signed to Oz Records in Australia, and to Elton John's label, The Rocket Record Company internationally. They shortened their name to the Moirs, and travelled to Los Angeles to record their second album, State of Shock, which was produced by expatriate Australian musician, songwriter and producer, John Farrar, and released later in 1978.[1][5]
In the early 1980s the trio were signed to Warner Music Group in Australia and issued two more singles, "So Excited" (1982) and "Running Scared" (1983), but neither charted.[1][7]
In 1989 Margot Moir released her solo single, "Scarlet Skies", and it was followed by the album, Strong and Mighty in 1996.[1] In 2003 the sisters were interviewed for ABC-TV's music documentary series, Love Is in the Air, episode two, "She's Leaving Home".[9] Margot Cesario (née Moir) died on 26 January 2015, aged 56, from complications due to long term diabetes.[10]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [11][7] | ||
| Lost – Somewhere Beyond Harmony | 69 | |
| State of Shock (as The Moirs) | – |
Singles
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS [11][7] | |||
| "Good Morning (How Are You?)" / "We Will Never Change" | 1974 | 8 | Lost – Somewhere Beyond Harmony |
| "Harmony Blues" / "Stop the Music" | 1975 | 68 | |
| "Don't Tell Your Mama" / "Wandering Home" | — | Non-album singles | |
| "So Excited" / "You Won't Get Me" | 1982 | — | |
| "Running Scared" / "See You Coming" | 1983 | — |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Broderick Smith'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 12 July 2004.
- ^ a b "Item Details for: A1877, Moir E H". National Archives of Australia. 15 July 2004. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ a b "Item Details for: A2280, Moir E H". National Archives of Australia. 19 November 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ McGrath, Noel (1978). Encyclopaedia of Australian Rock & Pop. Outback Press. p. 205.
- ^ a b c "The Moir Sisters". Greg Dumbrell. Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "'Good Morning How Are You' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 9 August 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
- ^ a b c d e Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book Ltd. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Note: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974.
- ^ "Lost - Somewhere Beyond Harmony". Archived from the original on 3 November 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Creswell, Toby (2003). Love is in the Air: Stories of Australian Pop Music. Sydney, NSW: ABC Books. ISBN 978-0-7333-1322-6.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul. "Family Confirms Death of Margot Moir Due to Diabetes". Noise 11. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 205. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.