Mándu
Birth nameChris Moraitis
BornQueensland
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1973–1980, 1985
LabelsImage/Astor

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.[1][2][3] 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.[1][4] It was recorded at Melbourne's Armstrong Studios and produced by Ern Rose for Image Records/Astor Records.[4]

Ian McFarlane, 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."[1] 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, the Mixtures, Skylight).[1][5] The album was retitled, We Ran Across the Sky, and reissued in 1980.[1] A bonus track, "Gimme Shelter", 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.[4][6]

Mándu joined Australian rock guitarist Lobby Loyde's group Southern Electric, and sang on their album, Obsecration (May 1976).[1] He left for the United Kingdom and returned to Melbourne to record that group's live album, Live with Dubs (1980).[1] McFarlane writes that he subsequently "disappeared from view, re-emerging briefly during the mid-1980s with a band called Mándu Bándu."[1] 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."[1]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with Australian chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[7]
To The Shores of His Heaven
  • Released: 1974
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Image (ILP743)
 42

Singles

Year Title Album
1974 "We Ran Across the Sky" To The Shores of His Heaven
1975 "Gimme Shelter"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Mándu'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 17 September 2004.
  2. ↑ "'Captain Voyager' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 5 September 2019. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  3. ↑ Holmgren, Magnus. "Lobby Loyde". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 Lethborg, Ted (2 February 2008). "To the Shores of His Heaven Liner notes". Aztec Music. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ Culnane, Paul (2007). Duncan Kimball (ed.). "Groups & Solo Artists – Mandu". Milesago: Australasian Music and Popular Culture 1964–1975. Ice Productions. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  6. ↑ Mándu (2008), To the Shores of His Heaven, Aztec Music, retrieved 5 September 2019
  7. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 190. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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