My Mad Sister (aka My Mad Sister and the Tallboys) were Louise Hing (vocals), Damian Reichel (guitar, vocals, keyboards, drum machine), MIchael Priddis (guitar, vocals) and Antony Benetatos (bass guitar and vocals) playing electrifying pop, country and soul music at parties and clubs 1982-84. From Damian, Tony and Michael being the band for the Sydney Uni Law Review 1981 (in which Louise also sang and wrote songs) Louise came in on sensational vocals to make up My Mad Sister (aka My Mad Sister and the Tallboys), playing a. mix of originals and '60's pop songs like "Da Doo Ron Ron", "And Then He Kissed Me", Sandy Shaw "Long Live Love", a sultry "Summertime" with Tony on bass, and others. Louise had also started writing country songs like "Lamplight", "Too Tired", "Heartache", "Vermilion Blues", "Cookin' and a Cleanin'", and pop songs like "Girls in Trouble", some written with Allan Woodley ("Why Should I Cry", "Over It's All Over"). They played them to Damian, who thought they were great. Add "All I Want" by Tony, "House of Love" by Michael and "Exception to Love" and "Doo Doo Doo" by Allan the joint was jumping. Louise's brother Henry came up with the name My Mad Sister and it was all systems go.

Most of these recordings were made in 1983 in the lounge room of Richard Ball (of the Civilians, with whom Damian was also the guitarist). "Exception to Love" was also recorded again at Ramrod Studios, Narrabeen, in 1984.

Louise wrote a lot of great songs and anyone who heard her sing them with the band in the early 1980's is still electrified. After Louise was no longer able to sing, but before she passed away, Melissa Halliday did a great job in singing them in the recordings over two nights at Mary Street studios, St Peters, in March 1985, which make up the album "Lamplight - Songs of Louise Hing". We are very fortunate to have a record of those great songs written by Louise and sung beautifully by Melissa, The world lost a beautiful soul and many more wonderful songs when Louise left us. She is greatly missed and loved by her family and friends. So enjoy these songs by My Mad Sister and the Tallboys, a burst of effervescence from the '80s, captured just in time.

Photograph of My Mad Sister and the Tallboys on Wamberal Beach by Jay Tooker, thanks Jay.

Special thanks to Lucy Lennon. Also to Louise's brother Henry Hing for use of Louise's songs.