The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, also known as Soapbox Circus or Matchbox, were an Australian jug band formed in 1969. It centred on Mic Conway ("Captain Matchbox") on lead vocals, washboard and ukulele; and his brother, Jim Conway, on harmonica, kazoo and vocals. They issued four studio albums, Smoke Dreams (June 1973), Wangaratta Wahine (late 1974), Australia (November 1975) and Slightly Troppo (1978), before they disbanded in September 1980. The Conway brothers reformed the group in 2010 as Captain Matchbox Reignited and disbanded again two years later.

In October 2010, Smoke Dreams was listed in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums.

History

1969-1973: Formation & Smoke Dreams

The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band were formed in Melbourne in 1969 as a jug band by Mic Conway on lead vocals, washboard and ukulele; his brother, Jim Conway on harmonica, kazoo and vocals; Mick Fleming<!-- not the US executive --> on banjo, mandolin, guitar and vocals; Dave Hubbard on guitar; David Isom on guitar and vocals; Jeffrey Cheesman on guitar and vocals; Inge de Koster on violin; and John McDiarmid on tea-chest bass and flute. David Isom, Jeffrey Cheesman, Inge de Koster and John McDiarmid were later replaced by Peter Inglis on guitar and vocals; Jim Niven on piano; and Peter Scott on tea chest bass.

During 1971 they appeared as themselves in Tim Burstall's comedy feature film, Stork. Ted Koehler and Edward Pola), which is a cover version of Irish-born English band leader, Debroy Somers' 1931 original.

  • Format: Digital download, streaming, CD (limited)
  • Label: Ian Bowles, Black Box Records/ MGM Distribution
  • Note: Recorded Live at Ormond Hall, 2011

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Compilation albums

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|+ List of albums

! Title

! Album details

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! scope="row" | Makin' Whoopee

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  • Released: 1976
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Image <small>(ILP-4915)</small>

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! scope="row" | The Best of Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band

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  • Released: 16 March 2018
  • Format: CD, Digital download, streaming
  • Label: Image, Sony Music Australia <small>(19075827872)</small>

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Extended plays

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|+ List of EPs

! Title

! Album details

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! scope="row" | Matchbox Madness

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  • Released: 1974
  • Format: LP
  • Label: Image <small>(IEP-4)</small>

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Singles

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|+ List of singles, with Australian chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:32em;" | Title

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart<br />positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album

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! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | <small>AUS<br />