The Executives

This six-piece band had a rapid rise as a live act in Sydney, Australia, in 1966. Featuring two fine vocalists in Carole King and Gino Cunico, and backed by four musicians who could play 30 different instruments between them, they were able to produce a sophisticated, varied pop sound. Between 1967 and 1968 they recorded eight singles and three albums. Initially their set was composed entirely of cover versions, such as the hit singles ‘My Aim Is To Please You’, ‘Sit Down I Think I Love You’ and ‘Windy Day’, but self-penned numbers were slowly introduced. In 1969, the band moved to the USA and spent a year composing new material in California at Kama Sutra/ Buddah Records. The name was changed to Inner Sense, more appropriate for the ‘flower-power’ era, but the band faded. Guitarist Ray Burton, and Cunico released an unsuccessful joint album; Cunico following with two more obscure albums. Burton penned ‘I Am Woman’ for fellow Australian expatriate Helen Reddy, and then returned home to join Ayers Rock before embarking on a solo career. King and fellow Executives member, husband Brian formed a new group, Transition. Carole King featured in the stage play Nuclear and its album of 1972, leading to a re-formation of the Executives with herself and several other members from the show’s cast. Three singles for Polydor Records in the mid-70s were unsuccessful but the band soldiered on for several more years.