Axiom formed in May 1969,[1][2] as a consequence of the annual Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds, for which Australian artists performed for the prize of a trip to London.
[5] In Melbourne Brian Cadd of the Groop began canvassing fellow musicians to join a new country rock outfit.
[1][2][3] The line-up was completed by Cam-Pact guitarist and singer Chris Stockley and the Valentines drummer Doug Lavery.
In October 1969 they released their debut single, "Arkansas Grass", written by Cadd and Mudie,[8] it is heavily influenced by the Band's album Music from Big Pink (1968).
[12][13] According to Shorrock listeners thought the "grass" referred to marijuana, while Cadd described the song as a metaphor for the uselessness of Australian involvement in the Vietnam War.
[12][13] Part-way through recording their debut album, Fool's Gold (June 1970), Lavery was replaced on drums by Don Lebler (ex-the Avengers).
[1][2][3] Axiom left Australia, with Tudor's approval, for United Kingdom in April 1970 after signing a publishing deal with Leeds Music – Australian press reported that they had received offers from Apple and Decca.
The group had issued their second single, "A Little Ray of Sunshine" (March) – inspired by the birth of a divorcing couple's newborn child[14] – which reached No.
[16][17]: 64–65, 265–269 Notwithstanding the inclusion of "Arkansas Grass", Fool's Gold contained tracks detailing local scenes and issues.
Cadd later revealed that an album track "Ford's Bridge" had been re-written from "We Can Reach Georgia by Morning" as a compromise due to pressure initiated by radio DJ and Go-Set writer Stan Rofe: In England, Axiom signed a three-year recording contract with Warners, which issued their next single, "My Baby's Gone" (January 1971), produced by Shel Talmy (Who, Kinks, the Easybeats),[1][2] which peaked at No.