“I realised there was no work for a classically trained pianist – it wasn’t the 18th century,” Peter said on his early musical hurdles.

It’s been forty years since he was in the studio working away with offsider Dave Madden and this month Madden and Harris’ unique psychedelic-celtic-progressive folk rock concept album ‘Fool’s Paradise’ has enjoyed a re-release.

Dark Side of the Moon and Goat’s Head Soup were musical talking points in 1974 and while Peter never enjoyed comparable success he’s proud to see his album being remembered in 2014.

A part-time teacher at the time, Peter met Dave while the latter was still a student.

He said the two really clicked and began collaborating.

“There was a real folk resurgence at the time – we were looking at that influence and tried adding a few things,” Peter said.

“For a duo we were really able to produce a big sound.”

If rock ’n’ roll was conceived in the 1950s and came of age in the 1960s, it was in the 1970s that the genre entered maturity and saw folk taking something of a backseat to its unrulier successor.

But there was still a large and loyal enough following that kept artists like Madden and Harris flowing into the music scene.

“The industry was changing and everything was moving to bigger venues,” he said.

Mini folk festivals were still getting off the ground and keeping people interested Peter said.

The duo scored their first contract with Albert Productions which remains one of Australia's longest established independent record labels celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.

They soon began working with EMI records and struck up an unlikely partnership.

A sound desk formerly used by the Beatles at Abbey Road Studios was sent over to Sydney – alongside sound engineer Richard Lush.

Prior to his move Lush had previously worked alongside Sir George Martin with the Fab Four at Abbey Road.

He was a sound engineer on the Beatles album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and participated in the creation of other timeless hits from Lennon and co.

“We were just in awe of what he knew,” Peter said.

“It was amazing – we were using this sound desk that still had visible cigarette burns on it left by John Lennon.”

It was during this period Peter and Dave began working on getting material out.

“We just did a few singles and were trying to get as much exposure as we could.”

Between gigs Peter was working at the ABC as a freelance writer.

“It was hard, we had to try and get time in the studio and when we did it was only an hour here and there.

“Once we finished we got the album cut and did everything ourselves – it was our first brave attempt at independence,” he said.

Peter said the pair wrestled with the demands and morality of working with big record companies and they opted to “go against the grain”.

Their album was eventually released in limited numbers and the pair enjoyed some success appearing on the ABC’s GTK program and playing a number of shows.

Soon after Peter said they opted to go their separate ways and both went bush.

“The album has become this mysterious thing and become sort of a cult production.”

Peter will attest that they’re big in Korea though.

“The album was re-released in Germany and about 10-years-ago I worked with a Melbourne group and it got a re-release in South Korea.

“Apparently on Ebay the album sells for thousands people have told me.”

More recently Peter was contacted by Guerssen Records, a Spanish company that specialise in vinyl re-releases, who have put the album out.

“I’m still in contact with Dave – we’re both pretty amused by it all.

“This has kind of been the first time I’ve really been publically linked with it – before people would just be like who are they?

Now performing in his one man big band as well as with Welder’s Dog, Peter is still musically active.

If anyone wants to get their hands on a copy of the album then you can contact Peter on 6736 5660 or visit www.guerssen.com