The Settlers "West of Cooma" LP Stereo 1981

This was the third LP from the Settlers and the last to feature the original artists albeit with a fair bit of professional instrumental backing (see the LP rear graphic).
Their two previous albums "Sings Songs of the Snowy Mountains" and "Sings More Songs of he Snowy Mountains" in the late sixties were very successful (from a folk perspective) but they all went their different ways until they were re-united for the recording of this album in December 1980.
Somewhat fittingly, the songs on this album are mainly reminiscing upon their past days working on the Snowy Mountains Scheme. All tracks are by the late Ulick O'Boyle except for "Haulpack Blues" penned by both Paul Davey and Ulick.
Overall the album has a country folk feel to it and Settlers fans will love this one too.

Tracklist:
1. West of Cooma
2. Dirt Shifting Man
3. The Crying Kind
4. Nicolai
5. Jeannie Williams
6. Tumut Ponds and Bugtown
7. Snowy Special
8. Yodeling Wanderer
9. Dodd's Hotel
10. Haulpack Blues
11. The Beer with no Pub
12. Snowy Mountain Home.

Click here to download the album and all graphics MP3@ 192-224VBR 76Mb

Bruce Woodley "The Roaring Days" LP 1974 Stereo

As most of our visitors will know, Bruce Woodley was one of the original members of  "The Seekers". Judith Durham and subsequent ladies were the lead vocalists but Bruce took the male lead. He was also the song writer member of the group and also occasionally collaborated with Paul Simon. He was also co-author with Dobe Newton on "I am Australian".

I have no idea who ripped this album but it is a very good rip obviously from a well preserved LP. I have not touched the material at all. It is a mixture of poems and songs encoded at 320 CBR which is a little excessive especially for the unaccompanied poems so if you are short of storage memory as in phones, players and tablets, they can be converted to a lesser rate without any apparent loss of quality. My thanks to whomsoever did this rip.

This was a promotional album commissioned by Viscount cigarettes but it is obvious that they did not skimp on production costs. The instrumental backing is high class yet relevant to the folk/pioneer theme. On two tracks Bruce is accompanied by Linda George.

The vinyl labels identify the album as Volume 1 but apparently they never progressed to a Volume 2 - That's a real pity! Graphics includes the lyrics/verses to all tracks.

Tracklist
1. Panorama (poem)
2. The Lime Juice Tub (song)
3. The Man from Snowy River (poem)
4. Break of Day (song)
5, The Roaring Days (poem)
6. With a Swag all on my Shoulder (song)
7. Clancy of the Overflow (poem)
8. Eumerella Shore (song)
9. Rain in the Mountains (poem)
10. The Lights of Cobb & Co (poem)
11. Black Velvet Band (song)
12 The Bush Girl (song)
13. The Roaring Days (reprise) (poem with musical backing)

Click here to Download MP3 320 CBR with full graphics (MediaFire) (98mb)

No longer available, contact mr.stockman@gmail.com.

Tina Lawton "Singing Bird" 1966 LP Mono

Well, it has taken a while but here is an acceptable rip of Tina Lawton's second album "Singing Bird". (I am hopeful of a better rip of her first album soon).

This is from an uncleaned rip I managed to find somewhere. I have given the tracks a light cleaning and they have responded well to this treatment. You may notice a staccato effect in some of the higher voice ranges. I suspect this is because, when recording, output was still going to the speakers and the turntable was on the same surface and slightly vibrated during play.

Anyway, enough raving on for the moment. On this album, Tina was accompanied by the harpist Huw Jones, who also arranged all the pieces, and Russell King, a flautist. All tracks are traditional songs from the British Isles.

Tracklist
1. Bobby Shaftoe
2. Springtime is Returning
3. Robin Goch
4. Strawberry Fair
5 Garton Mother's Lullaby
6. The Heron from Brecon
7. The Nightingale
8, Singing Bird
9. Ballymore Ballad
10. In the Orchard
11. The Wee Cooper from Fyfe
12. Lagan Love
13. I wish I had a Shepherd's Lamb
14 Lisa Dear
15. Charlie is my Darling
16. Will Ye Go, Lassie Go (aka Wild Mountain Thyme)

Click here to download - MP3 @ 192VBR Mono 29Mb - graphics included

Denis Gibbons "Folk Songs" 1965 LP

Despite its somewhat aged and simplistic appearance, this album was released in 1965 and appears to be primarily, or totally, a compilation release but I have not gone to the potentially lengthy process of actually checking whether they are new issues or releases of the same titles.

This is another of the welcome contributions from Ian of Tasmania and the album was obviously in good condition most tracks have responded very well to a gentle clean. There are some minor intrusive glitches on two tracks that cannot be removed but they can easily be tolerated. Track 14 "The Overlanders" does sound a little weird but this is on the original copy and is not the result of editing.

Tracklist
1. Click go the Shears
2. Lime Juice Tub
3. Bold Tommy Payne
4. The Dying Stockman
5. The Wild Colonial Boy
6. The Fox
7. The Old Bullock Dray
8. The Drover's Dream
9. The Spinning wheel
10. The Blue-Tail Fly
11. Botany Bay
12. The Old Bark Hut
13. The Foggy Foggy Dew
14. The Overlanders.

Click here to: Download with graphics - MP3 @ 160 CBR mono.

The Gumbies Bush Band - Additional Information

We have finally received some additional information on this Victorian based folk group and their 15 track tape. For those who fondly remember this band, click here to go here to the original entry which has been edited to show the latest details.

Patricia Cook "Did you know them" LP 1968

Another of the offerings from Ian. Again, a big vote of thanks to you Ian.

This is the sole album (1968) from the late Patricia Cook. She has appeared on this blog before in respect of four tracks she performed on Lionel Long's 1963 2xLP set "The Bold Bushrangers" which featured songs written by her then husband, the late Kenneth Cook better known for his literary output ("Wake in Fright" etc).

This album includes a few rarer tracks in the Australian folk tradition and a transport version of "All around my hat". Her performance of Van Dieman's land is, to me, reminiscent of the singing of Delia Murphy, the "Queen of Connemara" who accompanied her husband Thomas J. Kiernan when he became Ireland's first Ambassador to Australia in the post-war 1940s. She often appeared on the ABC singing the songs of her homeland especially "Spinning Wheel".

Excellent backing to the tracks from the renowned guitarists Don Andrews and Sebastian Jorgenson.

Tracklist
1. Van Dieman's Land
2. Jim Jones
3. All around me 'at.
4. The Donahue Song
5. Dan Morgan
6. Lullaby
7. The Cross of the South
8. Eureka Lament
9. The Ringer
10. Did you know them?
11. The bullocky
12. Johnny come home
13. Fragments (Dole Song and If I had money)
14. Danny Jones of Cobb & Co.


Click here to download MP3 192-224 VBR with graphics 55Mb

Ants Bush Band - Untitled LP - 14 tracks

Probably one of the most requested tracks I get asked for is the the Ants Bush Band "The Whale" which is a "modern" folk classic inspired by Melville's "Moby Dick" It has previously appeared in one or two compilations on this blog. Anyway, Ian of Tassie has generously provided a rip of this album which features this song and many other Australian folk classics - both new and old.

This is a brilliant album demonstrating the fine musical skills of this well respected bush band which, unfortunately, did not have a large commercial output. Thanks Ian for providing this album. I have no doubt that it will prove to be very popular.

I have no idea as to when this album was issued. This Band operated from the '70s originally as the "Fabulous Ants Bush Band". Judging by the album cover, it might be a re-release but that's nothing more than base speculation. I'd love some concrete advice. (Additional - a blog visitor from Ireland has brought my attention to the fact that the identical album was sold as a cassette under the the band name "The Fabulous Ants Band" and the title "Tribute to 150 years Western Australia" and with the massively misleading claim "14 Great Western Australian Songs". The Sesquicentennial of WA was 1979 so that gives us a likely date of 1979 - perhaps 1978).

Sure, you can moderately criticise this album on the basis of some of the vocals but if you do not like this album, you are possibly on the wrong blog. I'd rank this as one of the better Australian folk albums by a bush band.

This album has a strong Western Australian focus which is refreshing (Well now we know why).

Band member Paul Duncan has now commented on this album. Click on the "Comments" tag below to read his interesting information.

Tracklist
1, Lachlan Tigers
2. Western Australia for Me
3. One Thousand Miles Away (Hurrah for the Roma Railway)
4. The Catalpa
5. The Overlanders
6. Augathella Station (Brisbane Ladies)
7. Waves of Tory (dance instrumental)
8. Maggie Maggie May
9. To the West
10. Across the Western Plains
11. Dennis O'Reilly (With my swag all on my shoulder)
12. The Whale (modern Australian folk classic)
13. Struggle in the West
14. Lime Juice Tub

Download with graphics - 64 Mb - MP3 VBR 192-225 Click here
Any problem with this or other links email mr.stockman@gmail.com

William Clauson "Click Go the Shears" - Original LP cover

Ian from Tasmania has also provided digitised graphics for the original issue of William Clauson's "Click Go the Shears" LP and they are now included in the download file for the original posting. Click here to go to that posting.

Warren Fahey and the Larrikins "Billy of Tea" LP 1978

Another great LP from Ian of Tassie (and more yet to come).

This is a 1978 album. Warren Fahey provided vocals and his oft-changing group of Larrikins was then:-
Jacko Kevans - vocals, accordion and concertina.
Gordon McIntyre - vocals, guitar, dulcimer and tenor banjo.
Kate Delaney - vocals, whistle and bodhram.
Roger Fisken - fiddle and mandolin.
Steve Ellis - vocals, guitar and mandolin.

Most of the tracks are the Australian folk standards but there are a couple of exceptions including a New Zealand penned tribute to Captain Cook - and a good one too - a somewhat (now) politically incorrect traditional about chinese workers and the British Isles popular traditional "Jones' Ale" aka "When Jones' ale was new". All tracks performed at the expected high standard. There were some minor problems with the material and it cleaned up to a good degree but there are the occasional residual glitches but really nothing that will mar your listening pleasure.

Tracklist:
1. Brisbane Ladies
2. Maggie May
3. The Eumerella Shore
4. Heenan & Sayers
5. Tunes (unnamed dance tunes)
6. The New Chum Shearer
7. The Tolerant Man
8. Captain Cook
9. The New Chum Chinaman
10. Gooriannawa
11. Broken Down Squatter
12. The Rabbiter
13 One of the Hasbeens
14 Jones' Ale

Download compressed file containing the music tracks and album graphics
Click here to download MP3 version - 70Mb MP3 VBR 192-224
Click here for FLAC (lossless) version -229MB
File needs to be decompressed to extract the music and graphic files.

Download fails? Please let me know - mr.stockman@gmail.com

The Wild Colonials "Euabalong Ball" LP 1971 ("A selection of old time dance music")

This is a truly delightful album focusing on old time dance music. Many of these tunes originated outside Australia but they often became "naturalised" even "localised" and the The Wild Colonials have drawn upon local material for this production also including some local compositions notably a Varsovienna and Cosgrove's Schottische".

Incidentally "The Wild Colonials" are not the "Wild Colonial Boys" band. They were Jacko Kevans, Dave de Hugard, Brad Tate, Sandra Tate, Chris Duffy, and Tom Rummery. Lots of good fiddling and squeeze-box playing.

A side comment: The latter-day modern bush bands supposedly striving for authenticity rarely feature piano. My experience is that they were usually the primary instrument used by genuine old-time bands. The other basic instruments were button accordions  and fiddles. Why? Because bush dances were usually very noisy social affairs and these three instruments could be readily heard by the dancers. Sure, other instruments, guitars, mandolins etc, could join in but they definitely submerged into the background noise. Of course, modern sound equipment has changed all that. I'm not complaining as, in my opinion and probably that of the latter-day bush bands, it does sound more "folky" without piano - but do not think that was the way it really was. Anyway, enough nit-picking for now.

This is another offering by Tassie Ian. Thanks again Ian. Lovely album in great condition and beautifully sound engineered by one Ross Linton. This is definitely one for the toe-tappers and old time dancers but the music is also great otherwise. Jacko Kevans does vocals on "Euabalong Ball" amd Dave de Hugard on "The Drover's Dream". Liner notes are by Warren Fahey.

Tracklist
1. Cunnamulla Stocking Jig & The Flying Pieman
2. Davy Nick Knack & The Soldier's Joy
3. Euabalong Ball (Jacko Kevans - vocals)
4. Sailors' Hornpipe (Jack Tar)
5. Varsovienna
6, The High Level Hornpipe
7. The Manchester Gallop & Click Go the Shears
8. Durham Reel & Mason's Apron
9. Cosgrove's Schottische
10. The Drover's Dream (Dave de Hugard - vocals)
11. Mountain Road & Sally Gardens
12. The Blackthorn Stick, Father O'Flynn & Irish Washerwoman
13. Brown Jug Polka & Jenny Lind

Download from Here (51Mb - MP3 192-224 VBR ranging 190-207)
If download is no longer available please let me know by comment or email to mr.stockman@gmail.com

Martyn Wyndham-Read, Phyl Vinnicombe & Peter Dickie "Bullockies, Bushwackers & Booze" LP 1967

Another rare album submitted by Ian from Tassie. This is a 1967 album featuring the Brit Martyn Wyndham-Read, Phyl Vinnicombe (later becoming Phyl Lobl) and Peter Dickie. We have met all of these previously in this blog.

There are some great tracks on the LP but the sound recording and subsequent sound engineering, if any, is very basic even for 1967. (No production details of any type are listed on the liner notes). This has detracted from the performances of these very competent artists.

Still, this is a "must-have" album for the serious Australian folk fan featuring some rarer tracks including Kenneth Cook's (remember him from Lionel Long's Bold Bushrangers 2 LP album)  composition "O'Meally's Shanty" which is clearly to the tune of the forebitter "Oh, You New York Girls, can't you dance the Polka".

• Side 1
  Reedy River (5.08)
  The Overlanders (2.50)
  Andy's Gone with Cattle (2.09)
  Euabalong Ball (1.45)
  One of the Has-Beens (1.51)
  The Wild Rover (3.25)
  Ye Sons of Australia (3.55)
  Maryborough Miner (3.55)
  
  
• Side 2
  Click Go the Shears (3.45)
  The Wild Colonial Boy (3.06)
  O'Meally's Shanty (2.20)
  Put a Light in Every Country Window (2.38)
  'Ard Tack (3.44)
  Lazy Harry's (2.55)
  Ballad of Ben Hall's Gang (2.56)
  Waltzing Matilda (2.45)

 Download with full graphics (new link 29 Jul 2017}

Leslie Ross Singers "Australian Sing Along" LP 1964

Bit of a mix this one. Aussie traditionals, a bit of Aussie country, and lots of the parochial national favourites of the first half of the 20th Century including some rising out of WWI. I have no recollection of the Leslie Ross Singers but this come from the period where large singing groups singing popular songs were a bit of a feature. It's all a bit formal by today's slap-dash standards with very serious singers performing in a semi-classical style. Many of he older readers will get the idea simply from the song list.
They are good singers and do a good job on all the tracks.



Tassie Ian has kindly provided this materialand it has edited up very easily. Thanks again Ian.

I sought to convert these files at 192-224VBR but, like many of these older LPs, the contents are not very complex so do not worry that the results are much lower than that. (170VBR is the highest on this album).  

Tracklist. (lots of medleys)
1. I'm going back to Yarrawonga / Along the Road to Gundagai / The Old Sundowner / Back to Croajingalong

2.Goodbye Melbourne Town / Where's that old cobber of mine / Bourke Street on Saturday Night / Woolloomooloo

3. The Bells of St. Mary's

4. Botany Bay / The Dying Stockman / Click go the Shears

5. Murray Moon / Down Wagga Way / That Old Bush Shanty of Mine

6. Waltzing Matilda (Marie Cowan 1903 composition)

7, Australia will be there / This bit of the world belongs to us / The Charge at the Dardanelles / A brown slouch hat.

8, Snowy River / I've got a possie in dear old Aussie / I'm gonna hump my bluey

9. Never Never (We're off to..)

10. The Pub with No Beer / The Dog sits on the tuckerbox / Tie me kangaroo down sport

11. The Big Blue Billabong / Come with me to the Races / A.N.Z.A.C

12. Bless This House

Download with full graphics 43Mb

Lionel Long "Australia! Australia!" LP 1975 Stereo

Ian from Tasmania has very generously provided digital copies of several LP albums of Australian Folk Singers and Songs along with their graphics and some graphics to supplement previous postings - and all of a high quality too. Many thanks Ian.
I know very little about this album and you will notice that the liner notes are totally uninformative as to when and where these tracks were recorded and what other musicians and singers were involved. It is supposedly produced by a "Tweed Harris"??
I have not bothered to check but I guess that some of the tracks are re-issues from earlier albums possibly cashing in on his various television appearances in Australian series. I'd welcome any definite information than any of our readers can provide.
Still, this is a worthy album portraying the stronger RCA focus on Long's traditional folk side.

Tracklist
1. Cash & Co.
2. Click go the shears
3. 10,000 miles
4. The Wild Colonial Boy
5. The Banks of the Condamine (shearing version)
6. The Brisbane Ladies (Augathella Station)
7. Waltzing Matilda
8. Razorback (Moonlight Rider)
9. On the Banks of the Reedy Lagoon
10. Botany Bay
11. The Wild Rover
12. Wallaby Stew

Download here with graphics from MediaFire  (FLAC version) 139MB
The Download file must be decompressed before playing.
Link failed? Tell mr.stockman@gmail.com and I will put it up again.

Spindlewood "Blue Sky Red Earth" CD 1995

This is the third album from Spindlewood (the first and second have already been posted here). It has long been "out-of-print".
At this stage the primary performers were Jesse Rowan on vocals and hammered dulcimer; Tony Griffiths on various instruments and vocal;
Leoni McRae on vocals and flute; and Wayne Collins on vocals guitars, banjo and percussion. Other contributors includes Christine Kearslake, Louise Hildyard, Rob Mahoney and Bob Hefner.

Again a mix of traditionals and modern compositions executed by a very competent group of musicians obviously dedicated to their music.

 Click here to download 100Mb MP3 @ 256-320VBR. Full graphics included.

Marian Henderson "Cameo" 1970 LP

I have been trying to get this LP for years but have been totally unsuccessful. The problem has been that the few copies that are occasionally offered for sale are far too expensive for my budget especially considering the risk that the LP may not be up to a standard I might need.

Consequently, I am now publishing a rip of that album which I downloaded from some obscure source overseas some month ago, as is. (Many thanks to the regular who pointed me to its listing). It is an unedited rip at 320 CBR so there are some defects which, after much consideration and some experimentation, I have decided to accept. Really, the quality is fairly good.

Two tracks have some light clicks and pops, namely tracks 5 and 6 ("Fotheringay" and "Streets of Forbes") and are quite acceptable. Track 12 "Sprig of Thyme" has serious distortion issues which render it painful to listen to.The other issue I have with this rip is that the album has been "normalised" to produce a relatively even sound level throughout the tracks and over the entire album. My view is that the decision to normalise should be left to individual downloaders. It is easy to do but impossible to undo. I am, of course, unable to estimate the overall effects of normalising in this instance. Hopefully, not much.

Still, do not be put off by this because there are some superb vocal performances by the masterful Marian Henderson ably assisted by appropriate musical backing. This album is often labelled as 'psych folk' but that is not really useful. It appears to be an eclectic mix of traditional folk, contemporary folk and modern ballads as can be seen by the below tack list. Anyway, to sum it up it is a delight to listen to Marian Henderson's deft handling of these varied tracks. Enjoy!

Track List
1. Antique Annie's Magic Lantern Show
2. Miss Otis Regrets
3. Stranger Song
4. Lady of Carlisle
5. Fotheringay
6. Streets of Forbes
7. First Boy I loved
8. Country Girl
9. Guess Who I saw Today
10. Bald Mountain
11. Convict Maid
12. Sprig of Thyme

I only have a small graphic of the album front included.

Click here to download compressed file (101Mb)

Glen Tomasetti "Gold Rush Songs" LP 1975

Yes, I am still alive and am resuming posting. I have others to complete but it will be slow so please be patient.

I have previously posted Glen Tomasetti's album of traditional songs mostly from the British Isles.
This particular album "Gold Rush Songs" was commissioned by The Science Museum of Victoria (State of Australia) and published in 1975.
Unsurprisingly, it features many songs penned by that Victorian Goldfields troubador, Charles Thatcher. The liner notes (scan included in the download) identify known authorship of both the lyrics and the original tunes. Somewhat surprisingly, the late Glen Tomasetti claimed the tune to which she has put the words of "I've been to Australia - Oh!" considering that the tune of the chorus is lifted wholesale from the Scottish traditional "The Barnyards of Delgaty". She must have forgotten this.

The tracks are relatively simple performances - just Glen Tomasetti singing to her own guitar playing. On MP3 VBR the tracks came out in the 160's and are of good quality but if someone wants higher or even flac. I will be happy to oblige (flac link now available below).

There are a lot of songs on this one that are rarely heard which makes this album invaluable for Australian folk fans.

Track List
1. The Cabbage Tree Hat
2. The Chinaman
3. Coo-ee
4. Ben Bolt
5. The Crushing Machine
6. Changes on Bendigo
7. The Wild Colonial Boy
8. The Bond Street Swell
9. Licence Hunting
10. Chinese Immigration
11. Shepherding
12. The Jolly Puddlers
13. Laying Information
14. Stephen Cain
15. The Indicating Rock
16. I've Been to Australia - Oh!

Download from MediaFire
Download MP3 50Mb
Download flac (lossless) 164Mb