Dave Isom "In Possum Land" CD 2012

Sorry folks; this is not a download. This CD will be officially launched at 7:30pm on Friday 21 December 2012 at the Newport Bowls Club premises (Melbourne) and can also be purchased from Dave Isom by contacting him by eMail at daveisom@bigpond.com. Price $25.

Further details are available from the Newport Fiddle and Folk Club website. Apparently Dave will soon be yachting around Australia and possibly overseas later on. Visit this site for a report on his intended travel.

Dave Isom was a founding member of both the Bushwackers (then as the Bushwackers and Bullockies Band) and The Sundowners. He has advised me that he still has some unreleased Bushwackers and Bullockies material which he is considering releasing.
It's pleasing to see this great mix of old country ballads and folk songs.

Good luck Dave with both the CD and your adventures!

The Sundowners "Colonial Classics" 1981.

Original CDs. LPs and cassettes available
I have had a few queries over the years from persons seeking original material from the Sundowners. Well, the good news is that Mick Slocum, one of the members of the Sundowners (and also a Bushwacker for a time), has now advised that he still has some CDs, LPs and cassettes of the Sundowners "Colonial Classics" available for sale.

Price $20 Australian plus nominal postage and packing costs. Mick can be contacted at michaelslocum49@gmail.com.

Lionel Long "Today" LP 1967

Lionel Long put out this album in 1967 after returning to Australia from a stint spent in Europe. It's a bit of an eclectic mix mainly of (then) contemporary folk and popular music.
I recently discovered a copy of this LP - a World Record Club re-issue - which accounts for the rather bland cover shown here. (can anyone provide a copy of the original cover?)

The tracks are:-
1. The Piney Wood Hills written and originally performed by the outstanding Amerind performer Buffy Sainte-Marie.
2. Dancing Distance from Mason Williams and John Stewart.
3. Love Minus Zero by Bob Dylan
4. Flowers of Peace - Penned by Pete Seeger to fit the tune of the Scottish folk song "Wild Mountain Thyme" aka "Will ye go, lassie, go"
5. Follow the Wind - a 1965 composition by the then 18 or 19 year old Barry Gibb (of the Bee Gees) and originally recorded by them in 1965 as the B side of a 45rpm single (despite claims that Lionel Long was the first to record this this song). Lionel does a great job on this track and it is definitely in the contemporary folk genre of the 1960s.
6. Many a Mile by Patrick Style
7. Them Poems - Mason Williams wrote and performed several short comedic songs which were collectively known as "Them Poems". Lionel performs five of these, namely. Stamp Lickers, Banjo Pickers, Toad  Suckers, Sportcarers, and Hors d'oeuvres.
8. Life Song another by Mason Williams much admired by Lionel Long.
9. Alberta - a modern reworking of a traditional Afro-American song.
10. Blind Men Wander by Peter Best (Australian composer)
11. The Marvellous Clouds by the American poet/songwriter/singer so popular in the 1960s, Rod McKuen. (My preference would be for other Rod McKuen songs)
12. Less of Me by Glen Campbell. It was a hit in Australia in 1966 for Gail Martin, daughter of Dean Martin.
13. Come the Time - another by Peter Best
14. A Repco Brabham Car - A comedy piece penned by Lionel.
15. The Green Years - Lionel wrote this largely autobiographical song straight from the heart.

 Definitely not your usual Lionel Long fare but nevertheless very entertaining. My favourite is "Follow the Wind".

Download with graphics MP3  @ 224-256 VBR 65Mb
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Denis Gibbons "Folk Songs of Australia vol 2 - Immigrants, Gold Miners and Bushrangers" LP 1966

We have been missing this one for a long time. At last, I am in possession of a well-preserved copy of this 1966 LP. Volumes 1 and 3 of this series have previously been posted on this blog.
This LP needed very little editing and has come up very well for such an old one.
The tracks are:-
1. South Australia
2. The Miner
3. The Hut that's upside down
4. The Old Palmer Song
5. Look out Below
6. Plains of Emu
7. Denis O'Reilly
8. Frank Gardiner
9. Wild Colonial Boy
10. Nine miles from Gundagai
11. Tambaroora Gold
12. Ballad of Kelly's Gang

Download with Graphics MP3 @224-256 56Mb
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The Bushwackers "Lively" LP 1984

This LP was recorded live at the Revesby Workers Club in Sydney in 1984. At that time, the members of the band were Dobe Newton, Roger Corbett, Tommy Emmanuel, Danny Bourke, Tony O'Neill, and Freddy Strauks. Although the LP features only 12 tracks, it contains about one hour of music as there are some extra instumental segments in some tracks. Overall, the LP used was in very good condition; the one exception being some sibilation on "And the Band played Waltzing Matilda".

Each side features unbroken continuous performances, that is, there is no gap between tracks so I have ripped the LP simply as side 1 and side 2. If you feel it necessary, you can break the sides down into the individual tracks.

Side one features, in order, Lime Juice Tub, Lazy Harry's, Marijuana Australia, Murrumbidgee (instrumental), When the Rain Tumbles down in July, and And the Band played Waltzing Matilda.

Side two, in order is, When Brittania ruled the Waves, Les Darcy, 1-2-3-4, Beneath the Southern Cross, Wall of Death, and Waltzing Matilda (Queensland version).

Download with Graphics MP3 @ 224-256VBR abt 100Mb
From MediaFire
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Spindlewood "Face the Wind" CD 1991

This was Spindlewood's second album; this time issued on CD in 1991. It has long been "out of print". With this album the principal performers were Toni Griffiths, Bob Hefner, Loani McRae, Wayne Collins and Jesse Rowan (then known as Cathleen Moran). The CD also acknowledges contributions from five other musicians.
This album is less focused on traditional folk than the first and there is a bit of a Celtic, New Age feel to it, however, it features some really great harmony and musical performances. Smooth, sophisticated and disciplined are three adjectives that spring to mind. This is an album that is far broader than its folk roots. Even your folk-hating friends will enjoy this one.


The tracks are:-

1. Southern Land - W. Collins
2. Fear a Bhata - Trad
3. All the Ships - Tony Griffiths
4. Land of Light - Roy Gullane
5. Island Spinning Song - Trad
6. Plant Your Fields - W. Waldman
7. O'Carolan's Ramble to Cashel - T. O'Carolan
8. Weave and Mend - M. Trup/A. Cameron
9. Morrison's Jig/Water Bearer - trad/S. Oldfield
10. My Father's Coat - Tony Griffiths
11. The Water Lily - Henry Lawson/ Priscilla Herdman
12. Common Load - Tony Griffiths

Download tracks and graphics
from MediaFile
from ZippyShare

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Quintessence "Songs for a Winter's Night" CD 1997

This Quintessence is a South Australian group which formed in the 1990s and comprising Peter Day, Lyn Hynd, Diana McGregor, Michael McGregor and  Tricia Smylie. The album title, of course, comes from Gordon Lightfoot's brilliant ballad "Song for a Winter's Night". They do a very good performance of that track perhaps influenced by Harry Belafonte's poignant version recorded as "The Hands I Love".
I know very little about this group other than what appears on the CD information and I have previously collected a track of theirs not featured on this CD. Any further information would be very welcome as they have a very good folky sound.

Today, 18 Jan 2022, Michael McGregor emailed as follows:-

My name is Michael McGregor and I was part of Quintessence. Thank you for featuring our album. Your blog has just come to my attention. Further information: We were all members of tha Hills Folk Club in Adelaide. The inspiration came from hearing the Three women's voices together. Tricia has the deep bluesy contralto, Lyn the straight middle soprano and Diana the high soprano. Peter was already playing with Lyn and Diana and I were an established duo. Big influence was Hills, Herdsman, Mangsen.We were together for 8 years but  combination of family and health issues meant we had to fold. Thanks again. 
Thank you for the information, Michael

The tracks are:-
1. These Coal Town Days
2. From the Lambing to the Wool
3.  Carry me like a fire in your heart.
4. Will ye gang Love
5. Trouble in the fields
6. Too close to the wind
7.  Singing Land
8. Song for a Winter's Night
9. Redwing Blackbird
10. My Love
11. Send me back to Georgia
12. Leaving the land
13. Black Diamonds
14. Reqium for the giant trees
15 Children of Africa

Download all tracks and graphics MP3 @256-320 VBR
From MediaFire

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Spindlewood Self-titled LP 1988

In 1987, the Canberra-based duo of Wayne Collins and Cathleen Moran, cut the first Spindlewood album featuring a mix of traditional and authored folk songs (there are even three tracks available for Child Ballad collectors). They were aided in this by a number of musicians variously providing backing on the twelve album tracks and also by Bob Hefner as lead vocalist on "Hard Times". (participants listed in the LP artwork). There have been two subsequent albums by a much enlarged Spindlewood but this album has long been "out of print" and unavailable for purchase. Cathleen Moran now goes by the name of Jesse Rowan and web details are available under that name. 

This is a delightful LP with strong performances both vocally and musically by all participants. There are two covers of Australian authored works namely Eric Bogle's "Safe in the Harbour" and Judy Small's "Mary Parker's Lament".

The tracks are:-

1. Gone to America (Steeleye Span)

2. Talk about Suffering (trad)

3. Bells of Norwich (Sydney Carter)

4. Night Visiting Song (trad)

5. A-Soalin' (Paul Stookey and others)

6. Safe in the Harbour (Eric Bogle)

7.Mary Parker's Lament (Judy Small)

8. Hard Times (Stephen Foster)

9. Twa Corbies (trad)

10. Jock O'  Hazeldean (trad)

11. Queen of Argyll (A.M. Stewart)

12. Blue Eyes (for Peter) (W. Collins)

Download with artwork (MediaFire) MP3 192-224VBR 68M

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VA - "Come Listen to Australia" 1985 2LP boxed set (German)

I recently stumbled over this boxed 2 LP set. It was released on the German Teldec label in 1985 with extensive notes on both the music and Australia in both English and German. From the notes it appears that both Warren Fahey and the Australian Government contributed information and, quite possibly, encouragement for the release of the LP. Perhaps it was meant to be, at least in part, a tool to encourage possible migrants. The set features various Australian-based artists with a strong folk and protest flavour.  Possibly this set migrated to Australia as I can find no Australian references to the set. The second LP is a bit "iffy" in respect of some of the tracks which have not cleaned up as well as I would have liked so there are still some residual problems which detract in respect of three of the tracks. Because of this I have listed the two LPs seperately. I have also considered that LP1 is more in the remit of this blog but certainly LP2 is quite entertaining in its own right. There are a couple of errors in the listing of the tracks and artists in the booklet that came with the set, notably, Mike Jackson is listed as Michael Jackson; "10000 miles away" was reduced to just a 1000 miles and the Cathie O'Sullivan combo of "Nipper" and "Big Bill" (recently posted on the High Places album) is listed as one track and the notes give details about both but "Nipper" is not included on the LPs.

My scanning of the included booklet is a bit crude (too large for A4 scanner) but includes all the pictures and text. It's also a seperate download.

Download Artwork and booklet (MediaFire)

 LP1 Tracks

   01 - Wandjuk Marika - Didjeridu Solo                                                 
   02 - Phyl Lobl - No more boomerang                                                       
   03 - The Larrikins - Captain Cook                                                        
   04 - Christy Cooney - The Girls of the Shamrock Shore                                   
   05 - Dave de Hugard - The Tent Poles are Rotten                                          
   06 - Mike Jackson - The Teams                                                             
   07 - Currency - Come Listen                                                     
   08 - Dave de Hugard - 10000 Miles away                                                  
   09 - Justin Murphy - Wee Pot Stove                                                   
   10 - Cathie O'Sullivan - Norfolk Whalers                                               
   11 - Warren Fahey - Tumba~Bloody~Rumba                                                  
   12 - Cathie O'Sullivan - Bluey Brink                                                      
   13 - Mike Jackson - The Waterfall Waltz                                                      
   14 - Cast - Jindywaroback                                                                
   15 - Eric Bogle - The Great Australian Takeaway                                     
   16 - Geraldine Doyle - Stand on your Man

Download LP1 (mediafire)

LP2 Tracks                                                 
   17 - Bernard Bolan - Australia Square                                                    
   18 - Cyril May - Mullimbimby Madness Millionaire                                        
   19 - Clem Parkinson - The Wimmins Ball                                                      
   20 - Lyell Sayer - F1~11                                                               
   21 - Chris Duffy - Aussie Medley                                                     
   22 - Jeannie Lewis - Red Dust                                                            
   23 - Black Diamond - The bloody company                                                    
   24 - Tactics - Buried Country                                                              
   25 - R U Ready - The Road to Noonkanbah                                                      
   26 - Cathie O'Sullivan - Big Bill                                                            
   27  - Phyl Lobl - Seasons of War                                                             
   28 - Eric Bogle - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Download LP2 (mediafire)      

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Wallis and Matilda - "Banjo" Paterson Tribute Band

I've had a recent request for music from the "Wallis and Matilda" group. I do happen to have some of their material - the CD set of their first three albums "Pioneers", "Old Australian Ways" and "Singer of the Bush". They are a "Banjo" Paterson tribute band performing his songs and also singing their arrangements of his poems. As far as I know the band is still active. Regardless, all their material is still readily available for purchase either at retailers or by order from themselves or the Planet Company.
They are actually very good at what they do. The two web sites of interest are the Wallis and Matilda Website and the Planet Company Wallis and Matilda section.
Some of their output is also on iTunes and YouTube.