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

Lionel Long "The Bold Bushrangers" 1963 (2 LP Set)

The Bold Bushrangers was a two LP set issued in 1963.  All but two of the tracks were specifically penned for this project by the Australian author Kenneth Cook (best known for "Wake in Fright").  Somewhat paradoxically, whereas Long previously recorded traditional material with modern-style musical backing, this contemporary material has a very folky backing often with just Long accompanying himself on guitar.  Some tracks also feature that superb five-string banjo player, Dave Guard, an original member of the Kingston Trio who migrated to Australia in 1962 and backed several Australia performers (sometimes under other names e.g with Tina Date as Dynamite Finkelstein).

Kenneth Cook's wife, Patricia Cook is the soloist on three of the tracks and performs a duet with Long on one other. I know nothing about this lady but she gives a strong performance with a distinct Irish style highly reminiscent of the legendary Delia Murphy, the "Queen of Connemara" who was very well-known in Australia as she had accompanied her husband Tom Kiernan when he was appointed as the first Irish Ambassador to Australia in the post WWII years and often performed especially on ABC radio.

There have been some difficulties in getting reasonable LPs of this set.  Finally, Ian of WA, has provided me with copies of both volumes (thanks Ian),  Volume 1 is mono whereas volume 2 is stereo and in far better condition than 1 which had three fairly worn tracks on side two (the first three) causing some minor distortion which I can't correct.

Ian has also kindly provided text of the rears of the LPs. and these are included in the download.

The two traditional tracks are "The Wild Colonial Boy" and "Moreton Bay" and Kenneth Cook has written some really great songs for this set. My favourites are "The Drifting Smoke of the Mountain" and "Sir Frederick Pottinger" but others are also enjoyable.

MP3 @ 192-224

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