Rain On The Tin" is Barrie Davis' third CD and is probably his best so far - It is very

impressive listening !

From the first strum of his 12 string on the introduction to "Rain .." to the fading flute

accompaniment on Mick Hanly's beautiful "Crusader" we are treated to a range of

contemporary songs telling the stories of both the good times and the hardships of life in

modern day Australia.

The songs here given the powerful 'deep baritone' Davis treatment, include work by

some of the finest songwriters in Australia today, such as Eric Bogle, Enda Kenny,

John Warner and John Williamson, to name but a few, and include equally stirring

efforts by Barrie himself, and a thought provoking title track by Adelaide musician

Michael McGregor.

The songs range from the tragic "He Fades Away" by Scot, Alistair Hulett, who himself

spent several years living in Australia to the delightfully cheeky ode to "Earl Grey" by brilliant songsmith Kenny, and Bernard Carney's wonderfully humorous "Bronchial Dilated Blues".   Barrie also includes a couple of his favourite train songs and to break the Australian mould, he gives us a rendition of "The Vicar & the Frog"- for good measure  always a crowd favourite.

Mention must be made of  some brilliant musicianship behind Barrie's powerful vocals on a number of tracks, including flutist Michelle Spencer and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Baldwin, plus Terry Ford and Rod Cheshire.

Somehow, Barrie manages to make these songs sound as though they were written for him  even though they might be quite familiar in another setting  as in "A Bushman Can't Survive", which could almost have been a 'sub-title' for the album, being about the contrasting lifestyle in the city and the "bush" of Australia

Overall, you'll find, on "Rain On The Tin",  in one neat package, some of the best songs from or about Australia today,  serious and humorous, happy or sad - all ably presented by Barrie Davis's powerful voice and his big 12 string guitar  have a listen, you won't be disappointed !

   -  Ron Higgins, Cellar Folk Club, Port Lincoln, South Australia

ABOUT THE SONGS  - This latest collection of songs, written by, for and about Australians and the land they call home.   As before, I've found these songs in all sorts of places and learned them from all sorts of people.   As always, I am indebted to the musicians who created these fine works.

For the first time I have recorded two of my own songs, the music for which was written by my good friend Michelle Spencer, who also plays flute on this CD.

To Michelle, Rod Cheshire and Terry Ford who gave generously of their time and musical talents to help me make this recording  thank you.

To Jamie Baldwin who recorded and mixed this CD and also played an amazing variety of instruments, thanks for your endless patience.

Rain On The Tin

Written by Michael McGregor, a fine musician with whom I have shared many enjoyable sessions at the Hills Folk Club in Adelaide, this evocative song about the life of Australian farmers grasps the essence of their struggle.   The "Tin", by the way, refers to the sheet metal roof with which almost all Australian bush houses are built.

Beside A Railway Line 

I'm once again indulging my unexplained passion for songs about trains (there are two on this collection).   This one by Roger Ilott looks at the passion of small boys to be train drivers.   At least, that's what we dreamed of when I was a small boy.   These days it's more likely that small boys dream of being starship captains, but that only shows that I'm getting older, and besides I don't know any songs about starships!

Bronchial Dilated Blues 

When I first heard this wonderful comic review of this condition by Bernard Carney I was suffering with a bad dose of the flu.   I thought "There's a man who knows exactly how I'm feeling" and it cheered me up quite a bit, as well as making me cough while trying not to laugh.

Welcome Home 

Eric Bogle's account of and tribute to the Australian service personnel who fought in the Vietnam war and its dreadful aftermath.   Several of the Vietnam veterans who have heard me sing this asked me to record it.   This is for you and your colleagues and the debt all Australians owe to you.   I hope you like the result.

From My Bedroom Window   

Sometimes I can't sleep.   On one of those nights I wrote this song for my wife.   The lyrics say it all.

A Bushman Can't Survive  

Most of us have what has come to be called a comfort zone and we are uneasy outside it.   John Williamson wrote this lovely song about Australians who can't adapt to city living.   Sitting in my office amongst the trees in the hills above Adelaide, I know just what he means.

He Fades Away

This is the story of an Australian tragedy, captured in a haunting song by Alistair Hulett.   In the West Australian town of Wittenoom there used to be an asbestos mining operation.   Even after the dangers of asbestos were known, it took an age to get mining stopped.  More than forty years later the unwitting victims are still trying to get some form of compensation for their suffering and many are dying before their endless legal battles are resolved.    The mining companies, of course, just got wealthy.

The Vicar And The Frog

A song of social comment by Stan Crowther, this one breaks audiences up wherever I've sung it.   The underlying message isn't at all funny of course, but the song is brilliant.  

Railway Widow's Lament 

The second train song on this CD, a really gutsy driving piece of work by John Warner.   The observant of you will notice that it should probably be sung by a woman, but I liked it so much that I did it anyway.

Diamantina Drover 

When Australia was first settled by Europeans, rivers were named by the pioneers who found them.   What they didn't know was that many of these rivers do not have any water in them for most of the time and are little more than sandy tracks when dry.   Hugh McDonald took this theme as a counterpoint to the solitary life of the cattle drovers in the outback to create an Australian music classic.

Earl Grey 

I actually do like Earl Grey tea, but I like this song by Enda Kenny more.   It delights me to sing it in restaurants and coffee houses and watch the reactions of the staff.

Ode To A Childless Couple 

I read recently that in ten years or so childless couples will be in the majority in Australia, and that the Western world is all heading in this direction.   My wife and I decided not to have children and over the years we've been the subject of some pointed questioning and comments.   So I decided that perhaps it was time to express our point of view.

Always Back To You 

Love of one's country goes in and out of fashion over time, but that's mostly a political reality.   What Eric Bogle writes about in this song is the way those of us feel who came to Australia as young migrants not knowing what to expect and now wouldn't live anywhere else in the world, even if we have to leave periodically for various reasons.  

Crusader 

Deserts can produce solitude and solitude can produce introspection.   Mick Hanly has written one of the loveliest songs I've ever heard about that.