ABOUT THE SONGS –

The songs on this CD have been collected over some years of international touring.

Some I have sung at folk clubs and venues in Australia, but the majority are new

and represent a sampling of the writing of many fine composers I have had the

pleasure to meet in my travels.  I am indebted to them for their fine work..  

I have also indulged myself by recording several songs that I have loved for a long

time, but who’s composers I have never met.

This is my first album for a while that isn’t made up of contemporary Australian folk music.  

It’s been a lot of fun to record and I hope you like the result.

His Old Mandolin

Christopher Alden Shaw wrote this evocative song about the migrant experience.   Australia, like many other countries, has a large migrant population and they have enriched their new home with the culture of their traditions and history.   This lovely song enriches my music collection.

Miss Alice Jones

I met Eric Payne at a folk club in Worcester, England where I sang a couple of songs one winter’s night and we exchanged CDs.   He told me that his material wasn’t very good but he thought I might like it because I was obviously attracted to songs that told stories.   He was both right and wrong, I do like songs that tell stories and I think his songs are just great.

Peter Behind The Wheel

John Allan Cameron is a giant of the Canadian folk scene.   A recipient of the Order of Canada for his lifetime promotion and support of Cape Breton music, composer, singer, TV personality and a true gentleman.   He welcomed Ros and I into his home and shared his music with us.   This song’s experience will be familiar to most musicians.   Somehow there always seems to be someone like this in every audience.

Pharaoh Of The Grand

I shared a stage with Ian Bell at a lovely open air venue in Ancaster Ontario a few years ago.   Ian is a museum curator in Paris Ontario and a very fine musician.   I borrowed this song from his work because as I get older the idea of extended life spans has a growing appeal.   By the way, the Grand is the river in southern Ontario.

When I Loved Her

My wife will tell you that I’m just an old softie at heart, with a great weakness for sentimental ballads.   I love this one by Kris Kristofferson, one of my favourite songwriters of all time.

The Heart Of The Appaloosa

Kids like me were a product of Saturday morning matinee cinema, where Hollywood brainwashed us with tales of the American West.   Then as a young man I read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee and discovered the terrible truth behind the movies.   This tour-de-force by Fred Small describes the experience of the Nez Perce Indians when they encountered the white man.   It remains one of my personal half dozen best songs of all time.

Rufus And Beverley

The English comedian Tony Hancock once said that there were people walking about with hardly anything they started out with.   He could have been describing this outrageously funny piece by Mark Graham.

The Logger’s Song

Mike Marker wrote this song in 1991 and sang it at a concert on Vancouver Island a few years ago.   I thought that it perfectly captured the conflicts of logging everywhere.

The Old Hollowed Step

Another lovely piece from the Eric Payne stable.   As a child in England I lived in a house that had a step just like this.   In my case it was the back door step, but a hollow is a hollow regardless.

Reuben James

While escorting a convoy in October 1941, the American destroyer USS Reuben James was torpedoed and sunk with the loss of 115 of 160 crewmen.   It was the first US warship sunk in world war two and was immortalized by Woodie Guthrie in this song.

Unwed Fathers

The ultimate compliment to a singer is to so move the audience that tears result.   This song by John Prine has done that for me twice.   It’s a pity that the message of the song is true.

City Of New Orleans

What can you say about Steve Goodman that hasn’t been said.   Author of the best railroad song I have ever heard, as great now as it was when it was first written.

Poems Written With A Borrowed Pen

One of the lesser known Tom Paxton songs and the one I like the most of all his work.   I’m convinced that he has the folk singer’s melancholy streak in him, despite many wonderfully funny songs.   This one is sad but beautifully evocative.

The Diamond That Used To Be You

I met Cheryl Neill at a music conference in Ontario in 2004 at about 2 am when she joined the session I was in and sang this song.   It cracked me up and I pestered her for some time for a copy of it, which she very kindly sent me.   In case you aren’t aware, a Scandinavian company actually developed this process and was actively marketing it.   I’m not sure if it’s still available.

Willie’s Song

The song I often finish performances with.   My wife’s favourite Fred Small song about his friend trying to make a living as a touring musician.   Boy, don’t I know how that feels!