Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reviewing The Bushwackers’ Australian Song Book album. This marked the 30th Anniversary for The Bushwackers, established in 1971. However, the 25th Jubilee album slipped through my grasp until just recently. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation recorded this album live in the Longyard Hotel, Tamworth, on Australia Day 1996.
What a concert it must have been; the album boasts 16 tracks of the favourite songs from the band featuring their specially invited guests, some of whom have been members of the Bushwackers at some time or other over the years. The banter in between the songs has been left on as they introduce each guest in turn. The band at the time of recording was: Dobe Newton, lead vocals and Lagerphone etc.; Roger Corbett, bass and vocals; Mellanie Williamson, accordion and vocals; Mark Oats, fiddle & backing vocals; Tim Gaze, electric guitar & vocals; and Pete Drummond, drums & vocals.
Their special guests on that evening include Slim Dusty, Lee Kernaghan and Tommy Emmanuel on the song “When the Rain Tumbles Down in July,” Graeme Connors singing “Beneath the Southern Cross,” Shaney Dell singing “Past Carin’,” Broderick Smith singing “Battlers Ballad,” Greg Champion singing “Wooloomooloo Liar,” Ted Egan singing “Billy of Tea,” the Crosby Sisters with Michael Fix singing “1-2-3-4,” and Mark O’Shea singing “When Britannia Ruled the Waves.”
Add to this old favourites like “Poor Ned,” “Flash Jack from Gundagai,” “Limejuice Tub,” “Ned Kelly’s Tunes” and even “Waltzing Matilda” and the album is complete. I must have heard these songs literally hundreds of times over the years, but it is amazing how the band can make them sound brand new and full of life each time I listen to them.
I calculate this must have been the 15th out of the 18 albums they have made over the years. If you are like me, and you appreciate live albums, get this one – you will not be disappointed. It really is superb.
(EMI, ABC Music, 1996)
