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Sample
Tracks
CD
Review
Graham
McDonald, Canberra Times
Collector – Coming in from the Old
This
is the CD which sounds the final death knell of the “bush
band”.
Following hard on the heels of the wonderful Growling Dogs recording,
this band takes a more adventurous approach to recreating traditional
folk songs and dance tunes. Collector is a six-piece band from
Bathurst, in central NSW where John Meredith and subsequent collectors
found much of what is now considered the core of Australian folk-music
heritage.
They have recorded a mix of songs and instrumentals, including
two of the great, rarely recorded, Ben Hall songs. The songs mostly
have some connection to the Central-West and the dance tunes are
from musicians who lived there, such as Joe Yates of Sofala and
Ernie Goodman of Mudgee.
What sets this CD apart is the manner in which the music is arranged
and presented. There are obvious influences from the folk-rock
bands of the last few decades, but the overall feel is acoustic,
with lots of varied instrumentation. Vocals and instruments are
brought in and out of the arrangements, creating a thick aural
texture.
The group also has the advantage of at least five good singers
who share lead vocals and create some interesting harmonies, if
occasionally a little rough around the edges. Still, it is only
a minor criticism of what is an always interesting, and sometimes
great, recording.
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Track Details
1.
Conjewoi Polka / The Jackarse Eat It On The Way / Bruce Smith's
Set Tune
The Cojewoi Polka was collected from accordion player Roy Craft
of Wyong, The Jackarse came from George Blackman of Mudgee,
while Bruce Smith and his Set Tune come from Tenterfield and
was collected by Barry McDonald.
2.
The Death of Ben Hall
Collected from traditional singer, Sally Sloane, by John Meredith
in 1954. Ben Hall's sister-in-law was mid-wife at Sally's birth
in Parkes, in 1894.
3.
Bold Ben Hall / The Walk Around
Gladys Scrivener of Erskineville sang a version of this song
for John Meredith in 1956. The song was learnt from her grandfather,
who had been a shearer in the north-west of NSW. The Walk Around
comes from Stan Treacy of Limerick.
4.
Goorianawa
Collected
from bush worker and singer Duke Tritton in the 1950s by John
Meredith. One of the great shearing songs from central NSW.
Duke (born around 1890) learnt this song when he was 8 or 9
years of age.
5.
The Gardner's Reel / The Wind That Shakes The Barley / Colin
Charlton's Reel
The Gardner's Reel and The Wind that Shakes the Barley were
collected from Joe Yates by John Meredith, Mike Martin and others.
Born in 1895, Joe was part of a third generation of Yates fiddlers
from the Sofala / Hill End district. The third tune comes from
Colin Charlton of Cookamidgera, a bit further west.
6.
The Drifting Smoke of the Mountains
The words for this song were possibly written by Kenneth Cook.
The tune is traditional. Our version was taken from John Meredith's
book - "The Wild Colonial Boy - Bushranger Jack Donohoe, 1806
- 1830".
7.
The Sheep Washer's Lament
Song from Queensland, first published in Banjo Patterson's "Old
Bush Songs". Eight verses have been polished down to four over
the years. Most of our words come from a version by Alan Musgrove.
8.
The Day After.../The Wedding of Lachan McGraw / Warn's Set Tune
/ Joe's Jig
The Wedding of Lachan McGraw and Joe's Jig are two more tunes
from Joe Yates. Warn's Set Tune comes from button accordion player
John Warn of The Crooked Corner Band.
9.
Songs of the Bush (Chloe and Jason Roweth).
10.
Father's Waltz / Ernie Goodman's Waltz
Father's Waltz is a another tune from Joe Yates, one
of many he learnt off his father. Ernie Goodman was a button accordion
player from Mudgee born in 1890.
Thanks
to the Collectors, including John Meredith, Mike Martin, Rob Willis,
Alan Musgrove, Chris Sullivan, Mark Rummery, Brad Tate, Ron Edwards,
Peter Ellis, David De Hugard, Barry McDonald, Mark and Maria Schuster,
Alan and Bill Scott, Jack Kevans and others who have tirelessly
recorded our cultural heritage.
Thanks
also to the National Library of Australia and to David De Santi
of Carrawobbity Press for their work in preserving and publishing
collected Australian music.
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Goorianawa
background
Goorianawa was collected from H. P. ‘Duke’ Tritton (1886-1965),
by the late John Meredith. Duke grew up in Sydney and learned this
song at the age of 8 or 9, from an uncle who had been out shearing.
Duke himself was at this stage just about to head out “on
the wallaby”, and was to shear at many of the sheep stations
named in the song. His book “Time Means Tucker” is a
fantastic read, and more than worth the effort of finding a copy
– it probably won’t be easy. It is a rare insight into
rural life in NSW, in the early twentieth century. I’ve included
the map as a rough guide only – please don’t leave home
without your trusty road map (and more!) if you’re planning
a sightseeing trip. This song, and the people and places in it,
are still spoken of occasionally “west of the mountains”.
One fellow (a shearer), in a pub in Bathurst, told me ‘they
used to start singing that one when they got on the train at Bourke
and still be singing when they got to Emu Plains! And not repeat
a verse!’ I’m not sure where he heard that! Maybe from
Duke himself.
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lyrics
I’ve been many years a shearer and I fancied I could shear,
I’ve shore for Rouse of Guntawang and always missed the spear;
I’ve shore for Nicholas Bayly, and I declare to you
That on his pure Merinos, I could always struggle through.
But it’s O my, I never saw before
The way we had to knuckle down at Goorianawa.
I’ve been shearing down the Bogan as far as Dandaloo,
For good old Reid of Tabratong I’ve often cut a few.
Haddon Rig and Quambone, and even Wingadee;
I could close my shears a six o’clock with a quiet century.
I’ve shore for Bob McMaster down on the Rockedgiel Creek
And I could always dish him up with thirty score a week.
I’ve shore at Terramungamine, and on the Talbraga
And I ran McDermott for the cobbler when we shore at Buckingbar
I’ve been shearing on the Goulburn side, and down at Douglas
Park,
Where every day ‘twas “Wool Away!” and toby did
his work.
I’ve shore for General Stewart whose tomb is on The Mount;
And the sprees I’ve had with Scrammy Jack are more than I can
count.
I’ve been shearing at Eugowra – I’ll never forget
the name,
Where Gardiner robbed the escort, which from the Lachlan came.
I’ve shore for Bob Fitzgerald down at the Dabee Rocks,
McPhillamy of Charlton, and your Mister Henry Cox.
But that was in the good old days – you might have heard them
say
How Skillycorn from Bathurst rode to Sydney in a day.
Now I'm broken mouthed and my shearing's at an end,
And although they call me Whalebone, I was never known to bend.
I've shorn in every woolshed from the Barwon to the sea,
But I got speared at Goorianawa before I’d barbered three.
For by the living Joseph I never saw before
Such sheep as made us knuckle down at Goorianawa.
But it’s spare me flamin’ days!
I never saw before the way we had to knuckle down at Goorianawa. |
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