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Photo Credit: Michael Hili

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Photo Credit: Michael Hili

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Paul Kelly delivers a masterclass on narrative song writing on ‘People’ (out through EMI Music Australia; release date: February 24, 2023), the fourth in his on-going series of themed ‘mix tape’ albums. This 18-track set focuses on a wide variety of individuals – star athletes, politicians, outlaws, artists, and fellow musicians – whom Kelly describes as “truly remarkable.”

Covering the length and breadth of Kelly’s storied career, ‘People’ draws songs from his work over thirty-five years. ‘People’ also debuts a quartet of new tracks: recent live renditions of “Our Sunshine” and “From Little Things Big Things Grow” along with the previously unreleased tunes, “Light On The Hill” and “Laughing Boy.”

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The set begins with “Light On The Hill”, a Casey Bennetto song from the musical Keating!,  and goes on to present Kelly’s diverse range of interests. “Our Sunshine” tells the story of the notorious 19th century outlaw, Ned Kelly. “Laughing Boy,” is based on Irish writer Brendan Behan’s autobiography Borstal Boy. “Arthur McBride,” is a 19th century Irish folk song that Kelly describes as inhabiting “the borderland between legend and history,” and it ranks as one of the most darkly comical Christmas songs ever.

Kelly shines the spotlight on several artists and musicians he admires. “The Ballad Of Queenie And Rover” pays tribute to a pair of his favourite painters Queenie McKenzie and Rover Thomas from the east Kimberley region, He wrote “Charlie Owen’s Slide Guitar” about the talented guitarist many years before they collaborated on his 2016 album Death’s Dateless Night. And “Stephen Foster’s Last Waltz” is a bitter-sweet paean to the grandfather of American popular music.

“From Little Things Big Things Grow,” an unofficial Australian anthem, written with Kev Carmody, is re-presented here in a 2022 live rendition (one of two sparkling tracks where Kelly duets with singer Jess Hitchcock). “A Bastard Like Me,” which Kelly was commissioned to write for a theatrical work, is based on the life and times of Aboriginal activist Charlie Perkins. “Rally Around The Drum,” a co-write with Archie Roach, presents a vivid portrait of life as a tent boxer (work both Roach and his father did).  One of the album’s harder rocking tracks, “Pigeon/Jandamarra,” offers a dramatic retelling of the late 19th century Indigenous uprising in The Kimberley.

Although many tunes here deal with Australian history, Paul Kelly’s sublime storytelling skills bring a universality to the songs. This is particularly evident in the songs about athletes. “Every Day My Mother’s Voice”, written for The Final Quarter, a documentary about Adam Goodes, and “Every Step Of The Way”, based on Eddie Betts’ experience of racism, are stories of resilience, survival and the importance of family. “Bradman” takes a poetic look at the great cricketer Sir Donald Bradman.

Don’t think, however, that ‘People’ is all serious history. “Shane Warne” is a hilarious ode about the fabled larrikin cricketer. And three fictional characters have made the list by virtue of their names being song titles – Anastasia, Desdemona and Josephina

‘People’ is the fourth instalment of Paul Kelly’s ongoing series releases based around specific themes. He launched these compilations in June of 2022 with ‘Time’, which was followed by ‘Rivers And Rain’ in July and ‘Drinking’ in September. More of these curated ‘mix-tapes’ are slated for the year ahead.

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‘PEOPLE’
Track Listing

Light On The Hill *
Laughing Boy *
Stephen Foster’s Last Waltz
Every Step Of The Way
Charlie Owen’s Slide Guitar
Bradman
The Ballad Of Queenie And Rover
Rally Round The Drum
A Bastard Like Me
Anastasia Changes Her Mind
Pigeon/Jandamarra
Every Day My Mother’s Voice [Live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl 2019]
Desdemona
From Little Things Big Things Grow [Live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl 2022] *
Our Sunshine [Live at Sidney Myer Music Bowl 2022] *
Josephina
Shane Warne
Arthur McBride

*Denotes previously unreleased recordings

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Follow PAUL KELLY
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB