A song written by Billy Thorpe and Tony Barber from the original Aztecs has been finished off for release.
The song ‘Sunshine Friends’ was recorded in 2011 with Harry Young on vocals and the original Aztecs featuring Col Baigent, Vince Melouney, Tony Barner and John (Bluey) Watson.
Harry Young had a Top 10 hit in 1971 as Harry Young and Sabbath with ‘The Wheat In The Field’.
‘Sunshine Friends’ will be included on the album ‘The Australian Spirit’ is due in July.
The full tracklisting and notes for the album are:
1. The Australian Spirit - Steve Passfield 4:44
The title song of this CD and one that really shows the Australian spirit.
2. A Beach House In The Blue Mountains - Graeme Connors 4:07
Do you believe what Al Gore tells us? Graeme Connors is taking no chances :-)
3. Sunshine Friends - Harry Young & The Original Aztecs 3:35
(new release - first time on CD)
The first commercial recording of a song written by Billy Thorpe and Tony Barber.
4. Cyclone Country - 8 Ball Aitken 3:32
Tells of the devastation caused by cyclones in Australia’s far north.
5. Convoy To Tamworth - Kazaray with Hart 3:49
This song will make you want to pack your bags and go to the next Country Music Festival.
6. Gulf Country - Ron Odgers 3:03
“You haven’t lived until you’ve been to the big top end”.
7. Smiley, What About The Roses? - Michael Abrey (Ruckus) 3:55
A very moving song and a true story that Michael wrote after the 2009 Black Saturday bush fires.
8. Australia – Where My Heart Was Born - Connie Kis Andersen 3:59
A lovely song by a lady with a lovely voice who came to Australia from the Netherlands as a child and discovered
her heart was born here in Australia.
9. Yerranderie - Frank Ifield & Nicki Gillis 3:50
(new release - first time on CD)
A brand new recording of a song written by Frank when it was thought Yerranderie would be flooded by the filling of
Warragamba Dam. The town survived, but as all the residents had moved on, Yerranderie became a ghost town.
10. I Can’t Get Nowhere - Denis Carnahan 2:50
(new release - first time on CD)
(parody of Geoff Mack’s I’ve Been Everywhere)
This is a very funny song about traffic jams on our main roads that we have all experienced.
11. Country Muster - Flat Rock Drive (Instrumental) 2:46
A great instrumental featuring the talents of Colin Watson, John Kane, Chris Duffy, Clive Harrison, Doug Bligh and in memory of
Bill Horton and his sheep & dogs, which were recorded on Bill’s property near Nyngan NSW. This music is so good you will
even hear the sheep cheering.
12. Life Of A Drover - John Waters 3:31
(new release - first time on CD)
Not many people know that John Waters worked on a cattle station when he first arrived to settle in Australia. This is his
memory of that time long ago and which inspired him to write the story of Pilliga Pete and Clarrie the Cocky many years later.
13. Jumbuck - Rolf Harris 3:46
A very different and moving song about an old shearer who’s shearing days are over.
14. Back O’ Bourke Girl - Harry Young and The Original Aztecs 3:05
(new release - first time on CD)
A true tale about a girl brought up in the outback with three brothers, and how she had to work as hard as they did – and is still
going in northern NSW.
15. Living In Australia - Bob Brown 3:16
A humorous ditty not to be taken too seriously, except for the fact that even though we often face many difficulties, we are all
very lucky people indeed to be living in this great country - Australia.
16. Meet Me In The Texas Tavern - Johnny Heap & Nev Nicholls Country Playboys 2:55
A foot tapper in true country style. It tells of a mate-ship between an Aussie Digger and a GI becoming friends while serving in
Vietnam, and how they met up again in Sydney’s Kings Cross years later.
17. Red Back On The Toilet Seat - The Canary Brothers 2:08
A revival of Slim Newton’s very funny song about a not very funny situation.
18. Wallaby Rock - Tabbi & Geoff Mack 1:28
Well, this track is an absolute rarity! One of the very few recordings ever made by Tabbi (with Geoff making animal sounds).
Bonus Track:
Gurrumul history (I was born blind) - Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu 5:52
Skinnyfish Music kindly made this track available to us from Geoffrey’s hit album.
Thorpie fans should also hunt down Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs ‘Steaming Live At The Sydney Opera House’, released recently by Gil Matthews’ Aztec Music label.
VIDEO: Gil Matthews from Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs Mk II talks about the new reissue of ‘Steaming Live At The Sydney Opera House’:
