Paul Kelly has scored back all of the rights to his old albums, bringing the Paul Kelly catalogue together under one roof for the very first time.
Until recently, the bulk of the Kelly catalogue was released through Warner, after his old label Mushroom was acquired by the major some years ago).Kelly’s newer material has been released through EMI.
Kelly tells the story in a letter to fans.
He says “Recently, the rights to all my recordings reverted back to me. Until then, the old recordings were with Warner and the later ones with EMI, my record label for the last nine years. I have decided to renew my licence with EMI and place all the recordings under one roof.
To celebrate the renewal of our partnership we are releasing SONGS FROM THE SOUTH VOLUME 2, a collection of songs from the last decade, which picks up where VOLUME 1 left off. VOL 1 and VOL 2 will be available separately but also as a combined double album at a good price.
A DVD of videos made over the past 23 years along with several live performances will also be on sale - around forty clips. It’s funny how they add up.
For serious collectors we are releasing a signed Deluxe combined package containing SONGS FROM THE SOUTH VOLS 1 and 2, the DVD Video Collection, a rare poster, a vintage T-Shirt, laminates and facsimiles of original hand written lyrics. It can be ordered through the website but will also be available in record stores. (You might have to save up for that one.)
The old albums up until Deeper Water will be “frozen” (i.e. withdrawn from circulation) for a time and released in a series starting some time later next year.
During our collaboration, the people at EMI have enabled me to release a diverse range of music which includes the group-written, part instrumental records - Professor Ratbaggy and Stardust Five; a sprawling double album - Ways & Means; two Bluegrass albums - Smoke and Foggy Highway, and several movie soundtracks. SONGS FROM THE SOUTH VOL 2 draws from this period and also includes a new song, Thoughts In The Middle Of The Night (for anyone who’s ever had trouble sleeping), and the first physical release of Shane Warne.
They’ve also taken on board records such as FREEDOM RISING: Songs For Timor Leste and CANNOT BUY MY SOUL: The Songs Of Kev Carmody - records which needed special attention and featured a large cast of artists, many from other labels.
Unusually for a record company, they’ve supported me in my long term A-Z project to make available songs for free temporary download from my website, and will continue to do so.
They’ve always shaped their plan according to the music I’ve brought to them. They’ve never asked me to make music to the plan. You can’t ask for more than that. So I look forward to our next episode.”
EMI will release the expanded version of Kelly’s ‘Songs From The South’ as ‘Songs From The South Vilume 1 and 2’ on November 8.
The DVD Paul Kelly - The Video Collection 1985-2008 will also be released.
Disc 1:
From St Kilda to Kings Cross
Leaps and Bounds
Before Too Long
Darling It Hurts
Look So Fine, Feel So Low
Dumb Things
To Her Door
Bradman
Everything's Turning To White
Sweet Guy
Careless
Winter Coat
From Little Things Big Things Grow
When I First Met Your Ma
Pouring Petrol On A Burning Man
Love Never Runs On Time
Song From The Sixteenth Floor
Deeper Water
Give In To My Love
How To Make Gravy
Disc 2:
Nothing On My Mind
I'll Be Your Lover
Love Letter
Our Sunshine
Gathering Storm
Every Fucking City
Be Careful What You Pray For
Love Is The Law
If I Could Start Today Again
The Oldest Story In The Book
Won't You Come Around
Gunnamatta
Your Lovin' Is On My Mind
Song Of The Old Rake
They Thought I Was Asleep
Everybody Loves You Baby
God Told Me To
You're 39, You’re Beautiful And You're Mine
Thoughts In The Middle Of The Night
Shane Warne
