Jimmy Barnes got on the phone to us earlier today to talk about his new album and what he has coming up.
For those of you that don't know, Barnesy has released a prequel to his mega-selling 'Soul Deep' and 'Soul Deeper' albums called 'The Rhythm And The Blues'. On this record he gets into the real nitty gritty of soul music's precursor, R&B covering tracks by Ray Charles, Ike & Tina and Big Joe Turner."The Big Joe Turner version 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' is probably one of the greatest grooves of all time," he says with utmost enthusiasm. "That's such a dirty lyric. "I'm like a one-eyed cat, peeping in a seafood store" and even Bill Haley missed that one and left it in. He didn't know what a one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store was I think, otherwise he never would have gotten away with it on the radio. Do you think 50s radio was going to play "Im a penis"? I don't think they would."
It doesn't take much searching through old R&B tracks to find a whole bunch of dirty euphemisms, but Barnes thinks times have eased up.
"I think you can get away with it a lot more," he explains. "Look at hip hop and modern R&B and the stuff they sing about, and rock, it's changed from the 70s, let alone from the 50s. When you think about the 50s, people tried to write songs like that being black musicians, they didn't stand a chance, you know? Only the hip, or the cooler white musicians that heard it had a chance of making those songs get heard. There is no way that most of the public would have heard a black act singing like that."
On top of a hugely successful album of covers, he will also be heading back into the studio in January to record his next album, which will have more of a rock feel to it.
"Its all written. I'vesent all the demos off to America and I'm going off in the second week of January to record,"he reluctantly admits. "I haven't got a title yet, but maybe "God Or Money?".
"That's when I went to the States in the first place when I recorded 'Rhythm and Blues', I was there on a writing trip and I wrote with a bunch of friends and wrote a bunch of songs that have just come up really really great and they're probably the best bunch of songs I have written in ages."
If two albums in less than twelve months isn't enough to keep the 53 year old busy, there is even talk (albeit vague talk) of a future with a reunited Cold Chisel. Recently the band announced a new management deal with John Watson and John O'Donnel, which sparked rumours, followed by a one off gig at the V8 Supercars a couple of weeks ago. So what's going on?
"We originally signed with John Watson and John O'Donnel to just look after the stuff that's been neglected in the past. Digital media, digital music, the website and stuff like that, but since we've got together and rehearsed and done this show, we had just an amazing time, we had a dinner the other night to wrap things up and we sat around and talked about how we can go ahead and do things in the future. There is definitely forward movement now as opposed to just working on back catalogues, and that will probably happen sooner than later."
So post-heart surgery life is pretty good for Barnesy then?
"Life has a way of making you sit and re-evaluate. I wouldn't have stopped and had a break if I hadn't have had heart surgery, so heart surgery was a good thing. It made me get back into songwriting. As delicate as it was, my entry, it's got me back in full swing of things again and I'm pleased to be feeling healthy. I had a number one album this year, I've written a record, I've done a fantastic show with one of the best rock n roll bands in the world, Cold Chisel and I became a grandfather, so it's been a great year for me."
Jimmy Barnes' album 'The Rhythm And The Blues' is out now. You can see him live at:
JANUARY
2 - Bonnie Doon Hotel, Bonnie Doon, VIC (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
3 - Victory Park Soundshell, Traralgon, VIC (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
6 - Morning Star Estate, Mt Eliza, VIC (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
7 - Mulwala Waterski Club, Mulwala, NSW (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
9 - Mary Ann Reserve, Mannum, VIC (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
10 - Gol Gol Beer Hotel, Mildura, VIC (w/ Shannon Noll and Adam Brand)
FEBRUARY
13 - Motown Concert, Mission Estate Winery, Porati, NZ
16 - Motown Concert, Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
19 - Motown Concert, Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney, NSW
23 - Motown Concert, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
27 - A Day On The Green, Sandalford Winery, Sandalford, WA
28 - A Day On The Green, Margaret River Winery, Margaret River, WA
MARCH
2 - West Coast Blues and Roots Festival, Fremantle Park, WA
27 - Breath Of Life Concert, Devonport, TAS
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