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| ARCHIVE : Capital News July 2003 Vol 28 No 7 |
60th MILESTONE FOR SLIM
John Elliott
But the celebration of 60 years of recording on The Very Best Of Slim Dusty with the two additional tracks, Looking Forward…Looking Back and Waltzing Matilda makes this a very special event.
In 1943 a young SLIM DUSTY made the long train trip from the family farm near Kempsey to Sydney. He bravely walked into Columbia Regal Zonophone in Sydney’s inner west to record his first ever songs. This first recording session was the first tentative step on a career that has taken Slim from the dairy farm at Nulla Nulla Creek to the status of true living legend!
"It’s hard to believe that it is 60 years since I made my very first recording in those legendary Columbia Regal Zonophone studios," Slim said. "Even harder to believe, that one of the first two recordings was entitled My Final Song!"
"Since then, I have recorded more than a thousand songs for EMI Australia and we have enjoyed a very special relationship over all those 60 years of recording.
"I am proud to say that we have stuck together through all the good and the bad years, and here we are at this special landmark in a unique relationship. We’ve worked together to make good Australian music and recordings."
And what a defining collection of Australian music is featured on Slim’s 105th. The relatively new Looking Forward Looking Back followed by several defining moments in Aussie musical history: Pub With No Beer, Lights On The Hill, The Biggest Disappointment, Three Rivers Hotel, Ringer From The Top End, Where Country Is; followed by more classics such as Leave Him In The Longyard, Plains Of Peppimenarti, Duncan, Charleville, Indian Pacific, Sweeney, G'day G'day, Walk A Country Mile, When The Rain Tumbles Down In July, I'm Going Back Again To Yarrawonga, Old Time Country Halls, Camooweal, We've Done Us Proud, Country Revival, Cunnamulla Feller, By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal, Losin' My Blues Tonight, Wobbly Boot and fittingly Waltzing Matilda closes the collection.
It is impossible to listen to the twenty five songs on this CD and not be in awe of Slim Dusty’s uncanny ability to connect with the very pysche of our country. He has somehow helped all of us to get a bit closer to finding out who we are and what makes us tick both as individuals and as a nation. Who needs therapy when we have Slim Dusty songs?
Right from the start of his career Slim has also shown remarkable skill at narrowing the divide between city and country. These songs vividly paint a picture of the Australian bush in a language that country people revere and city people can see and smell. I defy anyone to listen to the familiar words of By A Fire Of Gidgee Coal, and not instantly smell the pungent sweet odour of burning gidgee or sing along with Waltzing Matilda and not have flashbacks to the closing ceremony of the Sydney Olympics and visions of the man from Nulla Nulla in the familiar Akubra leading a nation in song.
Slim’s 105 albums with sales verging on 6 million, and countless Gold and Platinum awards, have won him fans in every corner of the planet and from every walk of life. Slim has attracted many well wishers on his 60th Anniversary.
Alain Levy, Worldwide Chairman and CEO of EMI Recorded Music, said, "We are proud to have been partners with Slim Dusty for 60 years. To have released 105 albums with the one company is an amazing achievement. In addition to being a living legend in Australia, Slim's career has made him a legend throughout EMI's global family. We wish Slim all the best as he celebrates his 60th Anniversary as a recording artist!"
Aussie artist KASEY CHAMBERS has always been a Slim fan. "In recent years I have had the honour of working with Slim Dusty, and he is just as inspirational now as he was the first time my dad played his music to me when I was a child. He represents Australian country music like no one else. Thanks Slim."
"Slim Dusty is one of the great Australian storytellers and characters," according to John O’Donnell, Managing Director of EMI Music Australia. "Sixty years since he first began, Slim continues to both define and reflect what is great and unique about our country and our culture. There is immense pride and respect at EMI Australia for the long association we have had with Slim and we continue to be in awe of his passion, talent and non-stop work ethic. An Australian living legend! Happy birthday Slim."
I recently caught up with Slim in Sydney for the first time since he underwent tests and treatment for complications from renal surgery late in 2002. Not wishing to intrude I had planned to have a quick cuppa, say hello and leave.
It was good to see Slim and have a yarn. After about an hour I got up to leave.
"Gee, I thought you might like to hear some of the new songs I am working on," Slim said. I have never knocked back a chance to hear Slim sing, especially new songs, so off we went to Slim’s home studio. Slim strapped on his trusty Maton and launched in to an hour of future cultural classics.
He has been sorting through dozens of songs sent in from his team of writers. Slim said that he is working on material from many first time writers, mostly people who are writing about their own jobs and lives, writing about what they know. Maybe this is one of the secrets of Slim’s longevity. Even his songs about far fetched bush yarns are rooted in the truth.
Slim is in fine form today in the studio. His familiar voice is strong and passionate. The songs he sings are about real people doing what you and I do in our day to day lives. Slim’s pick and strum guitar style is the perfect vehicle to deliver these stories.
Album #106 is well under way and in good hands. When I say goodbye Slim says, "I am looking forward to my 61st year of recording", with all the enthusiasm of that bright eyed farm boy who made the long trip to Sydney to make his first recording back in the early 40s.
As I drove away from Slim’s place I remembered that I had forgotten to wish Slim happy birthday for Friday 13 June, so I’ll do it now in the pages of Cap News.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATE - WE LOVE YA!"
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