This is a look at Australian country music, from bush ballads and yodeling oldies to country-rock and outlaw twang, and even some more modern Top Forty artists. This includes artists from both Australian and New Zealand, though there's a separate Kiwi Country section which has a lot of overlap. There's a ton of twang Down Under, and I'm pretty sure I'm only scratching the surface, so I welcome any recommendations, additions or corrections.
This page covers the letter "H."
Lois Hall "Hallmarks" (Enrec, 198--?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Green, Lawrie Minson, Steve Newton & Matt Ponsonby)
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band "The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band" (Festival Records, 1966) (LP)
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band "Recorded Live At The Poles Apart Folk Club, Auckland" (Kiwi Records, 1968) (LP)
(Produced by Robin Gummer)
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band "The Country Touch" (Kiwi Records, 1968) (LP)
(Produced by Robin Gummer & John Ruffell)
In 1968 the HCBB were hired by television producer Bryan H. Easte to become the house band for the NZBC TV show, The Country Touch, which starred New Zealand twang old-timer Tex Morton. The show lasted for three seasons before being renamed Country Road and moving from Auckland to Christchurch.
The Hamilton County Bluegrass Band "In Concert: Live At The Wynyard Tavern" (His Master's Voice/HMV Records, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by John Ruffell)
Travis Hammond "Travis Hammond" (TH Records, 19--?) (LP)
Col Hardy "Black Gold" (Opal Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Ross Murphy)
Col Hardy "Hardy Country" (Opal Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Ross Murphy)
Col Hardy "Black And White Tangle" (Opal Records, 1983) (LP)
(Produced by Ross Murphy)
Col Hardy "Remember Me" (Opal Records, 1991) (LP)
(Produced by Ross Murphy, Steve Newton & Randall Wilson)
Col Hardy "I Am Me" (Swingin' Doors Records, 2014)
Rolf Harris "The Best Of Rolf Harris" (EMI, 2003) (CD)
I'd rather not spend tons of time tracking down and documenting all of folk-pop humorist Rolf Harris's records, partly because that would entail an inordinate amount of work for someone only tangentially "country," and also because a lot of his stuff is really, really irritating. Still, he does kind of fit in here, a bit, and I suppose if a record or two pops up in the dollar bins at the local Record Hut, no harm done giving them a whirl. In the meantime, here's a best-of set, which should be useful as a marker. I suppose it's also worth noting that Rolf Harris was convicted (and imprisoned, circa 2014) for sexual assaults that took place back in the '80s. Presumably canceled as well, though I guess he resumed his performing career after he was paroled.
Rolf Harris "The Man With The Microphone" (EMI-Columbia Records, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by George Martin)
Not that many actual old, vintage Rolf Harris albums show up on these American shores (thank goodness) but a few wash up on the beach from time to time. This seems to have been standard fare: a bunch of comedy tunes, some produced live, others in studio, some with Australian references, others more general (such as his goofball rendition of Gilbert & Sullivan's "Tit Willow.") The unifying factor is that all these tracks are intensely annoying... which isn't to say Harris didn't have his craft, and he wasn't "good" at what he did. It's just irritating. He's kind of like the Ray Stevens of Australian comedy songs (though to be fair to Harris, nobody is as annoying as Ray Stevens...) And yes, it appears that this was produced by that George Martin: can you imagine the tonal difference going from crafting something like Help or Rubber Soul then supervising a frothy, meaningless album like this? It's work, I guess.
Adam Harvey "Adam Harvey" (Birubi Records, 1994)
(Produced by Richard Bice & Steve Virtue)
The Hawking Brothers "Country Sweet: The Hawking Brothers Sing & Play Classic Country Songs" (BACM) (CD)
The Hawking Brothers "Australian Heritage" (Fable Records, 1971) (LP)
The Hawking Brothers "Nashville" (Fable Records, 1972) (LP)
The Hawking Brothers "Country Gold" (Fable Records, 19--?) (LP)
The Hawking Brothers "The Best Of The Hawking Brothers" (Fable Records,19--?) (LP)
The Hawking Brothers "Twenty One Years With The Hawking Brothers" (Fable Records, 19--?) (LP)
Johnny Heap "The Hordern Tree" (Selection Records, 1982) (LP)
Johnny Heap "Sunday Afternoon And Country Music" (Bunyip Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Jack Varney)
Johnny Heap "A Heap Of Country Music" (R&H Records, 1982) (LP)
Johnny Heap "Lavender Blue And Other Love Songs" (Smokey Records, ?) (CD)
Big Jim Hermel & The Stone Mountain Band "Son Of A Whiskey Drinkin' Gamblin' Queen" (Peg Records, 1978) (LP)
Big Jim Hermel & The Stone Mountain Band "Southern Boogie" (Peg Records, 1983) (LP)
Russell Hitchcock "Tennessee: The Nashville Sessions" (Sony Music/Better Angels, 2011)
(Produced by Rob Rappaport)
If you want to see just how much common ground there really is between modern country ballads and 1970's AOR, check out these weepy, countrified sessions by the Melbourne-born former lead singer of Air Supply: without changing too much of his tinkly, synthy keyboard-backed sound, Russell Hitchcock fits in perfectly with the more mellow, saccharine side of the current Nashville Top Forty. Another thing that hasn't changed that much is Hitchcock's voice, which is still robust and anguished, although his gray hair and a few crows feet around his eyes betray his age, the guy can still sing. This 2-CD set allows him to fully indulge his country side: if you like the style, no reason not to love this record. By the way, he has a couple fo other solo albums; they are not country.
June Holms/Zeta Burns "Queensland Country Style: Songs To Be Remembered" (EMI Custom Records, 1981) (LP)
This LP is a hybrid reissue and tribute disc, with six vintage recording cut in 1942 by Australian country pioneer June Holms (1925-1966) and an equal number of tracks by her devotee, Zeta Burns (1946-2016). Yodeling cowgal June Holms was Brisbane's answer to American singers such as Patsy Montana and the Girls Of The Golden West, but though she was a trailblazer, her legacy was limited to a handful of tracks that popped up on various compilations over the years. In 1980, country fans were dismayed to learn that Holms had been buried in an unmarked grave, and sought to raise funds to place a headstone on her grave. This album was preceded by singles and an EP made in her honor, some of which is included here. The album opens with two songs Burns sang in tribute to Holms, "Remember June Holms" (written by Owen Gieger) and "Memories Of June Holms," composed by Len Bell, whose "Tribute To June" closes out Side Two. Ms. Burns seems to have been at least middle-aged at the time of this release, though I'm not sure how far back her career stretched; the six tracks by June Holms were apparently the sum total of her recorded work.
John Hore "Introducing John Hore" (Joe Brown Records, 1964) (LP)
John Hore "Encore" (Joe Brown Records, 1965) (LP)
Darren Howard & Cameron Mason "When Strangers Meet" (Custom Records, 1993)
(Produced by Darren Howard & Rob Breese)
A duo release from songwriter Cameron Mason and guitarist/bassist Darren Howard, who did session work for Lindsay Butler Studios... All the songs on Side One are Mason's own originals, while Howard contributes a couple of tunes on Side Two, along with covers of songs by Stan Coster, Joe Maphis, Jack Spade and guitarist Sergio Palito...
Bert Hura "One Day" (Self-Released, 2008)
(Produced by John DeWiele
