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 "J."
Kevin Johnson "Rock & Roll, I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life" (Good Thyme Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Kevin Johnson)
Schroedinger's record collection, part 7427: I had high hopes for this album by Australian singer-songwriter Kevin Johnson, having heard a nice version of the title track sung by Digby Richards, but somehow I could tell this wasn't going to be the down-under country gem I was looking for. Indeed, it's not really very country at all, more of a bland, semi-folkie, post-rock singer-songwriter kind of thing that really did very little to excite me. He sings in a rumbly, gruff style reminiscent of Larry Jon Wilson, but without the same level of songwriting chops... The last straw for me was the horribly pretentious "Iridescent Shadows," which is an object lesson in shambling, indulgent hippie-era poetics: as the track ended, I got up and shouted "You wrote a bad song, Petey!" at the stereo. Oh, well. It happens.
Joy And Allan "Sing Real Country Music" (Western District Recordings, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Ray Batten)
A husband-wife duo from Australia with deep country roots... According to the liner notes by Tex Banes, singer Joy Pertzel started her musical career back in 1944, performing in the Pertzel Sisters, a family act formed with her sister Dawn. The Pertzels were a popular duo throughout the 'Forties and 'Fifties, and when Joy later married Allan (last name still a mystery...) she formed a new duo with her husband. This album is mostly traditional country, including a fair chunk of western cowboy material, along with a few nods to the modern era, such as a cover of Donna Fargo's hit, "Funny Face," and Shel Silverstein's sexist anthem, "Put Another Log On The Fire." There's some yodeling, a bit of Hank Williams, some Stephen Foster, and a couple of Aussie-specific tunes, "Shearers Jamboree" and Slim Dusty's "When The Rain Tumbles Down In July." The liners indicate that Joy & Allan were planning a second album of original material, although I'm not sure if that one got recorded as well.
Col Joye "Heaven Is My Woman's Love" (ATA Records, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Col Joye & Bruce Brown)
