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 "K."
John Kane "Take Your Pick" (Larrikin Records, 1984) (LP)
(Produced by Allan Black, Chris Duffy & Louise Klait)
Hailing from Gladesville, NSW, guitarist John Kane and songwriter-guitarist Genevieve ("Genni") Kane started out as pretty solid bluegrassers, leading the band Flying Emus and later formed the more country-oriented band The Kanes, with many of the same musicians. This early album includes some notable bluegrassers -- flatpicker Dan Crary, playing on three tracks, Chris Duffy and others -- along with a nascent edition of Flying Emus.
The Kanes "She Says..." (ABC Country Records, 1992) (LP)
(Produced by John Kane, Ted Howard & Todd Hunter)
John Kane and Genni Kane re-branding a bit, but still working with basically the same lineup of their old band Flying Emus, with a few new friends picked up along the way... Also worth noting that country star Anne Kirkpatrick sings on here as well... She was the daughter of Joy McKean and Slim Dusty, and the Kanes seem to have been in Dusty's orbit; he's said to have recorded some music composed by Ginni Kane, though I haven't tracked down the specifics on that one yet.
Ray Kernaghan "Remember Me (I'm The One Who Loves You)" (Bullet Records, 19--?) (LP)
Ray Kernaghan "The Very Best Of Ray Kernaghan" (J & B Records, 19--?) (LP)
Ray Kernaghan "Me And Louie On The Road" (Bullet Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Merv Lowry & Rudy Brandsme)
Ray Kernaghan "Jet Set Country" (19--?) (LP)
Ray Kernaghan "Ray Kernaghan Country" (Telmak Records, 1981) (LP)
Kevin King "...Presents The 78 Collection" (Self-Released, 2003) (LP)
A nigh-forgotten country songwriter from the 1950s, Kevin King never released a full LP during his salad days, though he did record a respectable string of 78rpm singles for Regal Zonophone and Columbia Records, starting in the early 1950s and stretching all the way to the early 'Seventies. Sometimes I guess you just gotta take matters into your own hand, which is what Mr. King did when he self-released this twenty-song retrospective of his old work. Good luck tracking down a copy... though it's nice to know it's out there! Some cover songs and some originals as well... A later generation of Aussie twangsters championed King's work: I found out about him from Col Edmonds' first album.
Anne Kirkpatrick "Down Home" (Columbia Records, 1974) (LP)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Let The Songs Keep Flowing Strong And Naturally" (EMI Records, 1976)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Shoot The Moon" (EMI Records, 1978)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Merry-Go-Round Of Life" (Nulla Records, 1982)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Come Back Again" (EMI Records, 1987)
Anne Kirkpatrick & Slim Dusty "Two Singers One Song" (Columbia Records, 1989)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Out Of The Blue" (ABC Records, 1991)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Game Of Love" (ABC Records, 1993)
Anne Kirkpatrick "21st Anniversary Concert" (ABC Records, 1995)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Cry Like A Man" (ABC Records, 1997)
Anne Kirkpatrick & Slim Dusty "Travelin' Still... Always Will" (EMI Records, 2002)
Anne Kirkpatrick "Showman's Daughter" (Compass Brothers Records, 2006)
Ken Kitching "Sydney To Nashville" (Mid-Land Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by DeWitt Scott & Rusty Thornhill)
A swell solo set from expat Aussie steel guitar player, Ken Kitching, who played with Ned Kelly & His Western Men, Jimmy Little and with the LeGarde Twins for much of the 1960s. He moved to the United States in 1977, and recorded this disc in Nashville, though he seems to have made his way back Down Under by the 'Eighties, and his name pops us a studio picker on a variety of Australian country projects. As seen below, Kitching also enjoyed playing Hawaiian music, as many steel players do. Kitching also jammed in a band called the Country Playboys...
Ken Kitching "In The (Hawaiian) Mood" (RCA/Nicholls 'N' Dimes Records, 1985) (LP)
An islands-oriented set with backing by Jim Gold on guitar, Peter Blazley (ukulele) and bassist Cliff Barnett.
Ken Kitching & Norm Bodkin "Country's Best" (Hadley Records, 1989) (LP)
(Produced by Eric Scott)
