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 "N."
Nevada "Sneakin' Around" (Western District Recordings, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Ray Batten)
An outlaw-ish twangband from Australia, covering tunes by Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker and others, including several top forty tunes from the likes of Eddie Rabbitt and Jeannie Seely. The group included Dick Barnes (vocals and guitar), Peter Bird (bass), Phil Lawrence (drums), Trevor McKenzie and Murray McDowall on pedal steel, along with various and sundry guest musicians and backup singers. The presence of both flute and tenor saxophone seems a bit questionable, but overall the source material seems strong. Not sure exactly where these guys were from, but the Western District studio was located in Panmure, Victoria.
Slim Newton "I'm A Nine Stone Cowboy" (Hadley Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Eric W. Scott)
A lot of original material, including "Grandpa's Gone Forever," "A Weed Covered Rusty Old Heap," "Good Old Queensland Beer" and "That's What Trucking's About." The band included Slim Newton on guitar and vocals, with Norm Bodkin (pedal steel), Lindsay Butler (guitar), Bob Clark (guitar), Glen Green (bass), Eric Newton (guitar), Ken Ramsay (drums), and producer Eric Scott on keyboards.
Nev Nicholls "Cowboy Jamboree" (Regal Records, 1992) (CD)
Like many classic Australian country stars, Nev Nicholls (1930-2022) made his show business debut way back in the 1950s hillbilly era, when 78rpm singles were still the dominant format, and consequently his early works were scattered and largely forgotten for many years. Nicholls slogged along for much of his career, shifting from solo status to becoming a sideman in Reg Lindsay's road show for most of the 'Sixties, then emerging again as a solo star in the 'Seventies, when he zeroed in on a "trucker country" persona. This CD is a retrospective of his early work, fourteen tracks cut between 1955-59, with covers of hits by American artists such as Jimmie Davis, George Jones, Wayne P. Walker, and the Louvin Brothers, as well as a handful of Nicholls's own originals. It would be about a decade or more before Nicholls really broke through, but this archival look at his roots will probably be pretty welcome to most of his fans.
Nev Nicholls "Cross Country Music" (Du Monde Records, 1970) (LP)
Nev Nicholls & The Country Playboys "Take My Heart" (Du Monde Records, 1972) (LP)
Nev Nicholls & The Country Playboys "Lovin' Country" (Du Monde Records, 1972) (LP)
Nev Nicholls & The Country Playboys "Folsom Prison Blues" (Universal Summit Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Martin Erdman)
Nev Nicholls And His Country Playboys "Just My Truckin' Luck" (RCA-Camden, 1974) (LP)
(Produced by Bruce Brown & Eric Scott)
Nev Nicholls "Keep On Truckin" (RCA Records, 1974) (LP)
Nev Nicholls "Truckin' Around" (RCA-Australia, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Rocky Thomas & Billy Sol Gruber)
Nev Nicholls "King Of The Road" (RCA Victor Records, 1976) (LP)
Nev Nicholls And His Country Playboys "Hit The Road Jack" (RCA Victor, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Weston Baker & Rocky Thomas)
Nev Nicholls "You've Gotta Have A Beer Mate" (RCA Victor Records, 1977) (LP)
Nev Nicholls "Blazing Diesels" (Seven Records, 1978) (LP)
Nev Nicholls "Supertrucker" (Seven Records, 1979) (LP)
Nev Nicholls "Loaded Up And Truckin' " (Telmak Records, 1982) (LP)
(Produced by Spencer Lee, Rocky Thomas & Doug Trevor)
Nev Nicholls "Bar Rooms And Bedrooms" (Powderworks Records, 1984) (LP)
Nev Nicholls "Gotta Get Back On The Road" (Regal Records, 1992) (LP)
