Country Friends was recorded in Newcastle, NSW with the help of long time country singer and guitarist Alby Pool. Alby always headlines the band No City Limits at Tamworth and they are one of the must see acts every year at the Festivall. Peter Catlin recorded and mixed the album at Sugarloaf Studio. The talented Kelvin Nolan plays rhythm and lead guitar, Mick Albeck plays brilliant fiddle, Tommi Grasso makes the wonderful steel sounds and debuts on dobro. Steve Fuller keeps the time on drums while Aly plays bass and joins with wife Annie to do harmonies.
Neville made this album as a tribute to the country singers that he has listed to for so many years of his life. They feel like friends and so he called the CD : Country Friends.
After an Album of all originals Neville felt his second album should be a tribute to those who had influenced his style over the years.
The following songs were chosen from a list of over 300 songs. They had to be songs that Neville did as part of his live repertoire and they had to cover the key influences.
She's Gone Gone Gone- Written by Harland Howard one of my favourite writers and recorded by Lefty Frizel . It's got a bit of a Buck Owens feel as well and is a good up beat song that roles along with a good country feel. I do this song a lot especially if I get to sing with a band.
Diane- A song recorded by Ed Bruce, one of the classic voices of country. I can hear Waylon doing this song as well though I am not sure if he does. It is a very fatalistic cheating song that I have always enjoyed performing because it describes the no win situation so well.
The Long Black Veil- this is my favorite song of all time. I can listen to Lefty's version over and over and always hear something different in his melody. Johnny Cash did it too without the finess of Lefty but it is just such a strong song that it always sounds good. Check out Mick Jaggers version with the Chieftans if you get a chance.
Further Down the Line- I like almost everything that Lyle Lovett does. He's different but very talented as a writer an a singer. Not always traditional but always interesting. Willie did this song too and he is another of my all time favorites. I changed the words a little because I've never been to Fargo but I spent a lot of time at the Isa and they have a pretty big Rodeo there every year. This song can be applied to anything in life and to me that is what song writing is about. A good story with layers of meaning.
Changes- this is a song of mine that got crowded out of the first album so it had to be on this one. A simple little tale with an open ending and a up tempo Buck Owen's feel again.
There Stands The Glass- the classic drinking song by one of the original Honky Tonkers, Webb Peirce. There are not many layers of meaning to this one but it is just such a down song that sums up how it feels to be there.
I've Got My Baby on My Mind - written and sung by David Ball one of my favourite artist. It's a happy dreamy sort of song that is pure country.
We Never Touch at All- I wanted to do a Merl song on the album and also a compilation. This is a classic though not well known Merl that lent itself to a compilation. Catherine Britt is a young singer who lives around Newcastle who was kind enough to share some of her great talent on this track I am sure we will hear a lot more of her. Merl has probably been my strongest influence from America though he was strongly influenced by Lefty. I have never grown tired a singing Merl songs even after 20 or more years. I have always been in awe of the emotion and depth that Merl can wring from 1 or 2 verses and a chorus.
Hangin' In and Hangin' On - Another David Ball song that I put on for no other reason than I liked it.
The Image of Me - I first heard Conway Twitty and then Charlie Pride do this song and I have always liked it. They are two of my biggest influences and this one is my show of appreciation to them.
Someone Had to Teach You - George Strait does so much good stuff and he does it so well. I picked this song because it's up tempo and Harland Howard was co writer.
Piccaninny Dawn - Terry Martin a distant relative sent me the words of a poem titled Piccaninny Dawn a couple of years before the album was released. It was such a sad tale of a boy called Arthur Cronin who had wondered into the bush and was found dead two nights and a day later. I struggled with the lyrics for a number of years as it was hard to write a good song from such tragedy. The tendency in some situations like this is to over do the detail and leave nothing to the imagination. I was particularly taken by the term Piccaninny Dawn which means the little light before the sun comes up. Piccaninny was also a term used for a small boy that I recall from my childhood around bushmen and Aboriginies. The dual imagery of a small boy in the small light before sun up was very powerful and I am glad I was able to utilise it in this song. It is a tradition Australian Ballad done like I have heard so many Slim Dusty songs over the years. No tribute to my influences could overlook the huge impact Slim has had on my singing, my songwriting and my general outlook on life. Like all the other influences I have never personally met Slim but like the others I feel he has been a true Country Friend.
Thanks Guys.
THE LONG BLACK VEIL CHANGES THERE STANDS THE GLASS
I'VE GOT MY BABY ON MY MIND PICCANINNY DAWN
