It
is hard to believe this is Gary Shearston's 30th recording to be
released in Australia. His first release was a two-track 45 rpm on the
Leedon label that belonged to the legendary impresario Lee Gordon who
was best known as manager of Johnny 'The Wild One' O'Keefe. The two
songs on this 1963 |release were 'The Ballad of Thunderbolt' and 'The
Crayfish Song'. The
early to mid-1960s saw Australia and a large chunk of the world caught
up in what became known as the 'folk revival'. Folk songs were the
popular music of the day in folk clubs like The Troubadour in Sydney
and similar clubs in other States. However, unlike many of his
contemporaries, Gary was singing Australian songs, just as he had been
doing in other venues long before the 'folk revival' arrived. His early
records became the benchmark for the interpretation of our traditional
repertoire and albums like 'The Springtime It Brings On The Shearing',
'Bolters, Bushrangers and Duffers' and 'Folksongs & Ballads of
Australia' still stand tall these many decades later. He was also
singing new songs written by local songwriters, Don Henderson in
particular. However, it was his own songwriting that kept shining
through in his performances. His 'Australian Broadside' album, issued by CBS in 1965, remains an important landmark document in Australian contemporary music. Gary
was also fairly unique in that he sang with an Australian voice when
most singers were bunging on an Irish, British or American accent to
carry their repertoire. Maybe it would be more appropriate to say he
sang in his own voice reinforced by the fact that he was born in the
bush (Inverell, northern New South Wales, 1939) and was always
interested in what made Australians tick. As the 'folk boom' continued
to explode Gary appeared on several major television shows around the
country and even had his own national television programme 'Just Folk'
on the Seven network. In 1965 Peter, Paul and Mary toured Australia and
heard Gary's composition 'Sometime Lovin' which they subsequently
recorded.
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The
famous trio invited him to tour America. However with an ASIO file
documenting his public opposition to the Vietnam War and his equally
public support for the Federal Council for the Advancement of
Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, such a move proved extremely
difficult. After a brief time in America, cut short by US immigration
officials serving the Nixon administration, Gary moved to Britain where
he continued performing and recording. In 1974, he had an international
hit with his quirky version of the Cole Porter classic, 'I Get A Kick
Out Of You'. But, more importantly, he recorded albums for the
Charisma/Virgin label featuring his own songs. Gary
returned to Australia in 1988 and, in 1989, recorded 'Aussie Blue', a
widely-acclaimed album that reintroduced him as a strong Australian
voice. It was also around this time that Gary made a decision to follow
his heart and enter the priesthood, serving in the Anglican tradition.
He was ordained in 1992, and served in Narrandera, Deniliquin and Hay
in the Diocese of Riverina until, in 1998, he moved to the Parish of
Bangalow in the hills just inland of Byron Bay. Most of the songs on
this album were written along the way. The
songs in this collection are true to Gary's musical and spiritual
heart. They talk of friendship, love, understanding and joy. There is
also a sense that after all these years the songwriter is entitled to
look back. However, in this case, it is clear that his feet are firmly
planted in today's Australia. True to the saying 'everything old is new
again' in 'Hey There, Songman' he skillfully uses the late Don
Henderson's own song words to shine a bright light on one of
Australia's great wordsmiths. Likewise his new musical setting for the
Ben Hall bushranging song rings true to remind us of this tragedy of
some 150 years ago. When he invites Brother John Sellers to 'Sing on,
Brother John' we sense that the old gospel bluesman is knowingly
swinging along. The
appropriate title 'Only Love Survives' comes from a line in one of the
songs. Heaven knows this battered old world could certainly do with
more love if we are to survive.
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