1981 was the year Redgum went full time as the band members gave up their day jobs to pursue the band. It was also the year that their 3rd Lp was recorded and released.
I remember hearing about this during an interview on 4zzz, the album was just released it was a promotional thing and they played the single "100 years on".
I still love the song, a modern take on "Waltzing Matilda"it takes s to the heart of John Schumann's songwriting genius, his ability to tell a yarn. This is my favorite Redgum album, its the songs that do it and sure theres a bit on clumsy left rhetoric, but I can forgive it, the brilliance in some songs more than makes up.The sound is less folk like, introducing things like synthesizers, yet not sounding commercial.
The epic "Where you gonna run to now" exposes Schumann's fears for the future and a strong environmental stance that was unheard of at the time
And "The Federal Two Ring Circus" is and very funny take on our political system, but "Your OS Trip" seems a little too bitter.
The truly greatest track however is the Schumann penned "The Last Frontier." Here he captures a young man pilgrimage to the heart of Australia.
Personnel:
Michael Atkinson (guitars, keyboards, vocals) Trevor Courtney (drums, percussion) David Flett (bass)
John Schumann (vocals, guitar)
Chris Timms (vocals, violin)
Verity Truman (vocals, flute, tin whistle, saxophone)
+
Mark Gillespie (guitar on 09)
Tracklist: 01. 100 Years On (Schuhmann) 3.51 02. Lear Jets Over Kulgera (Atkinson) 3.26 03. Caught In The Act (Atkinson/Courtney/Flett/Schumann/Timms/Truman) 2.29 04. Yarralumla Wine (Atkinson) 2.31 05. Where Ya Gonna Run To (Schuhmann) 4.06 06. Brown Rice And Kerosene (Atkinson) 2.23 07. The Federal Two-Ring Circus (Atkinson) 3.43 08. Your O.S Trip (Atkinson) 4.47 09. The Last Frontier (Schuhmann) 4.43 10. Paramatta Gaol 1843(Atkinson/Truman) 4.06 + 11. I Was Only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green) (bonus track; radio broadcast) (Schumann) 5.54
1981 was the year Redgum went full time as the band members gave up their day jobs to pursue the band. It was also the year that their 3rd Lp was recorded and released.
