A note from Slim Dusty (1996)

Rolf Harris joins Slim Dusty to record `Duncan' in 1996.

Final session in Studio `A'

91st album inspires a Note from Slim ...

Flashback to Variety Today 1996

LEGENDARY country singer Slim Dusty was so inspired by his 1996 album release that he wrote the following note to all his fans and supporters.

Slim Dusty

"NINETY One albums! It's a bit hard to believe, but I must say it's been great doing them all, Slim wrote. This is a very special album. I felt very privileged, although sad, to be the last artist to record in old Studio `A' at 301. We had a top team, great camera and lighting crew, and the boys behind the recording desk all doing a fantastic job. And what a great band, the good old TCB. I hope I'll always be remembered as that bloke (not guy) who always had a great band.

They've been such a supportive and together group to work with and `boy' have we had some fun together. So many people have been after me for years to re-record some of the old favourites, and I think this was a good way to do some of them.

The old songs have come to life again. My all time favourite still is `Rain Tumbles'. The theme song of the album `Born a Travelling Man', was written by a young friend of mine, and one of the most talented blokes in the business, KEITH URBAN.

I knocked out `Ringer Stomp' and Tom Oliver and I had some fun putting together `It Must Have Been a Hell of a Party'. We enjoyed recording this album in Studio `A' and, of course, it was great to have my wife Joy McKean and my daughter, Anne with me. My son, David, missed out on the actual recording but at least I played his guitar.

You'll notice his beautiful black Gibson guitar which I used a couple of times and you'll notice some other great instruments in the group, including my fabulous all Australian made and, all Australian timber guitar made by Maton with the S.D. signature on the fretboard.

It was great having ROLF HARRIS along for another version of `Duncan' and he was a good bloke to work with too, believe you me.

What you see on the video was exactly the way it happened. there were no rehearsals, we simply talked it over and weren't quite sure what was going to happen from verse to verse. I think that added to the charm of the old song.

Anyway, I hope you like it all and all I can do, once again, is say good health, good luck and many happy campfires until our paths cross again.

Your mate, Slim

2012 UPDATE: David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE (13 June 1927—19 September 2003) was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly seven decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush Lifestyle, and also for his many trucking songs. Dusty was the first Australian to have a No. 1 Hit song with Gordon Parsons (A Pub With No Beer). He received an unequalled 37 Golden Guitar and two ARIA awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Country Music Roll of Renown. At the time of his death at the age of 76, Dusty had been working on his 106th album for EMI Records. In 2007 his domestic record sales in Australia surpassed seven million.

Joy McKean has just completed a book signing road trip for the release of the Travelling Still Edition of "I've Been There and Back Again". Celebrating a lifetime of travel with husband Slim Dusty, this special edition contains additional songs, stories and photos.

Ref: Wikipedia

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