Lionel Long - The Ballad of the Peacock

The Bold Bushrangers

— Volume Two —

Songs of Wild Colonial Days

Lionel Long is now firmly established as a recording and television artist, and night-club entertainer. He is generally regarded as Australia's top folk singer and balladist, and his work is rapidly drawing attention outside this country.

When Ken Cook first submitted audition tapes of twelve of these songs for Lionel to hear, Lionel was so enthusiastic about them that, in addition to assisting in their musical arrangements, he suggested that the series should be extended to twenty-four. This was done and the collection in this album is the result.

Unlike his earlier records, in which he was accompanied either by an orchestra or a sextette with vocal group, Lionel is heard in this new album in what may be called a "straight" presentation, thus achieving the more authentic folk song style. On some of the tracks his own guitar is his only accompaniment, while on others the addition of Don Andrews on guitar and Dave Guard on banjo still retain the directness and simplicity of true folk music.


LIONEL LONG
with
PATRICIA COOK

Dave Guard — Don Andrews

This collection of bushranging ballads came into being when the Australian novelist, Kenneth Cook, was asked by the Australian Broadcasting Commission to give a series of talks on Bushranging. To enliven the talks, Cook decided to include songs of those days. However, considerable searching for such songs produced the conclusion that there were not many extant that were suitable. Still determined to use bush-ranging songs of the A.B.C. programmes, Cook decided to write them. He selected as the basis for his melodies Irish. English and American folk songs appropriate to the time, and he wrote the lyrics in the style used by the balladists who have recorded Australian folk history. His wife, Patricia, sang the songs for the A.B.C., and the flood of letters that resulted was so great that he decided to approach a recording company. This Columbia album is the outcome.

SIDE TWO

The Ballad Of The Peacock: Harry Power was a pleasant rogue who didn't do as much harm as one might suppose. Ned Kelly's first venture into crime was to hold Power's horse while Harry bailed up a traveller. His main claim to fame was that he used a peacock as a watchdog, and a very efficient one it was. After the events recounted in this song, Harry Power went to gaol for fifteen years.

[lachie]

A beaut Album! I haven't heard this in years, also gives you a sense of history. Thanks for putting it up. Cheers!