Russell Morris – Van Diemen’s Land

Undoubtedly best known for his 1969 number one single The Real Thing – one of the greatest psychedelic pop songs ever recorded – Russell Morris defied all expectations in 2013 to score the highest-selling album of his career, Sharkmouth, a blues album about Aussie characters of the 1920s and ’30s.

A follow-up to that platinum affair, this album continues the Australiana theme, covering characters such as Breaker Morant, Phar Lap, Les Darcy and Sydney’s ‘Mr Eternity’ Arthur Stace.

With special musical guests including Renee Geyer, Mark Lizotte, Rick Springfield and Rob Hirst, Van Diemen’s Land is another bluesy Aussie history lesson and if anything, stronger than its predecessor. (PH)

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