Paul Kelly is on the verge of releasing his 20th album and after a career spanning three and a half decades, not one of his releases to date has been a dud. The guy is a national treasure and fans won’t be disappointed by album #20, The Merri Soul Sessions either. Earlier this year Paul Kelly assembled his touring band plus a host of local music identities including Clairy Browne, Vika and Linda Bull, Dan Sultan, and Kira Puru to lay down some soul and gospel tracks at a studio in Northcote. During the year, the recordings were released as four separate 7″ vinyl records but from December 12th, the tracks are combined into one album and will be available digitally and on CD. Plus, the album will include 3 new songs which weren’t released on plastic. If that’s not enough to rock your Christmas socks off, Paul and his Merri men and women will be taking the album on the road, beginning in Sydney on January 9 and touring nationally throughout summer.
“I started to imagine a soul revue type record performed live in the studio with a variety of singers and the one band,” recalls Paul of the initial concept. “I’d fallen in love with Clairy Browne and The Bangin’ Rackettes’ ‘Love Letter’, the sound of it as well as the song, so invited Clairy and the producer of that record, Steve Schram, to get involved. I’d seen Kira Puru perform One Eye Openlive on YouTube and thought she might be the one to nail I Don’t Know What I’d Do, a song left off ‘Spring and Fall’ because I couldn’t sing it myself yet. It needed a torch singer who could balance light and dark. Plus, I loved the way she sang with a big glass of red wine never out of her hand. She, Clairy and Steve, thankfully, all said yes. Meanwhile Vika and Linda had started singing live the two songs Dan (Sultan) and I had written. The stew was simmering on the stove. The band comprises Peter Luscombe, drums and percussion; Bill McDonald, bass; Ash Naylor guitar, electric mainly; Cam Bruce, piano and organ; Vika and Linda, harmonies when they aren’t singing lead; and me on rhythm guitar. Dan Kelly guests on one song Keep On Coming Back For More.”
The Merri Soul Sessions album will be released on December 12
MERRI SOUL SESSIONS DATES
Fri 9 Jan – Sydney Festival, Parramatta Opening Party, Parramatta NSW
Sat 10 Jan – Summer of Soul Festival, Mossvale VIC
Fri 16 Jan – MONA FOMA, Princes Wharf, Hobart TAS
Sat 17 Jan – Sundown Sessions, Scarborough Park WA
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Wed 21 Jan –Toyota Country Music Festival Tamworth 2015
Regional Entertainment Centre, Tamworth NSW
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Thu 22 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (seated) – SOLD OUT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Fri 23 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (standing)
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Fri 3oth Jan – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide SA – second show on sale now
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Sat 31 Jan – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide SA – SOLD OUT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Thurs 5 Feb – Taronga Zoo, Sydney NSW – second show on sale
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Fri 6 Feb – Taronga Zoo, Sydney NSW – SOLD OUT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Sun 8 Feb – Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne VIC – second show on sale
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Sat 7 Feb – Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne VIC – SOLD OUT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Tue 10 Feb – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Wed 11 Feb – Darwin Entertainment Centre, Darwin NT
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
For ticketing information: www.paulkelly.com.au