On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It's the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future. Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.
With respect to Australia's Music Industry, we can be very proud of the contributions that our Aussie Musos have made in entertaining people from every nation with music and song, with many of our artists achieving world wide acclaim. Therefore, I would like to celebrate Australia Day by posting this Party Classic by one of our country's well known and respected T.V / Radio celebrities from the 60 / 70 / 80's. I hope you enjoy it and have a great Australia Day !
.
God Bless Australia
[Liner Notes]
On the 28th January, 1968, as a tribute to Australia Day (26th Jan), a three minute film was televised which caused tremendous interest. The music behind the film was an entirely new conception of probably the best known Australian tune - "Waltzing Matilda".
Mr. Jack O'Hagan, who has given Australia so many wonderful songs, recognised that Waltzing Matilda has come to mean more to the Australian people than just a bush ballad. He rewrote the original Banjo Patterson words which were then beautifully orchestrated and arranged by an Australian chorus and orchestra, at GTV-9 Melbourne, with the words sung by Neil Williams.
Ampol, one of Australia's largest petroleum companies, have always been first to sponsor Australian talent in all forms, backed the production and bought it to the attention of the Australian people in the form of a film on Australia, the country and the background.
Ampol did this as a tribute to Jack O'Hagan, a fine old Australian, and in the belief that on hearing this music the Australian people would respond to a proud song about a proud country it seems they have.
This post consists of MP3 (320kps) ripped from an Ampol 45 release, featuring a full length version and an edited version of the song "God Bless Austrlia". Please note that a flexi disc was also released at the same time by Allans Music to commemorate the occasion, which featured the original version of Waltzing Matilda on the flip side. Alas, I do not have access to this release to post, but if anyone out there has a copy, I'd be very interested in acquiring a rip of this release.
I have the Waltzing Matilda flexi-disc. I inherited it from my grandparents after my grandmother passed away and left their house vacant. Unfortunately, for some reason, part of it is crinkled.
ReplyDelete