‘…I started to imagine a soul revue type record performed live in the studio with a variety of singers and the one band…’
Over the past thirty years, Paul Kelly’s influential career has seen him release nineteen studio albums, several film soundtracks and two live albums. Soul and Gospel music has been one of his long-standing loves as evidenced in the work he’s done with Renee Geyer, Christine Anu, Emma Donovan and Vika and Linda. But he’s never done a whole album along those lines. Until now, and to accompany the release of The Merri Soul Sessions recordings, Paul is delighted to announce a national metropolitan city tour in January 2015.
Paul will perform alongside fellow artists and close friends on lead vocals – including Dan Sultan, Clairy Browne, Kira Puru, Vika Bull and Linda Bull – as well as his long-serving touring band: Peter Luscombe on drums and percussion; Bill McDonald on bass; Ash Naylor on guitar; Cam Bruce on piano and organ, and Vika & Linda Bull on harmonies.
Opening for The Merri Soul Sessions at selected headline shows will be Grammy-nominated neo-soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote.
Paul Kelly has an enduring place in the Australian psyche, his stories synonymous with our landscape, history and lifestyle. It seems fitting for the new chapter in this influential career to include collaborations with the next generation of Australian musicians.
The Merri Soul Sessions, Paul Kelly’s 20th studio release, will be available for pre-order from www.paulkelly.com.au from Friday October 31st with the official release date slotted for Friday December 12th. Pre-orders are also available from Sanity, JB Hi-Fi and iTunes.
A 7” vinyl Box Set and 12” vinyl Deluxe Box Set is available via www.pledgemusic.com/paulkelly
Paul Kelly Presents – The Merri Soul Sessions Tour 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 – Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre, Tamworth NSW
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Thu 22 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (seated)
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Pre-sale: 9am, Tuesday 4th November
On-sale: 9am, Friday 7th November
Fri 23 Jan – The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD (standing)
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Pre-sale: 9am, Tuesday 4th November
On-sale: 9am, Friday 7th November
Sat 31 Jan – Norwood Concert Hall, Adelaide SA
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
Pre-sale: 9am, Tuesday 4th November
On-sale: 9am, Friday 7th November
Fri 6 Feb – Taronga Zoo, Sydney NSW
With special guests Hiatus Kaiyote
On-sale now
Sat 7 Feb – Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne VIC
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
The Merri Soul Sessions in Paul’s own words…
“In recent years doing band shows with Vika and Linda, Vika had been singing Sweet Guy, an old song of mine, and bringing the house down each time. I was keen to record her version and thought, naturally, that if we were going into the studio we should try and get some other songs on tape as well. I had a song in mind for Linda. I wrote a couple of songs with Dan Sultan that had a soul kind of feeling. And a couple of recent songs of mine, as yet unrecorded, came back into view. They seemed to fit well with the others. Having half a dozen songs now that were talking to each other helped me write a couple more. This is how it goes. One thing leads to another. You never quite know what’s happening ‘til you’re in the middle of it.
I started to imagine a soul revue type record performed live in the studio with a variety of singers and the one band. 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 Open live 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 and I had written. The stew was simmering on the stove.
From February 17th to March 1st this year we camped in Soundpark Studios, Northcote, right by Merri Creek and recorded a song a day. Sundays off. Our general routine was to rehearse with the band in the morning, getting the song into some kind of shape sonically and piecing out a rough arrangement. The singers would come in later and take it home. We finished all the songs we had in mind a day early so I had time to write a gospel song Hasn’t It Rained as an album closer.
The band comprises Peter Luscombe on 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.”
PK July 1, 2014
www.paulkelly.com.au www.facebook.com/paulkellyofficial www.pledgemusic.com/paulkelly
Paula ‘jonesy’ Jones at jones PR
