NEWSLETTER 7

3 OCTOBER, 2003

After a 12 month hiatus, now a monthly newsletter for the second month in a row.

For those of you in the area, I will be performing tonight at the Mortdale Hotel, between 8-12. If you've got nothing else planned, come along. There will be lots of new stuff added.

Where possible I try to pay a tribute to artists who have recently died. There is the potential that tonight could lapse into maudlin what with Slim Dusty, Johnny Cash, Warren Zevon and Robert Palmer all passing away since I last played at the pub. Fortunately, they left behind some great music, so the tribute won't be too sombre. I'll be doing 'Ring of Fire', 'When the Rain Tumbles Down in July', 'Werewolves of London' and 'Bad Case of Loving You' as my tribute to these artists.

Last week I saw Cotton, Keays & Morris in concert at the Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL. For those who don't know or can't remember Darryl Cotton was the lead singer of 'Zoot' and a bit of a 'pretty boy' solo artist from the late 60's/early 70s Jim Keays was the lead singer of the 'Masters Apprentices' a legendary 60's Australian group, and Russell Morris, after his monster hit with 'The Real Thing' went on to record some great material of his own in the 70s with 'Sweet Sweet Love' and 'Wings of an Eagle'.

I had seen both Keays and Morris in 'Long Way to the Top' last year and both performed well. I was still a little sceptical as to what the show would be like. In short it was fantastic. By the time you get this newsletter my review of the show (and of the performance by 'Yes' the following night) should be up on my Opinion page.

Cotton, Keays & Morris are touring extensively at the moment. I know that they are on at the Taren Point Hotel on 10th October, 2003 and are recording a DVD live at the Basement on 16th.

I sincerely suggest that if you get the chance, go and see the band. It's not just a nostalgia trip (although there is a bit of that) - although the three singers are the front persons, the band as a whole really rocks, and the harmonies that the three generate revitalise what were already great songs. If there version of 'It's Because I Love You' were to be released and given some airplay I have no doubt it would hit the top of the charts - its fresher than much of what is around at the moment.

Inspired by the concert I have spent the last week sequencing versions of 'Its Because I Love You', 'Living in A Child's Dream' and 'Sweet Sweet Love' and will be performing them tonight.

John Zog from Mid Life Crisis has promised to come tonight to join with me on a few songs. John and I have a gig tomorrow night at a private party. It should be interesting because the venue we're playing at has two levels - we're playing downstairs and one of the rejects from 'Australian Idol' is playing upstairs.

I'm heavily booked for the rest of the month and won't have time to get back into the studio until middle to late November.

If any subscribers would like a free copy of the 'Covers' CD that I recorded in July, just send me an email and I'll get one to you.

Stay well.

Regards

Brian Ralston

aka SelfTort