Graeme Connors The Best Till Now

Price: $29.95

I know it’s not usually Cap News policy to review “Best of Albums” but I asked for the exception on this one, because this looks like being one of the top Christmas stocking purchases this year, and with 14 great songs and 3 previously unavailable tracks, including the fabulous “Being Here” it’s easy to see why. 17 tracks is value for such a collection, and while you can always argue about your favourite Graeme Connors track with so many gems hidden away on his 9 albums that are the source for this collection there’s not too many missing. Included are “The Ringer And The Princess”, “Child Of This Land”, “Tropicalli”, “The Great Australian Dream” and of course “Canefields” and “North”. The three new songs, well two are from the sessions recorded for the Return in Nashville, “Better Off Alone” written with Randy Scruggs has long been in demand since aired on a TV special and used as a “B” side many years back. “When I Sleep with You” has not appeared before on anything, and then there’s “Being Here”, officially chosen as the theme song for the 2000 Paralympics, and so right on the money when it came to the Closing Ceremony, lyrics being requoted from the official dais and all. So here’s the cream from an amazing 15 year catalogue of songs that capture small pieces of Australia in the time they were written, with passion, intellect and insight. Ron CapNews Nov 2000

A Little Further North, Let The Canefields Burn, A Child Of This Land, Pacifica, Tropicali, Prodigal Son, Better Off Alone, When I Sleep With You, Songs From The Homeland, Love Works, The Ringer & The Princess, The Great Australian Dream, The Road Less Travelled, Big Jimmy & Felicidad, These Uncertain Times, The Land Boys We Live In, Being Here.