Grammy Award winning multi-instrumentalist, Lucky Oceans, has brought together some of his favourite Australian singers and musicians to capture the gem-like quality of the songs of Hank Williams on his new album ‘Purple Sky’.
Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers, Don Walker, Linda & Vika Bull, Tex Perkins, Matt Walker, Jeff Lang, along with US star Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges bring their own unique feel and sound to the songs, which help stretch and push the songs into new territory.
Lucky explains his approach to making the album. “Hank pioneered a unique musical style that we could have tried to recreate, but that’s already been done. So we set out to change the sound of a Hank Williams song, bringing out the poetry of the lyrics. He is the man who made song writing intensely urgent and personal”.
Lucky Oceans was born in Philadelphia and made his name in the USA with Asleep at the wheel; a band he co-founded with Ray Benson in Paw Paw West Virginia. In a 1973 Rolling Stone magazine interview Van Morrison said “there’s a relatively unknown group around here that I really dig. Asleep at the Wheel plays great country music”.Willie Nelson was so impressed that he urged them to move to Austin, Texas where they were at the vanguard of alternative Country music scene. The band went on to win 8 Grammy Awards. Lucky won two Grammy Awards including one in 1993 for an instrumental with Chet Atkins, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart and Johnny Gimble.
Discussing the inspiration behind ‘Purple Sky’, Lucky Oceans explains, “Hank Williams was a pivotal figure during my initial love affair with country music in the early days of Asleep at the Wheel. He personified the transition in American music from big bands to small combos, from folk songs to composed, confessional songs. They led the way to Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. And the steel guitar was a prominent part of Hank’s music.”
Over the years Lucky has performed live playing pedal steel guitar with many artists including Eric Clapton, Merle Haggard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Lowell George, Emmylou Harris, Neil Finn, Gurrumul and Paul Kelly.
‘PURPLE SKY’ TRACKLISTING:
1. Ramblin’ Man – Kasey & Bill Chambers
2. I Can’t Help It If I’m Still In Love With You – Paul Kelly
3. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Jeff Lang
4. Why Don’t You Love Me Like You Used To -Linda Bulla / Vika Bull
5. Alone And Forsaken – Paul Kelly Vocals
6. Mind Your Own Business – Vika Bull
7. Angel Of Death – Kasey Chambers
8. I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive – Matt Walker
9. Lost Highway – Tex Perkins / Matt Walker
10. When My Sweet Love Ain’t Around – Matt Walker
11. I Just Don’t Like This Kind Of Livin’ – Eugene “Hideaway” Bridges
12. Just Waitin’ – Don Walker
Lucky Oceans ‘Purple Sky’ (Songs originally by Hank Williams)
Released September 27 via ABC Music/UMA.
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