It's not surprising that the opening track, an instant rocker, may conjure Bob Dylan and his Modern Times record. Wilson accomplishes the same level of excellence with this collection, a rich, honest and often raw record which casts a wise middle-aged eye on rock's usual subjects and finds something beautifully simple to say about it all. Let's hope we can all rock with as much conviction in our sixties.
VERDICT: Emotive / 4 Stars
It’d be a safe bet that if you ever visited Ross Wilson’s house there’d be a room, and inside that room there’d be a desk with a locked drawer and, finally, inside that drawer, a cassette tape holding a killer song or two.
Great songwriters always have a stunning song lying around and sometimes they keep them close to their chest for a long time. The song needs to peculate and then the stars have to align and then they’ll record it. Once it’s recorded, there’s no guarantee you’ll hear it. We need more radio stations in Australia playing more music - music aimed at adults. While our culture celebrates youth to the enth degree, there are people out there over 30 making great records. And, lets face it, it’s the people over 30 and 40 and 50 that actually buy CD’s.
Now, back to Ross. Recorded in Nashville with ex-pat Mark Moffatt, Wilson has recorded a tough, bright album full of well written/taut songs. Wilson’s lineage includes not only his solo work, but also his tenure with Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock. He knows a good tune and there’s a swag here. The title track is a co-write with Rick Brewster from The Angels. Hearing Wilson’s vocals on the title songs outtro, he sounds like a man possessed. There’s a zest in the playing. After the initial sessions, Wilson re-cut some vocals in Melbourne after road testing the songs live. The experiment worked. Elsewhere he’s written with the gifted, though not widely known, Melbourne based writer Eris O’Brien.
A mature outing, there’s no cloying for modern sounds and Wilson sings about adult themes and ponders not only the Australian landscape, but also his place in it. Immediate, strong and littered with good songs, I Come In Peace is a welcome addition to an already impressive canon.4 Stars
Love this CD, Pick it up you will not be disappointed. 5 *****
I have been a huge fan of Ross Wilson's since his days with Mondo Rock in the 80s!! He is truly a great singer and this CD lives up to everything I hoped for. He also collaborates with Mondo Rocker Eric McCusker on a great song 'The Same Moon' that I hope is released as a single. The whole disc is just fantastic & will go down in my Top 10 favorite CDs!! Thanks Ross for releasing this!!!
The title song of Ross Wilson's new album is one of 2010's great singles. Despite its name I Come In Peace sounds menacing with its unsettling urgency. It recalls the glory days of Mondo Rock. Indeed, if this had been the follow-up to Come Said The Boy, it would be a Top 10 smash. Remarkably Wilson still seems fresh at the age of 62. And props to producer Mark Moffatt for the crisp sound. This is adult contemporary with a real edge. Its potent mix of rock, blues, jazz and country is a neat summation of Wilson's entire career. Magic.
4 Stars
" ...unquestionably one of this country's most gifted songwriters" the "... standout rock oriented tracks are 'Here on Gods Island' and 'I Got You' " along with some ".... authentic Wilson gems 'Land of Contentment' and 'I Come In Peace' "
3 Stars
Fiesty rock 'n' crackerjack country from the local icon behind Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock
ROSS `THE BOSS` IS BACK KICKING ARSE IN 2010
....the real purpose of writing a blog tonight was to put a plug in for Ross Wilson, the former frontman of Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock. I have never hidden my respect for this man’s underrated musical talents. I have always regarded him higher than Johnny O`Keefe & a lot of another self-annointed kings of Australian rock. After a very long hiatus from the business of making brand new studio rock albums of new material, if you discount Ross`s country tinged `Country and Wilson`, he has finally made a triumphant return in 2010 with the new album `I Come In Peace`. Some songs on it are very raw and not polished, while others hark back to the sophistication which prevailed on Ross`s brilliant studio album of 1989, `Dark Side Of The Man`. It`s the album where Ross Wilson has finally come right back down to earth and created an amalgam sound befitting his new found creativity. There is a lot of country on this album, the kind of country you`d expect from The Flood, like gritty R&B fueled country-ish rock. And there are some great atmospheric rock moments on here as well. Check it out, `I Come In Peace` by the mercurial Aussie rocker Ross Wilson.
An album full of new acoustic based treatments of an artists' past hits will tell you two things. Stripped of much of the original fairy dust, it will give an accurate indication of just how strong the songs were in the first place, and in regard to the new arrangements, will reveal how well their creative juices are still flowing. What 'Tributary' tells us about Ross Wilson is that as a songwriter he's up there with the world's best. Its also plainly obvious that, as a singer, his emotive delivery can breathe new life into almost any pop/rock standard. Apart from tremendous new versions of 'The Fugitive Kind', 'Cool World' and 'State Of The Heart', Wilson also offers a Cuban style 'Bom Bom', Trad jazz 'Eagle Rock' & a bluegrass 'Bed Of Nails'. The real revelation with this disc however is that a new song, 'If You Ever Come Back', stands up against the best of these other gems.
If anyone has earned the title Godfather of Aussie Rock, its Ross Wilson. Imagine the music without Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock or so many artists he's written for and/or produced, from Skyhooks to John Farnham and Renee Geyer. On the latest, and best, of Liberation Blue's acoustic series a relaxed Wilson revisits his best known work. This excellent label continually inspires performers to reinvent familiar material, rather than just reheating it for the 'golden oldies' circuit. On 'Tributary' Wilson calls on bluegrass muso Gerry Hale for some rippling mandolin on the leisurely 'Come Back Again' and a delightful twang-fest on 'Bed Of Nails', while 'Eagle Rock 1908' relocates Daddy Cool's best-known hit to an old-time New Orleans barrelhouse with John McAll rolling out big, fat piano chords to Philip Rex's 'oompah' tuba. Other highlights: Dorian West's dreamy slide play on the guitar-rich 'Cool World' and a gorgeous, harmony laden 'State Of The Heart'. Wilson closes with an atmospheric cover of 'Heartbreak Hotel' & the new 'If You Ever Come Back', his breezy, 21st-century response to the teenage angst of 'Come Back Again'. Four decades on, Ross Wilson's at the top of his game.
(4.5 stars outta 5)
It can be tempting for artists of Wilson's achievements to approach his catalogue a little timidly. What to do with songs such as 'Eagle Rock' and 'Cool World' that are ingrained in the collective conciousness of your countrymen? Brave boy, this Ross. 'Cool World' is nudged along by gentle slide guitar musings, but keeps its shape. 'Eagle Rock's reinvention - retitled 'Eagle Rock 1908' for the exercise - sees it emerge from a subterranean ragtime joint smelling sweetly of something illegal and asking for Cab Calloway. And 'Bed Of Nails' gets a Hank Williams makeover, with Gerry Hale on dobro, mandolin, fiddle, banjo & bass. A new song, 'If You Ever Come Back', picks up the life of the loner who was watching you dancing & followed you home back in 1971 and raise the possibility that Wilson and rock'n'roll bumped into each other by accident.
(4 stars outta 5)
Ross Wilson is one of the greatest Australian artists ever, if not the greatest. From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock, as well as producing the first three Skyhooks albums, and writing Bop Girl and A Touch Of Paradise, he’s been making music for more than 40 years. This Liberation Blue album is a quite a trip. There’s a ragtime reinvention of Eagle Rock, a doo-wop version of State of the Heart, and a
bluegrass Bed of Nails. There have been more than 40 albums in the Liberation Blue acoustic series, but this is the best to date.
(4.5 stars outta 5)
Ross Wilson has been a stalwart of the Australian music industry for forty years and he shows no signs of slowing down, nor diminishing standards. He is recognised as an influence on many artists that have come through the ranks in his time and he has lent his songwriting to other artists. Some of the artists who would acknowledge the contribution are John Farnham, Renee Geyer, Jimmy Barnes, Christine Anu, and Beccy Cole. He has great respect amongst his peers and this latest album “Tributary”, part of the Liberation Blue live recording series, emphasises his standing as he takes a nostalgic trip back over his history and conjures up new acoustic-based recordings of his classic hits. The songs are spread from his days in Daddy Cool, Mondo Rock, and as a solo artist. Probably the most famous of Ross Wilson songs is “Eagle Rock”, from his Daddy Cool days. In this collection, Ross provides a version as if it was out of vaudeville - quite a departure and something most inventive. Although there are many worthy tracks here, I particularly liked the reworkings of “The Fugitive Kind”, “Hi Honey Ho”, “Bom Bom” and “Bed Of Nails”. Ross would have wanted to make the old favourites different for his own little challenge and he has succeeded in transforming the arrangements beautifully. This is one of the best CDs of the Liberation Blue series and highly recommended.
"TriBEAUTary! Freaking great." Vanessa (Wagga Wagga)
"OMG - I LOOOOOOVVVVVVEEE Tributary !!!! So full of amazing reworks of some of my fave songs !!!! Best CD of the year !!!! Sheer Brilliance !" Love, Jen (Melbourne)
"F@#% Tributary is great! We love it, possibly ur best, until the next one! Seriously good." John (Melbourne)
"I got my signed CD today – it’s bloody brilliant!! I love it. Well done – AGAIN!" Amanda (Brisbane)
"I managed to get an early copy of “Tributary” last week and I love it! The whole album is wonderful, you are in fine voice, and I’d like to see “Come said the boy” B/W “Bom Bom” become a number 1.
“Heartbreak Hotel”, “Bed of Nails” and “State of the heart” are fantastic."
Robert (Wollongong)
"It's hard for me to unbiased about your work......you could beat on a 50 gallon oil barrel, and I'd call it brilliant. That aside, I've got to say that Tributary is waaaaay beyond brilliant. Given proper promotion, this could be the album that makes you a major star in the USA......no fooling.
You see, many of the tunes in there are major hits seldom to never heard in the USA. In other words, this, to us Americans, would not be an exercise in nostalgia, remixed. It is mega talent, fresh, and in a contemporary style.
For example, Bom Bom not only gave me goose bumps, it evoked a vision of strolling down Miami Beach on a balmy, tropical evening with my wife, hand in hand. The Salsa/Cumbia influence hit all the right notes for me. Your Eagle Rock 1908 likewise gave me goose bumps.......it reminded me of Little Feat. Bed of Nails with bluegrass influence....who'da thunk it? One gem after another.....not a clinker in the bunch.
Serious business, Ross......if ever you gave fleeting thought to investing the time, energy and resources to mounting a significant promotional effort, this is the recording! It's fresh, it's contemporary, and only a few of here know that it represents the very best of a long and productive career. It's the right time to be an overnight sensation!"
Mark Meyer (Key West USA)
"Love the new album - we drove 1000kms last weekend & it stayed in the player the whole way"
Tony (Moruya, NSW)
Mr. Eagle Rock/The Best Of Ross Wilson (Shock) ***** 5 Stars
A decade or so ago Ross Wilson decided to get busy again. Not content with John Farnham covering his songs, Wilson hit the road and hit the studio. Collaborations were in abundance, solo albums were recorded and his various bands reunited. Here Wilson compiles material from his days with Daddy Cool, Mighty Kong, Mondo Rock, his solo work and more. [BTW - did you know he also produced the Skyhooks hits - Ed?] So, kicking off with his signature tune ‘Eagle Rock’ Wilson has scoured his past masters and put together a terrific nineteen-track set that runs right up until this year’s ‘I Come In Peace’. Highlights from the early years include ‘Hi Honey Ho’ and ‘Come Back Again’. Mondo favourites include ‘State Of The Heart’,’ Cool World’,’ Summer Of ‘81’ and ‘No Time’. From the solo years there’s ‘Bed Of Nails’, ‘Slave To My Emotions’ and the gem (and long lost cousin of ‘Cool World’) ‘The Same As Me’. Easily the best Wilson compile on the market, no collection of classic Australian rock would be complete without it.
Superb sequencing of songs, great production, & the quartet's ability to entertain, gives this legs. The band lives up to its name on its belated 3rd album. They are as relevant as ever.
Shamefully, I've only known about this Australian band for a couple of years....when I heard the classic "Eagle Rock". The song stuck in my head.....and on a whim decided to buy this CD. It's probably the most awesome CD I've ever purchased!! Simply perfect musicianship.....this CD seems to want to be played loud---very loud!! Visit Ross Wilson Dot for more insight and free plays of this most fantastic brand of rock, country, and everything in between. Highly Highly recommended!!!!
It seemed a good idea at the time (1970) & it still is. Thirty four years between albums must make this a candidate for the Guinness Book of Rock Records. They've aged yes, but their music is just as good, even better. Its not rock revival its rock reinvention at its finest. Amazing. Welcome back guys!
An excellent album that was years in the making but worth the wait. 'The New Cool' is an eclectic mix of 50s doo wop, soul, sweet ballads & duelling guitar-fuelled rock'n'roll.
' Ready!!!!......Aim!!!!!!.......PARTY!!!!!........best describes the sense of fun & frolic that came through for me while reviewing your very excellent ' Daddy Cool ' release , as well as the musical brotherhood and the feel of fresh wax on an old T-Bird ' .
The unmistakable 50s doo-wop mixed with 60s surf city sounds & duelling jangly guitars that states 'Daddy Cool' is evident across all tracks. Ross Wilson is in fine form, while drummer Gary Young lends his vocals to the very Australian, quirky & self-explanatory 'Getting Drunk'. Ross Hannaford's baritone is superb on 3 tracks, the outstanding one being 'Sun Is Always Shining'. 'Everybody's In The Mood' sees a swing/party groove layered over sax & harmonica. The team also deliver their first surf instrumental 'Waves'. The new Daddy is indeed back.
Mark Shepherd is a longtime true Daddy Cool fan who really 'gets' what we're on about. Mark graced us with the first review of Daddy Cool's album 'The New Cool'. It hit the stores Nov 4, 2006, but we had signed advance copies at the 2 festivals we played on the NSW long weekend 30 Sept & 1 Oct .
"Eight hours from Sydney to Deniliquin to see the mighty Daddy Cool. Friendly locals, plenty of food & drink and great weather (a bit too much dust but as D.C. says "you can't have everything").... Eagerly awaited D.C. to hit the stage and blow me down if they didn't knock our socks off for the second time in 30 odd years. Brilliant ! Then got my copy of "The New Cool" and had 8 hours of Heaven (Teenage Heaven that is) to listen to it on the way home. Glad to see all the "one-off" songs are now on the one album. Especially "$64,000 Question" , "The Christmas Bug" and "For You".... which is a modern day 'classic'. Best of all... there are also some never released, never heard before, NEW ONES ! "Hey Senorita" is a ripper we heard at the Tsunami Concert but "Everybody's In The Mood", "Daddy's Back", "You Can't Have Everything", "They Built The Ute" and Gary Young's "Getting Drunk" are all new and all fantastic... and what about "Sexy Girl" ! D.C. showed us in the Seventies how "fifties" should be done, now in the Noughties, they are showing us how "Seventies" should be done! Then there's the magic vocals on "Sun Is Always Shinin' ". More Mr Hannaford please ! That reminds me... "Barbara".. who sings that ? It can't be either of the Ross's, or Gary, or even Wayne ?...The Album cover says Ross Hannaford ! ..no, can't be, must be a typing error.. Wonderful song anyway. Then there is the fairly heavy "Uluru", it freaked me out a bit at first but after a few listens I got right into it. Just shows D.C. can turn their hand to anything.
D.C. have a habit of predicting the future. In 1971 they told us "Eagle Rock is here to stay".. true, "Come back again, I'm just crazy about you babe".. true, now they have said "Daddy's Back".. TRUE !"
"The New Cool" is easily the best DC album yet - the songs are great, the
performances are particularly exciting and the tracks make up a real album rather than just a bunch of sides. I think you should be proud of what you have done here - you have created something in the incredibly ephermal world of pop that has LASTED! It's no small feat - I think it's a great shame you ever broke up. Congrats on a great comeback (if that's what it is) and I hope it sells a Million!!!! All the best. DNP
"The awfulness of the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004 had few good outcomes. One may have been the re-formation of Daddy Cool to play at the February 2005 benefit concert in Melbourne. Live recordings from that event, including 'Come Back Again' (Ross Wilson's 2nd greatest song) & a fiery 'Daddy Cool' close this rollicking album, which brings together songs recorded over a period beginning in 1994. Daddy Cool's musical palette is broader than first glance might suggest & here is disco funk (the opener 'Daddy's Back', the crooning 'Sexy Girl') driving rock ('Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' on' & Howling Wolf's houserocker 'Everybody's In The Mood' with saxaphonic assistance from Paul Williamson & Julien Wilson) & group vocal doo-wopping ('$64,000 Question'). And if you're looking for an anthem try Gary Young's 'Getting Drunk'. As ever, the Cool are a socking unit & Ross Hannaford's guitar lines are testament to a fertility of imagination."
Delightful & infectious retro grooves infused with humour & respect for the old forms.
Blues & Roots Top 50 chart - #4 The New Cool - Daddy Cool