Neil Anthony Concert Mix - Comments on the Songs The Songs on this CD almost choose themselves. They are among the favourites from my Neil Anthony Concerts. Track 1 “Take Me Home Country Roads” is the all-time classic country song. What more can I say. Track 2 “Mountain High” is a song that I wrote after an inspiring trip to the Snowy Mountains in winter. It’s a different world above the snow line. Track 3 “Qualsiasi Tempo” (Whatever the Time) was written for my friend Salvatore’s wedding to Luisa. Salvatore, or Sam, was rhythm guitarist in one of my early bands and we formed a lifelong friendship. When Sam invited me to the wedding and told me that it was to be in Italy, for Luisa’s parents, I knew that I couldn’t go. So, I wrote and then recorded “Qualsiasi Tempo”. The lyric is half in Italian so Luisa’s parents would understand. It’s a beautiful Latin rhythm and was played at the wedding reception. Sam and Luisa did a beautiful cha cha to the song. Track 4 “Dingo Meets the Manning by the Moore’s” was a song I wrote about my Auntie Dulcie’s mother Elizabeth Moore. The Moore’s dairy farm was established by her grandfather on land where the Dingo Creek meets the Manning River in northern NSW. Track 5 “Ghost Riders in the Sky” – one of the most recorded songs of all time. This is my abridged version (no second verse). Sorry if you’re a fan of the second verse. Mark Szeto (ARIA winner) played double bass with myself on acoustic guitar and vocal. Recorded one Sunday afternoon when Mark dropped in for a jam session. Track 6 “April the 25th” I wrote this song about the ANZAC Day March. In particular, I wrote it for my Uncle Lloyd, who served in the Australian Army in New Guinea in WWll. Lloyd, has marched every ANZAC day since he returned. This song has been accepted by the Australian War Memorial for use on non-ceremonial occasions. Track 7 “I Will Wait” I wrote this song as perhaps a “sister” song for “April the 25th”. Beautiful violin played by Dave Marett combines with Mark Szeto on bass and me on acoustic guitar and keyboards. Track 8 “My Way” The big band arrangements for “My Way” had 4 trumpet players and one guitarist. My arrangement has 4 guitars and no trumpet players! I did it “my way” with respect to those who came before. Track 9 “O Solé Mio” medley. Ciao - A Spiritualist once told me that in a previous life I was a professional opera singer. I don’t believe that but my Italian friends tell me my accent is ok. They always ask me to sing it. Track 10 “Southern Surf”- hear my surf sound electric guitar. Inspired by the very first band that I played in. In a funny coincidence the drummer in that band was Daryl Hare who later became a Test Cricket Umpire. Track 11 “Boatswain Farmer” true life is the best inspiration for a country song. As a little girl on a farm near Parkes, my mother’s family home was destroyed by a bushfire. Many years later when she told the story for a family reunion I realised that I needed to write a song about that day in my family history. Track 12 “Now that I’m Older” On the other hand I also wanted to write a song that I could play my jaws harp in. Track 13 “Going Home” top studio production for this song with a full line up of session musicians. Track 14 “I Still Call Australia Home” Perhaps the greatest, Peter Allen song. One of my all-time audience favourites. Track 15 “Christmas The Aussie Summer Way” I have written several hundred songs including Christmas songs. This one is fun and features a bit of good old fashioned yodelling. Cheers Neil