Paul Kelly: Our Sunshine (Plus surprising bonus!) Reaction

[@scifimonkey3]

What a range of genre this guy has. Really enjoying what for me is an introduction to Paul Kelly. Can only think of one other artist that I know who has been prepared to challenge such a wide range of genre and that is Steven Wilson in his solo work. I suspect that like Steven Wilson the switching of styles has challenged Paul Kellys fans but I have massive respect for artists who do what THEY want and enjoy and leave the audience to catch up or leave.

[@christhecurator]

No wonder you're my favourite simian! That was my main point in including Coma especially. And whilst Steven Wilson does move around a lot, the artist that really doesn't know how to stay in a lane is King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. I guess they do have the advantage of numbers there though. Maybe Mike Patton, he has some crazy shifts in genre too.

[@stevenpike7530]

You two blokes have earned honorary Australian life membership by showcasing & appreciating the talent of Mr P Kelly…Thankyou.

[@Joshualuv13]

Com on boys ! You can do it! Us Aussies can notify you when Kelly's in concert ahead of time and the rest is history!

[@kevintopliff4995]

Slumps back in the vinyl bean bag, headphones cracks open a beverage and enjoys the trip down memory lane

[@briangill4000]

Well done Chris. Always love your selections. A bloody hard job reducing a performers catalogue down to just a few songs.

[@lencooke944]

George and Alex, a really respectful reaction to these two tracks. Paul Kelly really is one of the greatest songwriters to come out of Australia. I also respect artists when they explore musical genres that aren't their meat and potatoes. I felt that the second track here from Professor Ratbaggy is in this vein. I am unsure what PK was trying to achieve here as he has laid his iconic voice over a loose drum and bass beat and included pseudo-psychedelic keys, I assume to suggest that he is coming out of a coma? I don't know. I have never heard this song before, so I might have to listen to it a few times before I pass judgement on it. Our sunshine was a surprise to me too, I have never heard it before, but I do get the Blue Grass feel they are aiming for. Ned Kelly is a folk hero here in Australia. Like many Victorians (Australian Victorians, not the English variety), I have an affinity with the "Kelly" story. It is steeped in history, criminality, honour and bravado. Not far from where I live there is a grave for Dan Kelly, Ned's brother, who is said to have escaped the fire at Glenrowan, and moved to Queensland. Dan is said to be buried in the Ipswich cemetery, I get my car serviced near there, so, while waiting for my car, sometimes I go to his grave and just sit and reflect on what Dan must have experienced. As such, any Ned Kelly themed song hits home for me. Thanks Chris, I appreciate these songs, it's really great to see PKs diversity. Perhaps not my favourite tracks but they are well-crafted, nonetheless.

[@paulhagger3895]

The wonderful Ash Naylor on lead guitar here. Has his own band worth checking out called Even. Check out the song Sunshine Comes for a start

[@andreadee1567]

I loved the Bonus and was surprised how different it was. Interesting.

[@TheThamesmen]

Very different!

[@chrisp8579]

Ash Naylor on lead guitar, what a great player

[@briangill4000]

Cool. Loving the first week of PK month. 🤔

[@scottiethegreat74]

Even a month wouldn't be enough to do him justice!! 😂

[@NannyLyn53]

Loving your reactions.Thank you.✌️🇦🇺🫶🏼

[@TheThamesmen]

Thank you too!

[@James-wj8eq]

First time I heard Our Sunshine it was covered by Mick Thomas former frontman of Weddings,Parties, Anything.. Personally I love both these tunes.

[@mals4125]

WPA - greatest live band ever.

[@BrianR.]

Absolutely epic storytelling, very creative, right up there with the very best.

[@TheThamesmen]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mals4125]

Another song co-written by a brilliant Australian song writer in Mick Thomas. Loving how you're showcasing some of the greats while showing the breadth of PK's talents. Last day tomorrow - Must be Saturday..... 'Put a blanket on the window, and come back to bed. We got nothing to do and no place to go. So come on back to bed.'

[@iankearns774]

Obvious Mick Thomas song, you ciuld easily see the Weddo's playing this.

[@mals4125]

Have seen Mick perform this many times and definitely fits comfortably in the WPA feel@@iankearns774

[@FionaEm]

Hadn't heard Coma before. Paul Kelly doing a syncopated rhythm track was not what I expected, but it was kind of mesmerising 😊

[@TheThamesmen]

Very different for sure!

[@jemxs]

Hadn't heard Our Sunshine, loved it!! I enjoyed Coma, loved the melody!! Enjoying PK Week!!

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks for listening

[@Alex-dz2et]

You know who else could’ve done a version of that is the Pogues 👍🏻

[@mce_AU]

Can't wait for the next one.

[@peterbenson6862]

I totally agree with Alex's comments re "Coma". I first saw Paul Kelly and the dots in 1981 at Maroubra Seals Club in Sydney. I have seen him countless times since. He has so many great songs but this one is not one of my favourites. I am a regular viewer of your channel and love the jobs you guys do. Keep up the good work boys. I am a big fan.

[@taniaPBear]

Agreed, the 'Coma' thing was not great for me, but hey, it was for others. The first track was not one of my favourites either if I'm honest, but that's just me and what would I know. PK is not scared to try different things and I respect artists who do that. Still loved hearing your reactions . Thanks lovely boys.

[@scottiethegreat74]

Just a note for you, the line "I'll see you there" in Our Sunshine apparently refers to the judge saying he will go to hell, and I'll see you there was his reply!!

[@amandacheevers9678]

Last PK day tomorrow? It'd better be a 4 track super feature

[@patyoh724]

so love this...I sing the chorus out loud in the car

[@rickfairman5640]

Enjoyed the first tune.

[@briangill4000]

Mick Jagger actually played Ned in a movie!!

[@brianparsa7794]

I loved the "Our Sunshine" performance! Didn't the BBC use a voice-over actor on old broadcasts that said "And now for something completely different . . . "? I wasn't enthralled by "Coma," but it wasn't horrible. Enjoyed this very much; thank you, Chris!

[@christhecurator]

That was Monty Python that used to introduce their episodes with "And now for something completely different." I thought Coma was a bit left field for most but thought it made an impressive juxtaposition with the other album that came out on the same day. Glad you're enjoying them mate!

[@brianparsa7794]

@@christhecurator Monty Python! Yes, of course! Thank you, Chris. I'm excited to see the rest of this Paul Kelly week!

[@iankearns774]

If you like this, you should check out the Weddings, Parties Anything stuff particularly from the albums the Scorn of the women and Roaring days.

[@rickfairman5640]

For a little bluegrass check out Molly Tuttle and golden highway. Won her and band won award at country music awards. Where Did all the wild thing go. And especially Alice in the Blue grass

[@warwickofnorwich]

Lantana is one of the greatest Aussie films ever. You guys need to watch it.

[@TheThamesmen]

Okay. Thanks

[@sean---the-other-one]

I had pretty much the same reactions. I’ve never heard either of these, and respect the second one but it wasn’t in my favourite area for Paul. It’s good that he doesn’t stay within any lane that people would choose for him. The band in the first one was fantastic.

[@kathleenmayhorne3183]

In Melbourne in particular, they rent out fancy cars, to drive the ocean road etc. Most capital cities would have similar rental services.

[@bramba1953]

Ned Kelly has been played by Mick Jagger and Heath Ledger in movies.

[@mrgoono9264]

The photo isn't Ned Kelly. It is taken just after Ned was captured by the police. This is Constable John Kelly (no relation) wearing Ned Kelly's armour.

[@TheThamesmen]

Sorry

[@MrParksies]

Honestly...I kinda liked Coma. Very different for Paul which I really dug. Quite catchy too.

[@seanlynch1185]

I was hoping Our Sunshine would get a run.

[@mals4125]

Surprised to see it get in with so much competition - regardless of its brilliance

[@briangill4000]

Agreed. Not my favorite PK track. Cudos for him trying different styles

[@andieslandies]

I'm not a great fan of either of these tracks but both are a great demonstration of Paul Kelly's diversity of talent and skill!

[@TheThamesmen]

He has it in spades

[@michaelwebster8389]

Didn't really notice anything too sloppy about that prof ratdoggy track - though it's clearly experimental, and isn't something I'd gravitate to listening to. Good stuff.

[@rickfairman5640]

After tomorrow will you still want suggestions for the future or you just looking towards clean break to decompose. Based on one reply it sounded that a Canadian week is coming?

[@TheThamesmen]

Both Rick

[@rickfairman5640]

@@TheThamesmen good to hear. Let me know if you want some help being retired I every now have to sent you some suggestions. Have info on Linda Monterey Lightfoot Tom Cochran cowboy junkies Just a sample if you need some help me know. Are you looking at the new year? Enjoy your break One little favor could you when not busy could you take a moment to listen teenage head a punk band out of Hamilton my home town. They were in New York gaining recognition on the punk rock scene ie Ramonnes when the guitar player hurt his back in a car accident and the band lost traction Your thoughts would be appreciated

[@michaelwebster8389]

Shame you haven't done much earlier stuff. Sweet guy was always one of my favourites.

[@TheThamesmen]

Well hopefully we can do a second week one day soon in the future

[@mikeschenk4730]

First track was indeed a wonderful song. Not a huge fan of the second one either. Kudos to Paul Kelly for trying that though.

[@kathyconway5327]

Our Sunshine as recorded originally was more in step with the story, more bluegrass, the tempo and beat matching the gallop of the horse. But that wasn’t Uncle Bill playing this concert. I can’t imagine Kelly would ever forget a lyric, I think words are important to him but live versions of old songs likely have a different feel and the intent of the original can change a lot over time. Sometimes I regret his old man choices. re Coma the Ratbaggy band was just 3 guys + PK I think, but those 3 guys and 5 other instrumentalists, plus 3 other vocalists made the album Words and Music. Don’t bag them too quick cos If you don’t love the title song you should give up what you’re doing. It’s both eclectic musically and more especially lyrically and the hardest rock he did. You may not like the 1st 2 songs cos I think you might be politically conservative from something youz said ages ago I can no longer remember.

[@rickfairman5640]

Duane where are you????

[@dalewyatt1321]

I bet there are many American country artists in oversized hats wishing they had written that.

[@TheThamesmen]

Yup

[@jschap712]

I got to see him do a free, intimate half hour set at our workplace, and it was a great experience. Just him and his guitar. But personally, I find songs glorifying Ned Kelly disgusting. He was a thief, kidnapper and murderer celebrated merely because sometimes his victims were English, when in reality he was far more likely to target poor Chinese and Irish workers. Ned's fans these days tend to be anti-immigration racists.

[@lesliedavis2185]

I feel it was a bit more than that. He was poor and Irish, the police of the time were very corrupt, he did bad things, the police did worse.

[@TheThamesmen]

We can’t rewrite history. Hopefully we can learn from it

[@LikkieAU]

Yeah, track 2 isn’t a winner for me…. I don’t think PK’s voice is good enough for that kind of track and he didn’t get to play to his strengths, which is his lyricism and story telling.

[@scottiethegreat74]

I agree!! Not his best. I didn't really enjoy that album. The songs are great, I play a number of them, including this one. But the music style just didn't do it for me!!

[@ianmontgomery7534]

not familiar with either of these, Sound alright though.