Russell Morris debut at no. 4 on the ARIA album chart with ‘Van Dieman’s Land’ has giving the Australian music legend the highest debut of his 48 year career.
Morris was 18 years old when he started his first band Somebody’s Image. Somebody’s Image had the Australian hit with the Joe South song ‘Hush’. It reached no. 2 on the Australian chart. Deep Purple had their first hit with a cover of the same song internationally. It was great to hear Russell still singing the song live in his set at the Deni Blues & Roots Festival in Deniliquin on the weekend.
Russell Morris ‘Sharkmouth’ was the success story of 2013 with the artist himself comparing his resurrection to that of the biblical Lazarus who rose from the dead.
The new Russell Morris album ‘Van Dieman’s Land’ is the second instalment of musical stories in blues of Australia’s notorious characters. It is a totally unique, never before done Australian musical project.
Producer Mitch Cairns layered the sound of both ‘Sharkmouth’ and ‘Van Diemen’s Land’. Morris wrote the songs with some inspiration and assistance from people including legendary music journalist Ed Nimmervol who contributed to the lyrics. It connected immediately with the Australian audience who had never been offered this musical experience before.
Russell Morris ‘Van Dieman’s Land’ landed at no. 4 behind Triple J darling Chet Faker, Coles $10 counter special INXS ‘The Very Best Of’ and Disney’s biggest hit movie of the season ‘Frozen’.
For a 65-year old artist to debut at no. 4 on the Australian album chart with no commercial airplay behind the Triple J spotlight, the Coles ‘Down Down deeper down’ sale of the week and the hottest thing Walt Disney has Frozen since Walt Disney himself is kinda cool, don’t you think.
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