On the Road with Slim
Elliott, J. (2002). On the Road with Slim. Sydney: ABC Books.
ISBN 0733310508 : 9780733310508
Review
This is a book devoted to documenting the Dusty-McKean musical roadshow from 1992 through 1998 through photographic images shot by John Elliott. There is not a lot of text and I basically read this in an afternoon. For a more comprehensive overview of what it was like being part of the musical roadshow, I would recommend Joy McKean's 2012 book I've been there (and back again).
Appendices include: (1) Slim's Road Songs; (2) Slim's Career Highlights (and life events, 1927-2002); (3) The Official 100 (+3) Slim Dusty Albums; & (4) Slim's Golden Guitar Collection (to 2002). Slim Dusty passed away in 2003, just over a year after this book was published; so these lists are not complete to date.
One chapter I found interesting is Slim's Guitar Players. Seven players are highlighted, including Slim:
- Slim Dusty (who also played in a band he called his Bushlanders in the 1950's, with Joy McKean and Barry Thornton.)
- Barry Thornton (with the band 1954-1974)
- Lindsay Bultler (from 1972)
- Charley Boyter (from 1975)
- Ian Simpson (1980's & 1990's)
- Jeff Mercer (from 1997)
- Rod Coe (producer and later Bass Player, from 1976)
I've also purchased a couple of books of Slim Dusty tunes:
Slim Dusty Songbook (1984)
ISBN: 0908476132 : 9780908476138 - & -
The Chord Songbook SLIM DUSTY (2007)
ISBN: 1921029560 : 9781921029561
The Chord Songbook (2007) contains 50 songs but is limited to lyrics with suggested guitar chords noted above the words approximately where the chords should be played in relation to the tune. It does list, inside the back cover, nine of the twelve Slim Dusty music books that have been available.
The Slim Dusty Songbook (1984) is a more comprehensive Piano-Vocal-Guitar style of book: with a properly notated melody line above the lyrics, and chord changes written above the stave (these chords can be played by either the piano bass line or by the guitar). There is a small note written in the first person, possibly by Slim or Joy, for each song. There is also a discography toward the back of the book listing 56 Long Play Records, the tracks on each, and a catalogue number. There is also a short section on tips of how to play the songs on guitar, in the 'Slim Dusty' Style.
At the beginning of the book there is a short history and biography on Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, and the travelling roadshow; prepared by Rita Erlich. Throughout this book there are many high quality photographs from Slim's and Joy's early days on the road; of them performing and relaxing; and stock and news feature source photos to complement the book (the photo source credits are at the beginning of the book; except for the picture of the preserved Victorian Railways K153 locomotive probably taken on the main rail line between Melbourne and Albury, shown on page 93). A great addition to my collection.
Other reading of related texts
Reference List / In-Text Citation Styles in APA 6th
Please Note: I do not strictly follow APA style in these citations as I would like various technology and media to be able to access these pages.
See my entry for I've been there (and back again) for similar works.
On the Road with Slim
Songs from the three titles listed above, in order as printed.
On the Road with Slim: Slim’s Road Songs [p120] Lyrics only
p123 Another Day Another Town - Slim Dusty
p125 On the Move Again - Joy McKean
p127 Finally Made it Home - Andy Otes and Slim Dusty
p129 Highway Blues - Slim Dusty
p131 What Am I Doing in this Town? - Joy McKean
p133 Traveller’s Prayer - Rod Boucher
p135 The Front Row - Joy McKean
p137 Walk a Country Mile - Joy McKean
p139 The Biggest Disappointment - Joy McKean
p141 Memory Motel - Alistair Jones
p143 Gum Trees by the Roadway - Slim Dusty
p145 The Road is Still My Home - Slim Dusty
p147 I’ve Been There and Back Again Joy McKean
p149 I Need to Find a Place - Slim Dusty
p151 Travellin’ Guitar - Slim Dusty
p153 The Long Road - Slim Dusty
p155 Born to be a Rolling Stone - Slim Dusty
p157 Just Going Home - Slim Dusty
p159 Travellin’ Still … Always Will - Anne Kirkpatrick
Slim Dusty Songbook (1984)
0908476132 : 9780908476138 (a *Star next to a song title indicates it is in the other book as well...)
When The Rain Tumbles Down In July
Country Revival
* A Pub with No Beer
The Isa Rodeo
Sweeney
Gum Trees by the Roadway
* The Angel Of Goulburn Hill
* Duncan
* Walk A Country Mile
Trumby
* The Biggest Disappointment
How Will I Go with Him, Mate?
* Camooweal
Only the Two of Us Here
Where Country Is
* Plains Of Peppimenarti
Rough Riders
* Indian Pacific
Three Rivers Hotel
Middleton’s Rouseabout
Pushin’ Time
* Old Time Country Halls
Losin’ My Blues Tonight
By a Fire of Gidgee Coal
Cunnamulla Feller
Just Rollin’
* The Lights on the Hill
Rusty, It’s Goodbye
Beat of the Government Stroke
Are the Good Days Gone?
The Chord Songbook SLIM DUSTY (2007) (a *Star next to a song title indicates it is in the other book as well...)
1921029560 : 9781921029561
* A Pub With No Beer
Another Day, Another Town
Bible Of The Bush
Born With An Endless Thirst
* Camooweal
Catching Yellowbelly In The Old Barcoo
Cattlemen From The High Plains
Country Revival
D Towards The Head
Do You Think That I Do Not Know?
Down At The Woolshed
* Duncan
Highway Fever
Highway One
* Indian Pacific
Ive Been There And Back Again
Ive Been, Seen And Done That
Keela Valley Coals
Kellys Offsider
Lace-Up Shoes
Leave Him In The Longyard
* Lights On The Hill
Looking Forward, Looking Back
Marty
Mechanised Swaggies
Must’ve Been A Hell Of A Party
Names Upon The Wall
No Good Truckin Man
Nulla Creek
* Old Time Country Halls
Old Time Country Songs
One Truckies Epitaph
* Plains Of Peppimenarti
Regal Zonophone
Ringer From The Top End
Ringers Stomp
Sitting On The Old Front Verandah
Thats The Song Were Singing
* The Angel Of Goulburn Hill
* The Biggest Disappointment
The Brass Well
The Lady Is A Truckie
Top Springs
Travellers prayer
Up The Old Nulla Road
* Walk A Country Mile
When The Currawongs Come Down
Who Wants Moss?
Yellow Gully
Yellow Old Bullcatcher
20210724
Unless otherwise noted all books listed were in my personal library at the time of the first blog posting about the book.
Some titles were borrowed or referenced from RMIT University libraries (City, Carlton, Brunswick Campuses) during the period 2006-2016; or from Hobsons Bay City Council library. or Bayside (Brighton) Council library, or Prahran Mechanics Institute (& ARHS) library.
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Elliott, J. (2002). On the Road with Slim. Sydney: ABC Books.
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