Recorded in late 2021, Eric Bogle surrounded himself in the studio with some amazing talent: Emma Luker (fiddle, cello, viola, harmony vocals) arranged vocals, wrote a tune in memory of the late John Munro and designed the artwork; <Peter Titchener (guitar, vocals) contributed two songs, recorded and produced the album; Damien Steele Scott (acoustic guitar, bass); Jon James (percussion); Richard Cotes (accordion, keyboards); The Sherrahs (harmony vocals); Anthony Stewart (mandolin, electric guitar) and Anthony O’Neill (tenor banjo).

On The Girl in The Photo: Peter Franche (accordion); Gina Jeffreys (vocals); Rod McCormack (acoustic guitar) and Mike Haynes (bass).

On Catching The Wave: guest English artists  Chris While (vocals) and  Julie Mathews (keyboards).

JOn A Cottage in The Country: The Bogle Pub Choir.

Songs written by Eric Bogle are: The Old Dog’s Song (a song for your wellbeing); The Armageddon Waltz (we’re all doomed - maybe?); Embers (memories mostly comfort or hurt); Song For Susan (written in memory of percussionist Jon James’ late partner); The Source of Light (countries torn apart by war); If She Ever Dreamed (Eric returns to sing of his mother Nancy); A Cottage In The Country (an idyllic little cottage in the country?); The Flag (like many of us Eric hates fascists!); Catching The Wave (about a well-known Australian figure on the folk scene); When The Last Tree Falls (we’re all doomed – Part Deux); A Dear John Letter (written for our dear mate - linked to Mind The Gap, a tune for John); and If I Should Wake (an a capella song - learn the words and sing, says Eric).

There is one song written by John Munro (The Border), two by Peter Titchener - Eric’s Never Written a Song About Me (sung by Peter) and The Girl in The Photo - and a tune by Emma Luker (Mind The Gap).

This is a remarkable collection and was recorded at a time when Eric was not in the best of health. We are very pleased to report that he is now on the mend and still performing with new concert dates to be announced shortly.

Eric Bogle was born in Peebles, Scotland, in 1944, but emigrated to Australia in 1969 and lives here with his wife Carmel. He has been recording in Australia for over four decades.

Eric is probably best known for his song And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, which was named in 2001 as one of the Australian Performing Rights Association’s Top 30 Australian songs of all time. In 1987 Eric was appointed a Member of The Order of Australia in recognition of his service to the performing arts as a songwriter and singer.

Rouseabout Records is very proud of our long association with Eric (which includes the 5 album box set Singing The Spirit Home) and always welcomes a new album.

Executive Producer Warren Fahey comments "Eric and I have been working together since the release of his first album, ’Now I’m Easy’, in 1980. After forty-two years, and many albums and compilations later, he never ceases to surprise me with the quality of his songs. He is a masterful poet with a unique skill for gathering the right musical partnerships to carry his songs down through the years. This new collection is no different in that it offers insightful songs and evocative arrangements of songs which will stand the test of time. It is also a timely release because 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of two of his most-lauded songs, ‘And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ and ’Now I’m Easy’.”

Eric Bogle’s The Source Of Light is out on Rouseabout Records through MGM Distribution in February 2022.

Digital release links available here.

Voices is another amazing collection of songs - eight from Eric Bogle himself, probably one of the greatest songwriters of the past several decades.

There are two songs from John Munro, one from Peter Titchener and a song sent to Eric by Simon Wilkins. The album is eagerly awaited from by legions of Bogle fans in Australia and overseas, and will not disappoint.

The songs include:
• A Fork In The Road - a tribute by Eric to his “partner in crime”, as he describes John Munro.
• Once Upon A Time - keeps us guessing, but Eric says “...no fairy story but no guarantee of a happy ending either”.
• When I’m Dead - which he hopes “will not be before 2045!”.
• First The Children - a subject which Eric has visited before and expects to do again.
• Heartland - described as “being out there or maybe inside us”.
• The List - in which he looks at the things he “still misses about Scotland”.
• Freedom Lost - the persecution of various sections of the population in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
• Breakup - “some relationship breakups are civilised - others, however…”.
To sum up, this is Eric’s usual varied interpretation of life and the world about us.

John Munro contributes The Best Of Times, from his life in Glasgow which includes a harmony with his late Dad, plus Voices, dedicated by John to “the voices of singers, poets and artists who have inspired, informed and changed us through the centuries”.

Pete Titchener, who also produced the album, has one contribution: Farewell Fitness, a request by Eric to Peter to write a song that “sums up his life’s philosophy, something that would give those who hear it an emotional and spiritual lift… this is his contribution”.

Ballad For Billy was written by Simon Wilkins for his late nephew Billy Spencer. “Billy was 26 years old when he lost his life in a tragic accident. His parents donated his organs to help others, his heart went to a young father of three beautiful daughters. Later Bill’s Mum and Dad listened to their son’s heart beating in that young father’s body - imagine that if you can. And a further four more lives were saved by other organs Bill provided. The song was written by Simon the night after Bill died”. Eric really liked the song and recorded it, as he has done with other similar submissions.

Eric surrounded himself in the Adelaide studio with great musicians: John Munro (acoustic guitar, mandolin, lead vocals on his own tracks and harmony vocals on others); Peter Titchener (acoustic guitar, lead vocals on his song); Emma Woolcock (fiddle, cello); Jon Jones (percussion); Damien Steele-Scott (bass); Kathie Renner (piano); Peter Franche (accordion); Leonard Cohen (slide guitar); The Bogle-ettes (singers on Voices).

Eric’s 2013 album A Toss Of The Coin was another collaboration with John Munro.

Album Booklet (PDf Format)

Raymond Briggs’ graphic novel, the 1980s animated classic When the Wind Blows is one of the most powerful depictions of nuclear armageddon ever made.

I remember when I first read it and when, a short time after, Eric Bogle, obviously equally moved, wrote his song of the same name. The song sent shivers up my back and even now, decades later, I imagine the nightmare image of Trump and Comrade Kim, fingers to the button, ready to blow up our world in the name of political folly. There are other songs on this album that shake my old bones. Bushfire, Hard, Hard Times, Shining River and Soldier, Soldier still remain as reminders of a world burning in more ways than one. There’s also some of Eric’s trademark humour in the unforgettable tragic tale of Little Gomez. But, above all, this album’s final song, Safe in the Harbour, is still one of my all time favourites. Eric wrote this song for the Canadian folk musician Stan Rogers who tragically died at very young age in an air crash in 1983. For me, it is testament of Eric’s extraordinary insight as a poet. (Warren Fahey, Executive Producer, Rouseabout Records)

The album, Now I’m Easy, introduced Eric Bogle to a wide audience as a songwriter of international merit and, all these years later, it still stands proudly in an extensive catalogue of songs penned by the now internationally recognised writer. It is testament to Eric Bogle’s creativity in that this early album includes many of the poet’s most-loved songs including ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’, ‘No Man’s Land’ & the title track ‘Now I’m Easy’.

The album was first released by Larrikin on vinyl in 1980 and on CD in 1987. It is now available to download & stream in its entirety for the first time.

From the original sleeve notes:

On the sleeve of this LP I had originally intended to include individual notes on each song, explaining what the song was about, how I came to write it etc., etc. In short, to thoroughly indulge myself, a trait for which I am regrettably, but justifiably, quite well known.

Instead, I offer these songs to you without comment. The primary function of any song is communication, so if I have succeeded as a songwriter these songs should require no further explanation from me, they should speak for themselves. I certainly hope they do. Listen to them, draw your own conclusions, make your own interpretations, form your own judgements.

Please do not let the fact that I think they’re all great, and that they represent a large slice of my life, sway you in any way whatsoever. My grateful and sincere thanks to all those who have been involved in the making of this record, it has been both a pleasure and an education to work with real professionals.

My special thanks to Chris Nicholson, my producer, who orchestrated this whole project from the start. Finally, this record was made for, and is dedicated to, all those people who, over the last 10 years or so, have given me love, advice, encouragement, friendship, and a kick in the bum when I needed it.

But mainly, it’s for Nancy.

ERIC BOGLE

Album Notes

Eric Bogle
'Just the funny stuff'
Catalogue Number RRR76

MARIJUANA and various illegal substances notwithstanding, nothing relaxes us more than a good laugh.

With this in mind therefore, the songs you will hear on this recording were written over a period of years to relax, and also, hopefully, to amuse my audiences at my live performances.

You see, audiences generally are a nervous and skittish lot, who have to be gently handled and who must be allowed to relax gradually into a performance before you can stick the boot in with your heavier message-type songs. Humour, properly used, can act as a sort of soothing syrup that helps the all too often unpalatable truth go down more easily. And more effectively!

You can see therefore, that in my live performances at least, I consciously use humour as a tool. Nothing wrong with that, indeed it is that very ability to use tools, coupled with our sense of humour, that sets we humans apart from the myriad of other species that inhabit this planet with us. Or so we are told.
Mind you, I suppose it makes some sort of sense. I can’t remember the last time I saw a wombat in my bathroom fixing up a leaking tap, or heard a bunch of giraffes at a local cinema pissing themselves laughing at the latest Woody Allen flick.

The best comedians confront us with ourselves. They craft clear, cruel, compassionate comedic mirrors that show us for the vainglorious, self important deluded fools that we so often are. And yet, seeing ourselves, recognizing ourselves, we can still rough with laughter at the often silly and pretentious figures reflected in the mirror. Why? I strongly suspect it’s mainly because deep down a lot of us believe that the whole thing is some sort of obscure comic joke anyway, and if that is indeed the case, we may as well keep laughing until the show is over.

The ability to laugh, at both ourselves and at the baffling, precarious and often frightening business of living in the 20th Century is our saving grace. It gives me great comfort.

ERIC BOGLE

Just the funny stuff was first released on Laughing Stock in 1993..

First issued on Larrikin Records in 1982, Scraps of Paper is an outstanding collection of well-crafted songs that tug at the heartstrings and the often lost funny-bone and is now available digitally for the first time.

The album produced by Eric Bogle, John Munro and Peter Brook includes ‘A Reason For It All’, ‘Scraps of Paper’, ‘If Wishes Were Fishes’, ‘He’s Nobody’s Moggy Now’ and ‘Ballad of Henry Holloway’ features John Munro on vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, autoharp and dulcimer along with Brent Miller on vocals and bass guitar.

These days my life seems somehow like a tired old cliché
A bad movie scene that just goes on and on
With dialogue like “It’s so sad how fast time slips away”
Or “You never really miss them till they’re gone”
Funny how these old clichés come true
Never thought I’d miss him but I do.

My father died in Summer, and all he left behind
Were little scraps of paper, little scraps of rhyme
I read them, and felt something inside me break
Any angrily cried out “Too late, too late!”
Surely there must be something better
Surely there must be something better.

He and I were always strangers searchin’ for someone
I was lookin’ for a hero, and he a friend
So while I searched for my father he was lookin’ for his son
And strangers we remained until the end
But the man who wrote his heart into those rhymes
I know he could have been a good friend of mine.

So I sit here where he lived and died, as the ghosts around me weave
As evening shadows lengthen on the wall
And in this bare and empty room it’s easy to believe
That he never lived at all
But the little scraps of paper in my hand
Prove he lived to me; the father and the man.

Words by Eric Bogle

Something Of Value was first released in Australia on CD by Larrikin Records in 1988. It was Eric Bogle’s Bicentennial effort inspired by love and concern. Love meaning never having to sing “I Still Call Australia Home”.

The album was produced by John Schumann and features musicians Andy McGloin, Brent Miller, Phil Cuneen, Louis McManus, John Munro, Larry Todd, John Haslett, Vin Garbutt, and of course Eric Bogle on Lead vocals.

At the specific request of his band, the producer, the engineer, and numerous other supplicants, Eric Bogle did not play his guitar on this album. He did however, write the music and lyrics to all the songs except the following:-

“Going Back To Dublin” – Lyrics by Eric Bogle, music by John Munro
“Two Strong Arms” - Lyrics by Eric Bogle, music by John Munro
“Across the Hills of Home” (Jimmy’s Song) – Lyrics by Hames McArthur & Eric Bogle, music by Eric Bogle.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Kate Wolf.

There’s not much that hasn’t already been written and said about Eric Bogle. His new album A Toss Of The Coin testifies that whilst Eric now confines his touring to Australia and New Zealand (which is a huge loss to his legion of international fans), he has not given up song-writing and recording.

This album again confirms that he is one of the best and most prolific songwriters of the last several decades.

This album takes a slightly different direction to Eric's most recent recordings in that Eric sings ten of the songs, while John Munro not only contributes two new songs but sings them as well. Of Eric's songs, seven are entirely works by him, one other is a poem to which Eric has written the music, and the remaining two are songwriting contributions by friends. As usual, Eric's songs reflect the times we live in and recent world events.
The first song - Ashes - was written after a visit to Strathewen, Victoria, Australia, ten weeks after the 'Black Saturday' bushfires of February 2009 in which 173 souls perished. It is dedicated to Dave Magahey, Captain of Arthurs Creek and Strathewen Fire Brigade. This is yet another classic from Eric's pen and ranks with his all time greats.

But this is not a one-track wonder album. Just listen to Song For James, about a young Irish lad knocked down and killed by a truck, and his father's subsequent efforts to help keep his
son's memory alive. Then there is Reg Evans' Cradle, another powerful and emotional song rising from the ashes of the Black Saturday fires.

Eric has also put music to John MacRae's widely known First World War poem In Flanders Field, bringing the poem to life. The two songs written by friends Mike O'Callaghan and Pete Titchener/June Harrison - When An Angel Appears and Don't Throw Away Your Dreams respectively - emphasise that Eric also knows good songs when he hears them.

We all know how good a songwriter John Munro is. His two contributions on this album - Absolution and Glory Days - are excellent and confirm, if confirmation is needed, of Eric's admiration for his loyal sidekick's work.

John Munro (guitars, mandolin, ukulele and vocals) as always features greatly in Eric's line-up of studio musicians, which also includes the talents of Emma Luker (fiddle, cello), Damien Steele Scott (electric basses, piano, guitar), Pete Titchener (guitars, vocals) and Jon Jones (drum, percussion), amongst several other guests. A formidable line-up! Peter Titchener also recorded the album and co-produced it with Eric.

Rouseabout Records is proud to continue to release the work of our most prolific artist Eric Bogle.

Eric Bogle’s songs are as relevant today as when they were written. A Few Old Songs For Very New Times features 32 songs from Bogle’s back catalogue not contained on Singing The Spirit Home (RRR49) hand picked by Eric himself and is a must have for any Bogle fan.

A live performance DVD recording made at Stonyfell Winery, Adelaide, Australia - this is Eric Bogle's first and (he says) last DVD and includes additional interview material.

No one has ever recorded a documentary of ‘Australia’s premier poet of song’. This DVD containing many of Eric's most popular and requested songs should fill the gap to some extent.

As Eric prepares to hang up his 'touring boots' and embark on a final round of touring, he thought this an appropriate time to record a concert. The DVD contains 21 of Eric's most requested songs from a remarkable recording career, plus some chat with Eric and his touring buddy John Munro. “It’s scrubbed up pretty well considering the subject matter, I'm happy enough with it. 21 songs in all plus an interview with John Munro and I on the end of it. Otherwise it's all concert, no silly graphics, smoke bombs or quotes from Bono....”

A compulsive, almost obsessive songwriter for most of his adult life, Eric has written some songs that have pretty much become Australian (if not world) classics of their particular genre. Possibly his best known song is The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, which confirmed its status by appearing as a question in the Australian version of Trivial Pursuit!

Some of his other songs - No Man's Land (The Green Fields of France), Leaving Nancy, Now I'm Easy, Shelter, If Wishes Were Fishes - are now beginning to rival Matilda in the icon stakes. Eric's songs have been recorded by Joan Baez, Mary Black, Jean Redpath, June Tabor, Donovan, John Williamson, Billy Bragg, The Pogues, The Fureys and The Corries - to name just a few.

Eric was born in Peebles in Scotland and says he was "destined to be a politician or a folk singer of protest songs... And so one of these prophecies came to pass". In 1969 he emigrated to Australia and in 1980, after various jobs, he embarked on the perilous career path of a professional musician.

Together with his touring partner John Munro, Eric has literally taken his music to the world. He has toured extensively over the last 25 years or so, and this includes 8 tours of North America, 10 tours of Europe and many tours of Australia. He has appeared at every major folk and Country music festival in Australia and around the world.

He has won many awards along the way, including the Order of Australia medal for services to the entertainment industry and a Peace Medal from the United Nations for his efforts, through music, to promote peace and racial harmony. In Scotland he was recognised by the Scots Trad Music Awards and has been placed in their Hall Of Fame.

From the 'Live at Stoneyfell Winery' DVD

The Dreamer is Eric Bogle's 15th album and is released as Eric prepares to hang up his 'touring boots' and embark on a final round of touring. As always, Eric will be accompanied by his long-time buddy John Munro, who has produced this and other Eric Bogle albums.

A compulsive, almost obsessive songwriter for most of his adult life, Eric has written some songs that have pretty much become Australian (if not world) classics of their particular genre. Possibly his best known song is The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, which confirmed its status by appearing as a question in the Australian version of Trivial Pursuit!

Some of his other songs - No Man's Land (The Green Fields of France), Leaving Nancy, Now I'm Easy, Shelter, If Wishes Were Fishes - are now beginning to rival Matilda in the icon stakes. Eric's songs have been recorded by Joan Baez, Mary Black, Jean Redpath, June Tabor, Donovan, John Williamson, Billy Bragg, The Pogues, The Fureys and The Corries - to name just a few.

Eric was born in Peebles in Scotland and says he was "destined to be a politician or a folk singer of protest songs... And so one of these prophecies came to pass..." In 1969 he emigrated to Australia and in 1980, after various jobs, he embarked on the perilous career path of a professional musician.

Together with his touring partner John Munro, Eric has literally taken his music to the world. He has toured extensively over the last 25 years or so, and this includes 8 tours of North America, 10 tours of Europe and many tours of Australia. He has appeared at every major folk and Country music festival in Australia and around the world.

He has won many awards along the way, including the Order Of Australia medal for services to the entertainment industry and a Peace Medal from the United Nations for his efforts, through music, to promote peace and racial harmony. In Scotland he was recognised by the Scots Trad Music Awards and has been placed in their Hall Of Fame.

This is yet another fine clutch of songs from Eric, plus one by John Munro. The songs are thought- provoking as always and bound to move the listener.

With John Munro (acoustic guitars, mandolin, banjo, vocals), Emma Luker (fiddle, cello, backing vocals), Phil Cuneen (piano), Pete Titchener (acoustic guitar), Trev Warner (dobro) and Damien Steele-Scott (electric bass) providing excellent backing.

Bringing Buddy Home deals with coffins of young American soldiers being shipped home from Iraq. Nothing Worth Saving is for those willing to stand up and be counted for what they believe in. The Dreamer - Eric says "I admit it, I'll hold up my hand". Someone Else's Problem is about the great Murray River slowly dying. Lost Soul deals with the disgrace of the Australian Ngarrindjeri people not being regarded as Australian citizens in 1916, and John Munro's excellent contribution Snowdrop is a song about homelessness.

The last song on the album is aptly titled The Last Note, and Eric states simply in the sleeve note - "Indeed it is".

Boxed sets of 'Greatest Hits' usually appear after the songwriter in question is safely dead, but I’m still in reasonable health and I need the cash now.

Anyway this isn’t really a 'Greatest Hits' compilation it’s more a collection of the songs that are most requested at my live concerts. Plus a few of my personal favourites. Taken together they form a pretty fair cross section of the type of songs I’ve written over the last 38 years or so.

I know pride is one of the least attractive of the seven deadly sins, but I can’t help being proud of my songs, over the years they have been loyal and true companions through good and bad times, we’ve covered a lot of miles together. I hope that some of them will become friends to you as well.

Eric Bogle   June 2009

Volume One Now I'm Easy No Man's Land (aka GreenFields Of France) Front Row Cowboy Song Of The Whale Dan The Aussie BBQ Song Shining River Lady From Bendigo I Hate Wogs Leaving Nancy (Live) And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda Belle of Broughton Get the Flash Player to see this player. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda	Volume Two Scraps Of Paper He's Noboddy's Moggy Now If Wishes Were Fishes Bushfire The Enigma Hard Hard Times Do You Know Any Dylan (Live) Safe In The Harbour Little Gomez A Reason For It All Glasgow Lullaby My Youngest Son Came Home Today Get the Flash Player to see this player. A Reason For It All
Volume Three When The Wind Blows Wilderness Silly Slang Song Harry's Wife Shelter What Kind Of Man Feed The Children (Live) Blues For Alex Leaving The Land Something Of Value Rosie (Live) Peace Has Broken Out Get the Flash Player to see this player. When The Wind Blows	Volume Four Singing The Spirit Home Katie And The Dreamtime Land Welcome Home Don't You Worry About That Plastic Paddy Somewhere In America One Small Life Short White Blues Vanya Mirrors The Gift Of Years Wouldn't Be Dead For Quids Get the Flash Player to see this player. Singing The Spirit Home
Volume Five Small Miracles Keeper Of The Flame Standing In The Light The Diggers Legacy Dedication Day The Golden City Troy's Song Ekka's Silver Jubilee Song Romeo and Juliet in Sarajevo The Blessing One Small Star The End Of An Auld Song Get the Flash Player to see this player. Keeper Of The Flame

“Very much ahead of the pack”
Bruce Elder (SMH)

The "Master songwriter & performer" (Sing Out) returns with a brand new studio masterpiece...

As a songwriter, Eric Bogle has been acknowledged by some of the best - Billy Bragg, REM, Mary Black, Slim Dusty, Jeannie Lewis, The Bushwackers, June Tabor, The Furies, Tommy Makem & The Clancy Brothers, The Pogues and John Williamson - just to name a handful.
Rouseabout Records is excited to announce that Eric's new studio album ‘Other People's Children’ will be released in February 2006 to coincide with a national tour. As the title suggests Bogle is his usual brilliant political self, but also pays stunning tribute to Slim Dusty in ‘Tambourine Mountain’ and amongst other gems performs a duet with Colcannon's Kath Kraus. The album, produced by long time partner-in-crime John Munro is sure to fill the appetite of Bogle fans everywhere. Fresh from another successful tour of North America be sure to catch the master songwriter and performer in early 2006

Live Performances including Eric's Introductions

Eric's most requested songs from the past thirty years including 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda', 'Leaving Nancy', 'No Man's Land and 'Now I'm Easy'.

This new 2 CD release features Eric’s most popular songs as well as some special rarities, and as always, despite the heavy nature of the subjects, Bogle retains his uncanny ability to hit you on the head with wit and humour.

His most political song collection ever...
Eric Bogle has scored more awards than hot dinners! His ‘And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ was in the top dozen songs of APRA’s 75 year Celebration and his songs have been covered by everyone from The Pogues to REM. Even Tony Blair chose an Eric Bogle song as his personal statement as an anthem for peace. This new studio album is the songwriters most political ever and addresses some real issues that dog us all including global greed, terrorism, drug abuse, world peace and more. Despite the heavy nature of the subjects Bogle always hits you on the head with wit and humour.

The songs address everyday and extraordinary events in our twenty-first century lives: drug abuse, infant sudden death syndrome, the eternal search for peace, the distressing global economy, child abuse, terrorism, reconciliation with our indigenous Australians and a heartfelt song about all refugees. Extending his interest in wartime Australia, Eric has written a song to commemorate the neglected role of the horse in conflict. As usual there is a little piece of Bogle history too and this time it is his visit to Gracelands.

The Colour of Dreams is produced by Mick Wordley and Eric Bogle and features:

Eric Bogle: lead vocals, acoustic guitar and backing vocals.
Dave O’Neill: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki.
Jon Jones: drums and percussion
John Munro: acoustic guitar, backing vocals.
Kat Kraus: backing vocals.
Adrian Ferraretto: cello.
Mick Wordley: acoustic guitar, bass guitar, accordion

A proven seller nationally and his twelfth Australian album release.

Internationally successful performer including recent sell out Northern American tour.

Follow up to the 2001 EMI 5CD box set.

Booked as interview guest on the ABCTV7.30 Report with Kerry O’Brien.

His music currently used on national TV Landcare Campaign fronted by Jack Thompson.

Nationally distributed Community Radio Satellite special to over 200 radio stations.

National publicity campaign driven by Larrikin Music Publishing.