DAVE'S DIARY - 2 DECEMBER 2003 - CHRIS WILSON
CHRIS WILSON PRINCE FOR THREE DECADES
Chris Wilson
has a rich roots music history spanning three decades.
When the singing schoolteacher started his career you could book him by
phoning his mum at her inner suburban home while he chalked his lessons.
| But,
now with singing spouse Sarah Carroll of Git and children under his
wings, he is soaking up the surf on the Sunshine Coast south of Geelong. It all started when he fronted on stage with the Sole Twisters more than twenty years ago. Stints with Harum Scarum and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls followed. At the end of the eighties Wilson fronted Crown Of Thorns which also featured fellow teacher Barb Waters who hailed from Myrtleford. |
 Chris Wilson |
His instrumental
gifts have oft been utilised on recordings by artists diverse as James
Reyne, Hunters and Collectors, Vika and Linda, Renee Geyer, Archie Roach,
X, Deb Conway and Ross Hannaford's Dianna Kiss.
Wilson has enjoyed the company of Australia's best musicians on stage
and in the studio when realising his own visions in song.
AUSTIN, TEXAS.
He has performed
in the U.S. at the South By South West festival in Austin, Texas, and
two Folk Alliance Conferences.
He has also strutted his stuff with many overseas artists including Joe
Henry, Charlie Musselwhite and Tony Joe White.
Bob Dylan once made a special trip backstage to shake Chris' hand after
a show together in 1992!
Chris has also appeared at most major Australian festivals where his performances
have often been a highlight.
BILLY JOE AND A P JOHNSON
Wilson guested
with Texan troubadour Billy Joe Shaver at the Royal Derby in Fitzroy in
1990 and also mentored late legendary larrikin A P Johnson in smoky suburban
bars and on the mean streets.
More as a soul mate and promoter of the original songs of the reformed
rodeo rider and Moose Malone roadie who died at 49 in November of 1995,
from pneumonia.
Artimus Paul Johnson first came to musical notice as a member of Brisbane
blues band The Bay City Union at the age of 17.
Johnson also chanced his arm on banana plantations, bull riding and as
a singing roadie for Moose Malone & Country Cassanovas with whom he
moved to Melbourne in 1977.
Wilson eulogised Johnson in the song, 'Desperado Waiting For A Tram,'
on 1998 double CD, 'The Long Weekend.'
The new millenium found Wilson with a renewed enthusiasm for country music
- his own style.
Wilson has performed on country shows more frequently since wedding Git
singer Sarah Carroll.
That's when he was filmed for Nu Country TV by director-producer Peter
Hosking at one of their showcases.
KING
FOR A DAY - CHRIS WILSON
KING FOR A DAY (FORGE 001-MGM)
Despite being a promoter for U.S. singer-songwriter Joe Henry and guesting
on diverse tours and albums Chris Wilson has a minor identity problem.
And, not just because of a local pianist and producer of the same name.
Wilson, 46, is renowned for his bluesy roots after fronting and jamming
in a vast galaxy of bands and artists over a rich career embracing three
decades.
But, now with the production of former Dingoes guitarist Kerryn Tolhurst
he hones his skills as a country singer and songwriter.
And, like Texan troubadour Billy Joe Shaver with whom he played harmonica
on his 1990 tour, Wilson reaches deep into his psyche for phosphate to
enrich the seeds of his new album.
Wilson dabbled in country on 'Desperado Waiting For A Tram' about
late, lamented little mate A P Johnson.
But here Wilson emulates Johnson's passion and pathos, but not bathos,
on 10 songs destined to stand the test of time.
It's clear from rollicking entrée 'Something That I Said'
through to finale 'Look Out Love' that Wilson tempers his pain
with humour.
You won't find too much to laugh about in the river metaphor of 'Jesus
Took Possession Over Judgement Day' or 'She Danced With The Spirits.'
But 'Embers Down The Mountain' and 'Little Jasper' have
far superior road imagery to the prefab fodder of pseudo country wagon
jumpers.
Maybe Wilson's sea change and road trips enabled him to inject 'Black
Birding' with vitriolic credibility.
Tolhurst's tasteful production, with mandolin, banjo and harmonica, and
guest vocals by Sarah Carroll and Cyndi Boste, soften Wilson's hitherto
harsh vocals.
Which is why listeners luxuriate in access to memorable songs 'Skin
That You Once Wore,' 'You Got It Right The First Time' and
the haunting 'Look What Daddy Done.'
This is the real deal - even old A P might tip, rather than bite the singer,
for the odd $2 coin from the grave.
DISCOGRAPHY:
2003 King
For A Day - Forge thru MGM
2001 Spiderman - Black Market
1998 The Long Weekend - Aurora/Mushroom
1996 Short Cool Ones (w/ Diesel) - Aurora/Mushroom
1994 Live At The Continental - Aurora/Mushroom
1992 Landlocked - Aurora/Mushroom
1991 Pub Dogs Live At the Wireless - JJJ/Au Go Go
1990 Babylon - Crawdaddy
1988 Carnival - Crawdaddy
1986 Gnawing On The Bones Of Elvis - Crawdaddy