Under the Milky Way - Jimmy Little, Jansson, Karin
The Way I Made You Feel - Jimmy Little, Keupper, Ed
Randwick Bells - Jimmy Little, Kelly, Paul
Quasimodo's Dream - Jimmy Little, Mason, D.
Into Temptation - Jimmy Little, Finn, Neil
Cattle and Cane - Jimmy Little, Forster, Robert
(Are You) The One I've Been Waiting For - Jimmy Little, Cave, Nick
Black Fella/White Fella - Jimmy Little, Murray
Alone With You - Jimmy Little, Oxley, Jeremy
Bring Yourself Home to Me - Jimmy Little, Snarski, Mark
Jimmy Little is a legend in the truest sense of the word. Australia's first commercial Aboriginal recording artist (in 1959) breaking down the barriers, his career spanning 4 decades as a gifted and graceful balladeer. ... more »Messenger' is a new recording that will help us all to re-discover Jimmy's honey-like voice and alluring energy. Jimmy has commanded an astonishing assembly of Australian talent to contribute to his album. And the cream of Australian songwriting talent have OK'd the man to cover their own legendary songs, when no-one else would be allowed the same privilege. Look at that Tracklisting! A truly essential Australian purchase!« less
Jimmy Little is a legend in the truest sense of the word. Australia's first commercial Aboriginal recording artist (in 1959) breaking down the barriers, his career spanning 4 decades as a gifted and graceful balladeer. Messenger' is a new recording that will help us all to re-discover Jimmy's honey-like voice and alluring energy. Jimmy has commanded an astonishing assembly of Australian talent to contribute to his album. And the cream of Australian songwriting talent have OK'd the man to cover their own legendary songs, when no-one else would be allowed the same privilege. Look at that Tracklisting! A truly essential Australian purchase!
CD Reviews
The Picture is Bigger Than All of Us Put Together...
K. Zung | Graham Crackers, NC | 03/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I got the message right away...Jimmy Little is gifted with a voice that is so lilting and unique, it's unreal. He was the first Aboriginal musician to break into the limelight in the 60's and brings an interesting twist to these mellow cover songs. Many of the songs are delicate productions that are reminiscent of a dance hall balladeer singing the final song of the night as the janitor sweeps the floor around that last couple still swaying... There are themes here of love, loss, and society that are universal. And there is also a merging of musical styles that is hard to pin down. You then realize that trying to stick Jimmy Little into the limiting nature of a category would make you miss the point all together. He is who he is, and that is what makes his music beautiful. That is the message."
Excellent primer for the quality of Australian song writing
Peter S | Montreal | 12/06/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Not wanting to take anything away from Jimmy Little (his voice is one of the best in the business and his interpretation of the songs excellent), I find this CD a celebration of the songwriting talent available down under.If you are not familiar with Australian music then I can reccomend this as a starter, but then encourage you to track down the original artists of the songs you like.Whilst I feel his versions of Down Below and Black Fella/White Fella suffer in comparison with the originals, the rest of the Cd is very solid. Tracks 4,5 & 6 (Randwick Bells, Quasimodo's Dream and Into Temptation) are a pure celebration of his voice and the song writers art.Enjoy!"
Breathtakingly beautiful album
J A B M WITJES | Netherlands | 05/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's one of those very rare albums that have all this in one: 1) a singer with an extremely beautiful and touching voice (what a Sinatra-like timing!, what a colouring!, what an ease of singing!, what a treatment of text!, what a ...) 2) an impeccable production 3) a very skillful and tasteful playing of the accompanying musicians 4) pleasant surprises every time you listen to it (never a dull moment!) It's a six-star, classic album, if you ask me!"
A GREAT cover album...try it in a dark room
The Green-winged Pigeon | the subtropics | 04/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
""I leave the radio on all night, sooner or later it puts me to sleep..."
This album of covers of '80s Australian pub-rock and folk-rock tunes (one NZ ring in!) is a bit of a gentle phenomenon. Superb orchestration and production for Jimmy's interpretations.
I didn't really relate to many of the originals first time round, but here they are stripped back and remade in a distinctive and moving way.
Some the interpretations are very different to the originals. Rock songs become lovely swirly things with Jimmy's quiet but always moving voice. His diction is so good.
He exposes just how good the songs like 'Into Temptation', 'Randwick Bells', 'Cattle and Cane' and others really are. The songs are often very Australian but not in the obvious way (no Great Southern Land etc).
Mind you, I live in 'cattle and cane' country, so the Go Between's classic of place and growing up is very redolent!
Black fella/white fella is perhaps the only slightly cliched choice, given Jimmy's aboriginality, but it is a good version anyway (love the way he says fulla for fella).
This is a very distinctive album, an easy listening album but not out of the mediocrity of the songs, producer or singer. Get it and impress your friends. Ridiculous that it is so low on the Amazon chart.
PS probably cheaper finding an Aussie online source!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1