ASHLEY COOK PICTURES OF AUSTRALIA
Queensland’s Thangool local, Ashley Cook, has been determinedly ascending the ranks of most noted Aust balladeers for some time, with five albums, the DVD Under Queensland Skies, and numerous awards under his belt.
The first single from this new album, ‘Overlander Days’ written by Billy Wye and Shaza Leigh, has not disappointed and is performing well re airplay pickups. Another strong song ‘Good Times At Thangool,’ co-written with Wally Sanderson was something Ashley long wanted to do properly in order to pay tribute and promote the history of his home town. Similarly – geographically not far removed – ‘The Legend Of Three Moon Creek’ penned by Wilf Elliott is about that waterway and the town of Monto situated on it, just south of where Ashley was born and grew up on a dairy and beef cattle farm. ‘Pubs Of The Great Outback’ is the work of Manfred Vijars and Shaza Leigh and it is also on the LBS Country Collection Volume 22. The pubs in country towns are the lifeblood and central hub for bush communities and the Lyceum Hotel of Longreach earns special mention in this ode to thirsty revellers and tough and quirky characters.
This is a great bush ballad album by Ashley with ten new songs and two remakes from his idol the King of Country, Slim Dusty, ‘Biggest Disappointment’ and ‘Traveller’s Prayer’- rendered in inimitable Ashley style. ‘A Battle That’s Worth Fighting For’ is a cut by Terry Bennetts as is the title track. Lindsay Butler OAM played lead guitar and produced this project with superb harmonies from Lynette Guest.
Originally published at The Country Update
