Allan Caswell
Encyclopedia
Allan Caswell is an Australian songwriter and performer, author, record producer, freelance journalist and teacher. He has had over 900 songs published and over 500 recordings of his songs worldwide in a career lasting over 30 years.
His best-known song is “On The Inside
” (the theme from the television series Prisoner
). It was a #1 record in Australia and New Zealand. It reached #3 in the UK and also featured on the Billboard Country charts in the USA.
Allan has been awarded with 6 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia
. As a songwriter he has received 2 gold single awards an APRA award, and an ARIA award
. He also has been awarded 1 platinum and 3 gold records for his writing and production work on a series of children's albums featuring Don Spencer
.
He has performed as an artist in every state of Australia, as well as appearing on stages in the US and in New Zealand. He has performed for Australian troops stationed in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He currently resides in Medlow Bath in the NSW Blue Mountains and continues to write and record songs. He also works with children in juvenile detention and behavioral schools (on behalf of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation) teaching music and songwriting as a way for young people to integrate into the community.
signed a song he had written with his brother Brian Caswell
to Albert Music in Sydney. However it was 6 years later when Allan Caswell had a song recorded. Again he was signed by Chris Gilbey, this time to the newly formed Australian subsidiary of ATV Music Limited - ATV Northern Songs. The first song signed was “On The Inside” which became the theme for the television series “Prisoner” and later a major international hit song. The success of “On The Inside” triggered a succession of recordings by artists of the caliber of Patti Page
, Cilla Black
, The Irish Rovers
, Max Bygraves
and Acker Bilk, Slim Dusty
, The Living End
, Chad Morgan
, Lynne Hamilton, James Blundell
, Anne Kirkpatrick
, Don Spencer, Graeme Connors
, The Delltones
, Doug Ashdown
and Ricky May
.
Caswell won his first Golden Guitar in Tamworth for Best New Talent in 1980, Song of the Year in 1981, 1983 and 1986, Male Vocalist of the Year in 1988 and Vocal Collaboration Of The Year (with Drew McAlister) in 2007. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Songmaker Award.
In 2006 Caswell published his first book “Writing Great Song Lyrics”. The book has proved popular with young songwriters and is an important part of his many songwriting workshops.
In 1995 Caswell was asked by Don Spencer
, on behalf of his Australian Children’s Music Foundation, to work with children in Juvenile Detention teaching music and songwriting. He has helped set up similar programs in other centres. He is also working with the Foundation in their aim of making music accessible to underprivileged children.
hired a musicologist to provide an expert opinion as to whether "On The Inside" had been infringed by the song "Christmas In Dixie". The musicologist's report stated “…it is my opinion that a case can be made that the two works bear a level of similarity that goes beyond what I would consider to be a random occurrence or sheer coincidence… [and] further reinforces my viewpoint that one work is reproducing a substantial part of the other work.” Allan Caswell has notified APRA
of the results of the musicologists' report and has taken legal advice in the matter.
His best-known song is “On The Inside
On the Inside (song)
"On the Inside" is the theme song for the Australian soap opera Prisoner . It was written by Allan Caswell and performed by Lynne Hamilton....
” (the theme from the television series Prisoner
Prisoner (TV series)
Prisoner is an Australian television soap opera which was set in the Wentworth Detention Centre, a fictional women's prison. The series was produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation and ran on Network Ten for 692 episodes from 27 February 1979 to 11 December 1986.The series was inspired by the 1970s...
). It was a #1 record in Australia and New Zealand. It reached #3 in the UK and also featured on the Billboard Country charts in the USA.
Allan has been awarded with 6 Golden Guitars at the Country Music Awards of Australia
Country Music Awards of Australia
The CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They are wholly owned and staged by the Country Music...
. As a songwriter he has received 2 gold single awards an APRA award, and an ARIA award
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
. He also has been awarded 1 platinum and 3 gold records for his writing and production work on a series of children's albums featuring Don Spencer
Don Spencer
Donald Richard Spencer OAM is an Australian children's television presenter and musician, best known for his long-running role as a presenter on Play School in both Australia and the United Kingdom. He had his first song the theme tune to Fireball XL5 in 1962, reaching #32 on the UK Singles...
.
He has performed as an artist in every state of Australia, as well as appearing on stages in the US and in New Zealand. He has performed for Australian troops stationed in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He currently resides in Medlow Bath in the NSW Blue Mountains and continues to write and record songs. He also works with children in juvenile detention and behavioral schools (on behalf of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation) teaching music and songwriting as a way for young people to integrate into the community.
Early years
Allan Caswell was born in Chester and grew up in North Wales, Berkshire and South London before migrating to Australia in 1966. He was educated at Wimbledon County Secondary School and later at South Sydney Boys High School. He has worked full time in the Australian Music Industry since 1979.Music industry history
Allan Caswell’s songwriting career started in 1973 when Chris GilbeyChris Gilbey
Chris Gilbey OAM is an Australian entrepreneur and music industry identity. He has helped shape the careers of artists such as INXS, Tommy Emmanuel, Keith Urban, The Church, The Saints, AC/DC and Stevie Wright...
signed a song he had written with his brother Brian Caswell
Brian Caswell
-Biography:Brian Caswell was born in a village called Gwernaffield in Wales,on the 13th of January, 1954. His family moved to England, when he was 5 years old. At the age of 12, in 1966, Caswell's family moved to Australia. He received a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education, and graduated...
to Albert Music in Sydney. However it was 6 years later when Allan Caswell had a song recorded. Again he was signed by Chris Gilbey, this time to the newly formed Australian subsidiary of ATV Music Limited - ATV Northern Songs. The first song signed was “On The Inside” which became the theme for the television series “Prisoner” and later a major international hit song. The success of “On The Inside” triggered a succession of recordings by artists of the caliber of Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
, Cilla Black
Cilla Black
Cilla Black OBE is an English singer, actress, entertainer and media personality, who has been consistently popular as a light entertainment figure since 1963. She is most famous for her singles Anyone Who Had A Heart, You're My World, and Alfie...
, The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers
The Irish Rovers is a Canadian Irish folk group created in 1963 and named after the traditional song "The Irish Rover". The group is best known for their international television series, and renditions of traditional Irish drinking songs, as well as early hits, Shel Silverstein's "The Unicorn",...
, Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves
Max Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
and Acker Bilk, Slim Dusty
Slim Dusty
David Gordon "Slim Dusty " Kirkpatrick AO, MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and producer, with a career spanning nearly eight decades. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australian poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson that represented the Australian Bush...
, The Living End
The Living End
The Living End are an Australian rock band from Melbourne, Victoria, formed in 1994. The current lineup consists of Chris Cheney , Scott Owen and Andy Strachan...
, Chad Morgan
Chad Morgan
Chadwick William "Chad" Morgan is an Australian singer and guitarist known for his vaudeville style of comic country and western songs, his prominent teeth and goofy stage persona. In reference to his first recording he is known as The Sheik of Scrubby Creek.- Biography :Morgan was born in...
, Lynne Hamilton, James Blundell
James Blundell (singer)
-Music:He won a Golden Guitar Award for best new talent of 1987.Blundell's eponymous first album, in 1989, followed up by "Hand It Down", which was released in the United States in 1990 following its success in Australia. Successive albums were This Road and Touch of Water. This Road included the...
, Anne Kirkpatrick
Anne Kirkpatrick
Anne Kirkpatrick is an Australian country music singer. She is the daughter of country singers Slim Dusty and Joy McKean.Kirkpatrick has released thirteen albums. She won Golden Guitar Awards at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in 1979, 1991, and twice in 1992. She also won an ARIA Award for...
, Don Spencer, Graeme Connors
Graeme Connors
Graeme Connors is an Australian country music singer, songwriter and performer, born in Mackay, Queensland. He is best known for the hits A Little Further North and Let The Canefields Burn. Throughout his music career Graeme has released over fourteen albums and to date has received fourteen Golden...
, The Delltones
The Delltones
The Delltones, a popular Australian rock 'n roll band, originally formed in 1958. They started out as a vocal harmony group with the lineup consisting of Brian Perkins, Noel Widerberg, Ian 'Peewee' Wilson and Warren Lucas...
, Doug Ashdown
Doug Ashdown
-External links:* * [ Doug Ashdown] at Allmusic...
and Ricky May
Ricky May
Ricky May was a musician who found fame in New Zealand and Australia.He was of Māori descent. He played a little drums and piano but was known best as a vocalist...
.
Caswell won his first Golden Guitar in Tamworth for Best New Talent in 1980, Song of the Year in 1981, 1983 and 1986, Male Vocalist of the Year in 1988 and Vocal Collaboration Of The Year (with Drew McAlister) in 2007. In 1988 he was the recipient of the Songmaker Award.
In 2006 Caswell published his first book “Writing Great Song Lyrics”. The book has proved popular with young songwriters and is an important part of his many songwriting workshops.
Recent years
Caswell completed work on his 15th album at the end of April 2010 and continues to write, produce, and lecture on songwriting. In 2010 he intends to complete work on his autobiography “On The Inside” (a story of survival in the Australian Music Industry).In 1995 Caswell was asked by Don Spencer
Don Spencer
Donald Richard Spencer OAM is an Australian children's television presenter and musician, best known for his long-running role as a presenter on Play School in both Australia and the United Kingdom. He had his first song the theme tune to Fireball XL5 in 1962, reaching #32 on the UK Singles...
, on behalf of his Australian Children’s Music Foundation, to work with children in Juvenile Detention teaching music and songwriting. He has helped set up similar programs in other centres. He is also working with the Foundation in their aim of making music accessible to underprivileged children.
Infringement matter
In 2004 Allan Caswell approached the publisher of the song, "On The Inside", in connection with a possible infringement of the song by Country Music artist Alabama. As a result, Sony/ATVSony/ATV Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing is a music publishing company co-owned by The Michael Jackson Family Trust and Sony. The organisation was originally founded as Associated TeleVision in 1955 by Lew Grade. In 1957, ATV acquired Pye Records as a wholly owned subsidiary...
hired a musicologist to provide an expert opinion as to whether "On The Inside" had been infringed by the song "Christmas In Dixie". The musicologist's report stated “…it is my opinion that a case can be made that the two works bear a level of similarity that goes beyond what I would consider to be a random occurrence or sheer coincidence… [and] further reinforces my viewpoint that one work is reproducing a substantial part of the other work.” Allan Caswell has notified APRA
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
of the results of the musicologists' report and has taken legal advice in the matter.
Discography
- Caswell Sings Caswell - Shoestring Records 2001
- Don't Count On It - Shoestring Records 2002
- Al's Bar And Grill - Shoestring Records 2006
- Rules For Love - Shoestring Records 2008