Behind the Lines (John Schumann album)
Encyclopedia
Behind the Lines is the second album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
.
It consists almost entirely of cover songs and musical renditions of poems. The album includes covers of artists and groups such as Eric Bogle
, Judy Small
, Cold Chisel
, as well as a number of songs previously released by Schumann
, either as a solo artist or during his time with Redgum
.
The album is largely based around the theme of Australians at war, although it also includes the iconic Australian song Waltzing Matilda
, and "To An Old Mate", a Henry Lawson poem not specifically about war, which was also included on the Lawson
album.
Special guests
Contributing Musicians
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew
John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew is an Australian folk group formed in Adelaide in 2005. The band's name is taken from a line in Henry Lawson's poem "Knocking Around". Since it was founded a number of Australian musicians have been involved...
.
It consists almost entirely of cover songs and musical renditions of poems. The album includes covers of artists and groups such as Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle
Eric Bogle is a folk singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia.-Career:...
, Judy Small
Judy Small
Judy Small is an Australian entertainer, folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known for her feminist, often patriotic, and political songs, usually following a traditional theme, she has produced twelve albums, hundreds of songs and has been described as being among the most popular political...
, Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel
Cold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
, as well as a number of songs previously released by Schumann
John Schumann
John Lewis Schumann is an Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk group Redgum, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 ", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during...
, either as a solo artist or during his time with Redgum
Redgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
.
The album is largely based around the theme of Australians at war, although it also includes the iconic Australian song Waltzing Matilda
Waltzing Matilda
"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....
, and "To An Old Mate", a Henry Lawson poem not specifically about war, which was also included on the Lawson
Lawson (album)
Lawson is the first album by John Schumann and the Vagabond Crew. It is Schumann's first album since 1993's True Believers.It marked the first time that Schumann had worked on an album with Hugh McDonald and Michael Atkinson since Schumann left Redgum in 1986.The album consists of the poetry of...
album.
Album artwork
The cover art shows a picture of an Australian First World War era soldier in a barracks, reading a book or a letter.Track listing
(original artists in parentheses)- "Boy on the Run" (The DingoesThe DingoesThe Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
) – 3:47 - "And The Band Played Waltzing MatildaAnd The Band Played Waltzing Matilda"And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is a song written by Scottish-born Australian singer-songwriter Eric Bogle in 1971. The song describes war as futile and gruesome, while criticising those who seek to glorify it...
" (Eric BogleEric BogleEric Bogle is a folk singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia.-Career:...
) – 4:41 - "Scots of the RiverinaScots of the RiverinaScots of the Riverina is an Australian bush poem by Henry Lawson. It is set in the Riverina, New South Wales in the town of Gundagai. It tells of a boy who leaves home at the start of the harvest to move to the city, an unheard of and unforgivable thing for a Scot to do in the early 1900's,...
" (Henry LawsonHenry LawsonHenry Lawson was an Australian writer and poet. Along with his contemporary Banjo Paterson, Lawson is among the best-known Australian poets and fiction writers of the colonial period and is often called Australia's "greatest writer"...
) – 4:07 - "No Man's LandNo Man's Land (Eric Bogle song)"No Man's Land" is a song written in 1976 by Scottish-Australian singer-songwriter Eric Bogle, reflecting on the grave of a young man who died in World War I. Its chorus refers to two famous pieces of military music, "The Last Post" and "The Flowers of the Forest"...
(The Green Fields of France)" (Eric BogleEric BogleEric Bogle is a folk singer-songwriter. He emigrated to Australia in 1969 and currently resides near Adelaide, South Australia.-Career:...
) – 5:08 - "To An Old Mate" (RedgumRedgumRedgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
) – 3:10 - "Ted" (RedgumRedgumRedgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
) – 4:13 - "Mothers, Daughters, Wives" (Judy SmallJudy SmallJudy Small is an Australian entertainer, folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Known for her feminist, often patriotic, and political songs, usually following a traditional theme, she has produced twelve albums, hundreds of songs and has been described as being among the most popular political...
) – 4:59 - "Khe SanhKhe Sanh (song)"Khe Sanh" is an Australian song, released as a 45 rpm single in May 1978, and named after the Battle of Khe Sanh during the Vietnam War. The song, performed by Cold Chisel, having been written by pianist Don Walker and featuring the vocals of Jimmy Barnes, is about an Australian Vietnam veteran...
" (Cold ChiselCold ChiselCold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
) – 4:25 - "My Country" – 4:28
- "I was only 19 (A Walk In The Light Green") (RedgumRedgumRedgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
) – 4:46 - "Rachel"– 5:02
- "Wings Of An Eagle" – 4:10
- "Safe Behind The Wire" (John SchumannJohn SchumannJohn Lewis Schumann is an Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk group Redgum, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 ", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during...
) - 3:36 - "When the War Is OverWhen the War Is Over"When the War Is Over" is a power ballad originally performed by Australian band Cold Chisel on their 1982 album Circus Animals. The song was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and issued as the third single from the album, peaking at #25 on the national singles chart.-Cold Chisel version:Like many...
" (Cold ChiselCold ChiselCold Chisel is a rock band that originated in Adelaide, Australia. It is one of the most acclaimed Australian rock bands of all time, with a string of hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s and huge sales that continue to this day, although its success and acclaim was almost completely restricted to...
) - 4:01 - "I'll Be GoneI'll Be Gone"I'll Be Gone" or "Some Day I'll Have Money" is a song by Australian progressive rock group Spectrum released as their debut single by EMI on Harvest Records in January 1971. It peaked at #1 on the national singles chart, while it reached Top 5 in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The song was...
" (SpectrumSpectrum (band)Spectrum is an Australian progressive rock band that formed in Melbourne in 1969 and, in its original period, remained in existence until 1973. Its members also performed under the alter-ego Indelible Murtceps...
) - 4.36 - "Waltzing MatildaWaltzing Matilda"Waltzing Matilda" is Australia's most widely known bush ballad. A country folk song, the song has been referred to as "the unofficial national anthem of Australia"....
" (Banjo Patterson) - 5.11
Personnel
The Vagabond Crew- John SchumannJohn SchumannJohn Lewis Schumann is an Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist from Adelaide. He is best known as the lead singer for the folk group Redgum, with their chart-topping hit "I Was Only 19 ", a song exploring the psychological and medical side-effects of serving in the Australian forces during...
– lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitars, percussion - Hugh McDonaldHugh McDonaldHugh McDonald may refer to:* Hugh McDonald , Australian musician* Hugh McDonald , member of the 1st Canadian Parliament* Hugh McDonald , American bass player...
- lead & backing vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, bass, mandolin, violin, mandocello, dobro, keyboards, percussion - Dave Folley - Drums, percussion
- Kat Kraus - lead and backing vocals
- Mark Kraus - audio
Special guests
- Rob HirstRob Hirst-External links:*******...
- backing vocals - Russell MorrisRussell MorrisRussell Norman Morris is an Australian singer-songwriter who had five Australian Top 10 singles during the late 1960s and early 1970s...
- lead and backing vocals - Mike RuddMike RuddMike Rudd is a New Zealand born musician and composer who has been based in Australia since the late 1960s, and who is best known as the leader of respected Australian progressive rock bands Spectrum and Ariel in the 1970s....
- vocals, harmonica - Broderick SmithBroderick SmithBroderick Smith aka Brod Smith is an Australian singer-songwriter, harmonica, guitar and banjo player. He was a member of 1970s bands Carson and The Dingoes, 1980s Broderick Smith's Big Combo and performed solo...
- harmonica
Contributing Musicians
- Peter Anderson - accordion
- Shannon Bourne - acoustic and electric guitars
- Charlotte Dennis - cello
- Tom Kinnet - uillean pipes, tin whistle
- Kecil Saudara - backing vocals
- Sam Willoughby - bass, backing vocals