In a timely coincidence, surrounding the DVD release of SBS’s Great Australian Albums Series 2, the Daily Telegraph recently published a list of the 50 most influential Australian albums of all time, as voted by a panel assembled by GQ magazine.
Topping the list is AC/DC’s landmark ‘Back In Black’. Also included in the top 50 are GAA subjects The Saints’ ‘I’m Stranded’ at no. 3, Crowded House’s ‘Crowded House’ at no. 9, Silverchair’s ‘Young Modern’ at no. 10, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ ‘The Good Son’ at no. 11, The Go-Betweens’ ‘Liberty Bell…’ at no. 19, Triffids’ ‘Calenture’ at no. 26 and finally, Hunters & Collectors’ ‘Human Frailty’ at number 38.
Following on from the hugely popular ’07 series, Great Australian Albums is back and taking you behind the scenes in the creation of four masterpiece albums and the personal struggles of the artists involved.
POWDERFINGER: ODYSSEY #5 (OCT 22)
Powderfinger’s Odyssey #5 resulted in the Brisbane band becoming one of the most popular acts in Australia. Telling stories of a personal and political nature, in a uniquely laid-back Australian manner, Odyssey went 7-times platinum, won 6 ARIAS, and is the only album to ever have two songs reach #1 in Triple J’s Hottest 100 poll.
Arguably one of Australia’s most popular and successful groups, this edition of Great Australian Albums is definitely not one to be missed.
HUNTERS & COLLECTORS: HUMAN FRAILTY (OCT 22)
For Hunters & Collectors, Human Frailty was their breakout album. An album which featured memorable songs like ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ and ‘Say Goodbye’. Human Frailty documents, in the most candid terms, the doomed love affair lead singer Mark Seymour was involved in, adjusting to a life on the road and discovering what it meant to Australian in the 1980s.
Single ‘Throw Your Arms Around Me’ was voted number 2, 2 and 4 on the Triple Hottest 100 in 1989, 1990 and 1991 respectively, and Human Frailty cemented Hunters & Collectors as Australian greats.
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS: MURDER BALLADS (OUT NOW)
Recorded in 1995 Murder Ballads was created as Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds were reaching the cusp of stardom. The album also marked a significant turning point in Cave’s development as artist. Drawing on ancient songs, which Cave has dramatically reinterpreted, the album represents the apotheosis of Cave’s “narrative” style and is a harbinger to the more intimate and confessional albums, which have followed.
THE GO-BETWEENS: 16 LOVERS LANE (OUT NOW)
The album 16 Lovers Lane encapsulates all those qualities that made the Go-Betweens great: love, adventure, courage, idiosyncrasy, honesty.
The chemistry of The Go-Betweens was an integral part of the success of the group. This documentary explores, in-depth, the relationships that enabled this chemistry to thrive and also explores the classic songs like “Streets of Your Town” which have become National treasures.
Also available – Great Australian Albums Series 1 – Including Crowded House, Silverchair, The Saints and The Triffids
For more info on the Great Australian Albums series on DVD – visit www.madman.com.au/sbs