Daniel Johns (senior) was a country rock folk singer who put out an album and a single back in 1977 on the Homespun label. Most people would know Daniel Johns (junior) the lead singer of Newcastle's successful pop band Silvercahir. Daniel (junior) has also gone solo on a few projects.For those who don't know what the difference is between the "album version" and "single mix" of a song I have included 2 different mp3 files in a zip for your comparison. The 2 versions of "Steel City Song" sound very different but come from the same recording session, it is amazing what a studio producer and engineer can achieve from the same raw material.
With both Johns men having a strong connection to Newcastle I expected "Steel City Song" to be about my hometown of Newcastle but no, this song is about Wollongong.
The single version is courtesy of Jimmy Barnes, one of my regular contributors, and the album version is courtesy of Dave from Midoztouch.
http://rapidshare.com/files/338639692/daniel_johns_senior_from_tom_mix.zip
Was this song written and submitted as an entrant into a competition to find a song to promote Wollongong in 1977 and did not win? Regardless it's a good song. Rock on!
ReplyDeleteThe self titled album by Daniel Johns the elder has lots of great songs on it, my favourite is South East Country which is as authentic an Australian country-folk ballad as ever was written and sung by Daniel with great charm. It's like John Denver meets Banjo Paterson with Bob Dylan on harmonica. North West Arm is beautiful too, soft and nostalgic till Daniel's "currawong" falsetto takes wings on the back of Ross McGregor's lyrical piano. Those songs deserve to be better known. I appreciate what you are doing here.
ReplyDeletei agree. i bought this album in 1975 (i think). bob hudson played it a lot on doublejay. i ahve northwest arm and southeast country on my iyunes library to this day...
ReplyDeleteI see there are 2 cd's of Daniel Johns (senior) on itunes at the moment. The "Australian Album" with some great tracks, and the "Think Positive" album. A couple of my fav tracks are "One day at a time" and "black and white movies". This is truely great material.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Daniel Johns (senior) way back in about 1972 at the Sydney GPO. Daniel used to go down into Martin Place at lunchtime and busk for passers-by. I bought a copy of his album from him around about then but lost it over the years. I now have the iTunes tracks downloaded and still appreciate his music. Does anyone know his contact details?
ReplyDeleteDaniel got great songs! cheer me up, thanks.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Daniel Johns Wikipedia needs a refresh.
ReplyDeleteI had his album in the 70's on tape and have lost it long ago. Does anybody have it, would love to download it. Loved the Steel city song, never thought I would end up in the Gong. Does he still play anywhere?
ReplyDeleteThanks
From the Tripple J website:DANIEL JOHNS BIOGRAPHY-Think Positive Album and Australian Album
ReplyDeleteDaniel Johns grew up in Sydney. Played music and wrote poetry and songs. Awarded Commonwealth University scholarship and graduated in Economic at Sydney University Worked for an International accounting firm for a while before pursuing a career as singer, entertainer in the local pub, club scene. Became songwriter and multimedia producer amongst many other business and personal interests.