An intimate recording of the Melbourne blues, country, folk and roots-rock master, it is overall excellence, and it’s virtually impossible to name a standout track.Įarly last year, Cheersquad Records & Tapes released the long-deserved re-release, and first-ever vinyl release of the classic Chris Wilson album, Live at the Continental, available on double LP in a limited run of yellow and black vinyl, matching the colours of Chris’s beloved Richmond Football Club. Released on January 22, 2021, just in time for Chris’ 65th birthday on the 24th, the original nine-song CD was expanded with extra material in a low-key fifteen-song independently released double CD back in 2007. His harmonica playing and vocals came together exquisitely, backed by Shane O’Mara and Jex Saarelaht. Recorded in 1994, Chris Wilson’s Live At The Continental stands as one of the most revered albums ever released in this country. In 1993 he was nominated for the best male artist and breakthrough artist ARIA awards following Landlocked and the following year recorded the Live at the Continental CD at a live gig at the Continental Hotel in Prahran. It was with Mushroom that Wilson released his debut solo album Landlocked in 1992.
Releasing Crown of Thorns records (and another project, The Pubdogs) on a label by revered blues DJ Max Crawdaddy, led to a deal with Mushroom’s Aurora label, home also to Archie Roach. He also shared the bill with Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and played with Charlie Musselwhite. Wilson was also playing with Paul Kelly’s band, had played on Hunters & Collectors’ 1987 album What’s a Few Men, and was working with punk stalwarts X.Ĭhris is better known for the band Crown of Thorns (Barry Palmer & Chris Rodgers) where he truly found his groove with the blues, country and folk sounds, and for his solo work and collaborations with Diesel, Geoff Achison, Mr Black & Blues. There’s actually some footage of those sessions on YouTube.
In 1989, he played with Rod Jeffrey and the Bob Sedergreen Blues Band, Bob Sedergreen, Mal Sedergreen, Chris Wilson, Paul Wookey, Scott Dunbabin and Gordon Pendleton. He soon joined heavy-hitting post-punk blues enthusiasts Harem Scarem in time for their revered Pilgrim’s Progress album – taking centre stage with his harp on their burning version of Iggy & The Stooges’ “Open Up & Bleed” amongst other great tracks – in 1986. The R&B band included Brian Horne, Barry Palmer, his brother Craig Palmer, Jeff Pickard, and Nigel Sweeney. Ī giant of Australian blues and roots music, Wilson was a big man with a big voice and an even bigger heart, he followed in the footsteps of early pioneers like Dutch Tilders, Matt Taylor and Broderick Smith (and led the way for the likes of Jeff Lang, Ash Grunwald and the Teskey Brothers) and took his feeling for blues into the rock and punk worlds, eventually becoming the heart and soul of Melbourne’s legendary thriving live scene.Īfter studying to be a teacher, he soon found his passion when he joined Sole Twisters in 1984. Read some of Melbourne’s most insightful music features here.
You only have to do a quick search on Dr Google to find descriptions like “legend,” “incredible,” “supremo,” “crowd master,” “so lucky to have him.” He was a music giant, with a league of loyal fans.Ĭhris was known nationally and, indeed, internationally for his music. Words by Talia Rinaldo Hailed for his vocal and harmonica skills, Wilson was known as the “gentleman of Australian blues”.Ĭhris Wilson, based on the Bellarine, died at home three years ago, on January 16 2019, with his loving family, courageous and strong to the end.
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