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JIM HERMEL & CRAIG ROBERTS 
RIDING THEIR OWN HIGHWAY
It's quite an amazing story - the talented country blues singer in semi-retirement,
and the highly talented songwriter with a life's journey of songs, finding
their own unique highway to ride.
The last line is a dead steal - Highway To Ride was actually the title of
the first of a trilogy of releases that brought together the talents of Jim
Hermel, the performer, and Craig Roberts, the songwriter, in a unique collaboration
that was a culmination in many ways of over 60 years of collective experience.
Both individuals started their careers back Adelaide in the 60's. Jim's beginning
was in rock and roll, playing covers and backing artists locally like John
Farnham and Billy Thorpe when they came to Adelaide. But at night when he
drove home he often listened to the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, and as a country
music fan became interested in the way rock and roll music and country could
be merged.
In the early 70's Big Jim decided to cross over to country music and formed
what was to become one of the states favourite bands - Big Jim Hermel and
the Stone Mountain Band - putting some 'oomph' into what was a very traditional
country music population. In the early 80's they recorded two albums, Southern
Boogie Band and Stone Mountain Music. Both sold extremely well and resulted
in Jim touring the USA several times. Whilst in Texas Jim recorded another
album called Texas Jam which was also very popular both in Australia and overseas.
In the 90's, Jim expanded his touring horizons to include South East Asia,
but after a highly successful tour in 1994, the band broke up and Jim Hermel
started on the road to retirement (or so he thought).
At the most unlikely of meeting places, the Running Of The pigs at the Royal
Adelaide Show, Jim was performing to an audience which included songwriter
and musician Craig Roberts.
Craig's career was in some ways parallel, but in others totally divergent,
to that of Jim Hermel. He started (like Jim) back in the 60's, released a
widely acclaimed pop album, wrote commercials, and commenced a songwriting
journey that was to continue for over thirty years.
The songs incorporated a diverse range of influences, bringing blues strains,
the west coast country Byrds and Eagles feel, and the eloquence of a Gordon
Lightfoot folk- orientated writing into a seemingly unlikely equation.
There were a few roadstops when artists like Mike Quarmby recorded his songs,
but it was an unrequited journey for the major part, with songs that Craig
knew in his heart were very good songs, sitting in the drawer. Unrequited,
that is, until the Running Of The Pigs. Seeing and hearing Jim perform was
the catalyst that Craig required.
"As soon as I heard him, I thought 'this is the man and the voice that
can bring my songs to life," remembers Craig. "There was a mix of
country and blues that fitted perfectly, so I talked to Jim about the concept
of him recording a full album of my songs."
A somewhat bemused Jim Hermel listened to the proposal, subsequently listened
to the songs, and the fire started to burn. In 1999, Jim recorded the first
album of Craig Robert's songs, Highway to Ride. This album brought out the
best of both worlds - Jim's talent and often raw, world-weary vocals showcasing
Craig's powerful writing style.
Highway to Ride was highly successful, and the pair made another brief sojourn
to the recording studio to put out an EP featuring the epic The Ballad Of
Creswick Mine.
But there was still an awesome catalogue of songs crying to be heard, and
in 2001, the pair got back together to record Nothing To Lose - a 15 track
release which reaches deep into the Craig Roberts songlist and draws out some
classics.
"This new album is without doubt the most country in many aspects,"
comments Craig. "There were definite sounds in my head for each song,
so we specifically brought in the players to compliment those sounds."
And the players are outstanding - from the world-class slide guitar of ex-Dingoes
Kerryn Tolhurst, the amazing guitar licks of Russ Johnson, or the multi-instrumental
bluegrass brilliance of Trev Warner, this is a class studio line-up. Add into
that the incredible vocals of Adelaide's Catherine Lambert, and Jim had an
enviable backing cast.
Craig is understandably proud of the result. When you hear the powerful stories
in standout songs like Stringy Bark Hut, The Jangling Jackeroo, and Ben Hall,
or the strong country feels in Mad Mad Moon and The Devil In My Number, it
becomes immediately evident that the pair have comer up with something special.
The first single Truckabilly Blues has already chalked up plenty of miles
on the Australian radio airplay lists, and there's lots more where that came
from.
Certainly Jim Hermel's retirement plans are well and truly on hold, and a
lot of astute ears are hearing the emphatic emergence of a very significant
Australian songwriter. The journey on the highway to ride has just begun.
Wally Sparrow
NOTHING TO LOSE
Nothing To Lose is the third offering from the team of South Australian icon Jim Hermel and fellow South Aussie songwriter/musician Craig Roberts, and in my mind, this is a world-class release.
Their first collaboration resulted in the outstanding Highway
To Ride, an album I'm still playing on-air and listening to at home after
three years. Then there was a great little EP, The Ballad Of Creswick Mine,
and now, after more than a year in the studio, Nothing To Lose is finally
here.
Produced by Phil Cunneen and Craig Roberts himself, and recorded at Adelaide's
Mixmaster Studios by Mick Wordley, Nothing To Lose is one of the most 'Australian'
CDs I've heard in years. The natural use of Australian language is a forte
of Roberts - with his prolific use of this country's place names, slang, words
and phrases - about trucks, stringybark huts, mines, bushfires, the Outback,
big red kangaroos, relationships and bushrangers. Add to all this the fact
that Jim Hermel was born to sing and play guitar and harmonica, and you have
a combination which, if given the chance, will endure for many years.
Another thing, which strikes me as I listen to this album, is its diversity
- there surely is something for everyone. There's a fast, almost rockabilly
tune, songs that fall into the blues category, country songs, a stunning ballad
or two, a great little instrumental piece with some awesome banjo pickin',
heritage songs, and even a gospel tune. Yet it all comes together glowingly
- with the Australian theme working well from go to whoa.
The album opens with the rip-roaring Truckabilly Blues, a toe tappin' song
featuring the stunning keyboard work of Phil Cunneen, and superb guitar work
by former Mississippi lead guitarist Russ Johnson, and internationally-renowned
ex-Dingoes guitarist and songwriter Kerryn Tolhurst who trade some sensational
licks. Low Down Homesick Blues follows and if the first tune fails to grab
you, this one will have you irrevocably hooked with its strong lyrics and
sensational backing vocals from Catherine Lambert.
Next, the exquisitely beautiful Stringybark Hut, a song that would warrant
inclusion on any good Australian heritage compilation, the story of a young
migrant to this country and his struggles for existence in our harsh land.
And followed by the title track Nothing To Lose with great guitar work and
featuring superb drumming by Steve Todd. Next comes the first of two versions
on the album, of the magnificent ballad Mad Mad Moon. This is Jim Hermel singing
at his very best and tasty pedal steel playing from Pete Miller, a song of
jaded love, but also with hope in the future. The second version is a duet
with Catherine Lambert joining Jim Hermel in the vocal work. You pick the
better version, I can't.
Probably the last thing I expected from an album of Craig Roberts' tunes is
a gospel number, but The Lord Is My Soul Inspiration is just that. Listeners
can feel the sheer joy of the musicians as they step up a notch, belting it
out with conviction and gusty harmony singing from everybody. Catherine Lambert
shines with her scorching treatment of an age-old style, which picks you up
and takes you along for the ride.
Surely no song ever fitted better into its place on an album, than Baby It's
Gone. Craig Roberts is exploring emotions typical of so many of us, and saying
the things we all want to say at times. In fact I feel Roberts has tapped
into the collective psyche of middle-aged Australia in an unprecedented fashion
throughout this fine collection of songs. Couple that empathy with a thought
provoking sense of history, and we have an album which deserves to become
an Australian standard.
Nowhere is this better displayed than on The Jangling Jackeroo. For mine,
this tune contains some of the most profound lyrics ever written by an Australian
songwriter, especially those of us old enough to remember "When the line
'tween town and country was back then not so remote".
The album concludes with a sympathetic song of the injustice meted out towards
one of our Australian sons, forced to take his place in history as the infamous
bushranger Ben Hall, and the extremely poignant Ben Hall - Reprise, the highlight
of which is some stunning guitar playing woven throughout. Absolutely masterful
stuff indeed.
I've played this CD over and over, trying to recall when I last heard an album
with the strength, pride and honesty of this one, and the answer is "I
don't know…". Craig Roberts has written a bevy of some of the strongest
songs I've ever heard, assembled a bunch of superb Australian musicians in
a world-class studio, and crafted an album which, if it receives the air-play
it so thoroughly deserves, should become one of those 'landmark' albums taking
pride of place in all music lovers' collections. I rank this album as good
or better than most going round right now. Heartiest congratulations to all
concerned
- a very fine collection.
Big Mike Hotz
Radio Presenter & Independent Music Writer
