Coat Of Many Colours by Dolly Parton
J Negri's recent Almanac Music story looks at Dolly Parton's Coat Of Many Colours while also looking at grief, vulnerability, singing, persona, tassles and spangles.
Hurts So Good by John Mellencamp
SJ Rowland Sandwich factory, Auckland, 1995We had headaches from the overhead lighting, sore backs from leaning over the tables, and we were bored, bad tempered and depressed. There was one compensation, though: we could listen to the radio.
For A Short Time by Weddings Parties Anything
Paul Genoni's essay about the much-loved For A Short Time covers a lot of ground: sport in Melbourne (especially during Grand Final Week), the murder of Jill Meagher in 2012, the dedication of Weddings Parties Anything fans. It is a fine piece of writing: evocative, restrained, articulate, considered.
HARD TIMES ARE OVER by YOKO ONO Poem by Stephen Andrew
Stephen Andrew Yarra River, Warrandyte, 8 December 1980Word comes from a car radio in the riverside car park. Calling out, surreal, to nobody, “John Lennon has been shot”.
Step In, Step Out – Mick Thomas/Weddings Parties Anything
Kath Presdee The Gypsy Bar, Civic, Canberra - late 1999There are times when I need to say something that only Steve would understand and that's when I miss him most. Now is one of those times.
Penny Lane & Strawberry Fields by The Beatles. Story by Tony Wright
School cadet camp, Australia 1967Epiphany, complete with a solo trumpet fanfare, emerged from my transistor radio as I lolled beneath a big old gumtree in a forest, munching Fantales and wearing jungle greens.
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
Nathan Johnson North Adelaide, Australia, January 2004A mate of mine was saying something, but I heard none of it. My eyes were fixed on the screen; my ears taking in every drum beat, every distortion, every melodic ebb and flow.
Have I Told You Lately by Van Morrison. Story by Lucia Nardo
Lucia Nardo Hospital, Melbourne, 2015There’s only one way to take a diagnosis of cancer in our family. You get on with it. But the day of Martin's surgery, I’m not getting on with it very well.
Lili Marlen – Italian version of Stereo Story
Le mie memorie in relazione alla musica di mio padre, ebbe inizio quando avevo circa tre anni. Abitiamo in una casa in affitto durante il periodo del dopoguerra, scarsamente ammobiliata, ma allo stesso tempo dava un senso d’abbondanza.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix by Jimmy Webb
Almanac Music, a partner site of Stereo Stories, has just published a long essay about the 1968 Jimmy Webb song By The Time I Get To Phoenix, made famous by Glen Campbell.Written by Peter Warrington, the 2000 words - and accompanying maps - take us from the west coast of the US to the song's landmarks: Phoenix, Albuquerque, Oklahoma.It's quite a trip.