​Paul Kelly (from the album Seventy

​Paul Kelly (from the album Seventy

​Paul Kelly (from the album Seventy available on Cooking Vinyl Limited) (by Danny McCloskey)

Expanding on the 7” single model of A-side and B-side, Paul Kelly borders the song roster on his recent release, Seventy, with “Tell Us a Story (Part A)” and Tell Us a Story (Part B)”. The melody remains the same for both opening and exiting versions of the song, with the request of ‘tell us a story” changing the names from Danny and Georgie to Billy and Rachel. Dubbed the ‘Godfather of Songwriting’ in his native Australia, Paul Kelly releases Seventy after a lifetime (four decades, thirty albums) in music. ‘Write what you know’ is advice for songwriters, and Paul Kelly has intuitively followed that path creating tales of life in Australia. He has championed the citizens of Oz from cricketers (“Bradman”) to bushrangers (“Our Sunshine”). His album output has born themes that put Shakespeare sonnets into song (Seven Sonnets and a Song”) while the musical backing on his releases stretches from Bluegrass (Professor Ratbaggy) to experimental Dub (Please Leave Your Light On). Seventy continues to expand on an admirable slate of album releases with the same precise grace that has flowed over his career. 

Paul Kelly as a musician is confirmed by his recording time yet beyond the music is the words. He is a A-list songwriter, verified on Seventy as he bids goodbye to Cicero in “Take It Handy” while he discusses an aging that will claim us all with “Sailing to Byzantium”. Matters of the heart range from the personal struggles that gain flesh and blood for “The Body That Keeps Score” to parting words for like-minded compatriots in “Don’t Give Up on Me”, a vocal that features Meg Washington. Determined chords lead the way into the admissions that become the story for “I’m Not Afraid of the Dark” as raggedy banjo notes ride underneath the tale in “The Magpies” while Paul Kelly sends out a celebratory wish to a two-year-old in “Happy Birthday, Ada Mae” and rides a rumble of rhythm to declare “Made for Me” along with vocal assistance from Rebecca Barnard. (by Danny McCloskey)
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