Halfway
talks about
"Remember The River"
by Johanna J. Bodde


                                                                   

HALFWAY talks about "Remember The River" (Laughing Outlaw Records) www.halfway.com.au www.laughingoutlaw.com.au "Remember The River" was a great time for us as a band, people seemed to get the first LP & it felt pretty good to kind of finally get your point across. It was a challenge to try & put together an LP in a fairly short time (6 months) which would stand up along side our first "Farewell To The Fainthearted" which we had the luxury of spending about 3 years putting together. It was recorded in the hills of Byron Bay in a huge house with the band set up in the middle of it basically recording live passes of the LP (Some overdubs were done later at our rehearsal space, the Halfway House in Brisbane.  We recorded with two of our heroes, Wayne Connolly (producer - You Am I - Vines) & Rob Younger (front man from Radio Birdman/New Christs). We covered similar themes to the first but tried to dig a little deeper. I personally for one reason or another tried to tackle some of the tougher times in my life and document them. The band itself worked fairly simply, someone brings in a song & everyone does their best to help make it work. The time went quickly, we had a few drinks, listened to the Go-Betweens, talked about everything from Steinbeck to Anthony Mundine and made our record. (John Busby) The comments below are done by the main writer of each track. RIVER ROADS: Ben Johnson This one has a fair bit of attachment to Brisbane City. There is a river that cuts the city, and a particular road runs along this river. I remember writing these words driving back along this road after a show one night, when the bushfires were in full swing on the outskirts of Brisbane. DEAN & THE FITZROY: John Busby I wrote this song about a friend of mine who was attacked and eventually murdered below the Fitzroy River bridge in my home town of Rockhampton C.Q. I never planned to write a song about it but it just came out & I hope it honours his memory. It was the first time in my life where I realised that things will not always work out OK. DEAREST MOTHER: Chris Dale A pop song about that joyous time when you think you're in love. The initial setting is a diary entry of a young boy. His over-protective mother finds the diary and instructs the boy that his time would be better spent cleaning his room.

FACTORY FLOOR: John Busby I work in an Industrial Estate called Brendale. I don't work on the floor much anymore & I guess the song is pretty self explanatory. It's a tip of the hat to the mundane & pointless day to day slog. CHERRI ANN: John Busby This one is for my little sister Cherri Ann Busby who was tragically killed in a car accident in Rockhampton at the tender age of 21. She used to sing with us in the band. It happened over 10 yrs ago now but still feels like yesterday. BILLIE JO & THE BULLYMAN: Chris Dale A youthful tale about fighting boredom and taking chances. Where I come from the "bullyman" is a slang word for the police. THE BALLAD OF LIZA BROWNE: Chris Dale A phone conversation between Liza and her drunk boyfriend. Despite the boyfriend's pleads and exaltations, Liza has had enough. FAVOUR FOR A FRIEND: John Busby This is a semi fictional story about one of my old man's drinking buddies having a last drink before going away to Etna Creek prison for a pretty long stretch. LEFT FOR LUCK: John Busby This one is about having the luxury of someone who is good enough to put up with you.  BIG WAVE: Chris Dale About depression, the loss of hope and the end of love (in no particular order). CHANCE: Ben Johnson I guess it's just about the funny way that luck/chance coupled with a bit of perseverance can work in life and relationships. WEAR ME OUT: John Busby I co wrote this with our Pedal Steel player Noel Fitzpatrick. Its another working song. Based around smoko/lunch at the factory with people watching the clock, reading Rugby League Week & talking about anything other than work. We even get to do a little Prime Minister bashing with "Forget Howard" chant tacked on the end.  EDGE OF THE PEER: John Busby This is the only song on the LP that wasn't written specifically for the LP. I wrote it about 13 yrs ago when I was living in my hometown of Rockhampton. I hadn't played it in years, but while we were on tour in Sydney I heard Liam Fitzpatrick our banjo player & Chris Dale playing it in our Motel kitchen, and it sounded great; simple & focussed. We recorded this one ourselves at the Halfway House & hopefully we captured some of that motel kitchen magic. ===