Album Notes

On "Camping Out", Sydney singer/songwriter Brett Every brings together blues, lounge and rock, and swirls them around on a collection of wonderfully-written songs. Backed by a superb band of double bass, drums, trumpet, harmonica, harmony vocals and the occasional saw and banjo, Mr Every switches between guitar and piano as deftly as he switches, voice-wise, between deep, smokey Leonard Cohen-esque vocals, and smooth, warm Chris Isaak-ish, crooning.

The album opens with "Sailor", part-nostalgia, part-romance-novel, multiplied by the muted trumpet of Stuart West and the harmonies of Estelle Noonan. The full band, with Lauren Allison on drums and Robin Dixon on double bass, comes together on "How Still The Night", which describes a night breeze through a worn-thin shirt. The Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers cover "He Was Too Good To Me", takes from Bette Midler's version, but gives more of a Long John Baldry vibe. The title track "Camping Out" recalls adolescence, a cold night and a warm fire, while "Swaying" is a world away - New York, circa 2006.

The second half of the album begins with "Devereaux", a quirky duet with fellow Sydney artist Justin J Bear. "William" is a plain old love song - "love, that binds and frees me" - while "Til The Eyes Adjust" is as folky as this album gets. Part Johnny Cash, part Dolly Parton... the weight of Mr Every's deep vocal is lifted twice by the beautiful harmonies of Estelle Noonan and Virginia Re. Stuart West returns with a ripping harmonica solo on a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Dear John", bringing the album to its close on the lilting sway of "Do You Wanna Waltz".
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Special thanks to:
The Wonderful Players - Lauren Allison, Robin Dixon, Estelle Noonan, Stuart West, and guests Justin J Bear and Virginia Re.
The Wonderful Scott Collins, for mastering and advice on all things audio.