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Kev Carmody

Origin: Goranba, Bundjalung country, Queensland, Australia
Genre/styles: Folk

Portrait of Kev Carmody Kev Carmody

Kev Carmody taught himself guitar from a book he found at the dump. At 33 he entered university to study history and music but struggled because he couldn’t read or write well, finally coming to an agreement with his lecturers to present his tutorials in song, more in line with his Aboriginal heritage of communication through oral storytelling. [1]

My songs came from what my grandmother, my mother, father, aunty and uncles told me. I'm just a conduit of stories.—Kev Carmody

The highlight of my career has not been awards—it's been sharing the music.—Kev Carmody [2]

Browse all music by Kev Carmody

Discography

Jack Deelin (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Jack Deelin (7”).
Released 1988
Tracks
  1. Jack Deelin
  2. Jack Deelin (2nd version)

Pillars of Society

Released February 1989
Tracks
  1. Pillars of Society
  2. Jack Deelin
  3. Flagstone Creek
  4. Attack Attack
  5. Thou Shalt Not Steal
  6. Black Deaths in Custody
  7. Black Bess
  8. Comrade Jesus Christ
  9. Twisted Rail
  10. White Bourgeois Woman

The greatest protest record ever made in Australia.—Sydney Morning Herald


Eulogy (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Eulogy (7”).
Released 1990
Tracks
  1. Eulogy (For a Black Person)
  2. Cannot buy my Soul

Thou Shalt Not Steal (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Thou Shalt Not Steal (7”).
Released 1990
Tracks
  1. Thou Shalt Not Steal
  2. Pillas of Society

Eulogy (For a Black Person)

Released November 1990
Tracks
  1. Elly
  2. I've been Moved
  3. Eulogy (For a Black Person)
  4. Cannot buy my Soul
  5. Sexual Teaser
  6. Tom Shane
  7. Blood Red Rose
  8. River of Tears
  9. Droving Woman

From Little Things Big Things Grow (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - From Little Things Big Things Grow (7”).
Released 1991
Tracks
  1. From Little Things Big Things Grow

Kev Carmody co-wrote this song with Paul Kelly. It is based on the story of the Gurindji Strike (Wave-Hill Walkoff) and was added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s ‘Sounds of Australia’ in September 2010. It was originally intended as a demo for a documentary about Carmody’s life, rather than a track for an album [1].


Cannot buy my Soul (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Cannot buy my Soul (7”).
Released December 1991
Tracks
  1. Cannot buy my Soul

Blood Red Rose (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Blood Red Rose (7”).
Released April 1992
Tracks
  1. Blood Red Rose
  2. Elly

Living South of the Freeway

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - Living South of the Freeway.
Released October 1992
Tracks

Sorry, no tracklisting available.

Street Beat

Kev Carmody: Street Beat
Released December 1992
Tracks
  1. Living South of the Freeway
  2. Darkside
  3. Street Beat
  4. Rider in the Rain

Bloodlines

Released July 1993
Tracks
  1. Freedom (Carmody/Willoughby)
  2. Asbestosis
  3. Rider In The Rain
  4. The Messenger
  5. Bloodlines
  6. Darkside
  7. Sorry Business
  8. B.D.P. (Bourgeois, drop-out progeny)
  9. Living South Of The Freeway
  10. On The Wire
  11. Earth Mother (Instrumental)
  12. Bloodlines (Return) (Instrumental)
  13. From Little Things Big Things Grow (Carmody/Kelly)
  14. Revelations Addendum Chapter 23 Verses 1.35

Freedom (7”)

Kev Carmody: Freedom
Released July 1993
Tracks
  1. Freedom
  2. Freedom (Radio edit)
  3. Thou Shalt Not Steal

On the Wire (7”)

Sorry, no image for: Kev Carmody - On the Wire (7”).
Released May 1994
Tracks
  1. On the Wire
  2. The Messenger
  3. Sorry Business

The Young Dancer Is Dead (7”)

Kev Carmody - The Young Dancer Is Dead
Released 1995
Tracks
  1. The Young Dancer Is Dead
  2. Eulogy
  3. On The Wire

Images And Illusions

Released September 1995
Tracks
  1. Some Strange Strange People
  2. Images Of London
  3. Needles In The Nursery
  4. Travellin' North
  5. Fire and Wind
  6. River Road
  7. Jessica
  8. The Young Dancer Is Dead
  9. The Anti-Christ
  10. Sistem An' You
  11. I'm Still In Love With You
  12. Blue You
  13. Solar Wind
  14. Shades of Violet
  15. Eulogy

Messages

Released 2000
Tracks
  1. Pillars Of Society
  2. Flagstone Creek
  3. Comrade Jesus Christ
  4. Twisted Rail
  5. Thou Shalt Not Steal
  6. Elly
  7. Travellin' North
  8. I've Been Moved
  9. The Messenger
  10. I'm Still In Love With You
  11. On The Wire
  12. Freedom (Carmody/Willoughby)
  13. From Little Things Big Things Grow (Carmody/Kelly)
  14. Images Of London
  15. Jessica
  16. Eulogy

Mirrors

Released 2003
Tracks
  1. Dirty Dollar
  2. Are You Connected?
  3. Moonstruck
  4. Refugees
  5. Dubya Love Ya?
  6. Who Are They?
  7. Campfire Rain
  8. El Diablo Blanco
  9. Georgina River
  10. Milky Way
  11. You Beautiful
  12. Comin' Home

Cannot Buy My Soul: The Songs Of Kev Carmody

Released February 2007
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. I've Been Moved - Dan Kelly
  2. Thou Shalt Not Steal - John Butler Trio
  3. Elly - Bernard Fanning
  4. The Young Dancer Is Dead - Last Kinection
  5. From Little Things Big Things Grow - The Waifs
  6. River Of Tears - The Drones
  7. On The Wire - Troy Cassar Daly
  8. Cannot Buy My Soul - Archie Roach
  9. Moonstruck - Sara Storer
  10. This Land Is Mine - Dan Sultan And Scott Wilson
  11. Darkside - Tex Perkins
  12. Blood Red Rose - Clare Bowditch
  13. Comrade Jesus Christ - The Herd
  14. Images Of London - Steve Kilby
  15. Droving Women - Augie March / Missy Higgins / Paul Kelly
  16. Eulogy For A Black Man - The Pigram Brothers

CD/side 2

  1. I've Been Moved
  2. Thou Shalt Not Steal
  3. Elly
  4. The Young Dancer Is Dead
  5. From Little Things Big Things Grow
  6. River Of Tears
  7. On The Wire
  8. Cannot Buy My Soul
  9. Moonstruck
  10. This Land Is Mine
  11. Darkside
  12. Blood Red Rose
  13. Comrade Jesus Christ
  14. Images Of London
  15. Droving Woman
  16. Eulogy For A Black Man

CD 1: Tributes by various artists, CD 2: Best of Kev Carmody.


[1] 'Sound decision for song', Koori Mail 485 p.17
[2] 'Carmody to lend support', Koori Mail 498 p.10

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