Musicians

Archie Roach

Origin
Framingham Aboriginal Mission, near Warramboolin, southwestern Victoria, Australia
Genre/styles
Folk | Rhythm & Blues
About Archie

Archie Roach, a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung man and a member of the Stolen Generation, was a multi-award winning singer. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 2020 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards. He passed on 30 July 2022.

Archie Roach's long life partner was Ruby Hunter who was also a singer-songwriter.

Website: www.archieroach.com.au

Music is the medicine. You start to realise that this song is not so much about what’s been lost as what’s been found. What you’ve discovered. What you’ve learnt.

— Archie Roach

Discography

Album formats explained

Album formats

  • 10": 10 inch vinyl records were played at 45 or 33 1/3 rounds per minute (rpm). The former could hold 9, the latter 12 minutes of music per side.
  • 7": 7 inch records (often referred to as 45s) were played at 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm, with about 4:30 or 6 minutes of music per side.
  • LP: Long play, is a vinyl record played at ​33 1⁄3 rpm with a 12 or 10-inch diameter.
  • EP: Extended play, are vinyl records that allowed two or even three songs on each side.

Charcoal Lane

Released
1990
Tracks
  1. Native Born
  2. Charcoal Lane
  3. Muntana
  4. I've Lied
  5. Down City Streets
  6. Took The Children Away
  7. Sister Brother
  8. Beautiful Child
  9. No No No
  10. Summer Of My Life
Notes

Releases: 1990 (Aurora, Australia), 1992 (Hightone, Canada), May 1999 (Warner).


Jamu Dreaming

Released
March 1993
Tracks
  1. Weeping In The Forest
  2. From Paradise
  3. Mr T
  4. Love In The Morning
  5. Tell Me Why
  6. Walking Into Doors
  7. Wild Blue Gums
  8. So Young
  9. Angela
  10. Jamu Dreaming
  11. There Is a Garden

Looking For Butterboy

Released
28 October 1997
Tracks
  1. Beggar Man
  2. A Child Was Born Here
  3. My Grandmother
  4. Dancing (With My Spirit)
  5. F Troop
  6. Mother's Heartbeat
  7. Djabugai Lady
  8. Hold On Tight
  9. River Song
  10. Reach For You
  11. Give Unto Caesar
  12. Lois St John
  13. Watching Over Me

Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge

Archie Roach - Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge
Released
2000
Tracks
  1. Play That Funky Music
Notes

Archie Roach contributed track 26 to this album.


Sensual Being

Released
26 July 2002
Tracks
  1. Alien Invasion
  2. Life Is Worth Living
  3. Just a Little Time
  4. Will I See You Tonight
  5. Mission Ration Blues
  6. Outside Your Window
  7. Many Waters Rise
  8. Cold Wind Blows
  9. Free To Be a Man
  10. Morning Star
  11. Move It On
  12. Small Child

The Definitive Collection

Released
July 2004
Tracks
  1. Took The Children Away
  2. A Child Was Born Here
  3. Just A Little Time
  4. Tell Me Why
  5. Beggar Man
  6. Alien Invasion
  7. From Paradise
  8. Reach For You
  9. Louis St John
  10. Free To Be A Man
  11. Walking Into Doors
  12. Jamu Dreaming
  13. Weeping In The Forest
  14. Beautiful Child
  15. Small Child
  16. Charcoal Lane
  17. Down City Streets
  18. Watching Over Me

Journey

Released
10 November 2007
Tracks
  1. Little Sisters (special place)
  2. Travellin' Bones
  3. Old People Singing
  4. John Pat
  5. Liyarn Ngarn
  6. Never Blood
  7. Too Many Bridges
  8. Lighthouse (song for two mothers)
  9. Spirit Of Place
  10. Your Old Ones

Archie Roach - 1988

Released
13 November 2009
Tracks
  1. Weeping In The Forest
  2. Native Born
  3. Sister Brother
  4. Archie's Introduction To 'Took The Children Away'
  5. Took The Children Away
  6. Bicentennial Blues
  7. Beautiful Child
  8. Archie's Introduction To 'Give Us Back Our Dancing'
  9. Give Us Back Our Dancing
  10. F Troop
  11. Reach For You
  12. Christmas Eve
  13. The People Of Sorrow
  14. Blood And Tears
  15. Keep Your Handouts Give Us Back Our Land
  16. Archie Roach Interview (1988)
  17. Archie Roach Interview (2008)
Notes

This album captures some of the first ever recordings by a young Archie Roach. As a bonus at the end of the CD is an interview with Archie recorded on March 1st 1988, followed by a short interview recorded 20 years later in September 2008.


Into The Bloodstream

Released
19 October 2012
Tracks
  1. Into the Bloodstream
  2. Song to Sing
  3. Big Black Train
  4. Heal the People
  5. Mulyawongk
  6. We Won't Cry (feat.Paul Kelly)
  7. Wash My Soul In the River's Flow
  8. I'm On Your Side
  9. Little By Little
  10. Hush Now Babies (feat.Emma Donovan)
  11. Top of the Hill
  12. Old Mission Road
Notes

The cover shows a blood cell on the left and a detail from a painting by Robert Lowe Snr on the right. The painting depicts the Aboriginal mission at Framingham, south-west Victoria, where Archie grew up. The 18 dots represent the mission huts.


Colour of Your Jumper (Single)

Released
24 May 2013
Tracks
  1. Colour of Your Jumper
  2. Heal the People

Creation

Released
27 September 2013
Tracks
  1. Native Born (2013 Remastered)
  2. Charcoal Lane (2013 Remastered)
  3. Munjana (2013 Remastered)
  4. I've Lied (2013 Remastered)
  5. Down City Streets (2013 Remastered)
  6. Took the Children Away (2013 Remastered)
  7. Sister Brother (2013 Remastered)
  8. Beautiful Child (2013 Remastered)
  9. No No No (2013 Remastered)
  10. Summer of My Life (2013 Remastered)
  11. Koorie Koorie (Demo)
  12. Took the Children Away (Demo)
  13. Hungover (Demo)
  14. Weeping In the Forest (2013 Remastered)
  15. From Paradise (2013 Remastered)
  16. Mr. T (2013 Remastered)
  17. Love In the Morning (2013 Remastered)
  18. Tell Me Why (2013 Remastered)
  19. Walking Into Doors (2013 Remastered)
  20. Wild Blue Gums (2013 Remastered)
  21. So Young (2013 Remastered)
  22. Angela (2013 Remastered)
  23. Jamu Dreaming (2013 Remastered)
  24. There Is a Garden (2013 Remastered)
  25. Weeping In the Forest (Live)
  26. Tell Me Why (Live)
  27. Album Only
  28. Walking Into Doors (Live)
  29. There Is a Garden (Reprise)
  30. Beggar Man (2013 Remastered)
  31. A Child Was Born Here (2013 Remastered)
  32. My Grandmother (2013 Remastered)
  33. Dancing (With My Spirit) (2013 Remastered)
  34. F Troop (2013 Remastered)
  35. Mothers Heartbeat (2013 Remastered)
  36. Djabugai Lady (2013 Remastered)
  37. Hold On Tight (2013 Remastered)
  38. River Song (2013 Remastered)
  39. Reach For You (2013 Remastered)
  40. Give Unto Caesar (2013 Remastered)
  41. Louis St. John (2013 Remastered)
  42. Watching Over Me (2013 Remastered)
  43. Beggar Man (Demo)
  44. Dancing Shoes (Demo)
  45. Nowhere To Go (Demo)
  46. Colour of Your Jumper (Demo)
  47. Alien Invasion (2013 Remastered)
  48. Life Is Worth Living (2013 Remastered)
  49. Just a Little Time (2013 Remastered)
  50. Will I See You Tonight (2013 Remastered)
  51. Mission Ration Blues (2013 Remastered)
  52. Outside Your Window (2013 Remastered)
  53. Many Waters Rise (2013 Remastered)
  54. Cold Wind Blows (2013 Remastered)
  55. Free To Be a Man (2013 Remastered)
  56. Morning Star (2013 Remastered)
  57. Move It On (2013 Remastered)
  58. Small Child (2013 Remastered)
  59. This Woman (Demo)
  60. Take Your Time (Demo)
  61. Mulyawongk (Demo)
  62. I Don't Wanna Go (Demo)

Charcoal Lane: 25th Anniversary Collection

Released
6 November 2015
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. Native Born
  2. Charcoal Lane
  3. Munjana
  4. Ive Lied
  5. Down City Streets
  6. Took The Children Away
  7. Sister Brother
  8. Beautiful Child
  9. No, No, No
  10. Summer Of My Life

CD/side 2

  1. Charcoal Lane - Paul Kelly & Courtney Barnett
  2. Munjana - Dan Sultan & Emma Donovan
  3. Ive Lied - Marlon Williams & Leah Flanaghan
  4. Beautiful Child - Ellie Lovegrove & Nancy Bates
  5. Down City Streets- Emma Donovan & The Putbacks (Feat. Archie Roach)
  6. No, No, No (Prod. Trials) - Radical Son & Urthboy
  7. The Children Came Back - Briggs & Gurrumul & Dewayne Everettsmith
  8. Charcoal Lane - Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter (Triple J Live At The Wireless, 1990)
  9. Down City Streets - Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter (Triple J Live At The Wireless, 1990)
  10. Native Born - Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter (Triple J Live At The Wireless, 1990)
  11. Sister Brother - Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter (Triple J Live At The Wireless, 1990)
  12. Took The Children Away - Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter (Triple J Live At The Wireless, 1990)
Notes

This is a new edition of Archie's classic debut album Charcoal Lane to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It includes a 2-CD set featuring Archie’s ARIA-winning 1990 debut album remastered, together with a second disc featuring previously unreleased Triple-J Live At The Wireless recordings and new interpretations of classic Charcoal Lane material.


Let Love Rule

Released
11 November 2016
Tracks
  1. Let Love Rule
  2. Always Be Here
  3. Mighty Clarence River
  4. Love Is Everything
  5. It's Not Too Late
  6. There's a Little Child
  7. Get Back To the Land
  8. Spiritual Love
  9. Please Don't Give Up On Me
  10. Love Sweet Love
  11. No More Bleeding

Dancing With My Spirit

Released
13 April 2018
Tracks
  1. A Child Was Born Here
  2. Dancing With My Spirit
  3. Heal the People, Heal the Land
  4. Morning Star
  5. Hold on Tight
  6. F-Troop
  7. Dancing Shoes
  8. Nowhere to Go
  9. Give Unto Caesar
  10. Colour of Your Jumper
  11. My Grandmother
  12. The River Song

The Concert Collection 2012 - 2018

Released
17 May 2019
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. Sunrise / Into The Bloodstream
  2. Hush Now Babies (feat. Emma Donovan)
  3. Old Mission Road
  4. Big Black Train
  5. Little By Little
  6. Dancing Shoes (feat. Dan Sultan)
  7. Heal The People
  8. I'm On Your Side (feat. Vika & Linda Bull)
  9. Mulyawongk
  10. We Won't Cry (feat. Paul Kelly)
  11. Wash My Soul In The River's Flow
  12. Top Of The Hill
  13. Song To Sing
  14. We Won't Cry (feat. Jack Charles)

CD/side 2

  1. Concert Intro
  2. Let Love Rule (feat. Jessica Hitchcock with Dunghala Childrens Choir)
  3. Get Back To The Land - Intro
  4. Get Back To The Land
  5. There's A Little Child - Intro
  6. There's A Little Child
  7. Please Don't Give Up On Me - Intro
  8. Please Don't Give Up On Me
  9. Love Sweet Love - Intro
  10. Love Sweet Love (feat. Emma Donovan)
  11. Spiritual Love - Intro
  12. Spiritual Love
  13. Always Be Here - Intro
  14. Always Be Here
  15. It's Not Too Late - Intro
  16. It's Not Too Late
  17. Mighty Clarence River - Intro
  18. Mighty Clarence River (feat. Emma Donovan)
  19. No More Bleeding - Intro
  20. No More Bleeding (feat. Jessica Hitchcock with Dunghala Childrens Choir & Short Black Opera)
Notes

CD 3:

1. Dancing With My Spirit (feat. Tiddas)
2. My Grandmother (feat. Tiddas)
3. The River Song (feat. Tiddas)
4. A Child Was Born Here (feat. Tiddas)
5. Morning Star (feat. Amy Saunders & Tiddas)
6. F Troop
7. Louis St John
8. Ever Watching (feat. Tiddas)
9. Heal The People (feat. Tiddas)
10. Come Into My Kitchen
11. Anthem
12. Wild Mountain Thyme
13. Dancing Shoes (feat. Tiddas)


Open Up Your Eyes (Single)

Archie Roach - Open Up Your Eyes (Single)
Released
27 September 2019
Tracks
  1. Open Up Your Eyes
Notes

Open Up Your Eyes is the first song Roach ever penned, but it was never been recorded.


Tell Me Why

Released
1 November 2019
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. Took the Children Away
  2. A Child Was Born Here
  3. F Toop
  4. Nopun Kurongk
  5. Just a Closer Walk with Thee (with Emma Donovan)
  6. Lighthouse (Song for Two Mothers)
  7. One for Each Person, And One for the Pot
  8. Little By Little
  9. Down City Streets

CD/side 2

  1. Rally Round the Drum (featuring Paul Kelly)
  2. Small Child
  3. The Jetty Song
  4. Always Be Here (featuring Sally Dastey)
  5. Tell Me Why (featuring Sally Dastey)
  6. Let Love Rule
  7. Open Up Your Eyes
  8. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
  9. Place of Fire
Notes

This album re-imagines 11 songs that have defined Archie's career, together with two songs that were penned but never recorded, two songs of early-influence, and three brand new recordings. Hardcover cloth-bound book, with 32 pages of extensive notes and exclusive photos. Limited edition and individually numbered. The cover shows a gunggayay (red-bellied black snake) encircling a kneeangar (wedge-tailed eagle) which are representatives of Archie's parents' heritage.

Winner Best Adult Contemporary Album at the 2020 ARIA Music Awards.


The Songs Of Charcoal Lane

Released
13 November 2020
Tracks
  1. Native Born
  2. Charcoal Lane
  3. Munjana
  4. I've Lied
  5. Down City Streets
  6. Took The Children Away
  7. Sister Brother
  8. Beautiful Child
  9. No No No
  10. Summer Of My Life
Notes

The Songs Of Charcoal Lane celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of the 1991 album Charcoal Lane.

It includes all of the 10 impassioned tracks from his landmark debut album, re-recorded in Archie's home in 2020.


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References

View article sources (1)

[1] ''Music is the medicine': Archie Roach on how song saved his soul', SMH 2/11/2019

Cite this page

Korff, J 2022, Archie Roach, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/music/archie-roach>, retrieved 19 March 2024

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