Musicians
Warumpi Band
- Origin
- Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia
- Genre/styles
- Country | Rock Explore more genres
- About Warumpi
-
The Warumpi Band formed in Papunya in the central desert. They released the first rock song in an Aboriginal language (Jailanguru Pakarnu) and sing in Luritja and English. The band was active from 1980 to 2000.
Members included (changed frequently): Brian Butcher, Gordon Butcher (*), Sammy Butcher (*), Murray Cook, Bill Heckenberg, Bill Jacobi, Dennis Minor (*), Alan Murphey, Neil Murray (founder, non-Aboriginal*), George Rrurrumbu, Kenny Smith, Hilary Wirri, George Burrarrawanga. (*) = original members
The name comes from the honey-ant dreaming site located near the Aboriginal settlement of Papunya (240 kilometres west of Alice Springs).
Discography
Album formats explained Explain formats
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.
Jailanguru Pakarnu (7")
- Released
- 1983
- Tracks
- Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out from Jail)
- Notes
The Warumpi Band wrote, recorded and released this as the first rock song in an Aboriginal language (Luritja).
Blackfella/Whitefella (7")
- Released
- 1985
- Tracks
- Blackfella/Whitefella
- Fitzroy Crossing
Sit Down Money (7")
- Released
- 1986
- Tracks
- Sit Down Money
Big Name No Blankets
- Released
- 1986
- Tracks
- Waru (Fire)
- Blackfella/Whitefella
- Breadline
- Nyuntu Nyaaltjirriku (What Are You Going To Do)
- Animal Song
- Warumpinya (Papunya)
- Wiima Tjutja (All The Kids)
- Fitzroy Crossing
- Sitdown Money
- Mulga & Spinifex Plain
- Gotta Be Strong
- Notes
This is Warumpi Band's debut (long play) album.
My Island Home (7")
- Released
- 1987
- Tracks
- My Island Home
No Fear (7")
- Released
- 1987
- Tracks
- No Fear
Stompin Ground (7")
- Released
- 1996
- Tracks
- Stompin Ground
Too Much Humbug
- Released
- 1996
- Tracks
- Wayathul
- Stompin Ground
- Makes You Feel
- Never Change
- Djulpan
- Stars
- Cold Weather
- Marrayilyil
- Joining My Life
- Koori Man
- Holdin You In My Arms
- We Shall Cry
- Blackfella Whitefella (remake)
- Notes
The Stompem Ground Festival 2000 in Broome (October) was their last gig. After it Neil Murray retired. Neil Murray also wrote two books, 'Sing For Me Countryman' and 'One Man Tribe'.
Warumpi Band 4 Ever
- Released
- 30 October 2015
- Tracks
CD/side 1
- Waru (Fire)
- Blackfella / Whitefella
- Breadline
- Nyuntu Nyaaltjirruku (What Are You Going To Do?)
- Animal Song
- Warumpinya (Papunya)
- Wima Tjuta (All The Kids)
- Fitzroy Crossing
- Mulga & Spinifex Plain
- Gotta Be Strong
- No Fear
- Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)
- Yolngu Boy
- Secret War
- My Island Home
- Didjeridoo Blue
- Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore)
- Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad And Lonely)
- My Countryside
- Falling Down
- From The Bush
CD/side 2
- Wayathul
- Stompin' Ground
- Makes You Feel
- Never Change
- Djulpan
- Stars
- Cold Weather
- Marrayilyil
- Joining My Life
- Koori Man
- Holdin' You In My Arms
- We Shall Cry
- Blackfella / Whitefella (Remake)
- Yaka Bayungu (live, Broome, 2000) (Bonus Track)
- Sitdown Money (Powderworks A-side, 1986) (Bonus Track)
- Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail) (Hot Records A-side, 1983) (Bonus Track)
- Route 66 (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
- It's All Over Now (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
- Promised Land (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
- Warumpi Rock (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
- Notes
Warumpi Band 4 Ever sees the band's three albums – 'Big Name, No Blanket,' 'Go Bush!' (CD 1) and 'Too Much Humbug' - remastered for the very first time, and supplemented by some non-lp material (CD 2), including that original recording of "Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)," a live recording from one of the band's last gigs of a never-before released song, and a handful of rocking covers that reveal their early energy.
Go Bush
- Released
- 1988
- Tracks
- No Fear
- Jailanguru Pakarnu (out from jail, rerecorded)
- Yolngu Boy
- Secret War
- My Island Home
- Didjeridoo Blue
- Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore)
- Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad and Lonely)
- My Countryside
- Falling Down
- From the Bush
- Notes
The track "My Island Home" was covered by Christine Anu in 1995 and also recorded by Tiddas for the soundtrack to the feature film Radiance.
From mid 1987-1992 the Warumpi Band took a break while the band's Aboriginal members honoured family and tribal commitments.
Find Warumpi Band albums & CDs
Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through any album links.
Go exploring!
Use the Aboriginal music timeline to view albums over time.
