In the Key of Night
Encyclopedia
In The Key Of Night is a solo piano/voice album by Australia
n pianist
Peter Head
.
It was released in 2004
and was recorded to capture the classic feel of Head's late night piano bar shows, at the urging of Big Beat Music.
It features Head's 'unique interpretations' of songs by Ray Charles
, Tom Waits
, Randy Newman
and Gram Parsons
alongside his original tunes.
It was recorded in the Big Beat Studio in Kangaroo Valley, NSW on a Yamaha Grand and a Laffargue upright piano.
Head's night time netherworld of ivory tickling in smoke-filled rooms, singing wayward songs about wayward people, is unique in Australia, our very own musical journeyman; always outside the crap and corruption of the music industry, always laying down a magical rolling chord, a riff, a poignant lyric, a primal-honed voice - frayed at the edges as it is, rasping, growling, crackling, and about as soulful as it gets.
Try listening to his self-penned opening song I Don't Believe, for instance, without shedding a tear - or if you think you're real tough, without almost shedding a tear.
Head is a bona fide musical gem, a fixture in the late night bars of Sydney since 1980, his presence sighted in New York's after hours piano bars more than a decade ago. A magnet to discerning music lovers, a sanctuary to others, Peter Head is the one who showed Bon Scott how to write and structure songs and play guitar. He and his 70s rock outfit, Headband, supported Elton John and the Rolling Stones and he's since provided backing, musical arrangements, and supportive morale to hundreds of the country's finest singers and musicians - far too many to mention here.
This excellent set, beautifully recorded with passion and empathy by the adventurous Big Beat Music label shows Peter Head in his best light yet, highlighting his splendid songs like I Don't Believe and Everything Is Everything.
Head's fresh interpretations of songs from a few of his heroes like Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Ray Charles are not only commendable, but demonstrate the uniqueness of his voice and his very original phrasing. Not to mention his world class piano playing. A master.
So slip into relax mode, friend, take a drag and pour a stiff one, lay back and soak up one of Australia's very real musical greats.
Vincent Lovegrove
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
Peter Head
Peter Head
Pianist and singer/songwriter Peter Head is an Australian rock musician. He first came to prominence with Adelaide progressive rock band Headband.-Early years:...
.
It was released in 2004
2004 in music
See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
and was recorded to capture the classic feel of Head's late night piano bar shows, at the urging of Big Beat Music.
It features Head's 'unique interpretations' of songs by Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Thomas Alan "Tom" Waits is an American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. Waits has a distinctive voice, described by critic Daniel Durchholz as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months, and then taken outside and run over with a car."...
, Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
and Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons
Gram Parsons was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. Parsons is best known for his work within the country genre; he also mixed blues, folk, and rock to create what he called "Cosmic American Music"...
alongside his original tunes.
It was recorded in the Big Beat Studio in Kangaroo Valley, NSW on a Yamaha Grand and a Laffargue upright piano.
Track listing
- I Don't Believe (2:41) Peter Head
- Last Night I Had A Dream (2:30) Randy Newman
- Everything Is Everything (3:27) Peter Head
- Since I Met You Baby (3:44) Ivory Joe Hunter
- Make You Feel My Love (3:26) Bob Dylan
- Crying Time (3:24) Buck Owens
- I Wish I Was In New Orleans (3:29)
- Cry Me A River (4:55) Arthur Hamilton
- Saving All My Love For You (3:02) Tom Waits
- Sin City (3:52) Gram Parsons & Chris Hillman
- You Don't Know Me (4:19) Cindy Walker & Eddy Arnold
- I Wish I Was Stoned (3:17) Peter Head
Liner notes
If you've ever lived and loved the night life, chances are, at some stage during your carousing, cruising, boozing and late night losing, you'd have come across Peter Head. His self-penned sublime songs and lyrics tell tales tall and true about Australia's crooks, hookers, pimps and thieves.Head's night time netherworld of ivory tickling in smoke-filled rooms, singing wayward songs about wayward people, is unique in Australia, our very own musical journeyman; always outside the crap and corruption of the music industry, always laying down a magical rolling chord, a riff, a poignant lyric, a primal-honed voice - frayed at the edges as it is, rasping, growling, crackling, and about as soulful as it gets.
Try listening to his self-penned opening song I Don't Believe, for instance, without shedding a tear - or if you think you're real tough, without almost shedding a tear.
Head is a bona fide musical gem, a fixture in the late night bars of Sydney since 1980, his presence sighted in New York's after hours piano bars more than a decade ago. A magnet to discerning music lovers, a sanctuary to others, Peter Head is the one who showed Bon Scott how to write and structure songs and play guitar. He and his 70s rock outfit, Headband, supported Elton John and the Rolling Stones and he's since provided backing, musical arrangements, and supportive morale to hundreds of the country's finest singers and musicians - far too many to mention here.
This excellent set, beautifully recorded with passion and empathy by the adventurous Big Beat Music label shows Peter Head in his best light yet, highlighting his splendid songs like I Don't Believe and Everything Is Everything.
Head's fresh interpretations of songs from a few of his heroes like Tom Waits, Randy Newman and Ray Charles are not only commendable, but demonstrate the uniqueness of his voice and his very original phrasing. Not to mention his world class piano playing. A master.
So slip into relax mode, friend, take a drag and pour a stiff one, lay back and soak up one of Australia's very real musical greats.
Vincent Lovegrove