Music

Music Monday: Jimmy Barnes

As one of Australia’s most iconic performers, Jimmy Barnes himself hardly needs any introduction, so here’s a little about my personal experience with his music.

I grew up listening to Soul Deep on cassette, frequently run on my parents’ stereo when they had friends over for tea, and later on my own tape player when I got one (which is now in my parents’ garage for when my Dad’s down there working; it’s the circle of life).

While a lot of my friends were more into Cold Chisel, I think getting into Barnes’ work as a solo artist rather than part of the band was down to that. I can really clearly recall sitting in my bedroom reading while songs such as ‘River Deep, Mountain High’, ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’, and ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ played down the hall from Mum and Dad’s gatherings (not to mention my Uncle Ron attempting to sing along).

My personal favourite is probably ‘When Something is Wrong With My Baby’. Barnes teamed up with John Farnham to cover this hit soul ballad, and the result was nothing short of fantastic, as you would expect from Barnsey and Farnsey together.

Jimmy Barnes - When Something Is Wrong With My Baby (feat. John Farnham) (Official Video)

Between Soul Deep (1991), Soul Deeper (2000), and The Rhythm and the Blues (2009), Barnes already has a great selection of soul material. He also has a new soul album coming in 2016, and so it’s only natural that his 2016 tour is called Soul Searchin’.

There are only so many artists who can carry off an album comprised of mostly covers and reworks of old songs, let alone a nationwide tour, but there’s plenty of precedence for this one. Barnes’ Soul Deep tour ran for 18 months and the album went nine times platinum plus number one on the ARIA albums chart.

Last year’s Best of the Soul Years, a compilation of songs from his three previous soul albums, hit number three on the ARIA charts, a promising preview of what will doubtless be a successful release of the new album.

Tickets for the Soul Searchin’ tour are available for Crown Theatre in Perth on Saturday August 13, and the Palais Theatre in St Kilda on Thursday August 25. Click here to purchase tickets.