We sat down for a week in 2021 with the plan to select 20 songs to share with everyone from the 80+ Greatest Hits 2019 acoustic tour.

We recorded every sound check, VIP event and show on the run – from the lawn at Jabiru, NT, to the beautiful Paragon Theatre in Queenstown, Tasmania. In listening, it reminded me of the freedom I had to play each night before Covid struck… every set was different from the night before, the complete joy and pride as a father to have my daughter Jem on tour with me – I was more like a tour guide than her Dad – and the selection process of what songs to choose became pretty tough… landing us at 50 songs and 50 towns to share!

I love the memories that came flooding back… some were very tough and others complete happiness.

April 1st was a memorable day – I wrote my first song with Ian Moss in my studio called “South” and having phone off all day, I did not get the calls coming through that afternoon.

My Dad’s partner Marie was calling to let me know my Dad had taken his own life.

My world was completely rocked and devastation set in… I was numb and just shocked that my beautiful Father was gone!

I got a phone call the next day from Jimmy Barnes who said, “Troy, don’t cancel any shows, I don’t think your Dad would have wanted that.” That’s exactly what I did and I have to say it helped me deal with the immediate pain while also escaping it each hour I was on stage… the shows through Mudgee, Bathurst in Western NSW were raw, people even placed flowers backstage. It was just great advice from Jimmy and it made sense to me.

Then losing a wonderful guitar brother friend of mine the next month to suicide once again, really knocked the shit out of me. I remember playing the show at Thirroul after his funeral service with his funeral notice under my guitar pedals, and that’s where that piece of paper lived until I recorded my record “The World Today” in 2020 – an album that he was going to play on.

These were emotional times and they are woven all through these 50 songs.

So many highlights though… “Getaway Car” from the Noojee show with Jem – in fact the whole show from the word go there was incredible!! It was the first time she had played and sung on that song.

Me needing help with the lyrics for “River Road” at Blackhall, as it had been years since I had played that song – that was part of the fun the VIP events each night created. Meeting everyone helped me cope with a very tough year!

“The World Today” song having a completely different verse played at the VIP event at the very first show in Geelong really stands out to see how the song ended up was really special. In fact, a number of these songs were from the pre-show VIP events and not part of the shows which makes this collection of songs even more special and eclectic.

The first weekend with Shane Howard at Crossley church blew our minds as he is also a hero of Jem’s, so that was way cool to do that with him. 🖐🏽

We got to see snow fall in November traveling from Queenstown to Hobart in Tassie, we were delivered fresh lasagne in Milton by Dominic, felt the heat of the Northern Territory, and caught several Barra at Cahills Crossing with my production manager, Dan Webbe.

Felt small town love in the hall at Yackandandah and Winnaleah, also Coutts Crossing – what a show that was with Teddy Bowles!!!

Playing “Halfway Creek Timber Cutting Man” with my good mate Tony Wall (who I cut many a fence post with) in the audience was such a thrill.

Jason Hodges helping out down at Berry – he is such a great man and music lover.

Brian Lizotte’s venue and cooking… second to none!!

Catching up with Jono and singing the song “Gunbalanya” in Gunbalanya was a moment I won’t forget, I still miss the old man up there. 🖐🏽

Seeing my family, who travelled to so many gigs across the north coast like Coffs, Ballina, Casino and Yamba was super special too.

I did a lot of painting while on flights and in the car to pass the time.

Looking down at rivers really puts everything into perspective and I will share some of this art in the liner notes to pay homage to all the different landscapes and tribal country we were privileged enough to pass through.

Finally…

2019 was tough on me and those around me, in particular my wife Laurel – I went into shutdown mode and didn’t give her the chance to help me heal after losing my Dad and our marriage was in very bad shape.

Today as I write this we are still together and in a much better place and I’m so proud we made it through such a trying time. She still holds my heart, and that’s all that matters. xx

I hope you folks play these songs while you experience our country because so many of them were written from a deep love I have for this land.

With these songs I try to build one fire which is all inclusive for every walk of life and skin colour to sit down, get warm, tell a story of their connections to country and to feel belonging – that is what I’ve always been about.

So, you have 50 songs and 50 towns to get through… take your time, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Much love,

Troy Cassar-Daley xx