WALLIS AND MATILDA

In early 1980 former members of The Gathering (who had chart success in the late 60s/early 70s) John Wallis and Col Perkins started a new venture of putting the wonderfully stirring poetry of Banjo Paterson to music. Adding four other musical acquaintances Wallis & Matilda was born! For over 40 years Wallis and Matilda have moved the emotions of Australians of all ages with their inspired musical interpretations of the works of Paterson. Beginning with the all-time classic, ''Clancy of the Overflow'', and moving on to a stunning rendition of ''The Man from Snowy River'' and other famous works this band has carved itself an important niche in the history of Australian music. The release of ''Clancy of the Overflow'' in 1980 (which charted at #30) led to a flood of correspondence from grateful Australians -- retired drovers, schoolteachers, cattlemen, teenagers, disc jockeys and ordinary suburban Aussies. Such was the stunning popularity of their debut album, 'Pioneers', that Wallis and Matilda have headlined the Australia Day Concert at Tamworth four times, most importantly in Australia's Bicentennial year, 1988. They have also performed many concerts in their own right throughout Australia.

Their second conceptual album 'The Old Australian Ways' was just that and concentrated on past happenings and experiences as told by Paterson. While it did not have the initial success of 'Pioneers' it is still a very popular work and sales remain consistent to this day. Their third concept work released in 1984 'A Singer of the Bush' saw the line-up change by two members Steve Lada took over the bass and Ian Eccles-Smith added keyboards as well as recorder and flute. This line-up remained unchanged for the compilation work 'Australian Gold' released for Australia’s Bi-Centenary in 1988, it contained the most popular of the previous works, and along with three previously unreleased poems, these included ''Prelude'' the first of several works to be recorded with the Australian Children’s Choir.

It was fifteen years before Wallis and Matilda ventured back into the studio again to record their fourth concept work, 2003 saw the release of 'Song of the Federation' a work of Paterson poems written primarily about or after Federation in 1901, this gave Wallis and Matilda the chance to progress musically using the latest technology available. With this new release, David Costiff took over on keyboards and woodwind and Richard Evans along with Steve Lada share the bass and some of the vocals. In 2008 two more conceptual works 'Over the Range' and 'Song of the Pen' were completed and became part of 'The Great Wallis and Matilda Collection 2nd edition'. 

Members

John Wallis (vocals/guitar/percussion), Colin Perkins (vocals/guitar/mandolin),
Glen Fernandez (vocals/guitar/mandolin), Russell Wombey (banjo), Laurie Nicoll (bass),
Nancy Nicholls (recorder), David Costiff (keyboards/woodwind), Richard Evans (bass),

Steve Lada took (bass), Ian Eccles-Smith (keyboards/recorder/flute)

SINGLES

Clancy of the Overflow

21 JUL '80

#30

References

http://www.wallisandmatilda.com.au/

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/