ON THIS PAGE (INDEX):

HEY RAIN - THE BILL SCOTT SONGBOOK
DVD-CD PACKAGE HEY RAIN - The Songs And Stories Of Bill Scott (as seen on ABC TV)
BILL SCOTT BIOGRAPHY
PHOTO GALLERY
"SEE WHAT I'VE GOT" THE BILL SCOTT RECITER
POEM - OPAL MINER
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
BROADCASTERS & LISTENERS COMMENTS
OPAL MINER - THE SONGS OF BILL SCOTT
PENNY DAVIES & ROGER ILOTT RM075 CD

BILL SCOTT As Ian McNamara of the ABC programme "Australia All Over" puts it; "As far as I can ascertain, Bill Scott has spent most of his life being fiercely Australian. Well maybe fierce is not quite the right word if you know Bill, because whenever I meet him he's sporting that warm smile of his. Bill, and a few others like him, believe it is important to celebrate our distinctive national qualities. Bill Scott has, for many years, been writing our songs and stories. We hear them and we smile - they are our shared experiences..... If I can paraphrase a line taken from Henry Lawson; 'We as people are all better off for the muse of a bloke like Bill." (Ian McNamara, ABC Radio, "Australia All Over" August 1999).

BILL SCOTT BIOGRAPHY:
Bill Scott was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, in 1923, and grew up in Caboolture and then in Brisbane. He began writing poetry while serving in the Royal Australian Navy during World War.
His first poem was published in The Bulletin in 1944 when he was twenty-one. Since then he has published more than fifty books in prose and in poetry and has become famous as a collector of and writer on Australian folk stories and songs. He has written novels, short stories, verse, biographies, magazine articles, anthologies and songs. His poetry and short stories have been widely anthologised. He was awarded the O.A.M. for his services to folklore in 1992. Bill is one of Australia's national treasures. .
Besides serving in the Navy, Bill has worked as a seaman, steam engine driver, prospector, miner, bookseller, editor and publisher.
He spent the last 30 or so years of his life writing full time. He died in December, 2005.

For more information about Bill Scott, check out the website www.billscott.com.au

HEY RAIN - THE SONGS AND STORIES OF BILL SCOTT

"What good is your life if it isn't a song?"
Bill Scott was a "folkie" for over 50 years. He wrote and sang and lughed his way into the hearts of people all over Australia.

Now the documentary about Bill that was played on ABC TV is available - with a bonus Audio CD featuring 18 of Bill's songs.

He's story teller.
He's Bill Scott - and this is his song!

Copies of the DVD available by emailing us at Restless Music or purchase direct using PAYPAL by clicking on the link below.

OPAL MINER - a poem by Bill Scott

Deep in the shaft I chip alone
where sunsets sleep in the dry brown stone.
Scrape of shovel blade, tap of pick,
flickering light from the burning wick.

Long ago,
before there were clocks,
a rainbow crept inside these rocks.
Now in the darkness
I burrow and creep,
waking that light from its age-old sleep.

Pot of gold at the rainbow's end
are the sunset colours that shift and blend.
I hammer and tap,
scrape and strain,
till I bring them back to light again.

I may never see the day
when the stone shines bright as the Milky Way,
But some other miner,
when I'm long gone
may discover the dream that drove me on.

My blue-green eyes, my blood's red streams,
golden hope and harlequin dreams
may shine like colour in the dry brown stone
as underground
he chips alone.

Bill Scott - from "See What I've Got" - The Bill Scott Reciter (Triple D Books, ISBN 0 9578681 0 3)

PHOTO GALLERY

In the rigging of the Cape Leeuwin	High Peak, 1953	North Reef Lighthouse, north of Heron Island

HEY RAIN - THE BILL SCOTT SONGBOOK

Bill Scott - noted folklorist, wrote novels, short stories, verse, anthologies and songs.
(Some of his best loved songs include HEY RAIN! and the lovely WHERE THE CANE FIRES BURN, both sung by Penny Davies.)
He was awarded the O.A.M. for his services to folklore in 1992.
Bill served in the Navy during World War II, and worked as a seaman, steam engine driver, prospector, miner, bookseller, editor and publisher.

Restless Music is proud to publish Hey Rain The Bill Scott Songbook. Penny Davies & Roger Ilott (who have run Restless Music, making over 100 albums of folk music since 1983) have been admirers of Bills work since the night in 1985 when folksinger Dave de Hugard came to their cottage/studio in Balmain, Sydney, and, sitting at the kitchen table, sang Bill Scotts song Hey Rain!, as the Sydney rain played percussion on the old tin roof. The next day Penny & Roger recorded their own arrangement of Hey Rain! that began their long association with the songs of Bill Scott. The song appeared on their third album, Birchgrove Quay (RM012, 1986).

In 1986 Penny met Bill Scott for the first time, at a Folklore Conference in Sydney, and in 1987, when Penny and Roger moved Restless Music moved up to Stanthorpe in Queensland, Bill was one of their very first visitors. Before the house and studio were in existence, Bill would share a billy of tea, tell stories and sing songs around the Restless campfire. Bill and his wife Mavis had recently moved to Warwick only 40 miles away. Penny & Rogers version of Hey Rain! had, by then, appeared on the first Australia All Over album and its acceptance and success encouraged Bill to write more songs and to give poems to Roger so that tunes could emerge.

Bill recorded two albums of his songs and poems on the Restless Music label. Hey Rain (RM026, 1990) and Songbird In Your Pocket (RM040. 1993).

Assisted by a grant from Arts Queensland, Opal Miner The Songs Of Bill Scott, performed by Penny Davies & Roger Ilott (RM075), was released in 1999, and has been Restless Musics most successful album to date.
Where The Cane Fires Burn from the album has become one of Bills most loved songs.
The publication of the songbook was assisted by a grant from the Music Board of the Australia Council.
The songs are notated with full lyrics and guitar chords perfect for the beginning folk singer, as well as the seasoned performer. Bill Scotts songs tell of working life, the landscape and climate, and the Australian character; there is comedy and longing, irony and insight.

Hey Rain - The Bill Scott Songbook collects together 23 songs, some of which appeared on Opal Miner, a few more that have emerged since, and a couple of neglected classics from Bill Scotts considerable treasure-trove of Australian song.

COMPLETE LIST OF SONGS: A Drovers Life, The Boundary Riders Tale, Brisbane Girl, Bundaberg Rum, Caboolture Days, Cane Train, Coal Train (Trust The Jesus Box), The Darling Bunyip, Hard On A Lass, Hey Rain! The Lighthouse Keeper & Herring Gull, The Light Of The Star, The Long Haul , The Monkeys Sing Soprano (Around Stanthorpe In July), Mt Tully Lullaby, Mungindi Ball, Old Mans Song, On Top Of High Peak, Plastic Container Of Plonk, Tales Of The Wind, Tanglefoot Harry, Trochus Boats, Where The Cane Fires Burn.

TO ORDER YOUR COPY FOR ONLY $12 POST FREE (within Australia): click on the PAYPAL button below:

Books:
Complete Book Of Australian Folklore (Lansdowne, 1976)
Brisbane Sketchbook (Rigby, 1976)
Boori (Oxford University Press, 1979)
Tough In The Old Days (Rigby, 1979)
Shadows Among The Leaves (Heineman, 1984)
Many Kinds Of Magic (Viking, 1990, ISBN 0670829714)
The Currency Lad (McVittie, 1994, ISBN - 0949183349)
The Banshee & The Bullocky - Tales of My Uncle Arch (University of Qld. Press, 1996 ISBN 0702227757) Pelicans & Chihuahuas & Other Urban Legends (University of Qld. Press, 1996, ISBN 0702227749)
Waltzing Matilda Meets Lazy Jack (Silverfish, ISBN 1876631015)
Lies, Flies & Strange Big Fish (Allen & Unwin ISBN 1865083577)
Hey Rain - The Bill Scott Songbook (Restless Music, 2002 ISBN 0 9579874-0-4)

Poetry:
Brother & Brother (Jacaranda, 1972)
Following The Gold (Penguin, 1999, ISBN 0140340068)
The Penguin Book Of Australian Humourous Verse (ED) (Penguin, ISBN 0140423214)
See What I've Got - the Bill Scott Reciter (Triple D Books ISBN 0 9578681 0 3)

For more information check out the Bill Scott website at www.billscott.com.au

SEE WHAT I'VE GOT
THE BILL SCOTT RECITER
Illustrated by Christina Booth

"See What I've Got" is Bill's third collection of his own poetry. The Reciter Series is aimed at providing poetry for Australians to perform - solo, in pairs, in groups. Young Australians need poetry for school, for examinations in Speech and Drama, for eisteddfodau, for family gatherings but they need it especially to bring joy to their youth, to heighten their awareness of the possibilities of language, to wake in them a knowledge of our distinctive culture, of the ways in which we are Australian. In "See What I've Got" you will find poems that beg to be learned and demand to be performed by people from six to more than sixty! Besides being awarded an Order Of Australia Medal for services to Folklore in 1992, in January 2001 at Tamworth he was given the Judith Hosier Heritage Award for his contribution to the preservation of Australian poetry. He has also issued two cassettes of songs and poems on the Restless Music label. Order copies of "See What I've Got" directly from the publisher at $19.95 per copy.Please send only money order or cheque payable to: Triple D Books 3 Cassidy Parade, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650. Or contact: zdenholm@tripledbooks.com.au Website: www.tripledbooks.com.au BACK TO PAGE INDEX

OPAL MINER-
The Songs Of Bill Scott
PENNY DAVIES & ROGER ILOTT
RESTLESS RM075 CD

Penny Davies & Roger Ilott first met Bill Scott after recording his song 'Hey Rain' in 1986. Their version of Bill's song became popular nationally when Ian McNamara discovered it and started playing it regularly on the ABC's "Australia All Over" radio programme. The song was included on the first "Australia All Over" album in 1987, which shot to number 1 and eventually went Double Platinum.

OPAL MINER features 22 of Bill Scott's songs, performed with humour, sensitivity and integrity by Penny Davies & Roger Ilott. With so much American influence apparent in our ethnic music, it is refreshing that Penny and Roger use their own voices to paint a true and honest musical picture of our Australian experience. Bill writes the stories and Penny and Roger interpret them in a variety of settings which bring Bill's songs to life.

TRACK INFORMATION: Where The Canefires Burn, Hey Rain!, Trochus Boats, The Lighthouse Keeper & The Herring Gull, Tanglefoot Harry, Hard On A Lass, The Mungindi Ball, Brisbane Girl, Mount Tully Lullaby, Cane Train, Cullendore Creek, The Darling Bunyip, Silverwood Dam, Coal Train (Trust The Jesus Box), Autumn Wine, A Drover's Life, Autumn Has Come, Rain In The Channel Country, The Monkeys Sing Soprano, Tales Of The Wind, Lullaby, Old Man's Song.

BACK TO PAGE INDEX

Some Broadcasters, Listeners and Customer's Comments:
(Just a few of the many letters and comments we have received since OPAL MINER was released)

"....and Number One .... the wistful sadness of Penny Davies' voice, Roger Ilott's music and the poetry of Bill Scott - for all us drifters, where the cane fires burn." (Mike Broadhurst, ABC Radio, 'Australia All Over', Macca's Top 10 for 1999)

"You little beauties - what a great CD! Cheers! Pass on my congratulations to Bill and to the other musicians." (Ted Egan, Songwriter, N.T. Governor & Film Maker, Alice Springs, N.T.)

"I think it's my favourite of all you've done - the material is so consistently good and solid - (Bill Scott) is drawing from a deep well and is a deep well himself, and your tuneful co-labours work very well." (Gordon Bok, Folksinger/Songwriter, Maine, U.S.A.)

"What a wonderful CD this is!" (Chris Jensen, ABC Radio, Toowoomba, Q.)

"All your songs/poems have special meaning. I love the way you compose the music and arrange it to suit the story." (Hugh Lunn, Writer, St. Lucia, Q.)

"Bill Scott is one of a kind. They don't make them like that any more. He is a carrier of lore from Australia's past. I doubt if I need to detail Bill Scott's accomplishments other than to say we could do with more people like him!" (Warren Fahey, Festival Music, Sydney, N.S.W.)

"I enjoy your recent song "Where The Cane Fires Burn" - your sweet voice and crystal clear ennunciation stands like a beacon in these days of twang and tripe......You are both exceptional talents and your voice is an absolute delight." (John Z. Smith, Warwick, Q.)

"May we please order 'Opal Miner' by the national treasure Bill Scott." (Judy & John Collins, St. Helens, Tas.)

"I have listened to 'Opal Miner' with huge pleasure and some nostalgia. I think the production and the music are outstandingly good. Furthermore my elderly ears picked up every word - so clearly were the songs sung." (Mark Hertzberg, Hunters Hill, N.S.W.)

"Penny has a voice like cream pouring on rose petals. I delight in hearing 'Where The Cane Fires Burn." (Collin Robbins, Alexandra Hills, Q)

"I'd like to purchase the CD for my 76 year old Dad, who used to work at Goondi Mill and still goes out to the Garradunga Pub for a drink!" (Narelle Scerri, Flying Fish Point Q.)

"I have sought to find your music for some years without success. No peace until I locate the lady with the penchant for rain and the beautifully 'cynical' voice. A complete Australian icon. Thank you so much for the CDs I have them almost superglued in the CD player." (Mel Le Good, Sans Souci, N.S.W.)

"Last Sunday, listening to 'Macca', I heard a great track about a cane fire burning, by our old mate Bill Scott. It took me back down long years, my eyes filled with unbidden tears. Was it smoke from the cane or was it not? ....Now I sit, waiting for the mail, and I know that you won't fail to send me the sort of songs I love the most." (Ron Bone, The Gap, Q.)

"I woke up at 6.15 one morning in December hearing 'Where The Cane Fires Burn'. As Macca did not name it, I wrote to him and eventually received the name and ordered it. I is absolutely beautiful..... Never in my life have I gone to this trouble for music." (Ann O'Sullivan, Mt. Eliza, Vic)

"I never thought I would hear music written and sung at such a high standard in contemporary times." (Wal Geldard, Forster, N.S.W.)

"This particular type of folk music is a rare treasure in Australian music these days." (Mike Stanton, Collaroy Plateau, NSW)