Songs by Russell Morris, Archie Roach, Peter Allen and The Atlantics have been added to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s Sounds of Australia.
Sounds of Australia, formerly the National Registry of Recorded Sound, adds to the archive annually, compiling the “selection of sound recordings with cultural, historical and aesthetic significance and relevance, which inform or reflect life in Australia. They can be popular songs, advertising jingles, famous speeches, radio broadcasts, or any other sound recordings – as long as they’re Australian and more than 10 years old.”
“Sounds of Australia brings to life the songs, sounds and stories in our heritage collections, and reminds us of the important and enjoyable moments in our past,” said sound curator Matthew Davies in a statement.
The oldest song to be added this year is the 100 year old ‘Hold Your Hand Out Naughty Boy’, released in 1913 by Florrie Ford.
The 10 songs added for 2013 are:
The 2013 Sounds of Australia – in chronological order – are:
1. Hold Your Hand Out Naughty Boy, Florrie Forde (1913) – popular music
2. Yes, What?, 5AD, Rex Dawe and cast (1936-40) – radio comedy series
3. Bombora, The Atlantics (1963) – popular music
4. The Land Where the Crow Flies Backwards, Dougie Young (1964) – country, Indigenous
5. The Real Thing, Russell Morris (1969) – popular music
6. I Still Call Australia Home, Peter Allen (1980) – popular music
7. Improvisation in Acoustic Chambers, Dr Ros Bandt (1981) – experimental music
8. This Sporting Life, Roy and HG (1986-2008) – radio broadcast
9. Recording of a Superb Lyrebird at Healesville, Vic, Greg Wignell (1987) – environmental recording
10. Took the Children Away, Archie Roach (1990) – popular music, Indigenous
Previous entries range from the earliest Australian sound recording (1897’s The Hen Convention, by Thomas Rome) and John Collinson’s 1927 version of Waltzing Matilda, to popular acts such as AC/DC, Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.
