Seeking the source of the Murray

AS PETE Murray contemplated what to do next, the solo artist's creative mind turned to collaboration.

pete murray

AS PETE Murray contemplated what to do next, the solo artist's creative mind turned to collaboration.

With an extensive acoustic tour mapped out, Murray wanted to record something with the same vibe, a record that would echo the feel and sound of his breakthrough album Feeler.

At the suggestion of one of his managers, Murray sent the title track of his fifth studio record Blue Sky Blue to Blue King Brown singer and songwriter Natalie Pa'apa'a to see what she would do with it.

Her reworked rap bridge for the song, eventually performed by emerging Sydney artist Fantine, proved to be the signpost for The Byron Sessions, a complete reworking of the songs of the Blue Sky Blue album from full-tilt electric to moody and rootsy acoustica.

Murray hit the phones, roping in his Powderfinger mates Bernard Fanning and Darren Middleton, Byron locals Ash Grunwald and the Living End's Scott Owen and good mates Katie Noonan and Busby Marou.

He laughs at the suggestion that The Byron Sessions gave him an excuse to hang out with mates over a few beers in the famous Music Farm studio he now owns with Grinspoon's Pat Davern.

"I did joke with Bernard that if you give him a packet of durries and a can of Coke, he will do anything for you - we've been mates for a long time," Murray says.

"In the end, he did it from Los Angeles where he was recording his album."

Rather than simply performing acoustic versions of the songs, The Byron Sessions completely reframes them with new arrangements, vocal melodies and the added value of his guests.

Murray wanted the songs to have another life, one with a stronger emotional connection for the listener than he felt he had achieved with the original Blue Sky Blue album.

Every musician will tell you they would do a record over if they could and Murray insists this was the motivation rather than just a marketing ploy.

"What makes this different is we are doing it with other artists and it's not just acoustic versions of the original songs," Murray stresses.

"I liked Blue Sky Blue but it probably didn't have the connection it could or should have. But you could feel it with these versions as soon as we did the first track.

"This was all done for fun and I want people to find it themselves, the old word-of-mouth thing which started everything for me. I told the record label I wasn't trying to get songs on commercial radio ... and I think this is why I like it more.

"I don't read what critics say any more; the only thing that might have frustrated me years ago was people judging me straight away without listening to the stuff and I get that."

Well, the critics won't be expecting Murray to bring "sax-y" back.

"When I got the album back when it was done and listened to Let You Go, I'd forgotten we put an '80s sax solo on there!" he says, laughing.

You can tell Murray is in the fun zone. In the video for the title track, featuring Fantine, he gets his white man rhythm on.

"Every time it got to the rap, I started doing this ridiculous dance and when they slowed it down on film, it looked hilarious," the singer explains.

"I told them that had to go in the video - this is all meant to be fun."

The Byron Sessions tour kicks off in mid February with Murray hopeful that some of his mates will pop up at a gig or two to reprise guest roles live.

Middleton has confirmed he will be around for the Melbourne shows and Fantine is rumoured to be joining Murray in Sydney.

Now he just has to remember to play the right version.

"To be honest, I have really taken to these versions more than the other one. I did really feel with Blue Sky Blue that I had to make that change, make a real electric album, a big album," he says.

"But yeah, I am already mixing up the versions on stage because they are all sung so differently."

HEAR The Byron Sessions (Sony) is out tomorrow;

SEE Pete Murray

VIC: February 14 in Traralgon and headlines the Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca on February 17.

NSW: February 20 in Yamba.

QLD: April 18 in Gladstone.

For full tour dates see petemurray.com