"From St Kilda to Kings Cross" is a song performed and written by Australian musician Paul Kelly. The title refers to inner city suburbs St Kilda in Melbourne and Kings Cross in Sydney. It was released in April 1985 as the only single from Kelly's first solo album Post. The single did not chart on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart. The song has found later acclaim with it appearing on lists for 'Top 20 Sydney Songs' and 'Top 25 Melbourne Songs'. The track has been recorded by other artists including Bob Evans' version on Before Too Long (November 2009) – a Paul Kelly tribute album.
In late 1984 Paul Kelly wrote "From St Kilda to Kings Cross" on Don Walker's piano while living at Walker's Kings Cross flat.[1] Kelly had met Walker (Cold Chisel keyboardist and songwriter) through his ex-wife's sister.[1] Kelly started composing the song as a blues variation on "From Memphis to Norfolk Is a 36-hour Ride" by Robert Johnson.[1][2] By using Walker's piano the composition shifted to include the influence of "Never Going Back" by The Lovin' Spoonful.[1] The song was released as a single in April 1985 but did not appear on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart.[2][3] The single's cover depicts a "black and pink image of Paul's face" on the White Records imprint by Mushroom Records.[4] The song was written in a bleak period in Kelly's life: after the break-up of his band and his marriage, he had moved from Melbourne to Sydney in late 1984.[1][5] In the biographical notes distributed to the media when Post was released, Kelly advised that in 1984 he packed all his worldly goods in a trailer, borrowed his father-in-law's Holden and drove from St Kilda to Kings Cross.[6] During the second week of recording Post with Clive Shakespeare (ex-Sherbet guitarist) co-producing, Kelly recorded the track and he had a heavy cold which affected his voice but "seemed to suit the track".[1] In 2000, he recalled working on it:
The Go-Betweens, the Triffids were really big influences ... the Saints. "From St. Kilda to Kings Cross" was a fairly early song for me. I felt that I was on to something and it was ... I was very aware that it was more like a Chuck Berry song where you named names and places – you named sounds and cities. I thought that was interesting to get words into songs that people hadn't got in before.[7]
Allmusic's Mike De Gagne was not impressed by the track, he felt "this Aussie loves his homeland. With regional reference titles like 'From St. Kilda to King's Cross' and 'Adelaide,' his inclusion of cities and towns seem to gather too much detail, familiar to only those who reside down under".[8] "From St Kilda to Kings Cross" was used as the B-side of Paul Kelly & the Messengers' 1991 single, "Don't Start Me Talking". This version was released on their 1992 album Hidden Things. It later appeared on Kelly's first compilation album, Songs from the South in June 1997.
Later appreciationedit
Palm trees, St Kilda Esplanade
ABC Radio's Richard Fidler has described "From St Kilda to Kings Cross" as "embedded in our [Australian] cultural psyche".[9] In 2004 the song was listed by The Sydney Morning Herald's Bernard Zuel in his "top 20 Sydney songs",[10] and of "immortalising" Kings Cross in particular.[11]
Conversely, it has also been described as an "iconic anthem" about St Kilda.[12] In August 2004, according to a panel of writers for The Age, it is one of "The Top 25 Melbourne Songs".[13] The song's lyrics "I want to see the sun go down from St Kilda Esplanade / Where the beach needs reconstruction, where the palm trees have it hard", have been mentioned in relation to proposed re-developments of the foreshore of St Kilda,[14] especially in reference to the palm trees on St Kilda Esplanade.[15]
In April 2006, the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club released a cover version on their album, A Long Way from Home, which was broadcast on The Coodabeens programme on ABC Local Radio with Billy Baxter compering – Kelly had written a 1980 hit about him, "Billy Baxter".[16] In October 2009, Gomez members Tom Gray and Paul Blackburn performed the song on the "Like a Version" segment of Triple J's Breakfast Show.[17] In November that year, Bob Evans (aka Kevin Mitchell of Jebediah) performed "From St Kilda to Kings Cross" at two Triple J concerts, Before Too Long, in tribute of Kelly, which was released as a triple-CD of the same name.[18]
^Blanda, Eva (2007). . Other People's Houses (Eva Blanda). Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
^Kelly, Paul; Judith, Kate; National Educational Advancement Programs (2005). Don't Start Me Talking: Lyrics 1984–2004. Carlton, Vic: National Educational Advancement Programs. ISBN978-1-86478-099-4.
^"Sound of Sydney Volume 3". Method Records. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^. Long Way to the Top. ABC Television. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 22 October 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^DeGagne, Mike. "Post – Paul Kelly & the Messengers – Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 9 February 2012.
^Fidler, Richard (23 November 2011). "Paul Kelly". Conversations with Richard Fidler. ABC Local Radio. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^Zuel, Bernard (18 September 2004). "A Tale of Two Cities' Ditties". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^"The Concrete Jungle Leaves Its Mark". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 November 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^Smith, Bridie; Evans, Chris (8 June 2004). "Streets Ahead in Pop Stakes". The Age. Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^Carney, Shaun; Jenkins, Jeff; Dwyer, Michael; Beck, Chris; Flanagan, Martin; Attwood, Alan (28 August 2004). "Songs of Melbourne". The Age. Australia. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
^Cameron Houston; Royce Millar (26 May 2007). "New Playground for Patron Saints". The Age. Australia. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^"Palm Trees Do It Hard on St Kilda Esplanade". The Age. Australia. 18 June 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
^"The Coodabeens Music". The Coodabeens. ABC Local Radio. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 2 April 2006. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
^"'Like a Version' – Gomez". Breakfast Show. Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 23 October 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
^. ABC Shop. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
^"'Blues for Skip' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 8 February 2012.
^Holmgren, Magnus. . Australian Rock Database. Passagen.se (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
^"Feb Single Accreds 2024" (PDF). ARIA. March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
External linksedit
from www.paulkelly.com.au
Paul Kelly speaks about the origin of "From St Kilda to Kings Cross", Triple J
April 14, 2024
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From St Kilda to Kings Cross is a song performed and written by Australian musician Paul Kelly The title refers to inner city suburbs St Kilda in Melbourne and Kings Cross in Sydney It was released in April 1985 as the only single from Kelly s first solo album Post The single did not chart on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart The song has found later acclaim with it appearing on lists for Top 20 Sydney Songs and Top 25 Melbourne Songs The track has been recorded by other artists including Bob Evans version on Before Too Long November 2009 a Paul Kelly tribute album From St Kilda to Kings Cross Single by Paul Kellyfrom the album PostA side From St Kilda to Kings Cross B side Blues for Skip ReleasedApril 1985RecordedJanuary February 1985Silverwood Studios SydneyGenreFolk rockLength2 53LabelWhiteSongwriter s Paul KellyProducer s Paul Kelly Clive ShakespearePaul Kelly singles chronology Rocking Institution From St Kilda to Kings Cross 1985 Before Too Long 1986 Audio sample source source From St Kilda to Kings Cross filehelp Contents 1 Composition and background 2 Later appreciation 3 Track listing 4 Personnel 5 Certifications 6 Release history 7 References 8 External linksComposition and background editIn late 1984 Paul Kelly wrote From St Kilda to Kings Cross on Don Walker s piano while living at Walker s Kings Cross flat 1 Kelly had met Walker Cold Chisel keyboardist and songwriter through his ex wife s sister 1 Kelly started composing the song as a blues variation on From Memphis to Norfolk Is a 36 hour Ride by Robert Johnson 1 2 By using Walker s piano the composition shifted to include the influence of Never Going Back by The Lovin Spoonful 1 The song was released as a single in April 1985 but did not appear on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart 2 3 The single s cover depicts a black and pink image of Paul s face on the White Records imprint by Mushroom Records 4 The song was written in a bleak period in Kelly s life after the break up of his band and his marriage he had moved from Melbourne to Sydney in late 1984 1 5 In the biographical notes distributed to the media when Post was released Kelly advised that in 1984 he packed all his worldly goods in a trailer borrowed his father in law s Holden and drove from St Kilda to Kings Cross 6 During the second week of recording Post with Clive Shakespeare ex Sherbet guitarist co producing Kelly recorded the track and he had a heavy cold which affected his voice but seemed to suit the track 1 In 2000 he recalled working on it The Go Betweens the Triffids were really big influences the Saints From St Kilda to Kings Cross was a fairly early song for me I felt that I was on to something and it was I was very aware that it was more like a Chuck Berry song where you named names and places you named sounds and cities I thought that was interesting to get words into songs that people hadn t got in before 7 Allmusic s Mike De Gagne was not impressed by the track he felt this Aussie loves his homeland With regional reference titles like From St Kilda to King s Cross and Adelaide his inclusion of cities and towns seem to gather too much detail familiar to only those who reside down under 8 From St Kilda to Kings Cross was used as the B side of Paul Kelly amp the Messengers 1991 single Don t Start Me Talking This version was released on their 1992 album Hidden Things It later appeared on Kelly s first compilation album Songs from the South in June 1997 Later appreciation edit nbsp Palm trees St Kilda EsplanadeABC Radio s Richard Fidler has described From St Kilda to Kings Cross as embedded in our Australian cultural psyche 9 In 2004 the song was listed by The Sydney Morning Herald s Bernard Zuel in his top 20 Sydney songs 10 and of immortalising Kings Cross in particular 11 Conversely it has also been described as an iconic anthem about St Kilda 12 In August 2004 according to a panel of writers for The Age it is one of The Top 25 Melbourne Songs 13 The song s lyrics I want to see the sun go down from St Kilda Esplanade Where the beach needs reconstruction where the palm trees have it hard have been mentioned in relation to proposed re developments of the foreshore of St Kilda 14 especially in reference to the palm trees on St Kilda Esplanade 15 In April 2006 the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club released a cover version on their album A Long Way from Home which was broadcast on The Coodabeens programme on ABC Local Radio with Billy Baxter compering Kelly had written a 1980 hit about him Billy Baxter 16 In October 2009 Gomez members Tom Gray and Paul Blackburn performed the song on the Like a Version segment of Triple J s Breakfast Show 17 In November that year Bob Evans aka Kevin Mitchell of Jebediah performed From St Kilda to Kings Cross at two Triple J concerts Before Too Long in tribute of Kelly which was released as a triple CD of the same name 18 Track listing editFrom St Kilda to Kings CrossNo TitleWriter s Length1 From St Kilda to Kings Cross Paul Kelly 19 2 532 Blues for Skip Paul Kelly 20 3 07Total length 6 00Personnel editCredits 21 MusiciansPaul Kelly vocals acoustic guitar Steve Connolly lead guitar harmonies Michael Barclay harmonies Chris Coyne saxophoneProduction workProducer Clive Shakespeare Paul Kelly Engineer Clive ShakespeareCertifications editRegion Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 22 Gold 35 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone Release history editFormat Country Label Catalogue No Year7 single AUS White Label K 9666 April 1985References edit a b c d e f Kelly Paul 21 September 2010 How to Make Gravy Camberwell Vic Penguin Books Australia pp 182 184 ISBN 978 1 926428 22 2 a b Before Too Long Triple J s Tribute to Paul Kelly Triple J Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC 11 November 2009 Archived from the original on 6 April 2011 Retrieved 5 February 2012 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives NSW Australian Chart Book Ltd ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Note Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until Australian Recording Industry Association ARIA created their own charts in mid 1988 In 1992 Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970 1974 Blanda Eva 2007 Paul Kelly Discography Part IIa The Recordings of Paul Kelly as a Solo Artist Other People s Houses Eva Blanda Archived from the original on 16 February 2012 Retrieved 16 February 2012 Kelly Paul Judith Kate National Educational Advancement Programs 2005 Don t Start Me Talking Lyrics 1984 2004 Carlton Vic National Educational Advancement Programs ISBN 978 1 86478 099 4 Sound of Sydney Volume 3 Method Records Retrieved 7 February 2012 Episode 6 Gathering of the Tribes 1984 2000 Long Way to the Top ABC Television Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Archived from the original on 22 October 2011 Retrieved 7 February 2012 DeGagne Mike Post Paul Kelly amp the Messengers Review Allmusic Rovi Corporation Retrieved 9 February 2012 Fidler Richard 23 November 2011 Paul Kelly Conversations with Richard Fidler ABC Local Radio Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Retrieved 5 February 2012 Zuel Bernard 18 September 2004 A Tale of Two Cities Ditties The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 5 February 2012 The Concrete Jungle Leaves Its Mark The Sydney Morning Herald 1 November 2005 Retrieved 5 February 2012 Smith Bridie Evans Chris 8 June 2004 Streets Ahead in Pop Stakes The Age Australia Retrieved 5 February 2012 Carney Shaun Jenkins Jeff Dwyer Michael Beck Chris Flanagan Martin Attwood Alan 28 August 2004 Songs of Melbourne The Age Australia Retrieved 8 February 2012 Cameron Houston Royce Millar 26 May 2007 New Playground for Patron Saints The Age Australia Retrieved 5 February 2012 Palm Trees Do It Hard on St Kilda Esplanade The Age Australia 18 June 2003 Retrieved 5 February 2012 The Coodabeens Music The Coodabeens ABC Local Radio Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC 2 April 2006 Retrieved 8 February 2012 Like a Version Gomez Breakfast Show Triple J Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC 23 October 2009 Retrieved 8 February 2012 Before Too Long ABC Shop ABC Shop Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Archived from the original on 24 February 2012 Retrieved 8 February 2012 From St Kilda to Kings Cross at APRA search engine Australasian Performing Right Association APRA Retrieved 8 February 2012 Blues for Skip at APRA search engine Australasian Performing Right Association APRA Retrieved 8 February 2012 Holmgren Magnus Paul Kelly Australian Rock Database Passagen se Magnus Holmgren Archived from the original on 22 October 2013 Retrieved 21 March 2014 Feb Single Accreds 2024 PDF ARIA March 2024 Retrieved 18 March 2024 External links edit From St Kilda to Kings Cross lyrics from www paulkelly com au Paul Kelly speaks about the origin of From St Kilda to Kings Cross Triple J Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title From St Kilda to Kings Cross amp oldid 1214307002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
