Reviews

“NOW AND THEN”

Greg Williams

Even if songwriting is an artists passion, and it doesn’t matter how prolific a singer/songwriter they’ve been previously, many go back to their roots and record a collection of songs that they grew up with, or favourites they’ve performed onstage for many years.

In listening to Greg William’s self-produced album “Now And Then” I notice he’s injected his own personality into the sound of the classic songs he’s recorded, but maintains the true feel of the songs the way the original artists/writers intended. This recording also displays Greg’s obvious skill in record engineering and production.

It’s an interesting and entertaining album featuring a cross section of traditional country songs like “Take These Chains” which sticks to the familiar Hank Williams formula with a touch of Ray Charles, linked with Greg’s unmistakable voice. A similar treatment is maintained with the Don Williams classic “You’re My Best Friend” and Merle Haggard’s “Swingin’ Doors” & “Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down”.

Highlighting Greg’s versatility, he’s included some classic bush ballad songs, like Kelly & Marion Dixon’s “The Longyard”, Stan Coster’s “Fire Of Gidgee Coal” and the Slim Dusty/Joy McKean gem “Lights On The Hill” along with one of his own - “The Bullocky” which acknowledges an important part of Australia’s bush heritage.

As for the original material featured on “Now And Then”, when I first heard the title track I sent a note to Greg telling him how much I liked the song and production, and wished him well. This was an “out of the blue” response because I had not been in touch with Greg for several years, but the song and the sound of it grabbed me when I first heard it and I thought Greg should know how it made me feel.

I’ve known Greg for many years even though we’ve not been in continual contact. I first knew him as a rocker in the early days of his, or should I say, our careers. A few years on,

I enjoyed his success in country music festivals with his band and as a solo artist. When he moved to Tamworth chasing his dream, we lost touch until recently.

Now I find that this old mate has a flourishing career with many fingers in many pies and that includes writing fine songs like “Now And Then”, “Over The Line”, “Drinking Again”, “That’s How Much” along with the one that I find has a very special message, “Say It Now”.

I invite you to have a listen to “Now And Then” and enjoy the results of Greg’s many years of musical experience and how it has developed into this wonderful talent we know as Greg Williams.

CD review by Stuart McInnes – Radio LEGEND