Col Millington - Hey Babe: A Review of Col's New Album Release

Love songs can be poignant, reflective, even sad, but they can also be upbeat and uptempo. Hey Babe, the 33rd album release by Col Millington, demonstrates both of these emotions and more! The 33rd Album by Col Millington is one he should be proud of.


Col Millington has not just been there and done that, he has "done that" with quality over and over again. It would also be far too simplistic to call him a survivor, for he has been a provider of well received, quality written and played, home-grown "country-style" music covering some five decades. Col launched his latest album, Hey Babe on Tuesday August 4th at the Debonairs lunch in Melbourne. The launch was very well received with all the women in attendance receiving a copy of Col's CD.


Col Millington at the Debonairs launch and launch of his CD

Before looking at Hey Babe, I thought it would be appropriate to provide a little background on Col in order to provide a context for the release of this album.

Col is a Melbourne born boy who as a "baby boomer" came up through the 1960's immersed in music. In fact it was in the very early 60's, at the age of age 13, that he commenced to learn to play guitar. Inspired by his older brother Gary, who was a member of “The Saxons” and “The Crickets”, the young Col was exposed to the music, the group members and the instruments which had a profound effect upon him. Being constantly exposed to such a creative environment inspired him to get into music as soon as he could. Col joined his first group “Natures Own” in 1968, followed shortly afterward by spells in groups such as “Midnight special”, “The Rondells”, “Bluestone” and “Bass Strait.

By the time the early 1970's had come around Col had started experimenting and writing his own material and encouraged by such music icons as Johnny Chester he made the decision in 1976 to "jump the fence" and he "defected" to Country Music. Col's music history shows that this was a totally correct decision.


The Col Millington Band - 1978

Since commencing songwriting in 1972 Col has written over 200 songs and recorded around 160 of them. He has an ability to write across a range of styles, not just country and over the years his material covered Rock, Pop, Dance, Ballads, Latin, Jazz and Blues.

During his professional career he has played Guitar, Drums and Keyboard and has not only recorded and produced his own work, but produced albums for other artists. However his main focus has always been his own compositions and it's a pretty impressive career that has involved releasing 32 albums over a 36 year period. This has resulting in him selling over 100,000 units and winning numerous awards.


Performing his track Midnight Flyer on The Reg Lindsay Show 1980

This list of awards is far too long to reprint, but here are some highlights. Starting in 1979 with the Melbourne Wandong Country Music Festival LP “Gold Record” award. Also in 1979 Col was a finalist in the Tamworth Golden Guitar Award, a feat he repeated in both 1981 and 1983. In 1989 he was awarded a Melbourne Gold Record for “Songs From Downunder” and in 1990 awarded a Melbourne Gold Record award as the producer of “Classic Jean Stafford”. 2006 was a big year for Col, and among his awards were, the 2006 England NCM Radio Mike Awards "Country Male Artist of the Year” in Australia & New Zealand, three awards in the Tasmanian and New Zealand Songwriters Contest and, an Award of Merit in the the 26^th Australian National Songwriting Contest.

In 2007 Col won the Male Vocalist of the Year” Award in the Tamworth on Parade Spectacular and was a Finalist in the 2007 Tamworth Songwriters Contest. In 2009 he won the Tamworth TIARA Awards “Bush Ballad of the Year” Award

So, here we are in 2015 with album number 33 - Hey Babe

Now according to Col he always wanted to release an album of "love" songs, but this album is a bit more than that. Yes all the tracks have a wonderful edge to them in regard to love and relationships but if you are expecting the "Moon, Spoon, June" type approach, you will be disappointed. Certainly there are some ballad style tracks, and the duets with Anne Hayward are good. Col has a voice that has matured really well with age and had over his forty five years or so of entertaining, has obviously fully understood the strengths and weaknesses of his vocal abilities and is able to find his niche while also being able to move through several styles of music. I'm not certain this album provides the full pallet of Col's musical style, but it certainly does provide sufficient to be able to provide one or more tracks for all tastes.



I have chosen five tracks to share and discuss with you. Now in avoiding the use of the word "love" in the title of the album I think he has not limited his potential buyers to only those who may be enticed by an album of love "ballads". In this album Col has cleverly assembled 15 tracks that deal with the emotions and the trials of relationships between couples but certainly from a stylistic point of view, not in a mono-dimensional way.Track one is "Hey Babe", which being the title of the album, makes it the track we might rightly expect to measure the album against. It kicks off in a manner that immediately reminded me of some of the ballads that came out of Motown, but with a touch of jazz - the track has a gentle but evocative opening with a bass, keyboards and guitar and it is enticing, and does encourage you in to listen to the lyrics. It is a story that involves the 'singer" talking about the many ways he is enchanted by his woman.

Hey babe, you really turn me on,
with every little thing you do
You really are so good to me,
I’m always thinkin’ of you

Hey babe, there is something about you,
that makes me want to love you more
Could it be the way you smile,
when I come through the door

CHORUS:

I can’t get enough of you, it’s magic that’s for sure
With sexy eye’s you look at me, I want you even, more and more

Hey babe, you are mine tonight,
you set my heart on fire
Have I really gone to far,
you are my one desire


Hey Babe

Track 2 is completely different to track number 1. It shows us that Col not only has a love for a more "rockin'" type tempo, but is really comfortable with presenting it in an "electro" environment. In doing so he still presents us with a "love song". Now the moment I heard it, it immediately reminded me stylistically, of some of the music style in a cult movie of the 1980's, called "Electric Dreams", which itself was a "love" based movie. "With You By My Side" kicks off with a nice uptempo beat and we are surprised to discover that it is actually a duo, featuring the vocals of Anne Haywood, who both shares the lead vocals and provides harmonies with Col.



What is abundantly clear is that these two are very comfortable with each other, a comfort that comes from working together over many years. Now Col declared to me that he is very much an average keyboard player, but there is a very nice piece of keyboard lead line throughout the track that doesn't support that declaration. This is one of my favourite tracks on the album.


With You By My Side.

We only have to move to track three for a different "feel"again. "Take Me back Down" is another uptempo ""Rockin" track, but is in the more traditional style that stands out from that first "Gerry Lee Lewis" piano style riff. Yes it still features an electric keyboard, and I have to be honest I would loved to have heard an electric guitar instead of the electric keyboard when it came to the lead line, but at the same time I would have kept the great piano playing. Despite that it is a fine track none-the-less.



Multi-tracking his own voice Col keeps the track moving along beautifully and is one of those tracks where after a few plays you find yourself singing along, as it has some great vocal "hooks"! I have to keep reminding myself that I am not listening to a room of studio musicians, I am listening to a "one-man-band", as Col is providing all the instrumentation.

Take me back down where the river flows
Take me back where I lived long ago
To see the fields where I use to play and the friends of my old school days
Where I meet the one love of my dreams it all keeps comin’ back to me

Chorus:
Take me back down where I wanna be take me back where the livin’ is easy
Take me back on down to the farm take me back to my baby’s arms

Hot summer nights we would go for a walk sit on the river bank and talk
Borrow a car and go for a drive we laughed so much until we cried
Well that’s all gone I feel alone,
I’ve just gotta get on back home

Chorus:

Take me back down where the river flows
Take me back where I lived long ago
To see the fields where I use to play and the friends of my old school days
Where I meet the one love of my dreams it all keeps comin’ back to me

Ad lib 12 bars

Take me back down where the river flows, take me back where I wanna go
Take me back on down to the farm, take me back down to my baby’s arms

Chorus x 2

This is a great dance track, but still fits comfortably into a general category of a "love song" as Col reminds him of a lifestyle that may have been in his past, one that brings him back to his girl and her arms.


Take Me Back Down

Track number 11 is "Some People" and is in the more traditional ballad style and is a sweet piece. Again featuring a duo with Anne Raymond it will be a sure winner with Col's legion of fans. It certainly does demonstrate Col's ability to put passion and meaning into his lyrics, and not just mouth the words, something that many much younger singers could take note of. His harmonies with Anne are really beautiful.


Some People

The final track that I will take note of is the final track - "A Rose In Winter". It's not always easy to put into words why a track reaches out and grabs you. This one surely grabbed me. I just love the opening introduction, and it is very reminiscent of the way the eagles would phrase many of their tracks - and that is high praise indeed. A beautiful acoustic/electric opening with basic drum and bass it is a song of reflection. It tells a story of a man in full reflection over the love of his life, his Rose in Winter. The song could so easily have turned into a maudlin mess, but Col finds a balance between reflective sadness and yet, the beauty of the memories of his lost love.

Sitting in a nursing home feeling oh so alone
Steering out the window on a winters day
Looking out into the mist thinking of you and how I missed
Our life before the Angels took you away

I remember when we were young the good times we had and all the fun
Seems like it was only yesterday
I never thought that it would end and I would lose my best friend
Memories are all I have today

Chorus:

A rose in winter wilts and fades away
If only I could see you, to love you another day
You were so beautiful and fair with your long flowing hair
A master piece of beauty so divine

We loved each other from the heart there was nothing could tear us apart
Now old memories lost in time

If I could have my time again there is nothing I would change but then
Life is a little short so it seems
Another day sitting here wishing that you were near
All I have left to do is dream

Chorus:

A rose in winter wilts and fades away
If only I could see you, to love you another day

Something once that you said still makes me laugh as I lay in bed
Thinking of the good times gone by
Looking back over the years I try hard to fight the tears
Wish you were here to wipe my eyes

Good night darling, I love you forever

If the country radio stations don't pick this track up and run with it - then our country music scene has indeed hit rock bottom. It is beautifully constructed lyric wise, the instrumentation is spot on and as I have already declared, Col's delivery, which is half song and half spoken - is so totally right.


A Rose In Winter

Col Millington is a man, as an artist, has been on a long journey that has spanned five decades. He may not be as well known outside the country music field as he should, but he certainly has developed a skill to communicate through his music, and touch his listeners. His ability to produce a quality finished product and to assemble and to list the tracks in an order that encourages us to take a journey with him, is a reflection of a man who has mastered his craft. From the beginning declaration of "Hey Babe . . .", right through to finishing off with a track that ties our journey through this album and indeed a journey through life, reflects the consummate all round artist.



Are there small faults in the album? Yes, some of the instrumentation - especially some of the keyboard sounds, can be a bit thin sometimes, but we overlook these because the overall quality of composition, delivery and production leads to me being able to openly say - if you are a country music fan, if you are a music person that enjoys stories of relationships, if you are a lover of australian music, then this album should sit proudly and comfortably on your shelf.

What is next for Col, well I'll leave him to make that declaration. As he said,"My passion is Music and to create new songs. At 66 I am not slowing down with three more Albums in the making at the moment. Country Music has been very good to me, but it is time to jump back over the fence and give Country a rest for a while. I have always greatly appreciated all the wonderful people who have helped me along the way."

Remember, it is hard enough to make a living from music in Australia, so please don't steal the music. I have provided medium quality MP3 samples of entire tracks with kind permission of the artist, of the music on this album, so you can get a feel for it - but if you like it, please buy it! Illegal downloading and copying is rife and when it comes to "Independent Artists", those who record and release on their own effort, it is tantamount to stealing from them and they need all the support they can get.

The album and tracks are not downloadable but can be easily ordered.

At a very reasonable price of $25.00, which includes postage they can be ordered directly from Col. Send the money by cheque or money order to; Col Millington. PO Box 707. Werribee. Vic 3030. Col can be contacted on - 0407 040318



The following video clip was made by Col and is of the feature track - Hey Babe