Col Edmonds

I was born on the 14th January 1938 and lived with my parents and family on a cane farm 28kms north of Mackay, Queensland. In those days radio stations played country music on radio every morning. It was listening to those programs that got me hooked on country music. At age 14 I bought a second hand guitar and taught myself to play, there were no teachers round in those days, so a songbook with some chords in it was all I had. After 3 months I was able to accompany myself enough to sing a few songs. Buddy Williams was the first man I saw play a guitar, when he came to town with his show. After sitting in the front row and watching him play, I was very pleased to know that I was doing it the same way he was. At 17 years of age I made my first public appearance at local dances. Rodeos were big in those days and I sang at many of them. The cabaret scene then came along and I was one of the pioneers of these events in the Mackay area. I still do hotel work to this day, but I insist any music I play must be COUNTRY. I've worked with with several bands throughout the years at a wide range of venues.

In 1977 I won the Barcoo Bush Ballads Awards for song writing with "I'd Like To Be" and second with a song called "A Truckies Lament". I also won the Charters Towers section with a song called "The Farmers Song". Later on I won with another song called "Daylight Saving." In 1980 I made my first recording, "Country Songs and Bush Ballads" on LP record and Cassette. Then came "Middle Of The Road" also on LP and Cassette.. I recorded 12 more original songs on Cassete only and called that album "40 Years Of Country".

My first CD was called "No More Rattle Of The Chains". (also released on Cassette) was all original songs. My second CD is called "Through The Years". This is a selection of the best country songs from my 4 earlier albums. This has been inspired by so many requests for these songs at the Tamworth Country Music Festival over the past few years. I have had many offers to go on the road, but farming commitments have always stopped that. Thoughout the years I have been lucky enough to have worked with most big names, many I call good friends. Country music has always played a big part of my life, with so many performances throughout these last 45 or so years. I have had the pleasure to judge at many Country Music Festivals in the North of the State.

In 2003 I released another CD only album "My Kinda Country". This album was made for those people who like to remember the good old songs of yesterday, as I say, the songs we grew up on. This album features Derek Thorpe on steel guitar. Sadly this was the last time Derek was to play, as he passed away shortly after our first recording session. Derek didn't hear the final mix. More recently, album number 7 "Mustering Season" also on CD only, was released at the 2004 Tamworth Country Music Festival on Tuesday 20th January. This album containes 6 originals and 6 country classics. This album was produced by Lindsay Waddington on the Kross Kut Records label. SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS OF THE TRACKS.

I guess the future holds much the same, sing anywhere, someone will listen. More recordings, more festivals. My ambition is to one day retire from farming and spend my last few years playing Country Music to the many people who enjoy listening to it. So until then,
Keep it country.
Yours in country

My Kinda Country - - - Through The Years - - - No More Rattle Of The Chains
Middle Of The Road - Forty Years Of Country - Country Songs & Bush Ballads

"Mustering Season"

1. Mustering Season...Joyce Stewart
2. Someone To Love again...Reg Jenner
.........................(Duet With Cathy Diete)
3. Over Hill Top And Hollow...Stanley Robinson
4. Good Ole Highway One...Tex Johnson
5. When The Currawongs Come Down
...............................................Ernie Constance
6. Relics Of The Past...Val Daley and Slim Dusty
7. One Man Band...Tex Johnson
8. Overlander Trail...Roy Darling
9. Pride Of The Outback...Tex Johnson
10. Ole Time Country Halls...Slim Dusty
11. Toast To The Pioneer Valley...Tom Oliver
12. Catchin Yellow Belly...Stan Coster

The Musicians:....Charley Boyter, Lindsay Waddington, John Kilcullen, Glenn Jones, Dean Perrett, Col Edmonds (Guitars)
Neil Buttsworth (Bass) Lindsay Waddington (Drums/Percussion) Hugh Curtis, Mykl Lozin (Fiddle)
Mark Moulynox (Peddle Steel/Dobro),Lindsay Waddington (Mandolin) Mark Moulynox, Lindsay Waddington (Banjo)
Kay Waddington (Piano), Cathy Diete, Rick Gay, Neil Buttsworth (Harmonies)

Mustering Season - - - Through The Years - - - No More Rattle Of The Chains
Middle Of The Road - Forty Years Of Country - Country Songs & Bush Ballads

"My Kinda Country"

1. Born To Lose.....(Unknown)
2. Smoke Along The Track.....(Unknown)
3. Lamplighting Time In The Valley.....(Lyons, Hart & The Vagabonds)
4. Suvla Bay.....(Spade)
5. City Lights.....(Unknown)
6. The Plains Of Pepermanati.....(Slim Dusty)
7. When The Rain Tumbles Down In July.....(Slim Dusty)
8. Book Of Memories.....(Unknown)
9. Losing You Again.....(Unknown)
10. Promised To John.....(Carter & Kilgore)
11. All Over Again.....(Unknown)
12. I'll Leave This World Loving You.....(Unknown)
13. The Wild Side Of Life.....(Unknown)
14. Don't Let Me Cross Over.....(Unknown)
15. We've Done Us Proud.....(Graeme Connors)

MUSICIANS.....John Kilcullen (Lead & Rhythm Guitars) Col Edmonds (Rhythm Guitar)
John Quinn, Kev Zunker on tracks 2, 4 & 7 (Bass Guitar)
Susan Mora (Fidddle) Derek Thorpe (Steel Guitar) Ken Ray (Harmonica) Steve Blain (Piano)
Noel Durnsford (Drums) John & Avon Kilcullen Debbie Keating (Guest Artists)

Mustering Season - - - My Kinda Country - - - No More Rattle Of The Chains
Middle Of The Road - Forty Years Of Country - Country Songs & Bush Ballads

"Through The Years"

1. Social Service Cowboy.....(Unknown)
2. The One Who Takes Me Home.....(Unknown)
3. Annie Johnson.....(Unknown)
4. Just Walk Away.....(Unknown)
5. 40 Years Of Country.....(Slim Jones)
6. I'd Like To Be.....(Unknown)
7. Back To Marble Bar.....(Slim Jones)
8. My Old Squatters Chair.....(Unknown)
9. I Recall A Gypsy Woman.....(Unknown)
10. All I Had To Do Was Walk In.....(Unknown)
11. A Trucker's Son.....(Col Edmonds)
12. Little By Little.....(Unknown)
13. The Man With All The Gold.....(Unknown)
14. How Much Heaven.....(Unknown)
15. No More Rattle Of The Chains.....(Slim Jones)
16. Jonsie's Bull.....(Unknown)
17. A Good Australian Song.....(Col Edmonds)
18. Belyando River.....(Tom Oliver)

"Mustering Season" - "My Kinda Country" - "Through The Years"
"Middle Of The Road" - "Forty Years Of Country" - "Country Songs & Bush Ballads"

"No More Rattle Of The Chains"

1. Back To Marble Bar.....(Slim Jones)
2. An April Morn.....(Tom Oliver & John Kilcullen)
3. The Farmer's Song.....(Col Edmonds)
4. A Trucker's Son.....(Col Edmonds)
5. The Rose On The Wall.....(Tom Oliver)
6. Lay Claim To Your Country.....(Tom Oliver)
7. No More Rattle Of The Chain.....(Slim Jones)
8. Belyano River.....(Tom Oliver)
9. Old Cattle Camps.....(Tom Oliver)
10. Please Don't Go To Fiji.....(Slim Jones)
11. A Good Austrlian Song.....(Col Edmonds)
12. King Dusty.....(Tom Oliver)

MUSICIANS......John Kilcullen (Lead & Acoustic Guitars, Ukelele), John Quinn (Bass Guitar)
Col Edmonds & Megan Jenkins (Rhythm Guitar), Allison Ellwood (Keyboards),
Steve Blain (Piano), Rhonda Bates (Piano Accordion) Gary Stains (Drums),
Bill Needham (Bugle), Merle Edmonds (Chains), Shanene Moore (Maracas)

"Mustering Season" - "My Kinda Country" - "No More Rattle Of The Chains"
"Through The Years" - "Forty Years Of Country" - "Country Songs & Bush Ballads"

"Middle Of The Road"

1. Middle Of The Road.....(Unknown)
2. Bed Of Roses.....(Unknown)
3. Annie Johnson.....(Unknown)
4. Lucielle.....(Unknown)
5. Camooweal.....(Unknown)
6. Blanket On The Ground.....(Unknown)
7. I Recall A Gypsy Woman.....(Unknown)
8. Good Hearted Woman.....(Unknown)
9. Lights On The Hill.....(Unknown)
10. Stranger.....(Unknown)
11. Social Service Cowboy.....(Unknown)
12. I Didn't Jump The Fence.....(Unknown)

MUSICIANS......Barry Thornton (Lead & Acoustic Guitars), Malcolm Cole (Fiddle), Sam Pace (Piano)
Keith Sephton (Harmonica), Geoff Walsh (Bass Guitar), Doug Stewart (Drums)
Col Edmonds (Rhythm Guitar), Julie Garland Barry Thornton & Col Edmonds (Harmonies)

Mustering Season" - My Kinda Country" - No More Rattle Of The Chains"
Through The Years" - Middle Of The Road" - Country Songs & Bush Ballads"

"Forty Years Of Country"

1. Daylight Saving.....(Col Edmonds)
2. The Kid From Off The Hill.....(Slim Jones)
3. All I Had To Do Was Walk In.....(Slim Jones)
4. The Old FJ.....(Slim Jones)
5. Dark Boy From The Wild.....(Slim Jones)
6. How Much Heaven.....(Slim Jones)
7. Little By Little.....(Slim Jones)
8. Forty Years Of Country.....(Slim Jones)
9. The One Who Tucks Me In.....(Slim Jones)
10. Jonsie's Bull.....(John Kilcullen)
11. A New Pair Of Shoes.....(Slim Jones)
12. Me And My Didjeridoo.....(Slim Jones)

MUSICIANS......John Lilcullen (Lead Guitar), Col Edmonds (Rhythm Guitar),
Avon Kilcullen & Kev Bowen (Guitar), Bob Alaway (Steel Guitar), Maria Perry (Bass Guitar),
Lindsay Waddington. (David Garland on track 5) (Drums), Steve Blain (Piano), Dale Platz (Fiddle & Mandolin),
Bann Getano (Didjeridoo), Matthew Edmonds, David Garland (Clap Sticks), Robyn Geiger (Harmonies track 9)

Mustering Season" - - - My Kinda Country" - - - Through The Years
No More Rattle Of The Chains - Middle Of The Road - Forty Years Of Country

"Country Songs & Bush Ballads"

1. I'd Like To Be.....(Col Edmonds)
2. Finney's Home Brew.....(Tom Oliver)
3. Philadelphia Lawyer.....(Jack Guthrie)
4. Nebo Pub.....(Tom Oliver)
5. I Keep On Missing You.....(Reg Jenner)
6. My Old Squatters Chair.....(Tom Oliver)
7. Truckies Lament.....(Col Edmonds)
8. Just Walk Away.....(Col Edmonds)
9. The Girl On The Dance Hall Floor.....(Kevin King)
10. The Man With All The Gold.....(Col Edmonds)
11. Ninety Miles An Hour.....(Don Robertson & Hal Blair)
12. Down On The Farm.....(Reg Jenner)

Only Available On LP Record & Cassette

MUSICIANS......Bob Gregory (Lead Guitar & Acoustic Guitar), Slim Jones (Bass Guitar & Harmonica)
Col Edmonds (Rhythm Guitar), Doug Stewart (Drums), Alan Cann (Piano)

BIOGRAPHY

ALBUMS