A new ‘best of’ album out on May 19 and a greatest hits tour around Australia in July sees Murray revisiting an illustrious career.
I was one of the first music journalists to interview Murray, back in 2003. I recall Sony Music taking me out to a special luncheon to hear an advance of the album, and later interviewing the label’s new signing, Pete Murray.
“I do remember you telling me that the album was going to be successful, but I didn’t believe you,” Murray told me recently.
“It is funny now thinking back to that day, as it only seems like it was a couple of years ago, and now I’m releasing my ‘best of’.
“I have always said that I feel very blessed to have a career in the music industry, as it is definitely one of the hardest industries to crack.
“I also made a lifestyle choice when I started to play music, as I wanted to find a job that would give me time and take me around the world.
“At first, I didn’t know what that job was, all I knew was that I wanted to have a job I loved so it never felt like work.”
For Murray, persistence and learning to trust his gut instinct helped him navigate the business.
“You really have to follow your own instinct,” he said.
“Whenever I haven’t, I have regretted it.
“The same goes for being persistent.
“At some stage in your career you will be the only one that believes in your own music.
“You will get a lot of nos before you get a yes, so you need to have a never-give-up attitude.”
Murray was last in Shepparton in 2017 where he performed at Eastbank, but can recall his first ever show in the city in the early 2000s.
“It was in a small bar and there were about 80 people there,” he said.
“I loved it, but I loved all those early shows where no-one knows you.”
One of the tracks that will feature on the ‘best of’ is Opportunity, which is one of my favourite Murray songs. For a song that Murray wrote in only two days, it has gone on to become an inspiring and motivational song for many.
“I am very proud of this song and how it continues to inspire people to make a change in their life,” he said.
“I have had so many people tell me this song has inspired change in their life, which is amazing to hear.
“I guess some people never really think about what they can achieve in life, they get stuck in a place of unhappiness or compliancy.
“This song tells you do not fear change, and it makes people re-evaluate who they are, where they are in life and what they are doing.
“I’m a big believer that you can achieve whatever you want at whatever age you are, as it’s never too late!”
Music news
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Prince fans can rejoice with the news that previously unreleased music from the late superstar’s famous vault is set to be released next month. And in his hometown of Minneapolis, Prince is about to get a road renamed after him, the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Hwy.
Eleven years after their last studio album, Swedish garage rockers The Hives make a welcome return to the music scene with the release of their new album, The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, which hits stores on August 11.
Behind the song: Electric Blue (1987), Icehouse
Icehouse main man Iva Davies, in a past interview with me, tells the story of this Aussie classic number one hit, which was co-written with John Oates of US pop-rock duo Hall & Oates.
“John came over to my studio in Sydney and created a guide drum track using some Linn drums and I came up with a set of chords and a keyboard sound and then he added guitars. We then had a melody for the verse but no words, though we had part of the melody and lyrics for the chorus and the title. I filled in all the blanks later,” Davies said.
“John was incredibly astute because, even though it was in quite a rough bones state, he was utterly convinced it would be a hit. So much so that he made me promise it would get recorded and be brought out as a single. If I didn’t follow through, he insisted that Hall & Oates would put it out as single. He had an incredible ear for what was going to be a hit, yet I couldn’t hear it at all!”
Fun fact
Did you know 1970s disco group Village People performed in Shepparton at the GV Hotel in 1982 in support of their Renaissance album? It was a huge departure musically, and saw the band with a completely new image.
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