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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Charles Jenkins & The Amateur Historians have crammed a lot of history into just six months: a clutch of superb new songs inspired by Melbourne past and present; two sold-out shows at Fitzroy and Northcote Town Halls; two limited-edition albums; and now a “best of” collection!

    If you weren’t lucky enough to attend one or both of the Amateur Historians’ gigs, then this new release “The Past Is Never Where You Think You Left It” presents an accurate historical record: 14 of the trio’s songs captured in the studio very much as they were performed live with tasty playing, clever but economical arrangements and brilliant, soaring harmonies.

    It’s hard to pick favourites, but “The Melbourne Eye” is an instant Jenkins classic and sets the tone for what follows. Likewise, the melodies and heartfelt lyrics of “Beautiful William” (a love song to escaped convict William Buckley), "Blue Lagoon" (a lament for the long-lost wetlands just west of the city) and “This Is How You Say Goodbye” make them moving and memorable.

    “Dennis” is whimsically romantic, and I love the only-in-Melbourne humour of “Hook Turn”, “Victoria Market” and “Little Audrey”, and the wacky gold rush romp of “The Theatre Royale”.

    Not surprisingly I have a soft spot for “Stephen Street”, a rocking exposé of Melbourne’s dark Victorian underbelly. “Trams of Love” and “Statues of Melbourne” tell tales of petty street crime, and the spoken-word piece “Beneath the Maniacal King” brings the childhood horrors of Luna Park's Giggle Palace flooding back.

    But “Chloe” is truly chilling, the tragedy of the story behind the iconic painting told simply and compellingly, with a bitter edge to the refrain.

    Let’s hope this great selection keeps the wolf from the door while Charles Jenkins, David Andrew Milne and Douglas Lee Robertson regroup for another history-making live performance in the not-too-distant future.

    Stephen Downes
    Touch My History / Batmania, 3RRR-FM

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Past is Never Where You Think You Left It via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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lyrics

If I were to ever wait in the rain
I’d wait in the rain at Dennis
If I were to ever catch a train
I’d catch the train at Dennis
And If I were to ever cause you pain
I’d promise not to do it again
I’d make those promises promises
On the platform at Dennis

If I were to ever catch the bus
I’d catch the bus to Dennis
If I were to ever think of the two of us
I’d think about us at Dennis
And If I were to get down on my knee
Well you know where that would be
I’d make those promises promises
On the platform at Dennis

Aint it good good good to know?

And when the crossing bells ring loud and true
Well you know where they lead me to
I’d make those promises promises
On the platform at Dennis

Aint it good good good to know?

I’d make those promises promises
On the platform at Dennis

credits

from The Past is Never Where You Think You Left It, released December 12, 2014

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about

Charles Jenkins Melbourne, Australia

Charles Jenkins is a Melbourne songwriter/musician, producer, performer and teacher with more than 30 years experience in the Australian Music Industry.

He has released 21 albums and been nominated for 2 ARIA awards with the Icecream Hands. In 2014 he won the AGE/Music Victoria award for best folk/roots album.

Charles has a Masters In Music and is an Ambassador for APRA/AMCOS.
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