Flesh and Wood - Song by Song

We've bought it, we've played it to death, we've decided which tracks are our personal favourites, we've even worked out who's who in most of the photos - but what's the story behind it? With thanks to Mushroom for letting us rifle through their press releases and cuttings, here's what we found out - Firstly - the official line:

'His previous albums encompassed a whole spectrum of musical styles, from rock to rhythm & blues to soul, and with the release of Flesh and Wood, Jimmy Barnes' musical style was seen to take on a new dimension, with the focus more than ever on his vocal style. "Rather than just do an unplugged album I wanted to do an album that was stylistically acoustic - an album that gave me room to move. And I knew that to sing like this I had to make sure I had great songs"'

The finished album boasted not only great songs, but the contributions of an impressive number of well-respected songwriters and performers - Joe Cocker, Deborah Conway, Archie Roach, Diesel, The Badloves, Don Walker, Tommy Emmanuel, Chris Bailey & Ross Wilson, combining to make a unique collection of recordings - here's the rundown song by song.

It Will Be Alright

Canadian guitarist Jeff Neill has been an integral part of the Jimmy Barnes phenomenon since their first meeting in 1986. Neill has performed with Jimmy both in the studio and on the road since the Barnestorming days and the song writing partnership which subsequently developed has gone from strength to strength as evident in this co-written album opener.

The Weight

Written by Robbie Robertson and recorded by The Band in 1968. The Weight is given a new lease of life by uniting Jimmy's voice with the pure vocals of Michael Spiby and the musical and harmonic talents of the Badloves. The melding of a classic song, a veteran performer and one of Australia's newest and best bands has resulted in a reinvented classic.

Ride the Night Away

This track was written by Bruce Springsteen's guitarist Miami Steve Van Zandt for Jimmy's acclaimed Working Class Man album. " The first version I heard was just Steve and an acoustic guitar and I always thought that an acoustic version did the song more justice"

Guilty

It's no secret that Joe Cocker and Jimmy Barnes both have powerful voices but on this Randy Newman song these 2 r'n'r' screamers reveal their ability to sing emotive blues. "I wanted to work with different singers and someone suggested Joe Cocker. I was always a big fan of his - he's a great singer and we all know he's got a big gravelly voice, but in person you realise how big singer he is."

You Can't Make Love Without a Soul

Jeff Neill & Ross Wilson both combine their song writing talents with Jimmy on this song. One of the first tracks written for the album and once again, featuring Neill's driving acoustic guitar, it is a soulful, dynamic blending of their talents.

Hell of A Time

An icon of Australia's music industry, Ross Wilson is an esteemed songwriter, singer, producer and performer. A long-time friend of Jimmy's and a frequent song writing collaborator. Ross Wilson joins Jimmy on vocals on this ode to life. "It was sort of unintentional really. When I started doing the acoustic album I wanted to write with Ross (Wilson), and Ross came up with a song and it just suited the mood. Hell of a time, It sounded like two singers sitting there talking about what they'd done in the past"

Brother of Mine

Further confirmation of the calibre of artists on this album. Australia's premier guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel contributes to this song. His magical guitar playing and song writing talents are further enhanced by Jimmy's heartfelt vocals on this bittersweet song.

Fade to Black

When choosing songs for the album Jimmy was constantly looking for songs that were strong acoustically. This song was a collaboration between Jimmy and Chris Bailey (ex The Saints) for the Two Fires album and is a Barnes/Bailey classic rock song.

Flame Trees

This Australian anthem needs no introduction and no description - it is etched in the minds of the majority of Australia's contemporary music lovers. Penned by the grand master of song writing, Don Walker, and fellow Cold Chisel members Steve Prestwich when Chisel were at their peak, Jimmy has been including the song in his live performances for several years and delivers the powerful lyrics with the same passion as he did a decade ago.

Still Got A Long Way To Go

Diesel has transformed from the shy frontman of Johnny Diesel and the Injectors into a charismatic solo performer and an accomplished songwriter. A musical prodigy, Diesel joined forces with Jimmy around the time of the Freight Train Heart album and it was to be the

Still On Your Side

Jimmy's third solo album, Freight Train Heart, released in 1987 revealed his ability to write and sing well-crafted, sophisticated rock songs. Co-written by Jimmy, Still On Your Side is yet another great song that reveals its strengths in acoustic form.

Stone Cold

The singer/songwriter relationship between Don Walker and Jimmy Barnes was a fundamental basis of Cold Chisel and the long awaited uniting of their talents on Jimmy's last album Heat was a unique moment in Australia's rock'n'roll history. "I've always thought Don was a fantastic piano player. He has a certain style - it\rquote s his choice of notes and the way that he chooses his chords. When I hear the song I knew I had to perform it with Don on piano." The result is a lyrically simple but painfully honest ballad, as only Don Walker could write and only Jimmy Barnes could sing.

Let It Go

When Jimmy first heard this song written by Ross Wilson and Rick Brewster he knew it had to be a duet, and knew it had to be with a woman. Michael Gudinski suggested Deborah Conway, a premier singer/songwriter in her own right, and the resulting song has a certain vulnerability due to the melding of these two stylistically different voices.

We Could Be Gone

Who better to join Jimmy on a song about communication and racial harmony between black and white Australians than the highly talented Archie Roach. "I wanted to work with Archie because I love his voice. He is a great songwriter and a great guy." Co-written by Jimmy with Jeff Neill and Tony Brock, the song is a blend of Celtic and Aboriginal rhythms that is a musically and lyrically powerful song about reconciliation.

Love Me Tender

This Elvis Presley ballad is another world-wide classic that Jimmy first performed at his brother-in-law Diesel's wedding. "It was a special moment for me, and the song is such an intimate and simple statement of love. I though it was the perfect close to the album."

Flesh and Wood is a rare album born out of mutual respect and admiration - a collection of songs that are the culmination of some of Australia's most revered art ists doing what they do best, creating music. And Jimmy Barnes doing what he does best - delivering the goods.

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