Off The Record

12/11/2025

The November/December issue of Rhythms Magazine, edited by me, is out now featuring Nick Corr's feature on Mick Thomas' Roving Commission as the cover story. You can subscribe or just buy the latest issue here: https://subscribe.rhythms.com.au/backissueSingle.aspx?id=59

11/11/2025

Paul Kelly played an exclusive fans show to launch his new album, 70, at Melbourne's Corner Hotel last night. Check out Nick Corr's review. Link in comments.

30/10/2025

This Saturday on Off The Record (rrr.org.au, 0900-1200 AEST) esteemed guitarist Blake Mills talks about his most recent collaboration with legendary bass player Pino Palladino. Also, Michael Mackenzie reviews Bruce Springsteen: Deliver me From Nowhere.

27/10/2025

Michael Goldberg reviews the new Dylan box set:

By Michael Goldberg. Bob Dylan’s Early Days: New 8 CD set focuses on Dylan’s transformation into the greatest songwriter of the 20th and 21st centuries. Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series Volume 18: Through the [...]

03/10/2025

Off The Record, Saturday October 4, 2025 (0900-1200AEST, rrr.org,au): Legendary guitarist Bill Frisell talks guitars, Fiona Boyes discusses the release of her Bluesfest 2004 show with Hubert Sumlin and Chris Wilson as guests.

26/09/2025

Saturday morning on Off The Record (rrr.org.au/102.7FM in Melbourne). Ron Sexsmith on his new album Hangover Terrace. Greg Johnson, Director of the Blues Archives at the University of Mississippi. Quality Used Cars in the studio.

25/09/2025

Off The Record Playlist, Saturday September 20, 2025
1. Guitars, Cadillacs – Dwight Yoakam (Cadillacs 2002 Remaster)
2. OTR INTRO Theme
3. Hillbilly Highway – Steve Earle (Guitar Town)
4. If I Needed You (Townes) – Emmylou Harris (Cimarron)
5. First it was a movie, then it was a book – Florry (Sounds Like…….)
6. America, Girl – Jesse Welles (Devils’ Den)
7. Rocks And Gravel (Solid Road) – Bob Dylan - (An Open Window, Bootleg Series Vol.18)
8. Stray Paper – Tift Merritt (Tambourine)
9. Good People - Hayes Carll (We’re Only Human)
10. Tools over Toys – Dee White (Heart Talkin’)
11. History – Mike Reid & Joe Henry (Life & Time)
12. Go On Down To Mobile – Bernie Leadon (Too Old To Be Cool)
13. Biscuit House (Radio edit) – Jordie Lane (Tropical Depression)
14. Cling to the Roots – Jimbo Mathus (Confederate Buddha)
15. Nobody Wants To Be Lonely – Robert Finley (Black Bayou)
16. Black Mattie – Black Keys (Delta Kream)
DEXTER EVANS (DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC, NASHVILLE) INTERVIEW SPECIAL
17. I Saw The Light – Fisk Jubilee Singers & Jimmy Hall – Celebrating Fisk!
18. I Believe – Keb Mo’ - Celebrating Fisk!
19. War Games – Joy Oladokun - Celebrating Fisk!
20. Allison Russell & Julian Taylor – Pathways (Pathways)
21. Margo Price – All American Made (All American Made)
22. Nashville Blues – Everly Brothers
JOSHUA HEDLEY SESSION
23. Boogie Woogie Tennessee
24. Out On The Prairie Wind
WATSON TWINS SESSION
25. Queen of The Broken Hearts
26. Never Be Another You
GIG GUIDE - KEN

18/09/2025

Dylan Bootleg Series Vol.18 on the way:

September 17, 2025—Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, will release Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series Volume 18: Through The Open Window, 1956-1963 on October 31, 2025. A preview of a [...]

16/09/2025

If you missed the Rodney Crowell interview last Saturday, or you couldn't listen because of the glitch we had, then here is it in its entirety:

Listen to RODNEY CROWELL OTR INTERVIEW 130925 by Brian Wise 1 on

16/09/2025

Here's my review of AmericanaFest 2025:

By Brian Wise. AMERICANAFEST Nashville, Tennessee – September 9-13, 2025 Running for just five days, AmericanaFest is a power-packed summation of the genre that combines club gigs with concerts in halls, arenas and an amphitheatre [...]

01/09/2025

Off The Record playlist: Saturday August 30, 2025.
01. Ambulance Blues – Neil Young – On The Beach (request) 1974
02. Amelia – Joni Mitchell – Hejira (1976) last week
03. Beautiful Strangers - Mavis Staples – Sad and Beautiful World
04. Why You Wanna Do Me Like That – Cha Wa (Mardi Gras Indian) & Irma Thomas – Rise Up
05. Lonely Avenue – Jon Batiste & Randy Newman – Bad Money
06. Everybody – Joan Shelley – Real Warmth (recorded in Canada)
07. Bob Dylan’s 115th Haircut – Ada Lea – When I Paint My Masterpiece
08. Gonna Be Lonely – Loretta Miller – SP
09. Sunday – Tracy Miller – SP
10. Meteor – Charm of Finches
GREGORY PORTER INTERVIEW
11. 1960 What - Water (2010)
12.The In Crowd – Liquid Spirit (2013)
13. My Babe (Willie Dixon for Little Walter)
14. What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye) – Donny Hathaway – Live
CELLAR OF SOUND
15. Viva Las Vegas ! – Doc Pomus – You Can’t Hip A Square
16. Boogie Woogie Country Girl (Pomus-Ashby) – Bob Dylan – Till The Night Is Gone: A Tribute To Doc Pomus
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
17. The Histories of Pliny The Elder – The Goons – BBC
18. Grimsby – Elton John – Caribou
19. Illusion – The Tubs – Cotton Crown
DUG INTERVIEW
Dug – appearing at Out On The Weekend and other gigs in October.
20. Have At It! - DUG
21. Livelong Day - DUG
22. Wheel of Fortune - DUG
23. Jubilee - DUG
24. Heaven Only Knows – Geraint Watkins – Rush of Blood
25. Gospel Plough – Robert Plant – Saving Grace
CASS McCOMBS INTERVIEW PART 1
26. Diamonds In The Mine – Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
27. Requiem for Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
28. Interior Live Oak – Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
29. Priestess – Cass McCombs – Interior Live Oak
Cass McCombs Interview Part 2 – next week.
GIG GUIDE – TIM THORPE
30. H***y Tonk Part 2 – Bill Doggett

25/08/2025

Off The Record Playlist. Saturday August 23. Radiothon Show #2.
1. My Happy Day – Geraint Watkins – Watkins Bold As Love
2. This Is Hip - John Lee Ho**er with Ry Cooder – The Best of Friends
3. Allen Toussaint – Medley – Live at Sea Saint Studios, New Orleans (1995)
4. Teasin’ You – Willie Tee – SP
5. The Promised Land (Berry) – Johnnie Allen
6. I’m On The Wonder – Jon Cleary – A Tribute To The King of Zydeco
7. John Martyn Interview Excerpt (1983)
8. May You Never -John Martyn – For Ken on his birthday
9. Amelia – Joni Mitchell – Hejira
10. Won’t Back Down – Lucinda Williams – Running Dwon A Dream
11. Meteor – Mabel & Ivy (Charm of Finches) – Live In The Studio
12. Try My Best – Mabel & Ivy (Charm of Finches) – Live In The Studio
13. Old Tape – Lucius – Lucius
14. Street Scenes From My Heart – Andy White – Live In The Studio
15. Angel of Gaza – Andy White – Live In The Studio
16. Rita Wrote A Letter – Paul Kelly
17. Lonely Night In The Park – Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run (Outtake)
18. Louis Perez & David Hidalgo – Interview Excerpt – House of Blues, New Orleans
19. I Got Loaded – Los Lobos – Live At JazzFest 2019
20. Rose Tattoo – Jodi Phillis with Shane O’Mara – Live From The Lomond
21. Face In The Mirror – Barb Waters with Shane O’Mara – Live From The Lomond
22. Move If You Think It’s Alright – Barb Waters with Shane O’Mara – Live From The Lomond