Australia is kind of off to itself. So many of it’s artists are homebound. Sometimes a truth is so universal that it transcends. Who after all can not comprehend the tragedy of a pub with no beer. So slip on your cowboy hat, fill your pipe, take your first sip of beer and gather around the campfire. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
I am a not so sure about the use of a black and white portrait of Slim Dusty. It was probably how people remembered him and was used for all of this long series of stamps of Australian legends. In 2001, Slim Dusty was still with us and so colour might have emphasized that. Oh well, Australia got to see him the year before in colour performing “Waltzing Matilda” at the closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympics.
Todays stamp is issue A522, a 45 cents stamp issued by Australia on January 25th, 2001. Slim Dusty’s issue of the Australian legends series comprised two stamps. According to the 2020 edition of the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $1 used. The 2017 edition of the catalog had the same value. Late USA President Ford would have been happy to know that inflation is so thoroughly whipped. Stamp collectors can be excused for hoping for higher prices.
Slim Dusty was born as David Kilpatrick in Nulla Nulla Creek in New South Wales in 1927. He wrote his first song at age 10 and took the stage name Slim Dusty at 11. His songs built on the tradition of Australian Bush poet and in them you can hear echoes of wild dingoes and ex convict swagmen of an earlier time.
In 1957 he had his biggest hit with “A Pub with no Beer”. You can watch him perform it in more modern times here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb1Pzo4ZMPk . It was the first Australian Gold Record. It was also heard in the USA and the UK. Belgian artist Bobbejaan Schoepen did versions in Flemish and German that saw the song become a big hit in central Europe. See here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDGFxdwdvoM.
The move toward pop and rock in the 1960s meant Slim Dusty got ever less play on the radio. Slim and his manager wife started an annual 10 month circle tour of Australia that was still quite successful. In the 70s his newer music took in the trucker scene in fashion then that Slim must have felt a kinship with all the traveling. In 2003 Slim Dusty died and was awarded a state funeral. The Anglican head clergy of Australia lead the mourners including several Prime Ministers in a rendition of “A Pub with no Beer”.
Well my drink is empty and beer is not usually my favorite, but just this once, I will have another. Come Again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.