Slim and I

Last updated

Slim and I
Directed by Kriv Stenders
Produced byChris Brown
James Arneman
Aline Jacques
Starring Slim Dusty and Joy McKean
CinematographyEvan Papageorgiou
Edited byKarryn de Cinque
Music by
  • Julian Abrahams
  • Munro Melano
Distributed by Screen Australia
Universal Pictures (Australia)
Release date
10 September 2020
Running time
106 mins
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Slim and I is a 2020 Australian documentary film directed by Kriv Stenders about the life of Joy McKean and Slim Dusty, Australia's most successful husband and wife singer-songwriter duo.

Contents

Making of the documentary

The documentary came about through the passion of Slim and Joy's grandson James Arneman, who had compiled an archive of old footage of the families touring days. The family was approached by film producer Chris Brown before director Kriv Stenders joined the project. Stenders said "The idea to tell their story through the lens of Joy was something that I found very interesting about this project and made me want to be involved the documentary. I knew very little about Slim and Joy, but I listened to their music and read the books about their lives and discovered such an incredible story that needed to be told." [1]

Cinematic launch

Slim and I was released in Australian cinemas in September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the film's release in the State of Victoria. The world première took place in Kempsey, New South Wales, close to where Slim Dusty grew up. The Governor of New South Wales Margaret Beazley attended the red carpet event, along with the Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey and Kempsey Shire Mayor Liz Campbell. Joy McKean also attended along with children Anne and David Kirkpatrick, director Kriv Stenders and producer Aline Jacques. The film reached Australian cinemas on 10 September 2020. [2]

Critical reception

Following its Australian premiere, the film received rave reviews. The Sydney Morning Herald's Paul Byrnes gave it four stars and called it "pure joy, in more ways than one". [3] The Australian newspaper review by Stephen Romei called it a "brilliant love story" and an "utterly charming film", and also gave four stars. [4] Anthony Morris for Screenhub gave it four stars and wrote: "This fast moving, insightful and always entertaining film is firmly a tribute to Joy, and rightly so: if Slim Dusty was 'the man who is Australia', she was the woman who made the man." [5] Out in Perth gave it four and a half stars and wrote "After viewing this very Australian story, you are left questioning why this wasn’t made years ago." [6]

Awards and nominations

AwardDate of CeremonyCategoryResultRef(s)
Gold Coast Film Festival Awards2020Best Australian FilmWon [1]

Soundtrack

Slim and I
Slim and I soundtrack.png
Soundtrack album by
Slim Dusty and various artists
Released4 September 2020
Genre Country
Label EMI Music
Slim Dusty albums chronology
Prime Movers (Slim Dusty)
(2016)
Slim and I
(2020)

A soundtrack was released on 4 September 2020.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Prologue"   
2."I Dont Believe You" Small Town Romance featuring Anne Kirkpatrick  
3."A Lifetime on the Road (Interview)"  Joy McKean  
4."When I First Saw the Lovelight in Your Eyes" (1995 version) Slim Dusty with Joy McKean 
5."Music & Belonging (Interview)"  Troy Cassar-Daley  
6."The Biggest Disappointment" (acoustic) Troy Cassar-Daley 
7."Learning To Sing (Interview)" Joy McKean 
8."Moonrise Lullaby" Joy McKean and Heather McKean 
9."Slim Jumps the Shark (Interview)"  Dobe Newton  
10."When the Rain Tumbles Down in July" (1998 Remaster) Slim Dusty 
11."Cinematic Songwriting (Interview) - Paul Kelly"  Paul Kelly  
12."Indian Pacific" (1998 Remaster) Slim Dusty 
13."Keen Young Songwriters (Interview)" Joy McKean 
14."My Hometown" Joy McKean and Heather McKean 
15."Slim's Courtship of Joy (Interview)" Joy McKean and Heather McKean 
16."What's It Gonna Cost Me" Joy McKean 
17."Kasey Chambers & Bill Chambers (Interview) and "Walk a Country Mile Excerpt"" (Acoustic)  Kasey Chambers & Bill Chambers  
18."Touring Begins in 1954 (Interview)" Joy McKean 
19."Closest Thing to Freedom" Slim Dusty 
20."Origins of "A Pub With No Beer" (Interview)" Joy McKean 
21."A Pub With No Beer" (Soundtrack Version)
  • Gordon Parsons
Slim Dusty and Gordon Parsons  
22."Memories of the Showgrounds (Interview)"  Don Walker  
23."Whiplash" Slim Dusty 
24."Leaving the Showgrounds (Interview)" Joy McKean 
25."Losin' My Blues Tonight" (Soundtrack Version) Slim Dusty 
26."Writing and Performing on Country (Interview)" Gayle Kennedy 
27."Plains of Peppimenarti" (1998 Remaster) Slim Dusty 
28."Music At Odds With the Lyrics (Interview)" Paul Kelly 
29."Lights on the Hill" (1998 Remaster) Slim Dusty 
30."A Voice for Rural People (Interview)" Joy McKean 
31."Further Out" Slim Dusty 
32."Writing for Slim (Interview)" Bill Chambers 
33."Things Are Not the Same on the Land" (acoustic) Bill Chambers 
34."Simple Songs (Interview)"  Missy Higgins  
35."The Biggest Disappointment" Missy Higgins and Dan Sultan  
36."Epilogue (Interview)" Joy McKean 
37."One Helluva Song" Slim Dusty 

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart performance of Slim and I
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [7] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)Position
Australian Top Country (ARIA) [8] 21

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelCatalogue
Australia4 September 2020 [9]
EMI Music 0748837

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slim Dusty</span> Australian country music singer-songwriter (1927–2003)

Slim Dusty, AO MBE was an Australian country music singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He was an Australian cultural icon, referred to universally as Australia's King of Country Music and one of the country's most awarded stars, with a career spanning nearly seven decades and producing numerous recordings. He was known to record songs in the legacy of Australia, particularly of bush life and renowned Australian bush poets Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson that represented the lifestyle. The music genre was coined the "bush ballad", a style first made popular by Buddy Williams, the first artist to perform the genre in Australia, and also for his many trucking songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slim Dusty discography</span>

Slim Dusty, (1927-2003) was an Australian country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, who during his career released 122 records

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Urban</span> Australian-American singer (born 1967)

Keith Lionel Urban is an Australian and American singer, guitarist, and songwriter known for his work in country music. Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban also received fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Jim Reeves International Award, thirteen CMA Awards, and six ARIA Music Awards. Urban wrote and performed the song "For You" from the film Act of Valor, which earned him nominations at both the 70th Golden Globe Awards and at the 18th Critics' Choice Awards in the respective Best Original Song categories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian country music</span> Genre of popular music from Australia

Australian country music is a part of the music of Australia. There is a broad range of styles, from bluegrass, to yodeling to folk to the more popular. The genre has been influenced by Celtic and English folk music, the Australian bush ballad tradition, as well as by popular American country music. Themes include: outback life, the lives of stockmen, truckers and outlaws, songs of romance and of political protest; and songs about the "beauty and the terror" of the Australian bush.

Anne Kirkpatrick is an Australian country music singer. She is the daughter of country singers Slim Dusty and Joy McKean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reg Lindsay</span> Musical artist

Reginald John Lindsay OAM was an Australian country music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and radio and television personality. He won three Golden Guitar Awards and wrote more than 500 songs in his 50-year music career. Lindsay recorded over 65 albums and 250 singles. Reg made his first trip to Nashville in June 1968 and recorded his first Nashville EP on this historic trip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joy McKean</span> Australian country music singer-songwriter (1930–2023)

Mildred Geraldine Joy Kirkpatrick, known professionally as Joy McKean, was an Australian country music singer-songwriter and wife and manager of Slim Dusty. Her daughter is country singer and musician Anne Kirkpatrick.

"Lights on the Hill" is an Australian country music hit song written by Joy McKean and made famous by her husband, Slim Dusty. It won the first Golden Guitar in January 1973 at the Country Music Awards of Australia, held in Tamworth. It has been covered by Keith Urban and Mental as Anything.

<i>The Slim Dusty Movie</i> 1984 Australian film

The Slim Dusty Movie is a 1984 Australian feature film directed by Rob Stewart and starring Slim Dusty, Joy McKean, Jon Blake and Mary Charleston.

<i>Boxing Day</i> (2007 film) 2007 Australian film

Boxing Day is a 2007 Australian film directed by Kriv Stenders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kriv Stenders</span> Australian writer, producer and director

Kriv Stenders is an Australian writer, producer and director best known for the film Red Dog and the thriller film Kill Me Three Times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan (Slim Dusty song)</span> 1980 single by Slim Dusty

"Duncan" is an Australian single recorded in 1980 by Slim Dusty which reached No. 1 on the Kent Music Report charts for two weeks in early 1981. The song was Dusty's second-most successful single after "A Pub with No Beer". It is also known as "Beer with Duncan", "Have a Beer with Duncan" and "I Love to Have a Beer with Duncan". It was written by Pat Alexander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellbrook, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Bellbrook is a locality in the Kempsey Shire of New South Wales, Australia along the Macleay River. The mountain village is classified by the National Trust as a heritage village and is part of the Macleay Valley Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Homewood, Bellbrook</span> House and farm in New South Wales, Australia

Homewood is a heritage-listed house and farm at 1279 Nulla Nulla Creek Road, Bellbrook, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It was the childhood home of country music singer Slim Dusty. It was designed by his father, David Kirkpatrick, and built from 1915 to 1916 by Kirkpatrick and Thomas Ryan. It is also known as Melody Farm. The property is now owned by Slim Dusty's widow, Joy McKean Kirkpatrick. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 27 January 2012.

<i>Slim Dusty Live</i> 2006 live album by Slim Dusty

Slim Dusty Live is a live album by Australian country music singer Slim Dusty. The album was recorded in 2000, during this Looking Forward Looking Back album tour. It was released in March 2006 and peaked at number 42 on the ARIA Charts.

<i>Country Classics</i> (Slim Dusty album) 1996 greatest hits album by Slim Dusty

Country Classics is a 3CD greatest hits album by Australian country recording artist Slim Dusty, released through Reader's Digest. The album was separated into three periods of Dusty's career; The Early Years, The Middle Years and The Later Years. In 1999, the album was certified gold.

<i>The Den Tapes</i> 2015 compilation album by Slim Dusty

The Den Tapes is a compilation album released by Australian country music singer Slim Dusty. The album features all previously, last known unreleased recordings by Slim Dusty. The songs were recorded on cassette by Dusty in his small office 'den' at his home. The album was released in November 2015 and peaked at number 27 on the ARIA charts.

"The Biggest Disappointment" is an Australian country music song written by Joy McKean and made famous by her husband, Slim Dusty. It has been covered by artists including Missy Higgins, Troy Cassar-Daley, Beccy Cole, and Gina Jeffreys.

Timothy Edmund McNamara was an Australian country music performer, radio presenter and talent scout.

References

  1. 1 2 "Walking the red carpet for the world premiere of Slim & I". Nambucca Guardian. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  2. Walking the red carpet for the world premiere of Slim & I; Guardian News; Sep 4, 2020
  3. Slim Dusty documentary is pure joy, in more ways than one ; SMH; Sep 10, 2020
  4. Slim and I, the brilliant love story of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean; The Australian; Sep 25, 2020
  5. Film Review: Slim & I spotlights country music's unsung legend; www.screenhub.com.au; 10 Sep, 2020
  6. ‘Slim & I’ tells the story of country music queen Joy McKean; www.outinperth.com; 1 Sep, 2020
  7. "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  8. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 50 Country Albums 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. "Slim & I (Official Soundtrack)". JBHiFi. Retrieved 5 September 2020.