''Freedom Ride'' is the tenth
studio album
An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...
by Australian
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
artist
Troy Cassar-Daley
Troy Cassar-Daley (born 18 May 1969) is an Australian country music songwriter and entertainer.
Cassar-Daley has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums and five compilation albums over 30 years, including the platinum-selling '' The ...
. The album was released in March 2015 and peaked at number 4 on the
ARIA Charts
The ARIA Charts are the main Australian record chart, music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling songs and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA beca ...
.
The album's centrepiece and title track was performed at the 50th anniversary of the 1965
Freedom Ride, which had been led by the political activist
Charles Perkins.
Cassar-Daley supported the album with a national tour commencing in
Swan Hill
Swan Hill is a List of cities in Australia, city in the northwest of Victoria, Australia on the Murray Valley Highway and on the south bank of the Murray River, downstream from the junction of the Loddon River, Victoria, Loddon River. At the , ...
on 30 April and concluding in
Tweed Heads
Tweed Heads is a coastal city at the mouth of the Tweed River in the Northern Rivers region of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Tweed Heads is the northernmost town in New South Wales, and is located in the Tweed Shire local government ...
on 14 November 2015.
At the
ARIA Music Awards of 2015
The 29th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) are a series of award ceremonies which include the 2015 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Hall of Fame Awards, ARIA Fine ...
, the album was nominated for the
ARIA Award for Best Country Album
In music, an aria (, ; : , ; ''arias'' in common usage; diminutive form: arietta, ; : ariette; in English simply air) is a self-contained piece for one voice, with or without instrumental or orchestral accompaniment, normally part of a larger ...
. At the 2016
Country Music Awards of Australia
The Country Music Awards of Australia also known as the Golden Guitar Awards (originally named Australasian Country Music Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wale ...
in Tamworth the album won Album of the Year.
Reception
Everett True
Everett True (born Jeremy Andrew Thackray on 21 April 1961) is an English music journalist and musician. He became interested in rock music after hearing The Residents, and formed a band with school friends. He has written and recorded as The ...
from ''
Guardian Australia
''Guardian Australia'' is the Australian website of the British global online and print newspaper, ''The Guardian''.
Available solely in an Online newspaper, online format, the newspaper's launch was led by Katharine Viner in time for the 201 ...
'' said "''Freedom Ride'' is full of songs about trucking, drinking, women, wide open spaces and red dirt – with the odd tribute to his children thrown in." adding "it's a sprawling, good-natured affair."
Polly Coufos from ''
The Australian
''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet daily newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964. As the only Australian daily newspaper distributed nationally, its readership of b ...
'' said "With a team of co-writers, Cassar-Daley has crafted a dozen tales cut from his life and imagination. From heartfelt songs about his grandfather and daughter to rowdy rockers, he covers all bases." She said the title track was the album's most important song saying "In part a tribute to Charles Perkins, the title track traces a journey by a group of students in 1965 to address the inequality facing our indigenous population. It does not dwell on the detail, rather leaving the focus on its rousing chorus. A song for all Australians, it speaks of our past while filled with hope for our future."
John Nutting said "''Freedom Ride'' is his “career” album. Its credible, sincere, insightful, well produced and delivers its message in a subtle but entertaining way". Daily Telegraph said "Evenly balanced between uplifting celebration of an Australian spirit and the darker human condition, it's a complete record"
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
References
{{Authority control
2015 albums
Troy Cassar-Daley albums
Liberation Records albums