Black Sorrows

After Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons folded in 1983 singer/leader Joe Camilleri decided to get back to basics, partly to recover from the trauma of keeping together Jo Jo Zep longer than he maybe should have, partly for sheer survival.

Originally the Black Sorrows was formed simply as a semi-acoustic band that could play low-key at a friend's cafe on Sunday nights, playing the zydeco Joe was into at the time, as well as the r&b and soul which have always been Joe's staple diet. For the sake of the exercise he adopted the name Joey Vincent. After the heights of Jo Jo Zep, hits and tours around the world, Joe had humble expectations for the Black Sorrows.

Joe had such low expectations only 500 copies were pressed of the first Black Sorrows album, copies which were quickly snapped up, and Mushroom subsidiary White Records stepped in to take over distribution. 'Senola' and the second album, 'Rockin' Zydeco' were both recorded live in one day in the studio. On both albums "Joey Vincent" was backed by various other former members of Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, clarinet player Paul Williams, fiddler Steve McTaggart and George Butrumlis on the zydeco essential piano accordion. The only originals on these first albums were two group instrumentals on 'Rockin' Zydeco'.

The third album however, 'A Place In The World', contained just one cover version (a Fats Domino song). The rest were songs written by "Joey", with lyrics from Nick Smith, who also sang backing vocals. 'A Place In The World' was released by Virgin, recently arrived on the Australian music industry, and only a bit player. The Black Sorrows were still a cottage industry. The line-up was still whoever was there on the day. But around the new Camilleri-Smith songwriting partnership something else was starting to evolve.

In 1987 Joe and Nick found themselves with a set of songs they felt very strongly about, songs Joe was prepared to back with his own money, and record properly in a studio. It was a costly, agonizing, but rewarding process, and in the end they emerged with a record Joe was really happy with. 1000 copies were printed, with hand screened covers, individually numbered, to give to friends and to sell at gigs. Joe Camilleri had happened to score a one-single solo recording deal with CBS at the time. As 'Dear Children' started developing momentum, it was CBS' turn to step in and offer the Black Sorrows a distribution deal. As a result 'Dear Children' reached the national Top 20. On several tracks, additional to Nick Smith, session singers Vanetta Fields and Shirley Matthews provided female backing vocals.

It was time to consolidate the line-up for live performances. Nick Smith wanted to step out of the touring band, but continue the songwriting. His backing vocals, and the female backing vocals in the studio were now to be provided by Tongan sisters Vika and Linda Bull. Convinced the next record would be the last Black Sorrows album, and with a major record company paying the bills Joe Camilleri ("Joey Vincent" had been retired) decided to make 'Hold On To Me' a double album. It stayed in the chart for a year and spawned three hit singles, 'Hold On To Me', 'Chained To The Wheel' and 'The Crack-Up'. A trimmed down version sold respectably throughout Europe and the US. In the space of eighteen months the band toured overseas seven times. The band that recorded the follow-up, a companion album to 'Hold On To Me' called 'Harley And Rose', was at the peak of its powers.

After a third album, 'Better Times' along the same lines again, quasi gospel/soul with storyline lyrics (this time with Laurie Polac taking over Nick Smith's lyricst role) Joe Camilleri was ready to move on. So were the Bull sisters, who left to start a performing and recording career on their own.

Joe decided to take the Black Sorrows full circle. From now on, as before, the Black Sorrows would be Joe and a floating line-up of specially selected musicians. What happened from now on could easily have just appeared under Joe's own name, but he chose to carry on under the Black Sorrows banner. That decision had its pros and cons. A successful brand name is a successful brand name. However, most casual record buyers and media who came in on Joe's career with those successful records now associated the Black Sorrows name with the sound of the Bull sisters. What happened to the Black Sorrows albums which followed (disinterest) is not a reflection on the quality of the albums which followed, arguably the best of Joe's 20 plus year career.

The Dingoes' Kerryn Tolhurst produced the soul-oriented 'Lucky Charm' in New York following a chance meeting between Joe and Kerryn in America. That album restored the Camilleri-Smith partnership. Four years later Joe recorded 'Beat Club' in his own studios in Melbourne, a wide-raging tribute to all the music which has made Joe Camilleri one of Australia's most satisfying music identities.