Dean Perrett’s brand new album is, I feel, his best work yet.  The album kicks off with a rollicking truck song from Dean’s own pen, “Another Million Miles”.  This is followed by the outstanding bush ballad “Bloodwood & Clover” written by award winning singer song writer Ian Quinn, telling the story of the old time drovers.  Dean has recorded a great remake of “Ned Kelly” (originally from a film on the life of Ned Kelly which featured Mick Jagger released in 1970).  There’s an excellent tribute to the late and great country music pioneer Buddy Williams written by Ian Quinn.  “Coopers Creek” is another standout song from Dean’s pen reflecting the values of the channel country and the daring bushmen such as the cattle duffer Harry Redford.  “My Country, My Land” is an excellent co-write and duet with Troy Cassar-Daley, whilst “Another Slim” written by Virginia Coad/Dean Perrett, is a great tribute song to Australia’s legend of Country Music, Slim Dusty.  There is also a vocal duet with Paul Brewster (tenor vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Ricky Skaggs) on the country classic, “Amanda”.  Dean’s composition’s “Outback Women”, “Tall Dark Stockman” are lively inclusions along with “Mobs Moving”.  “The Thought Has Crossed My Mind” written by Kedron Taylor explores the often emotional issue of dealing with hardship on the land.  “I’m The Land” written by Allan Caswell is another standout for me.  Overall, the album embraces fresh sounds, fine production, musicianship and strong bush ballad stories.  Congratulations Dean on the release of “I’m The Land”. 

 
Review by Peter Coad – The Balladeers Bulletin – October 2014
 
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Recording this album in Nashville was something of a gamble for Dean Perrett:  it meant he would face criticism for producing Australia’s very own musical genre overseas.  But it was a punt that paid off.  This is a bush ballad album full of heart and integrity; and the production is superb.  Once again, Dean has put together a collection of powerful songs, with some very traditional ballads, such as Bloodwood and Clover (written by Ian Quinn), Coopers Creek and Mobs Moving.  Highlights include the Allan Caswell song I’m the Land, which just won Dean the Southern Stars Independent Heritage Award, and his duet with Troy Cassar-Daley, My Country My Land.  Kedron Taylor penned the thought-provoking and moving The Thought Has Crossed My Mind.  There are tributes to Buddy Williams and Slim Dusty, and great covers of Shel Silverstein’s Ned Kelly and the country classic Amanda, with Paul Brewster.  Once again, Dean demonstrates why he’s so respected for his role in keeping the bush ballad healthy.

 
Review by Susan Jarvis - Country Music Capital News - November 2014
 
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Recording this song with Dean was a great experience.  To talk about the Country from two perspectives like that is rare.  I'm a proud Bundjalung man, and Dean a proud farmer's son;  we both love the land and all its gifts and this is one small way to bring people together through song. 
 
Quote from Troy Cassar-Daley about the song "My Country My Land"
 
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Dean Perrett presents 13 ballads on this latest release “My Bush Heritage”. So many great nostalgic bush ballads have been included, “A Letter from Arrabury”, “There’s Music In My Pony’s Feet”, “Stick to him Bluey”, Reg Poole’s “The Winners Crown” amongst many more. There is also a re-recording of one of his own writings “Hilda’s Rest”, a standout story, and a Norma O’Hara Murphy writing, “Old Betty” plus the 2013 Golden Guitar finalist track “Heartbeat of Australia, The Man of the Land”, a Dean Perrett / Stuie French composition. Recorded and produced by Stuie French of Swinging Door Studios, overall, this is a top value album, and certainly one all lovers of the true bush heritage songs will enjoy.

Review by Peter Coad, The Australian Bush Balladeers Association Inc. 

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It’s always a pleasure to get my hands on a new Dean Perrett album, and his latest release has only amplified the feeling. “My Bush Heritage” is thirteen tracks of pure Dean Perrett. Although he has done so well for himself pursuing his career as a Bush Balladeer, his feet are still planted firmly on the ground. As usual, this album is an example of what authentic Australian Country Music (Bush Balladry), is all about, and a look at the songwriters will confirm this. Names like Keith and Marion Dixon, Buddy Williams, Shorty Ranger, Slim Dusty, Norma O’Hara Murphy, Peter Pratt, Reg Poole, and David Kirkpatrick head the list, with some of Dean’s originals in there as well. All top tracks, but I must admit to being more than happy with his great versions of two classics that go way back to the old 78rpm days, especially as they were both favourites of mine when I was very young. These are, “Music In My Pony’s Feet”, which was one of Buddy Williams’ best and “The Black Sheep”, which I believe was Tex Morton’s biggest selling record. Both are great renditions, as is his re-make of Peter Pratt’s, “Wild Eyed Steer”.
Could this see another “Gold” for Dean at Tamworth 2014? You can bet your size ten R N Williams boots that it will go close!

Review by Burt Everett (Radio Presenter), Printed in “The Guardian”, Bundaberg QLD 05/04/13

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I received Cattle Town this afternoon. Thanks very much. Wow what a fantastic CD. I think that you have set the standard for all Bush Balladeers to aspire to. The selection of songs, the song-writing, the photography, the art work, the production, the musicians are all exceptional. You have really nailed this one Dean. You certainly deserve huge success with this album. I stand by my prediction that Channel Country Ground will be Bush Ballad of the Year in the 2012 Gold Guitars.

Congratulations on a brilliant album. I will get much pleasure promoting it on 2 WAY FM.

Review by Ken Lindsay, Radio Presenter on 2 WAY FM.

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I have just had my first listen to Dean’s brand new album, “Cattle Town”, and to say that I am impressed would be the understatement of the year. His albums have always represented good value, but one gets the feeling that this one will really do the trick for him. Perhaps his teaming up with Stuie French has a big bearing on it but here we are listening to a, “softer” sound from Dean than we are accustomed to, and even the backing sound has undergone a complete makeover. 
Just listen to a part of the first track, “Cattle Town”, and I think you’ll get my drift.  Lee Kernaghan joins Dean on the second track, “Channel Country Ground”, while he enlists the aid of Karen Lynne on, “Morning Mail”, (from the pen of Joy Mckean).
Track number three “Abbey”, was written by Bundaberg’s own Ian Quinn, as was the last track, “What Country Was”, (a nostalgic review of what Country Music used to be); as well as, “Made for Movin”.Dean and Ian both contributed to the writing of, “Holding the Redhide”. The works of Norma O’Hara Murphy also come to the fore here in, “Son of a Son of a Drover”, and “Old Rodeo Man”. Dean Perrett contributed further with two more compositions, “Rolling Road Train”, and, “Old Akubra”, and joined with Sherry Foster to create the lovely, “Room at the Cross.”
The real surprise of the album was when he teamed up with, Bob Wootton on a great cover of the old Johnny Cash classic, “I’ve Got Stripes”. Here is a great package which as well as putting a smile on the faces of all Bush Ballad fanciers, should have the same affect on Country Music lovers in general.

Review by Burt Everett, printed in “The Guardian", Bundaberg QLD 09/02/11.

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It all started with a phone call out of the blue from Dean, who asked me if I'd join him on a duet for his new album CATTLE TOWN. I said to him that if we could find the right song I'd be really happy to do it. So over several weeks we went through many songs together, eventually Dean sent me CHANNEL COUNTRY GROUND and there was something about the song and the story that just hit me in the heart.
When it comes to the Australian Bush Ballad Dean Perrett is one of our modern day greats and I'm hoping CATTLE TOWN will do real good for a country bloke from Kingaroy QLD.

Quote from Lee Kernaghan about the track "Channel Country Ground"

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I was honored that Dean even thought about asking me. I usually don't work with other people because for me I worked with the very best - Johnny Cash.  There was just something about Dean. First of all he is a true cowboy and I liked that right off the bat and he is a strong family man and I think that is an extremely important quality now days. I loved the finished product... to me the only way it could have been better would have been if we had recorded it live.”

Quote from Bob Wootton about the track "I Got Stripes"

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DEAN PERRETT is well known and respected for his quality albums in the Balladeer tradition, but with his newest album “A Thousand Campfires”, he has exceeded all expectations.
His songwriting is growing even better with every release and he has some excellent companions to work with. Ian Quinn penned “The Dust of Kalkadoon” and “We’re Doing Fine”, which Dean has recorded with Anne Kirkpatrick. He also joins with Dianne Lindsay on “There’s A Rainbow Round My Memories”.
Both are very beautiful duets. Stuie French applied his expertise as a player, producer and songwriter co-writing with Dean on “Fool’s Gold” and the title track “A Thousand Campfires” along with fellow balladeer Peter Pratt. Dean’s “Rain, Rain, Rain” proves his heartfelt and intimate knowledge of a true man on the land. Slim Dusty’s guitarist Charley Boyter is immortalize in “Charley Guitar”. Dean Perrett has delivered another album full of real and memorable songs.

Review by Deborah Minter, Country Music Capital News (January 2009)

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He’s been one of the best sounds in the Bush Ballad world for a long time, who can always be relied on to give a five star performance, and one wonders if Dean Perrett’s new album will be the one that puts the icing on his cake. “A Thousand Campfires” is the title, and it boasts twelve tracks.
Never a slouch with the pen, Dean’s song writing talents shine through on the eight tracks he either wrote or co-wrote. One of the tracks he shared in writing was, “The Cannon Hill Ghosts”, in which he collaborated with the almost legendary, Kelly Dixon. Bundaberg’s Ian Quinn has also left his stamp on this one with one of his works, “We’re Doing Fine” featuring as a duet, with Dean teaming up with Anne Kirkpatrick, whilst another of his songs, “The Dust of Kalkadoon”, is the first single lifted from the album for radio release. Another track of great interest is, “There’s A Rainbow Round My Memories”, which was written by the late Slim Dusty, and sees Dean doing another duet, this time with Diane Lindsay, (daughter, of the late Reg Lindsay, another long standing favourite in Australian Country Music). Grab a listen to this album, it’s top value.

Review by Burt Everett, printed in “The Guardian", Bundaberg QLD.

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A bushie from the top of his hat to the tips of his RM boots, Dean Perrett knows the bush in his blood and his music.  His latest CD “Return of the Stockman” celebrates the bush like few other albums have lately avoiding climate issues and personal loss and choosing to enjoy the traditions that keep the majesty of the bush alive. The title track “The Return of the Stockman” is the first single; a Coster/Dusty classic done with a sprightly swingy feel, “Songs Like These”, written with mate and fellow balladeer Ian Quinn is one of the few originals and sits comfortably beside well-known classics like “By A Fire of Gidgee Coal”, “Camooweal” and “Plains of Peppimenarti” to name but a few. “Riding Down the Valley” sees Dean duetting with Peter Pratt in tribute to Buddy Williams. The album was produced by Stuie French and the classy musicianship is flawless and in the best of Bush tradition.

Review by Deborah Minter, Capital News

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It’s as good as balladeer band as any singer would want for – Slim’s bass player and producer Rod Coe, together with one of Slim’s classic guitar pickers in Charley Boyter and Stuie French on the desk, delivering this “live in the studio” album of straight bush ballad classics mainly from Slim Dusty’s catalogue of songs.

Review by Country Music Store, Brisbane

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Queensland Bush Ballad performer Dean Perrett joins with one of Australia’s finest new producers and musicians Stuie French (of Feral Swing Katz fame) to create his new CD “New Traditions”. The result is a smooth and polished effect, with Dean’s strong Bush Ballad style still in the forefront and musicianship par excellence. Dean’s songwriting is as strong as ever, with memorable tracks “Channel Country Ringer”, “Jewel of the Newell”, “Packhorse and Waterhole”, “Between Two Worlds” and “The Bright Tomorrow” just some of the fine tracks.  Stuie joins with Dean to write “The Peel Street Blues”, a humorous take on a wannabe guitar ‘star’. Tracy Coster duets with Dean on the classic “Over the Hill”. Other tracks, ”Would Clancy Be Welcome?”, “The Man From Never Never” and “Two Old Mates” (with guest vocalist Jeff Brown) are equally enjoyable.
Dean’s traditions may be new, but his values are still firmly placed with the country.

Review by Deborah Minter, Country Music Capital News.

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DEAN PERRETT was born to sing, especially to sing the stories of the Australian Hinterland. The words, the songs and the backing musos and engineering of the finished product herald the arrival of this annual release. Broadcasters acclaimed it as being superlative in all aspects. This release sets the bar reading at an all time high. Dean Perrett has well and truly arrived.
Ask any Australian Broadcaster! Any one of them will second that motion.

Citation on Australian Country Recording Award for 2006 Bush Ballad Album
Of The Year awarded to Dean for “New Traditions” Album.

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This is Dean’s sixth album release and is sure to generate a lot of sales. Dean has written on the CD cover, “This mob of new songs that we have mustered together for you are stories and truths about the things that are close to my heart”.
This is evident with the great collection of stories in songs such as “Light Horse Heroes”, “Slim Dusty – One of a Kind”,
“Home on Brumby Creek” and “Big Old Mustering Horse”. Over the years we have reviewed a few of Dean’s album as they have been released and this, folks, is another great album to add to your country music collection.

 Album review by Charlie Sparrow (Blue’s Country Magazine)

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This is a project that Kerri and myself have both been wanting to record for a long time. 
Like bush ballads, gospel music is also very close to our hearts.  The album includes three new songs from my pen as well as the award winning song “The Shelter of the Cross” which has been re-recorded especially for this album together with 9 other great gospel favorites of ours.  The album is a mix of duets and solo numbers with a touch of bluegrass backing.

 Quote from Dean Perrett

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This young balladeer has been progressively releasing strong bush ballad albums, and “All Set and Saddled” which includes a list of songs mainly from Dean’s own pen, with a few co-writes, one from Glen Perrett, one with Ernie Constance and one with Shaza Leigh has continued the trend. This is a great album, all strong bush ballad stories, to mention a couple “Cattle Coach King”, “The Jewels in Kidman’s Crown”, “The Saddle that Weineke Made” and there is even a duet with Reg Poole, and a gospel song “Hold on to Jesus”. A stand out track is one Dean wrote about the late Barry Thornton, “Barry Thornton – Our Tribute”, featuring Lindsay Butler on guitar as the song pays tribute to a mate and great bush ballad guitarist.
This album is great listening from start to end.

Review by Peter Coad (The Balladeers Bulletin January 2004)

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Dean Perrett is the real thing – a boy from the bush who, with his family, runs a cattle property in the South Burnett area of Queensland.  So it’s no surprise that bush ballads are a part of Dean’s life. He is one of Australia’s talented young bush ballad brigade, honing his craft with great Aussie traditionalist like Stan Coster, Lindsay Butler, Brian Letton, Brian Young and Reg Poole. Dean’s new LBS album “The Real Thing” is a carefully crafted collection under the guidance of Lindsay Butler that puts the focus back on the true traditional feel of bush balladry. Dean has written some excellent ballads for the album including
“The Saddle Is His Home”, “Georgina River”, and the beaut vocal collaboration “The Young Balladeers” with bush ballad mates Glenn Jones and Jeff Brown. 
The first radio single “The Real Thing” is a clever story about the demarcation line between the weekend suburban city ringers and the true Australian bushman.  There’s no prize for guessing which side of the line Dean’s on.  

 Album Review by Mike Smith, NfS Publicity & Editor of Capital News.

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If you’re looking for a “real deal” bush ballad album, then this one is for you.  Dean Perrett has a pleasant voice and sings in an Australian accent, he also writes songs that are a reflection of life in the country and performs them in the traditional Aussie country way. Perrett performs 8 of his own songs on this album and they are most credible.  He also sings the lovely Stan Coster song “Where the Desert Flowers Bloom” and duets with Lynette Guest on ‘Australia Land That I Love’. 
Jeff Brown and Glenn Jones have come and lent a hand on ‘The Young Balladeers’. 
“The Real Thing” was produce by Lindsay Butler and features Lawrie Minson on dobro, harp and guitar and Mike Kerin on fiddle and mandolin.

Album Review by Rosie Adsett (Country Update)
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