Rick And Thel Carey Footage
Occasionally out of the blue, some old footage of Rick and Thel Carey comes to the surface.
Here’s a short piece of footage I just came across on YouTube. I am not even sure where it was shot. I notice that nearer the end, Mum has a little fumble over the words! She would have hated that… 🙂
One thing about Mum, she was always nervous…. Never got over her nerves, in over 30 years! I guess she learned to live with them.
‘Hymn of the River‘, often called ‘Roll Along Mighty River‘, was written by prolific songwriter, Ken Robertson. Mum and Dad recorded a lot of his material over the years, which turned out to be some of their most popular songs.
Songs like For ‘Jenny A Rose‘, ‘A Little Boy’s Christmas Prayer‘, ‘Border Town‘, ‘Mary Jane Malone‘, ‘The Old Country Church‘, ‘Hymn of the River‘ and ‘Battered Stockman’s Hat‘, just to name a few!
I will be posting News, and Upcoming Appearances here, as well as the occasional anecdotal story should people care to share. I will have to see if I can kick it off and get the ball rolling perhaps!
Anyway, thanks for dropping by.
Lynne
Addit to above: I now know where the footage comes from, it is from a Television Show that Terry Gordon used to run from Tamworth, and Mum and Dad appeared on that show.
Hi Lynne,
I’m 82 heading 83.When I was 9 years old your Mum & Dad (probably not married at that time) preformed at a place called “The House of David’ in Ryde area NSW where also there was a small zoo.
Every Sunday or Saturday night there was a concert with had many singers especially country music.
There was a big search light which lit up the stage.
Maye be you know about this!
I have never forgot about those fabulous nights.
John Stevens
Hi John, My apologies for not replying to this comment a lot sooner. Thank you for sharing that story. I have heard of the House of David I believe, but I don’t really know anything about it. I would always welcome any stories or memories you have. My parents were married in 1952. Thanks again. Kind regards, Lynne
Always was two of my favourite singers. Still listen to them today.
Hi Noala, Thanks for taking the time to leace a comment. I appreciate it, and it’s nice to know you still enjoy listening to Mum and Dad. Lynne 🙂
My father came across a photo sign by both of them from 1962, with original signatures. Is it possible worth anything or value
Hi Wayne,
That’s a hard one. It would totally depend on who was wanting it. If you wanted to try selling it, you could try on eBay. For the most part items like that have mostly sentimental value.
Sorry I can’t help more.
All good so random fine in my dads best mate, as defiantly in time may have gone through Charters Towers.
Hi Lynne, Its a great time to bring back memories ,I was raised up with Country Music and Country Music will always be with me I can remember my mother playing Rick and Thel’s songs Iwas raised in Ipswich.Qld and I am quite sure that Rick and Thel performed in Ipswich. I am glad I came across this site on YouTube and listening to Rick and Thel it brings back the good old Country Songs that you can sit back and enjoy and music you can understand as those days Country Music songs had meanings to the words. Thankyou
Hi Robert, Really appreciate you stopping by and commenting. 🙂 You’re right. They do bring back a lot of memories for those who were fortunate enough to go to the shows in person, in particular. They did perform in Ipswich, I’m pretty sure, at least in the early days. Did you get to go to the shows? Again, thanks for stopping by. Lynne 🙂
Hi Lynne,
I as a child remember the Rick & Thel Carey Show coming to towns like Kojonup & Tambellup,where my entire family would go & see & love for that matter.
My “uncle” John Holubecki-( long time mate of my parents ) was in the show at the time & I as a ratbag myself as a kid loved Cousin Ratsack-priceless memories.
The great Kevin Gunn was a star & he also was a personal friend of my Mums.
So sad to hear about your beautiful Mum,she was a true star in so many ways & I see your Dad only lives just over in Denmark,great man,I am in Albany.
Anyway,so nice to see this page,it has bought back some fond memories.
Kind regards,
Scott
Hi Scott, My apologies for such a delay in approving your comment and replying. So nice to hear you have such great memories. Very nice of you to leave a comment. Dad moved over here to live with me in 2005. He’s slowing down a lot these days, will be 90 yrs old later this year. I really need to do a lot more with the website. Again, thank you for stopping by. Lynne 🙂
As a kid we could not wait for Rick & Thel to come to our town. We attended their concerts in Malanda and Dalby and the shows were always tremendous, The songs were always great and the actions of cousin ransack amused the crowds. Over the years we purchased many of their records.
Regards Neville
Hi Neville, Thanks for sharing that. It’s nice to hear about people’s memories of the shows. 🙂
Hi Mate …I was wondering if you still have the album On our Selection….I have an old copy but would love to get new one
Hi Angus,
Unfortunately we don’t have that album. That was released on Hadley, and Bellbird music have taken over the Hadley catalogue. From time to time they re-release a collection of songs. So far they have released 2 CD’s. Unless you can get it second hand then you won’t be able to get a copy of that particular album. The next best thing would be to get the CD’s that Bellbird have released which will possibly have some of the songs on them. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
I do believe I have the song mentioned It shouldn’t happen to a dog the things that happened to me on cassette as I have quiet a few cassettes of your songs
Thanks Les… Can you tell us what the name of the cassette is? I know the song but I am not sure just what albums it was released on. By the sound of it, it sounds like it was on a mixed LP mentioned earlier, Music For Pleasure – Callaghan’s Hotel…. I am just not sure if it was on other albums… So if you could let us know what the cassette is that you have, that might give us a bit more information… Thanks again for posting…
Hi Lynne
I remember going to a couple of your mum and dads concerts when I was a kid. Your mum had such a great and powerful voice. Do you remember if Jimmy Webster toured with them as he was a great friend of our family. I seem to recall him telling me he did. I have cassette of Rick and Thel but nothing to play it on anymore which is annoying so am enjoying seeing and listening to their songs on utube.
Take care and thanks again for posting clips on utube.
Regards
Fran
Hi Fran,
Thanks for checking out the site and YouTube… Glad you have enjoyed them, and thanks for posting a message as well. Sorry, I don’t remember Jimmy Webster, so I am thinking that perhaps he didn’t tour with Mum and Dad… It is possible that he did for a short time, and I just didn’t know about it, but I don’t think so.
Lynne 🙂
Hi Lynne……I was doing a search to see if we could find out where your Dad is……We write to him each Christmas and havnt heard from him for two years……We hosted Both Your Mum n Dad with thier Concerts at Kapinnie on the west coast of S A . Many years ago, and they have never been forgotten just the best Concerts ever ……Slim Newton was travelling with them.I have been a Fan of them for all my life.. and still have thier tapes, and treasure them ……
I do trust that you and your family are well, and trust that Rick is doing well too.
Please pass on our Regards , With Love in Our Hearts to him..
With Love Always.
Lois & Barry
Hi Lynne,
I don’t know if you have had more information re “It shouldn’t happen to a dog” yet. I have the Music For Pleasure album Callaghan’s Hotel. It has the above track by Rick and Thel on it.
Regards,
Kevin.
Hi Kevin,
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
That is really interesting…. I would love to get more information on it. The more I think about it, the more I can remember them singing the song. I will pass on the info to our friend compiling the recording information.
Thanks for letting us know. All information greatly appreciated.
On a slightly different note, if anyone happens to have any video/movie recordings of the show or bits of it, we would love to get copies of that too. Who knows what people have tucked away somewhere at home!
Lynne 🙂
Hi Lynne
Yes. Rick & Thel did do a recording of-It Should,nt Happen To A Dog-so I have discovered.The 3CD set were all their singles & E.P.s .from Regal Zonaphone & EMI,
As a point of interest I do have a full collection of Rick & Thel,s recordings-The EMI & Hadley LPs & singles & EP,s with them all on the CDs except for The Dog & the 2 0thers that were on those albums,EMI must have had them ”in the can” & decided to put them out on compication albums,If you need any information about the collections just let me know
Regards Bernard
Hi Bernard,
Thanks again for the information. I have emailed you, so hopefully that is ok.
Lynne
Lynne & Chad
I think I have solved the riddle of ”It Should,nt Happen To a Dog.The album that it,s on-Australian Country Style- came up on E- Bay so I bought for my collection & the song-in all my time going into record shops I never came across it-but that what it was like in those days-not like these days. The album would have come out in the early 1970,s-I have another 2 compilation albums put out by EMI with 2 Rick & Thel songs-Love will Surely Fade Away & If Teardrops Were Pennies-EMI must have just used them for compilation albums as these 3 recordings never even made it onto the Regal Zonaphone & Beyond 3CD Set
Hope I have been of help
Regards Bernard Warner
Hi Bernard,
Thanks for your input. 🙂
So then from what you are saying is that, ‘It Shouldn’t Happen To a Dog’ is one that Mum and Dad recorded. A friend of ours is putting together a compilation of all their recordings, so your comments might indeed come in very handy…
Of course with the Regal Zonaphone & Beyond 3CD set, there was a lot of material not included on them. They just picked out certain songs to release on that set and there certainly songs that never made it onto LP’s but were released on singles or EP’s, or maybe even on a compilation album (usually though they were on at least a single or EP first).
So I will let my friend know and see what else we can dig up about details. If you have the records in question, could you perhaps send me more details using the contact page on this site. That will get directly to me.
Thanks again for your help in the ‘mystery’ recording saga 🙂
Lynne.
Hi, as a young person growing up near a small QLD town called Stonehenge, I do remember our family seeing your Mum and Dad playing in the old hall there, maybe late sixties? Anyway, those travelling bands including Slim Dusty and his crew made a difference to people growing up in isolated, simpler times…I have watched some of the old footage on UTube and watched the Cousin Ratsack routine and it brought back long forgotten memories as a young person. Last time I caught up with your Mum and Dad would have been in Mt Isa, think it may have been early eighties(?)it was in a hotel where I was staying and as I recall they played a show there. We have long gone from the bush as times changed and all the people we grew up with moved on due to difficult times, so I believe we were lucky to be part of an era where times were simple, I believe most of the old halls your parents played in don’t get used for much any more……pity. Kind regards, Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Nice to meet you 🙂
Yes I know those little town halls don’t get the same use they used to… for sure.
Times have indeed changed, and not all for the better.
Certainly, growing up with those ‘outback’ experiences is really special, and it is always good to hear from people who remember the shows, and they get a chance to relive them a little via these videos.
We were very fortunate that friends had recorded some of the shows, because otherwise we would have nothing… Unfortunately didn’t have the foresight to record things ourselves… Which is a shame.
There were so many things that would have been great to have on video… Some really good comedy skits…
Oh well…. grateful for what we have.
Enough for our 3 DVD’s we have put out, and they are around 2 hours each, so I guess we are very lucky to have them and to be able to offer them to people.
Anyway, appreciate you leaving a comment and visiting the website.
Take care,
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
I cannot believe it but we just cannot locate this album as yet.
My mother has searched the house high and low but cannot find it. I’m still very confident it exists though. Not to worry, if I have any success I will let you know.
Cheers
Chad.
No worries Chad…. The more you look for things sometimes, the harder they are to find 🙂
Hi Lynne,
I still haven’t had a chance to get to my Mum’s to see that record Callaghan’s Hotel as yet but will hopefully do so over the coming weekend.
Cheers
Chad.
No problem, just let me know how you go when you find out. Take care, Lynne
Just wanted to thank Bernard for his comments, really appreciate the information he has given. Its made me remember that Eddie Tapp was the fellow who recorded “Getting Younger” with Chad Morgan on this same album as well as singing “Lilli Marlene”.
I will have to go to my Mum’s place and see if I can find the record because I know it definitely exists and I know that there is a track on there called “It shouldn’t happen to a dog” credited to Rick and Thel Carey. Mum is a bit of a hoarder so I’m sure she still has it. Not sure if it will still play though.
As I said the album was called Callaghan’s Hotel – with Slim Dusty singing the title track.
Hi Chad,
Will be looking forward to hearing more 🙂
Lynne
Hi Lynne-I,m back again with a comment for Chad-It Should,nt Happen To A Dog-was written by Slim Newton & recorded on his ”Redback”album-It was also recorded by ”Gentleman”Geoff Brown on Hadley Records around 1970-I have both & could write the lyrics out if need be-I don,t have any ”record’ of it being recorded by Rick & Thel-.Also ”Lili Marlene” was actually recorded by Eddie Tapp in the late 1960,s-hope this can be of help
Regards Bernard
Hi Bernard,
Appreciate your comments. Yes, as I mentioned, we don’t recall any recording of Mum and Dad doing the song. So maybe it is memory playing tricks, but if anyone has that album that Chad mentioned, and can show us otherwise, I am inclined to think that Mum and Dad didn’t record the song.
Cheers,
Lynne
Lynne
Would it be possible if Rick could remember who the musicians were on the albums-Best of Buddy,s Special on my Mind-I have put the albums on to CD but the album sleeves have no record of the musicians
Iused to attend the show when it came thru the Nymagee- Cobar NSW tour
The show was the 1st travelling show that I can remember attending back in the mid 1950,s & having lived at Nymagee all my life I rarely missed a show-I can remember-Maurie Lawson-Rex Dallas-Paul Lester -Johnny Heap-Eddie Tapp-Trevor Day-Slim Newton-Brian Young-back in their early days
I will be ordering the 3rd DVD as I already have the Ist two-other people had a look at them & they all said it bought back fond memories even young people had a good laugh at the skits
Hi Bernard,
I will see what I can find out, and will try to let you know. Glad to hear you are enjoying the DVD’s and even people (young ones) are getting a good laugh at the skits. Appreciate the comments.
Cheers,
Lynne
Thanks for your reply Lynne, I know it was a fair while ago but the tune just came to me the other day and I remembered it from that album. Then I stumbled across this website and thought I would ask.
I think from memory the song began like this:
“Well all my life I’ve been a happy man, till a year ago today.
When all of a sudden, my luck ran out and the kicks all came my way.
I can’t take a trick and I don’t know why, I’m doin’ the best I can
And why my luck has turned me down, I’ll never understand.
Then there was a verse your Mum sang about taking a train trip with the neighbour’s kid who chewed all the train tickets up. Its a real funny song and if you can find the lyrics somewhere, that’d be great!
Regards,
Chad.
Hi Chad,
I will have to look into it. I have had a few requests for words for songs recently. Maybe we should publish some 🙂
Cheers,
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
Just remembered the name of that album from my comment below – it was Callaghan’s Hotel. It started off with the Slim Dusty song and included others like Sam’s place, “Getting Younger” by Chad Morgan and many others including a version of Lilli Marlene but I can’t remember the artist that sang it.
Regards,
Chad.
Hi Chad,
Thanks for your comments. I am not familiar with the album you mentioned, and I would have replied sooner, but I have been trying to work out what the situation was with the song. We have no recording of the song. We (Dad and I) know the song, although Dad can’t remember recording it. Slim Newton wrote the song “It shouldn’t happen to a dog”, and Dad remembers him singing it. So it is possible that they did record it and it was only released on a single perhaps, then that compilation album you mentioned. So if anyone else reading this has more clues feel free to add them. Meanwhile, next time we are talking to Slim Newton we will ask him, he should remember if Mum and Dad recorded the song. As for the lyrics, leave it with me and I will see what I can do. 🙂
Regards,
Lynne
Hi Lynne,
I remember an old Country Album several years ago that belonged to my father (haven’t a clue where it is now) that had a track by your parents on it called, “It shouldn’t happen to a dog” which I thought was a hillarious song. I have never been able to find the lyrics for it – do you have access to the lyrics and is it possible to send them to me or even a link to a website?
Regards,
Chad.
Hello Lynne.
I grew up in the Mudgee area of NSW in the 1950’s & as with a lot of people money was very very scarce but when your parents traveled that area & played in the old Town Hall Dad & Mum somehow managed to find the money for us to go to the show. When I married if they came through Mudgee I used to go & take my children along & we all enjoyed it. I particularly loved their harmony & we all laughed uproariously at the antics of Cousin Ratsack. I think the world would be a better place these days if there were more of these types of shows doing the rounds still as they promoted good music, good clean humour & most of all good family values. I was saddened to hear of your mothers passing & hope your father is keeping well, my parents are both in their 80’s now & at times we still reminisce about the Rick & Thel Show. Regards Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Thank you for sharing your memories of going to the shows. Yes it was really a special time, even for me looking back. People always looked forward to the show coming to town, and even for those in the show, each night was a little different. Quite often we would be laughing out the back at some of the comedy skits and some people with a loud funny laugh in the audience would get everyone going. It is a shame we don’t have more on video, however, we are lucky to have the video that we do have. It is always nice to hear from people who enjoyed Mum and Dad and their show. Thanks again for commenting.
Warm Regards, Lynne
Hi Lynne,
I was just looking for music for my wedding and thought that I would look for Rick & Thel while I was on here as (Mum & I) only ever had tapes.
I am amazed to find this site and more amazed that they have a daughter keeping their beautiful music alive and out here.
If I can I would like you to know my childhood was filled with Mum & Dads Tapes of your Mum & Dad and they are still to this day the best Country I have ever heard.
I did get to see, Slim and Stan & Tracey Coster but unfortunately never your Mum & Dad.
So if possible I will order the DVDs from you and will be looking forward to singing along with them real soon.
Thank you for your time.
The site looks great.
Cheers
Leah
Hi Leah,
Thank you for sharing that. It is nice to know that people have such good memories related to Mum and Dad. It is a shame you never got to go to one of their shows, however, we are fortunate to have had the footage that we have, and we have been able to put it on DVD, because it does give an idea of what it was like. They include the other artists on the show as well as the Comedy.
Volume’s 1 and 2 are more or less a full show each, and the 3rd Volume included home movie footage with Dad narrating, a short Television interview as well as some snippets from an earlier show. I still have to put more details up on the products page, but please contact me if you would like to know any more information.
Thanks again for your comments, they mean a lot to me, and also my Dad (who lives with me these days).
Take care,
Lynne
G’Day Lynne…
Found the web site and the DVD info I was looking for ..Thanks
The video of your folks is most likely from a music show shot in Tamworth during the late ’70’s – early ’80’s – was hosted by Terry Gordon – there are a few clips of the shows starting to appear on YouTube. – I have seen clips of Stan Coster, Shorty Ranger, Gordon Parsons and Brian Young that have been uploaded – these are really rare glimses of these great stars.
Terry has DVD’s of this show available for purchase on his web site –
http://www.mustbecountry.com
Keep Smilin’ and Keep It Country – (Aussie Country of course!)
Regards
Dallas
Hi Dallas,
Thanks for that, yes that sounds right. I had forgotten about Terry’s recordings.
Perhaps you would like to be one of the first to submit a story if you have anything you would like to share from years ago, any sort of stories about going to the Rick and Thel Show.
If you do, send it to me via the contact form. Meanwhile, thanks a lot for visiting, and for the comments.
Really appreciate that.
Cheers,
Lynne