Daryl Braithwaite Afterglow: The Essential Collection 1971-1994 CD

With the exception of John Farnham, Daryl Braithwaite is probably Australia's most celebrated and accomplished pop artist. In the '70s, Sherbert, the band he fronted, ruled supreme as they churned out hit after hit. One couldn't watch an Aussie pop show without catching the heartthrob quintet. Braithwaite's solo career (which overlapped his days with the group), though initially as successful as his band work, became an up-and-down affair. But this collection -- and the fact that it spans the better part of a quarter century -- is a tribute to Braithwaite's durability, resilience, and sheer talent. Sherbert's 1971 breakthrough hit, "Can You Feel It, Baby," which opens the disc, has all the pop gloss and Braithwaite falsetto that characterized the band, while the swampy bass-driven "You've Got the Gun" is as edgy as the fivesome ever got. But Sherbert's peak songs were the strings-laden "Cassandra," the pop-bopper "Slipstream," the surf and sun anthem "Summer Love," and the one-spin-and-you're-in "Howzat" (the title is a cricket term) -- super-slick numbers all. The latter pair were number one hits in the sunburnt country with "Howzat" even making it to number four in the U.K. No mean feat at the time. Early solo hits like the Cilla Black classic "You're My World" (number one nationally) and a cover of the Kaz/Titus-penned "Love Has No Pride" (number four) had Braithwaite's each-way career bet paying off big-time in the '70s. But more remarkable are the hits that relaunched his career in the late '80s and early '90s after years in limbo. The soaring -- and somewhat biographical -- ballad "As the Days Go By" (from 1988's multi-platinum Edge) and a cover of Rickie Lee Jones' "The Horses" (from 1991's multi-platinum Rise and another national number one) both stand out. The vocal and emotional power that Braithwaite imbues these songs with is of a rare level. At the end of the day, the one indelible constant that ties everything together is Braithwaite's magnificent voice. And Afterglow has all the "good stuff" that made Daryl Braithwaite a household name down under, hard knocks and all. ~ Adrian Zupp

This unique 12 track career overview presents the highlights of a remarkable career, bringing together key tracks from his Sherbet and two solo eras of recording. It comes with extensive historical liner notes and previously unseen photography.

AFTERGLOW: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION 1971-1994 features 21 favorites from Daryl Braithwaite that span the popular singer's career.

Liner Note Author: Glenn A. Baker.