Guide to the Papers of Neil Murray [MSS 278]

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Manuscript Name Papers of Neil Murray
Manuscript Number MSS 278
Last Updated October 2021
Extent  9 boxes + 1 AV box + oversized material
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract Literary papers, including drafts of poems and songs, scrapbook material, manuscript collections. Also includes published words, including CDs, VHS, and audio tapes. Oversized material consists of posters and promotional material.

Collection Subject Type

Literary

Scope and Content

A collection of literary papers of Neil Murray, created principally between 1992 and 2000, but including material dating back to the early 1980s. The collection includes drafts of poems and songs, notebooks, general and literary correspondence, published works containing reviews, articles and advertisements, programs, posters, compact discs, and both audio and video cassettes.

Date Range of Content

1982 - 2001

Biographical Note

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Murray_(Australian_musician)

Neil Murray is an Australian singer/songwriter, poet, novelist and playwright. He is a founding member of Warumpi Band (1980), and played with them until 1999. Warumpi Band was the first major rock group with mostly Indigenous members and to use Aboriginal languages in their lyrics. Murray has also had a solo career.

His works include the poetry collections Starting Procedure: Poems & Prose (To Read Aloud) (1980) and One Man Tribe (1999), the latter also published a spoken-word album. Musically, he has released two albums with Warumpi Band, Big Name No Blankets (1985), Go Bush! (1987), Too Much Humbug (1996). His first novel, Sing for Me, Countryman, was published in 1993. His solo albums include Calm & Crystal Clear (1989), These Hands (1993), Dust (1996), The Wondering Kind (2000). He also wrote the play King for this Place (1999), commissioned by and performed at Deckchair Theatre, Fremantle.

Murray was awarded the APRA Song of the Year Award in 1995 for My Island Home, also listed in the APRA Top 30 Australian Songs of All Time in 2001.

References:
Author record, Neil Murray, AustLit (www.austlit.edu.au), St Lucia: The University of Queensland, 2002-. [Retrieved from https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A14955 15/10/2018].

Island Home Music. (2018). Neil Murray: Biography. Retrieved from http://www.neilmurray.com.au/pages/bio.html, 15/10/2018.

Administrative Information

 

Access and Copying Conditions

Access: Open Access

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy. 

Copying: Check with Curator 

Preferred Citation

Papers of Neil Murray, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, MSS 278, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

Provenance

The collection was acquired from Neil Murray in three consignments.


Subject Keywords

 

Subjects

Australian poetry, poets, Australian poets, singers, songwriters, 20th century poetry, Australian novelists, novelists, 20th century music, playwrights, Australian playwrights.

Personal Names

Neil Murray 1956-

Corporate Names

Warumpi Band

Neil Murray and the Rainmakers

Occupations

Singer, songwriter, poet, writer

 

Container List

Box 1

Folder 1
Correspondence, 1982 - 1989

Interviews in relation to music.

Folder 2
Warumpi Band – some song notes and lyrics, early 1980s

Photographs Warumpi Band.

Folder 3
Correspondence, 1979 - 1984

Correspondents include Russell Guy, Patrick McCauley.

Folder 4
Material from scrapbook folder, 1979 - 1983

Includes correspondence, poetry, ‘As the Crow Flies,’ Overland publication July 1981, no. 84 Ned Kelly Anniversary. Also includes a copy of Starting Procedure: Poems & Prose (to read aloud) (1980) and the photograph used for the cover.

Folder 5
Material from scrapbook folder, 1980 - 1986

Includes correspondence; newspaper articles – ‘Country poetry to read aloud’ and ‘Famous poets to give Alice concert’; Overland publication, April 1986, no. 102.

Folder 6
Old journal and notes, 1980s

Includes Walungurruka Tjukurrpa newsletter, September 1987; photograph.

Folder 7
Stories and articles, 1980s

Drafts of short stories and articles. Also includes material on Caz Aboriginal Art Gallery.

 

Box 2

Folder 8
Early drafts and correspondence, 1978

Folder 9
Formative song lyrics and finished song lyrics, 1975 - 1979

Also includes drafts of poetry.

Folder 10
Poetry manuscript collection Let it Loom, November 1991

Folder 11
Formative song lyrics and finished lyrics, 1980

Also includes media clippings throughout the 1980s

Folder 12
Song lyrics, including developmental notes, 1989 - 1991

Also includes correspondence from Billy Marshall-Stoneking.

Folder 13
Fourth draft of screenplay Lasseter by Billy Marshall-Stoneking, 1983

Folder 14
Annotated typescript draft of play Burke and Wills, 1976

 

Box 3

Folder 15
First draft Desert Stars, a screenplay for a movie, April 1988

Folder 16
Scene breakdown for Desert Stars, annotated, October 1987

Folder 17
Second draft of original screenplay of Desert Stars, December 1988

Folder 18
Other film projects, 1985 - 1987

Project titles include ‘The Clever Man’, an idea for a movie; ‘Turning the Stars up Full Blast’. An idea for a feature film; ‘Dust’, an outline; ‘Desert Stars’, a scene breakdown for a movie. Also includes correspondence, 1985 - 1987.

Folder 19
These Hands album – notes, lyrics scribbles, track sheets, 1985 - 1993

This folder included the AV material that is now AV 1.10 - 1.16.

Folder 20
Sing for me, Countryman draft and editorial report, 1993

 

Box 4

Folder 21
Sing for me, Countryman draft with annotations, 1993

Folder 22
Poetry manuscript ‘Loom (selected works 1978 - 1994)’, 1994

Folder 23
Early and adolescent writings and notes, 1975 - 1987

Also includes an uncorrected draft for ‘The Clever Man’, an idea for a movie, 1987.

Folder 24
Miscellaneous Performance Returns, 1992

Folder 25
Acceptances, 1984 - 1993

Folder 26
Rejections, 1983 - 1994

Also includes some other related correspondence.

Folder 27
Lyric writing workshop ‘Strong Songs’, 1994

Includes media release from AusMusic and lecture notes.

Box 5

Folder 28
Advertisement, review, programme timetable, 1993

Advertisement for a performance by Neil Murray & The Rainmakers at the Continental Cafe; review of Neil Murray & The Rainmakers performing with Mulil by Ross Clelland; Peek  Whurrong coming home concert: programme and festival timetable.

Folder 29
Song writing: Notes & development of lyrics, c.1994

Folder 30
Sing for me, countryman, 1993

Folder 31
Music business – management correspondence, 7 October 1992 - 30 September 1994

Folder 32
Letters of significance sent re: Western District Koories, 1993 - 1994

Includes letters sent to ‘Uncle’ Banjo.

Folder 33
Letters to Eric Beach and Rob Novak, 1993 - 1994 

Folder 34
Correspondence, 1980s

Folder 35
Outgoing letters, 1993

Note reads: ‘Re: novel, publishers, Varuna writing fellowship, attempts at poetry publication.’

Folder 36
Drafts of Desert Stars screenplay and notes, no date

Folder 37
Draft of Desert Stars screenplay with notes and emendations, no date

 

Box 6

Folder 38
Desert Stars – a scene breakdowns and script editor’s report, 1987 - 1988

Includes two copies of the scene breakdown, October 1987 and the script editor’s report, 6 June 1988.

Folder 39
Desert Stars screenplay, first draft, April 1988

Folder 40
Desert Stars screenplay, second draft, December 1988

Also includes certificate noting that Desert Stars received a nomination for the Monte Miller Memorial Award for an Unproduced Script by an Associate Member.

Folder 41
Desert Stars screenplay, third draft, December 1992

Folder 42
Desert Stars screenplay, fourth draft, December 1993

Folder 43
Notebook, December 1993

Folder 44
Author tour folder for release of Sing for Me, Countryman, 1993

Includes media release and tour dates.

Folder 45-46
Draft of Sing for Me, Countryman with editorial notes, c.1992

Folder 47
Sing for Me, Countryman first draft, c.1992

 

Box 7

Folder 48-49
Sing for Me, Countryman first draft, c.1992

Folder 50-51
Sing for Me, Countryman draft, 1992

Folder 52
One Man Tribe, 1999

Includes a copy of the final book, drafts of poems, text layout, marketing material.

Folder 53
Old bio, “Sing Your Destiny” graphics, c.1991

Folder 54
AMPCOM annual report and conference, 1996

Includes some related correspondence.

Folders 55-56
Gigs, 1993 - 2001

Includes pamphlets, ephemera, some correspondence, itineraries, posters. Not all material is related to musical performances; some are literary events.

Box 8

Folder 57
Gigs, 1993 - 2001

Includes pamphlets, ephemera, some correspondence, itineraries, posters. Not all material is related to musical performances; some are literary events.

Folder 58
Recording 98-99 - lyrics, charts, notes, 1998 - 1999.

Folder 59
Lyrics, c.1996

Folder 60
Miscellaneous artwork, poetry, c.1997

Folder 61
Lyrics, c.1998 - 2000

Folder 62
Correspondence - general, 1995 - 2000

Folder 63
Correspondence – Rob Barnham Management & Productions, 1992 - 1993

Folder 64
“The Wondering Kind” – correspondence, notes, 1999 - 2000

Included the final album as a CD, now AV 1.17.

Folder 65
‘The Pool of Time’, film draft, no date

 

Box 9

Folder 66
‘King For This Place’ play, 1997

Includes a first draft, promotional material and some other papers.

Folder 67
Press clippings, 1994 - 2000

Folder 68
Spiral bound manuscript of ‘Loom (selected works 1978 - 1994)’, c.1994

Folder 69
‘These Hands’ – correspondence and CD, 1990 - 1993

Housed the final album as a CD, now AV 1.18.

Folder 70-71
Song lyrics, roughs - Warumpi & self, c.1990s

Folder 72
Notebook, c.1993

Folder 73
Notebook, c.1993

Folder 74
Notebook, c.1993

Folder 75
Queensland Writers Centre, 2001

Contract and media for Poetry and Song workshop held on 26 May 2001.

Folder 76
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme, 1995

Folder 77
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme, 1997

Folder 78
Australian Book Review magazine, February-March 1989

Folder 79
The Edge magazine, August 1989

Folder 80
Rhythms magazine, no. 3, March 1995

Folder 81
Liquid Space magazine, vol. 1.1, August 1996

Folder 82
AMP magazine, no. 14, April 1997

Signed by Murray.

Folder 83
Stage passes, 1999, 2001

Includes stage passes for Big Day Out 1999, Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival 2001.

 

AV Box 1

Audio-visual material.

AV 1.1
Audio tape, 2 November 1977

Australian Broadcasting Commission audio tape - Neil Murray, December, 2/11/77, Reel B of B, tape numbers UPH 1094.

AV 1.2
Audio tape, 2 November 1977

Australian Broadcasting Commission audio tape - Neil Murray, December, 2/11/77, Reel 1 of 3, tape numbers VPH 1385.

AV 1.3
Ampex audio mastering tape, no date

7-1/2 ips, i/v and v/o.

AV 1.4
BASF audio tape, no date

LGR 30 P-18/360m Pr. Nr 71778187 x A (7 in/1200 ft).

AV 1.5
BASF audio tape, no date

LGR 30 P-18/360m Pr. Nr 71778187 x A (7 in/1200 ft).

AV 1.6
Realistic audio tape, no date

549m/1800ft., 1.0ml/23μm 7”/18cm reel.

AV 1.7
Cassette tape, Big Name, No Blankets, Warumpi Band, 1988

AV 1.8
Cassette tape, Calm & Crystal Clear, Neil Murray, 1989

AV 1.9
Cassette tape, Go Bush!, Warumpi Band, 1987

AV 1.10
Cassette tape, These Hands, Neil Murray, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.11
Audio compact disc, Sing Your Destiny, Neil Murray, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.12
Audio compact disc, Holt Road, Neil Murray, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.13
Audio compact disc, Far Away, Neil Murray, 1992

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.14
Audio compact disc, These Hands, Neil Murray, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.15
Audio compact disc, Carnivale Live On Tour Compilation, various artists, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.16
VHS tape, Holy Road and Sing Your Destiny, Neil Murray, c.1993

This item was original housed in Folder 19.

AV 1.17
Audio compact disc, The Wondering Kind, Neil Murray, 1999

This item was original housed in Folder 64.

AV 1.18
Audio compact disc, These Hands, Neil Murray, 1993

This item was original housed in Folder 69.

AV 1.19
Cassette tape, Far Away, Neil Murray, 1992

AV 1.20
Cassette tape, Dust, Neil Murray, 1996

AV 1.21
Audio compact disc, This Bliss, Neil Murray, 1996

AV 1.22
Audio compact disc, Give This Day, Neil Murray, 1996

AV 1.23
Audio compact disc, Fire of Love, Neil Murray, 1996

Promotional release not intended for general distribution.

AV 1.24
Audio compact disc, Eddie Mabo, Neil Murray, 1999

Promotional release not intended for general distribution.

AV 1.25
Audio compact disc, Late This Night (radio edit), Neil Murray, 1999

Promotional release not intended for general distribution.

AV 1.26
Audio compact disc, Good Light in Broome, Neil Murray, 1999

Promotional release not intended for general distribution.

AV 1.27
Audio compact disc, Reconciliation Council: We’ll Build a Nation, Neil Murray and the Kormilda College Students, April 1999

CD Master 44.1KHZ. Kakadu Studios.

AV 1.28
VHS tape, The End of the Corrugated Road and Sissy, ABC, July 2001

The End of the Corrugated Road, duration 27’ tx: July 9, 11:00pm
Sissy, duration: 27’ tx: July 10, 11:00pm (2001)

 

Oversized

Posters and other oversized material.

OS 1
Poster, ‘Windy Mick and the Falcon’, 1993.

58.5cm (H) x 42cm (W)

OS 2
Poster, Neil Murray (ex-Warumpi Band) and the Rainmakers, c.1993.

75.5cm (H) x 50.5cm (W)

OS 3
Poster, Neil Murray (ex-Warumpi Band) and the Rainmakers Debut Album Calm & Crystal Clear out now, c.1989.

105cm (H) x 75cm (W)

OS 4
Poster, Neil Murray These Hands new album out now includes the singles Holy Road and Far Away, 1993.

64cm (H) x 45cm (W)

OS 5
Poster, Neil Murray Far Away single out now on CD and cassette, 1993.

75.5cm (H) x 51cm (W)

OS 6
Poster, Moruya Festival of Music, 1994.

42cm (H) x 29.5cm (W)

OS 7
Calendars with handwritten notes, 1991 - 1992

OS 8
Poster, Neil Murray Good Light tour, c.1998

59cm (H) x 42cm (W)

OS 9
Poster, Paul Kelly in concert, 2001

Post text: SunFEM and MusicMax present Araluen Thu 27 & Fri 28 September. Special Guest Neil Murray. HOT 100 and MusicMax present MGM Grand Lawns Sat 29 September. Special Guests Vika & Linda plus Neil Murray. Tickets $35 on sale at MGM Grand Darwin hotel reception.

59cm (H) x 42cm (W)

OS 10
26 posters, Warumpi Band, c.1996

Poster text: Return of Araluen Warumpi Band special guest. Two shows. Wed. 11 & Thurs. 12 Dec. 7.30pm. Tickets $10 with concession. Book now… Araluen Box Office Territory Business Supplies.

36cm (H) x 51cm (W)

OS 11
3 posters, Neil Murray The Wondering Kind, 2000

Poster text: The New CD from one of Australia’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters. Includes Late This Night, Eddie Mabo and Good Light in Broome. CD launch performance 8pm Saturday 15 April Studio Theatre, Darwin Entertainment Centre. Tickets $20/$15. Book on 8981 1222.

62.5cm (H) x 43cm (W)

OS 12
Poster, The Genes, 1997

Poster text: EP out now. The Genes: Sunshine Pocket. Appearing in concert.

Signed with a note reading ‘Thanks Sue for all your great support. Nolan Angell. Morgan Angell.’

29.5cm (H) x 41.5cm (W)

OS 13
Poster, Lahi Gabua: light the fire, Drum Drum, c.1996

42 (H) x 29.5cm (W)

OS 14
Poster, Same Make Different Model, Harmony Day, Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs, 2000

59cm (H) x 42cm (W)

OS 15
Poster, YOU ME aUStralian, Harmony Day, Department of Immigration & Multicultural Affairs, 1999

59cm (H) x 42cm (W)

OS 16
3 posters, Neil Murray CDs $30 each, c.2000

Poster includes a street sign with a list of Neil Murray songs. Far Away, Big Truck, Holy Road, Fitzroy Crossing, This Bliss, […] Street, Calm and Crystal Clear, Native Born, Tjapwurrung Country, Goodlight [sic] in Broome, My Island Home.
Also includes an A4 print of the same design, which lacks the ‘CDs $30 each’ text.

42cm (H) x 29.5cm (W)

OS 17
3 posters, Warumpi Band live at the Fly by Night Musicians Club, 2000

Poster text: PEEDAC pty ltd Perth Employment and Enterprise Development Aboriginal Corporation, Indigenous 2000 Event Management, AGT Aboriginal Group Training present Warumpi Band live! at the Fly By Night Musicians Club with special guest Lois Olney Friday 7th July, 8.00pm. Fly By Night Club, Holdsworth Street, Fremantle. Tickets available through BOCS, Mills Records and at the door. Warumpi Band will also be performing at the Indigenous Cultural Expo, The Esplanade, Perth, Saturday July 8th, 11am - 10.30pm.

42cm (H) x 29.5cm (W)

OS 18
Posters, Warumpi Band with Wild Water at Marrara Indoor Sports Stadium, 1999

Poster text: Jam Itt Productions presents: in their only Darwin performance before the Big Day Out tour Warumpi Band with: Wild Water at the airconditioned Marrara Indoor Sports Stadium plus: The Glyde Monkeys. Friday, January 15th 1999 8:30pm. Tickets available from: Sounds of Music – Casuarina. CD City Hi-Fi – Darwin. Curved Air – Palmerston. Soundtracs – Katherine. $10.00 PreSale. $12.50 at the Door. Bar open.

42cm (H) x 29.5cm (W)

OS 19
Poster, Salamanca Writers Festival, 1995

Poster text: University of Tasmania Writers Union and Salamanca Arts Centre inc presents Salamanca Writers Festival 1995. Friday 17 March – Sunday 19 March at Salamanca Arts Centre. Featuring over 30 guest writers from overseas, interstate, and Tasmania. Including: Bill Bryson, Paul Bailey, Louis Nowra, Isabel Huggan, Tracy Harvey, Vitali Vitaliev, peter porter, Anna Fienberg, and Paul Kane. Panels. Readings. Performances. Workshops. Exhibitions. Young Writers Day - 17 March. A ‘Fair’ with Writing – 17-18 March. Fringe Festival – 15-19 March. Featuring: Neil Murray. Louis de Paor + friends. Salamanca Writers Festival (002) 240 029.

Centre of poster consists of a drawing of a typewriter on a desk, the shadow of a figure stretching behind it. The typewriter has a sheet of paper inserted, with text reading ‘The keys rattled and moved… The shadows walked like skeletons.’

Poster also lists sponsors, including logos.

90cm (H) x 32cm (W)

OS 20
2 posters, Neil Murray The Wondering Kind, 2000

Poster text: The New CD from one of Australia’s most acclaimed singer/songwriters. Includes Late This Night, Eddie Mabo and Good Light in Broome.

62.5cm (H) x 43cm (W)

OS 21
Poster, Neil Murray Good Light tour, c.1998

Poster is signed by Murray with note reading, ‘Margo – I hope this year brings you joy and happiness’.

59cm (H) x 42cm (W)