Hillbilly Road is the seventeenth studio album by Australian country music artist John Williamson. It was released in August 2008 and peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. The album was certified gold in July 2009.[2] The album was inspired by Williamson's retreat in the Queensland hinterland and supported with a national tour across late 2008 and into 2009.[3][4]
At the Country Music Awards of Australia in January 2009, Williamson was nominated for six awards; APRA Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Artist of the Year, Heritage Song of the Year, Bush Ballad of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year.[5] Williamson won one award "Bush Ballad of the Year" for ""Australia Is Another Word for Free" with Warren H Williams and Amos Morris[6]
Five singles were released off the album across 2008 and 2009; "Drink a Little Love", "Cydi", "Hillbilly Road", "Australia Is Another Word for Free" and "Better Than a Picture".[7]
Adam Greenberg from AllMusic said "Williamson's sound is by and large in a strong John Denver vein, with an optimistic, warm sound, and a fairly natural guitar tone. A few Aboriginal sounds creep into the mix from time to time, but seem to stand in comfortably and naturally, rather than as an afterthought or a simple nod to the outback that Williamson calls home. The music is simple and warm, built with a touch of timelessness that's almost intentional, but not quite to the degree that it can be called out. It's a fine album, and has just enough vocal goodness to pull in a few listeners from outside of the country realm. "[8]
Track listing[]
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Flowers on the Concrete"
John Williamson
2:32
2.
"Drink a Little Love"
Williamson
3:11
3.
"Dark Irish Eyes"
Williamson
3:33
4.
"Hillbilly Road"
Williamson
3:04
5.
"Catch a Virgin"
Williamson
2:22
6.
"Cydi"
Williamson
3:00
7.
"Pmarra Knatcha (My Home in the Bush)" (with Warren H. Williams)
