Jimmy Barnes and Dallas Crane have joined to record the track Sit On My Knee, featured on Dallas Cranes previous release 24/7, a collaboration many have anointed as novelty or indeed suitable cirumstance for shameless self exposure.
The track itself fails to deviate from it’s original version, apart from the addition of Barnes. As a flaunting Dallas Crane fan, I sit comfortably with their contribution to the track, however, when Barnesy enters most prominently via the commencement of the second verse, his vocals do nothing to enhance the song, if anything, detracting from the fine composition of the band. After the seer and vigour of Dave Larkin, the old Cold Chisel frontman just doesn’t seem quite as exhilarating.
The two other tracks included on the disc are a new solo effort from Barnes, Deadwood and Iodine, a track off Dallas Cranes recent album. Deadwood is your typical return to form for Barnes, reminiscing with the late eighties bogan rock he so eloquently epitomised. However, the man once again fails to convert me to flannelette and a mullet.
This release causes you ask two important questions; When should an artist finally call it a day?, and; did Dallas Crane necessarily have to collaborate with Barnesy, thus risking a possible loss of credibility? The answers; a long, long time ago, and no.