Sing About Life Explained

Sing About Life
Type:studio
Artist:Tiddas
Cover:Sing_About_Life_by_Tiddas.png
Prev Title:Inside My Kitchen
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Tiddas
Next Year:1996

Sing About Life is the debut studio album by Australian three-piece folk group Tiddas. The album was released in November 1993 and peaked at number 36 on the ARIA Charts and was certified gold in Australia.[1] The album was re-released in 1994 with a bonus live disc.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 1994, the album received two nominations; Breakthrough Artist - Album and Best Indigenous Release, winning the ARIA for Best Indigenous Release.[2]

Background

In 2016, member Lou Bennett recalled that they could sit around the kitchen table and sing all day. They'd start early in the morning, sharing and writing songs, working out harmonies, having short breaks and almost forgetting to eat. They were just too busy having a damn good time together. Bennett recalled that the making of Sing About Life was an "intensely emotional time" and it was not uncommon for the members to argue, make up, then do it all again adding "it wasn't animosity though, it was creative tension." Bennett said the band came to be known as 'difficult women' because they weren't about to say yes to whatever expectations were put on them to fit into a marketing model in order to sell records. Tiddas stood their ground, knowing that being told to lose weight, wear different clothes and pluck their eyebrows had nothing to do with their development as artists.[3]

Recording

Producer Tony Cohen said, "We recorded part of the album in front of a live audience, which was moving. There must have been more than 50 people there. We kept it simple, mic'd up their voices and guitars and off they went. Recorded to 2-inch tape."[4]

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)LabelCatalogue
AustraliaNovember 1993Compact discPolygram5183482
Australia19942xCDPolygram 5183482/LIVE CD-2
United States of America1995CDLoose Cannon, Island Records314528583-2

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tiddas reform to join Archie Roach dancing with his spirit to his "lost" album . The Music Network. 20 March 2018 . 13 October 2018.
  2. Web site: Winners by Year 1994 . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 13 October 2018 .
  3. Web site: Sing About Life by Tiddas. ABC. 24 June 2016 . 13 October 2018.
  4. Book: Tony Cohen with John Olson . Half Deaf, Completely Mad. 2023. 179. Black Inc. Books. 978-1-74382-308-8.