VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler One [2005] + VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler Two [2006]

AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTIC

VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler One [2005] + VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler Two [2006]

Released as promotional companions to the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series, these two samplers offer a warm, stripped-back snapshot of Australian rock and pop artists reimagining their own catalogues in acoustic form. Far from being mere unplugged retreads, the performances across Volumes 1 and 2 reveal new emotional textures—songs softened, sharpened, or completely transformed by the intimacy of the format.

Sampler Vol. 1 [2005] features standout acoustic reinterpretations from James Reyne, Mark Seymour, and The Church. Tracks like “Reckless” and “Throw Your Arms Around Me” lose none of their anthemic pull but gain a kind of weathered grace. The Church’s “Under the Milky Way” is especially haunting in this setting, its spacey shimmer replaced by stark vulnerability. The production is clean and unfussy, letting the performances breathe.

Sampler Vol. 2 [2006] expands the roster with contributions from Dragon, Jenny Morris, Michael Spiby, and the Choirboys. There’s a playful energy here “Are You Old Enough?” and “Break in the Weather” feel refreshed, not reduced. Spiby’s “Green Limousine” and “Halo” are highlights, revealing the soul beneath the pop polish. The acoustic arrangements aren’t just quieter—they’re more revealing, often exposing lyrical nuance or melodic turns that were buried in the original mixes.

Both CDs were issued as limited promotional samplers, not sold separately, and only available with purchases from the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series catalogue. That scarcity has made them collector’s items, especially among fans of Australian pub rock and singer-songwriter traditions. The packaging is minimal, but the sequencing is thoughtful, each disc flows like a live set, with emotional peaks and valleys.

Taken together, Vol. 1 and 2 serve as a kind of acoustic time capsule, capturing a moment when legacy artists were invited to revisit their work with fresh ears and open hearts.  And for archivists, they’re essential listening: rare, regionally specific, and emotionally rich. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Diesel - Everybody's Talkin' 2:40

02 The Black Sorrows - Hold on to Me 4:42

03 Stephen Cummings - How Come 4:15

04 Mick Thomas - Father's Day 4:17

05 Diesel - She Won't Need Words 3:32

06 The Black Sorrows - The Chosen Ones 5:26

07 Stephen Cummings - When Love Comes Back to Haunt You 4:57

08 Mick Thomas - I'll Remember 3:34

CD2

01 James Reyne - Tennessee Plates 2:40

02 Mark Seymour - 43 in The Shade 3:39

03 Nick Barker - Senseless 3:50

04 The Church - 0408 5:19

05 James Reyne - Slave 4:54

06 Mark Seymour - Whats A Few Men 3:38

07 Nick Barker - Time Bomb 4:08

08 The Church - Metropolis 3:23

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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