Eric Bogle & John Munro   •   A Toss of the Coin

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  • A Toss of the Coin
    • 2013 - Greentrax CDTRAX375 CD (UK)
  • Track List
    1. Ashes
    2. By The Arafura Sea
    3. Song For James
    4. Absolution (J. Munro)
    5. In Flanders Fields (J. McCrae, Arr. E. MacRae)
    6. Reg Evans' Cradle
    7. When An Angel Appears (M. O'Callaghan)
    8. Home Is The Hero
    9. A Toss Of The Coin
    10. Roll Call
    11. Glory Days (J. Munro)
    12. Don't Throw Away Your Dreams (P. Titchener, June Harrison)

  • Musicians
    • Eric Bogle: Vocals
    • John Munro: Guitars, Ukelele Mandolin, Vocals
    • Emma Luker: Fiddle, Cello
    • Damien Steele Scott: Electric Basses, Piano, Guitar
    • Pete Titchener: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
    • Jon Jones: Drums, Percussion
    • Mike O'Callaghan: Guitar (Track: 7)
    • Liz Frencham: Backing Vocals (Track: 11)
    • Maggie Rutjens: Backing Vocals (Track: 12)
    • Special thanks to Traff Mooney for the loan of the Bodhran
  • Credits
    • Produced by Eric Bogle & Pete Titchener
    • Recorded by Pete Titchener at Folk House Studio, Adelaide
    • Mixed by Anthony Stewart at Red Brick Music
    • Mastered by Neville Clark at Disk Edits, Adelaide
    • Artwork by Pete Titchener
    • All songs written by Eric Bogle, unless otherwise noted.

Sleeve Notes

"My sincere thanks for all those who contributed to this CD. As per usual your hard work and incredible musicianship have combined to make the recording of this CD a pleasurable and uplifting experience. You are all diamonds, and if there was any justice you'd all be as rich as me … " Eric Bogle


Ashes — Written after a visit to Strathewen, Victoria, 10 weeks after the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009 in which 173 souls perished. Dedicated to Dave Magahey, Captain of the Arthurs Creek and Strathewen Fire Brigade, and to his team who fought the fires alongside him.

By The Arafura Sea — A romantic flight of fancy

Song For James — James Nash was a young Irish lad who was knocked down and killed by a truck in 2000, while he was walking home early one winter's morning. After the funeral James' father came down regularly to the cemetery to tend to his son's grave, then started to look after a few more, and eventually ended up maintaining the whole graveyard, which he still does to this day. In 2009. I sang at the old church in Kilworth, Co. Cork, which is now an Arts Centre, where James is buried and where I was told this story. James' father was at the concert and when I asked him why he did it, he answered "It's something I can still do for my son, it helps keeps his memory alive and gives me comfort" …

Absolution — A song from John Munro. We all seek absolution for our perceived sins before gaining forgiveness from others however, we have to try and forgive ourselves first for being human, and therefore, of course, fallible …

In Flanders Fields — This poem, written by Canadian physician and soldier, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, is widely regarded as one of the finest poems to come out of the bloody carnage that was WWI. Since it was first published in 1915, many have attempted to put a melody to it. Now it's my turn …

Reg Evans' Cradle — Reg was an actor who lived in St. Andrews, Victoria and who lost his life in the Black Saturday fires. As well as being an actor, Reg was a bit of a craftsman, and in 1972 he built a beautiful, elaborately carved wooden cradle for the son of a friend. Through the years it became a tradition in St. Andrews for the new babies of the community to spend at least one night in Reg's cradle and then Reg would carve the name of the infant on the side of the cradle. Before Black Saturday there were apparently around 100 names carved there. The locals thought the cradle had been lost in the fires that claimed Reg's life, but in fact it was in Canberra. It had been taken there by a local who was working in Canberra at the time, and who wanted his newly born daughter to spend a night in Reg's cradle as tradition demanded … so when the cradle was returned to St. Andrews after the fires, there was a new name carved on it's side …

When An Angel Appears — Written by a friend of mine, Mike O'Callaghan, who in turn wrote it for a friend of his, Vicky Chaplin. Vicky was the sister of Mike's daughter-in-law, and worked as a senior nurse at Westmead Hospital in Sydney. She was one of those selfless, compassionate, caring individuals whose life was mostly dedicated to helping others. After a short illness, her own life was tragically cut short at the age of 45, and Mike then wrote this song as a loving tribute to Vicky and to honour the memory of a truly exceptional woman. As her brother said "If there were such things as Angels on earth, then Vicky was surely a perfect example".

Home is The Hero — In the UK there's an organisation called "Houses For Heroes" which looks after disabled veterans, mostly these days of course from Afghanistan. Peter Minshall is the CEO of the Scottish branch of the organisation, and he asked me to write this song, so blame him.

A Toss of The Coin — A song about love and loss. Can't have one without the other as the saying goes …

Roll Call — For the kids of Sandy Hook

Glory Days — I guarantee there aren't many songs out there extolling the virtues of growing old, senile, and tottering on the brink of extinction. But somehow Mr. Positive, a.k.a. John Munro, found a few, and he wrote this song.

Don't Throw Away Your Dreams — Written by Pete Titchener, my sometime bass player, occasional rhythm guitarist (i.e. he occasionally finds the right rhythm when he's playing my songs) and full time computer guru. I suppose it's not the style of song I usually sing, but I like it, and as I'm growing a bit sentimental in my old age decided to record it.