Home recordings with Dad John Bowker 1965 & Pop Bill Bowker 1968.
Leslie, Pauline & Claire.
Recorded in lounge-room of 26 Henry St Eltham on Grundig reel to reel tape machine.

William Bowker 1968

Bowker Girls w Pop 1968

Bowker Girls

Bowker Girls w Dad 1965

From the Compilation Album "Down to Earth" written by Bill McAuley.
Other artists: Lauren Elizabeth, Tom McEwan, Bridgette Allen, Bobby Bright, Sharin Anderson.
Musicians: Michael Oliphant, Michael Doyle, John Dallimore, Greg Clarkson, John Tony, Donald Stewert.

I Dont Love You Anymore 2012-09-25 1415

I Dont Love You Anymore

La Vie En Rose - Classic French
Almost Persuaded - Studio Recording

Classics 2009

La Vie en Rose

Track 15.	Champagne & Desolation 1994.
Champagne & Desolation 3.41 ( Avril/Field)
I had this piano-bar blues floating around for a few years & Heather helped me polish it up to recording standard. A personal song about how lonely you can be -  even in a crowd.
Features just myself on piano & Anthony Harkin on harmonica.

Champagne & Desolation

Track 14.	Champagne & Desolation 1994.
Superwoman 2.30 ( Avril/Field/Gillard)
This song is based on the fact that women have to be such multi-taskers – not like women in the 1950s.
Written with Heather Field & Sydney bassman James Gillard (who is responsible for the difficult riff!).
Features Chris Wilson on piano, Paul Gadsby on Rhythm guitar, Sam Lemann On lead guitar, Wayne Duncan on bass & Gary Young on Drums & backing vocals.

Superwoman

Track 10. Champagne & Desolation 1994.	
Lay Your Burdens Down  2.40 (Avril/Field/Urban)
I plaintive slow waltz based on a past relationship. I made a bet that his new squeeze would be pregnant before the year was out – I was right.
He called to tell me. 
Written with Heather Field & expat Keith Urban.
Features Chris Wilson on keyboards, Gerry Hale on fiddle, auto Harp & acoustic guitar, Wayne Duncan on Bass & Gary Young on drums.

Lay Your Burdens Down

Track 1. Champagne & Desolation 1994. 
Desert Sky 4.22 (Avril/Field/Urban)
After talking about stardom with my man John at the time, he said “the kooris will tell you that the only real stars are up in the desert sky”. 
I wrote this song with songwriter Heather Field & expat Keith Urban.
Features Tom E. Lewis on didgeridoo, Ross Hannaford on electric guitar, Garrett Costigan on pedal steel, Gerry Hale on acoustic guitar, Wayne Duncan on Bass & Gary Young on drums.

Desert Sky

Track 16.	Leslie Avril Live 1996.
Guilty 5.09 (Randy Newman)
A classic blues I have been doing in piano bars for years.
Recorded by heaps of other artists.
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums,    
Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Leslie Avril - Live

Guilty

Track 15.	Leslie Avril Live 1996.
Trashy Women 2.49 (Chris Wall)
I raunchy rock song. This song was originally recorded by the band Confederate Railroad as "Trashy Women". I have changed the lyrics a little!
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums,    
Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Trashy Woman

Track 8.	Leslie Avril Live 1996.
Break It To Me Gently 2.23 (Lampert/Seneca)
A bluesy 50s song originally recorded by Brenda Lee.
This track was recorded by Paul Petran & Music Deli at the Universal Theatre in Melbourne.
Features Chris Stockley on guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Bruce Coombs on drums, Mathew Arnold on fiddle & Garrett Costigan on pedal steel.

Break It To Me Gently

Track 6.	Leslie Avril Live 1996.
Superwoman 2.21 (Avril/Field/Gillard)
This song is based on the fact that women have to be such multi-taskers -
not like women in the 1950s. Written with Heather Field & Sydney bassman James Gillard (who is responsible for the difficult riff!).
This song is also on my 1st CD “Champagne & Desolation”.
 Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums,    
 Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Track 5. Leslie Avril Live 1996.	
Carnival of Souls 4.02 (Bulpin/Smith)
A song with a real New Orleans sound written by expat Randy Bulpin.
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums, Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Carnival Of Souls

Track 4.	Leslie Avril Live 199.6
Desert Sky 4.02 (Avril/Field/Urban) 
After talking about stardom to my boyfriend John at the time, he said “the kooris will tell you that the only real stars are up in the desert sky”. 
I wrote this song with songwriter Heather Field & expat Keith Urban. 
This song is also on my 1st CD “Champagne & Desolation”.
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums, Andrew Clermont on didgeridoo & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Track 3.  Leslie Avril Live 1996.   
Cowgirls’ Heart 3.33 (Beccy Hobbs)
A great crowd pleaser written by the Oklahoma piano girl Beccy Hobbs.
This song is also on my 1st CD “Champagne & Desolation”.
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums, Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Cowgirl's Heart

Track 1. Leslie Avril Live 1996.
Rockabilly Woman 2.16 (Ross Wilson)
Written by a great song-writer Ross Wilson.This song was recently suggested to Wanda Jackson on her last visit to Melbourne.
Features Sam Lemann on Guitar, Paul Gadsby on bass, Gary Young on drums, Andrew Clermont on fiddle & Kerryn Tohust on lap steel & dobro.

Rockabilly Woman

Track 14. Cowboy in My Bed.
I’d Rather Stay Home 2.14 (Felice & Boudleaux Bryant)
A slow waltz. B side recorded by Kitty Wells in 1956. 
Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star. Wells's success in the 1950s and 1960s was so enormous that she still ranks as the sixth most successful female vocalist in the history of the Billboard country charts & in 1976, she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; and as of 2010—at age 91—is its oldest living member.

Cowboy in my Bed

I'd Rather Stay Home

Track 13.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
When Billy Came Back 4.31 (Burt/Champion) Mushroom/Warner Chappell
A serious song written about a First World War Veteran coming home.
This song is also on my 2nd CD Leslie Avril “Live”.
Features Sam Lemann on acoustic guitars, Adam Gare on mandolin, Garrett Costigan on pedal steel, Gerry Pantaris on drums, Paul Gadsby on bass & backing vocals along with Leslie, Tita Farrar & Jody Bell.

When Billy Came Back

Track 8.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
Ticking of the Clock 4.10 (Avril/Macainsh) Control/Mushroom
A big rock ballad. I wrote this song when I turned 40! The song features a classic Greg Macainsh line – all my friends were getting married.
Features Sam Lemann on guitars, James Black on piano, Garrett Costigan on pedal steel, Paul Gadsby on bass & Gerry Pantaris on drums.

Ticking of the Clock

Track 6.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
Flesh & Bone 2.34 (Wilson/Minson) Mushroom/Control
I really liked this song when I heard it. Gritty lyrics that suit my earthy style.
Features Sam Lemann on electric & acoustic guitars, James Black on electric guitar & piano, Paul Gadsby on bass & Gary Young on drums.

Flesh and Bone

Track 3.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
Tangled Up in Love 3.13 (Weatherly/McDill) 
Originally recorded by Gus Hardin, I first heard this song while playing with Chris Stockleys’ Blue Healer Band in the 80s.
A big rock ballad, it is also on my 2nd CD Leslie Avril “Live”.
Features Sam Lemann on acoustic guitars, Garrett Costigan on pedal steel, James Black on piano, Paul Gadsby on bass & backing vocals & Gerry Pantaris on drums.

Cowboy In My Bed

Tangled Up In Love

Track 2.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
What I Used to Get Up To 3.52 (Avril/Macainsh) Control/Mushroom
On  performing in Tamworth - they never let you forget how outrageous you can be - & I still kick my legs up even after 21 years at the Festival!
Features Sam Lemann on guitars, Greg Macainsh on bass, Garrett Costigan on pedal steel & Gerry Pantaris on drums.

What I Used To Get Up To

Track 1.	Cowboy in My Bed 1999.
Cowboy in My Bed 3.32 (Avril/Macainsh) Control/Mushroom
Some country fans just want a country singer! I overheard a fan talking one day.
Features Sam Lemann on guitars, Greg Macainsh on basss, James Black on piano, Adam Gare on fiddle & Gerry Pantaris on drums.

Track 10.  I'm Alright Jack 2010.
Hard Workin’ Woman 3.51 (Avril/Lemann) Control. 
As Sam said to me when we were writing – “where’s all the tough Leslie Avril songs?” Here’s a song in the classic Leslie Avril “WOMAN” style with Jody Bell & Paul Gadsby on vocals & Andy Baylor & Sam on guitars.

I'm Alright Jack

Hard Workin' Woman

Track 8.  I'm Alright Jack 2010.
 La Musique Country 3.14 (Stephen May) Control. 
Speaking & singing un petit peu francais, I had always wanted to record a Cajun song with Andy Baylor. This song was written for me by Stephen May from French Island. It features Andy on vocals & fiddle & Steve Teakle on accordion & washboard.

La Musique Country

Track 6.  I'm Alright Jack 2010.
Foolish Things 3.58 (Avril/Lemann) Control. 
A petulant song about all the foolish things that we all get up to! Features Sam Lemann on guitars & mandolin & Jody Bell on vocals.

Foolish Things

Track 4.  I'm Alright Jack 2010. 
Lonely & Longing 3.21 (Gary & Angie Young) Mushroom/Control.
A honky-tonk song  written by Angie with Gary Young on drums & vocals & Steve Teakle on piano.

Lonely & Longing

Track 3. I'm Alright Jack 2010.
Song for Les 3.40 (Avril/Lemann) Control. 
I wrote this song for Les Scott, a beautiful Papuan bass player from Sydney. Features producer & arranger Sam Lemann on 4 & 8 string ukuleles.

Song For Les

The Blue Healers played a Monday night residency at The Espy Hotel (pre Hanna) 1988/89.
The band featured Chris Stockley, Leslie Avril, Garret Costigan, Brolga, Bruce Coombs, plus Penny & Christine on BVs.
The band also included Mick Elliott, Spiro Phillipas & Chicken in an earlier line-up.
The material consisted of Americana covers & Chris Stockley originals.

The Blue Healers The Espy Disc 1 16.1.1989

Can't Stop Now

24hours from Tulsa

Cry Myself to Sleep

Only Love Can Save Me Now

Leslie Avril with The Bushwackers "Oz Rock Salute" Tamworth 1997.
Recorded by Helen Reddy 1971 (Burton/Reddy)

Oz Rock Salute

I Am Woman

The Blue Healers The Espy Disc2 1989

Hottest Ex in Texas

A vivacious singer & pianist, she moves effortlessly from original compositions to French, Cajun, Country, Blues, Jazz, 
50s Classics & Rockabilly - which all feature on her 5 CDs.
Leslie is a natural performer, wether she’s belting out raunchy rockabilly in a crowded honky-tonk or distilling her magic in intimate cabaret.
“She’s sexy, bluesy & her stunning vocals electrify an audience with power, depth & aching honesty”.

Leslieav

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