Mar

25

The original lyric sheet for the Murray McLauchlan’s 3rd release, ‘Day to Day Dust’ was printed on re-cycled de-inked fibres, a significant financial commitment in 1974 that aptly reflects the heartfelt social commitment on display throughout this album. Beginning with the stirring ‘Hurricane of Change’, McLauchlan forcefully adds his voice to the international folk protest movement:

‘Mama Mama I seen the world and I had to call
The Spring of the world deserted for a bloody fall
For Bloody gold - they kill the land…
What’s the sound that haunts me through the rain
Is it the breath of grief or the hurrican of change?”

In the folk protest traditions of Dylan and Lightfoot, McLauchlan’s erudite and intelligent lyrics poetically explore themes of love, lust, redemption, pain, disconnection and loneliness while eloquently lamenting corporate imperialism and the culture of atomic fear; it is only in the song ‘Revelations’ he finds a way to resolve his angst -
‘Was the story true or was it just in fun
About a resurrection and a life to come
I don’t care much about it anyhow
Resurrection don’t matter much in the here and now
Yes some day when I go down and die
With a quiet mind and a peaceful eye
I won’t worry no more about what goes on
I’ll just like down in the earth ’till the earth is gone.’

The original vinyl was unfortunately poorly produced, with only McLauchlan’s voice and Amos Garrett’s vibrant guitar prevailing through the turgid mix; drums and bass are muted and uncompelling. Despite this handicap, ‘Day To Day Dust’ still is a solid release by McLauchlan, with humanist core values, most of which still ring true. Deleted and long out of print, ‘Day to Day Dust’ is worth picking up at least for ‘Revelation’ alone if you can find it; recommended for fans of McLauchlan, Lightfoot, Dylan, or protest folk music in general.


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