1991 gave a TV Network the chance to cash in on their ‘Farmhouse’ talent

Let me take you back to 1991. Australia was just getting over the 80s and had started to change their style in music tastes. Pop music was similar to the unoffensive rap music but very disposable, and the novelty talent was roaring up the charts – such as soap star Melissa Tkautz and and The Simpsons releasing their own tunes.

But one that was left-of-field was a gem from the Channel 7 television studios. Yes. Channel 7.

For some reason, management decided to put together a group of their well known faces of 1991 and put microphones in front of them. One would say an experiment to cash in on some of their already established talent.

Georgie Parker was in her prime with her stardom in soap A Country Practice;

Michael Horrocks coming off the back of co-hosting Cartoon Connection with Alex Wileman before Jamie Dunn took over;

Emily Symons still popular from her stunt on Home & Away as Marilyn Chambers;

Chris Truswell swimming in coolness with his Nudge persona in Hey Dad..!;

and Julie McGregor known as the dim-witted Betty, also from Hey Dad..!.

Together, they made…. wait for it…

F A R M H O U S E !

… and it sounds as bad as it does.

With the entire album consisting of ten cover songs, we are exposed to the following watered down pop versions:

• Jet Airliner – sung by Pat “The Rap” Powell – the Steve Miller Band classic
• These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ – Georgie Parker. The cover of Nancy Sinatra.
• Crosstown Traffic – Emily Symons. Jimmy Hendrix *shudder*
• Crawfish – Michael Horrocks.
• Too Hard To Handle – Georgie Parker. Otis Redding (also The Black Crowes)
• Stuck In The Middle – Julie McGregor. Stealers Wheel.
• Polk Salad Annie – Michael Horrocks. Tony Joe White.
• Thing About You – Julie McGregor. Loosely based on Elvis Presley / Tony Joe White.
• No Reason – Georgie Parker. (I have no idea if this is a cover or not)
• Under A Stormy Sky – Chris Truswell. Daniel Lanois.

All the songs were pop synth covers where auto-tune was occasionally tweaked with, but it reeks of early 90s production. Though Nudge’s tune was very country-esque, overall – the album is so disposable, you could just pass it off as a beer coaster.

Did the album chart? Barely. Did any songs chart? These Boots charted at Number 54, but that was it. We were exposed to much of Georgie Parker than anyone can handle. It eventually disappeared into the abyss of the Kmart bargain bins.

The album is as rare as hens teeth, but I picked up my copy on eBay. I can always sell you mine for a few dollars, but you don’t want the pain. Instead, here’s a fancy GIF of Georgie making her boots walk on an episode of Hey Hey It’s Saturday from 1991.