CD REviews

Solo CDs

All Paul's CDs are available from this page. Have a look at hiss videos too!

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Blue Sky (2012)
Blue Sky has been my most challenging album to date. I've let each tune follow its own voice, and that's led to some interesting and wildly different places. And, I've not worried so much what others might think. That said, I do hope people like these songs. Most are about the people I love and hold dearly. This has been my most challenging and demanding project to date, but life is short. Why are we here if not to reach out and explore the unsafe, the unknown? And sometimes, you have to live each day as if it's your last.
Price: $A25
Also available at iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.
  1. Big Blue Sky  3:50
  2. Heartbreaker   4:56
  3. Bridge Across A Canyon  4:43
  4. I'm On Your Side  3:29
  5. From Now On  4:27
  6. Shadow  4:45
  7. Beautiful Human  5:03
  8. Joined At The Hip  3:39
  9. cf. Formicidae  4:37
  10. Sail On  5:07
  11. Daddy's Darlin'  3:50
  12. So Long Now  7:25
  13. Woodlands Hymn  7:47

All music and lyrics by Paul Gioia.
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Rising Sea (2008)
I wanted Rising Sea to be darker, bluesier, jazzier than Mercy Train. While acoustic piano is still very much at the core of the music, this is a more produced sound with each track trying to distill something important from each genre. Some great jazz and blues musicians have contributed to the final product, but for me this album is really about the song, not just the music. Although the title track is topical at the moment, it was written well before climate change was mainstream. And Rising Sea just happened to be the strongest track on the album. I hope you enjoy it.
Price: $A25
Also available at iTunes.
  1. Rising Sea  3:22
  2. Home In Your Pocket  3:17
  3. Love Has To Find A Way  4:17
  4. In My House  4:56
  5. Just A Closer Walk With Thee  4:49
  6. Move On Up A Little Higher  4:45
  7. Killing Fields  6:25
  8. What A Fool Am I  4:39
  9. Lead Me On  5:01
  10. Kicking  4:01
  11. Cruel World For Love  4:47
  12. Armchair Blues  3:49

All music and lyrics by Paul Gioia except Just A Closer Walk With Thee (trad), and Move On Up A Little Higher (E.H. Brewster) - arr. Paul Gioia.
I only discovered ‘folk’ festivals in recent years and they’ve been a real shot in the arm for me, musically. But as a pianist I’ve felt strangely alone. Where are the pianos? Wasn’t there so much of the people’s music pumped out on a broken down piano in halls and pubs across America, the UK and Australia. Once, maybe. I had an idea to put together a repertoire of piano-based music drawing from blues, gospel and even Celtic traditions. This is it.

Price: $A25 - Sorry - sold out!
  1. jump for joy  2:44
  2. what the doctor ordered  3:23
  3. postcard blues  4:11
  4. no turning back  3:43
  5. mercy train  5:10
  6. pg boogie  2:30
  7. how great thou art  5:51
  8. prince of peace  4:43
  9. goddamn the guitar  4:12
  10. fairbridge rag  2:01
  11. calum sgaire  2:32
  12. this country  5:18

All music and lyrics by Paul Gioia except Calum Sgaire (MacLeod/MacAulay), How Great Thou Art (Swedish folk melody, Boberg/Hine) and No Turning Back (composer unknown) - arr. Paul Gioia. Supported by a 2005 ArtsWA grant.

BILL LAWRIE & PAUL GIOIA
This is Bill Lawrie's and my first duo CD together. We've played together for many years in Tin Dog but this is a new venture we're both enjoying immensely. While I was researching another project, I discovered a bunch of piano and guitar duos, including names like Big Bill Broonzy, Tampa Red and Cripple Clarence Lofton. The tunes were mostly recorded between the 20' and 40s; some have been covered many times while others are rarely heard gems. Bill and I have tried to produce our own take on these fantastic tunes.
Dead Cat Blues (2015) Bill Lawrie & Paul Gioia
Price: $A25
Click the Add to Cart button to purchase a real, beautiful, tactile CD with Bill's gorgeous artwork. On the other hand, postmoderns can purchase a downloadable CD plus artwork from our BandCamp site deadcatblues.bandcamp.com.
  1. Mountain Blues  3:29
  2. Papa's On The Housetop  3:32
  3. Baby, Look At You  2:27
  4. It Hurts Me Too  4:45
  5. Dead Cat On The Line  3:35
  6. Pneumonia Blues  3:56
  7. Sporting Life Blues  3:21
  8. Sittin' On Top Of The World  3:28
  9. Policy Blues  3:59
  10. Someday, Baby  2:55
  11. Never Drive A Stranger From Your Door  4:28
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She's Gone (Tin Dog)
Please contact Bill Lawrie about his and Paul's band Tin Dog.

OTHER CDS

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Shower of Grace
Shower of Grace web site. For new songs look here.