00:00Our next guest has sold more than 60 million records.
00:05Judith Durham is an Australian music legend as a member of the Seekers and as a solo artist.
00:09This morning she's back in the charts with a landmark album release.
00:17She's responsible for so many classic songs.
00:25Judith Durham is the lead vocalist for the Seekers and in the 60s took the group to global stardom.
00:37The Seekers were the first Australian group to reach number one in the US.
00:47Today Judith celebrates another milestone.
00:50She's releasing her historic 1970 album, Climb Every Mountain, for the first time on CD.
00:56It was previously only available on vinyl.
00:59The commemorative release features Judith's unique interpretations of songs by legendary composers such as Elton John and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
01:20That was such a classic concert that one at the Music Bowl.
01:28Judith Durham joins us now from Melbourne.
01:31Judith, delighted to see you again.
01:35As you know, I'm obsessed with the sound of music.
01:38Why did you decide to re-release Climb Every Mountain?
01:43It's absolutely incredible to have this opportunity, actually, Koshi.
01:47The album was actually recorded 40 years ago and I had just become signed to A&M Records.
01:53So I had the marvellous opportunity to work with some great people.
01:57Elton John's song, Skyline Pigeon, is on the album, as well as a song I've written on my own, which is a song called Let Me Find Love.
02:04But to have the opportunity to call the album Climb Every Mountain now that this is out, it's just a thrill.
02:11And I'm so glad for all the fans because they've waited 40 years to actually have a CD with the whole thing together.
02:16That's what I love about this because you actually skipped cassette, just only previously on vinyl, Judith.
02:22Absolutely, yes. It's a long time to wait, isn't it?
02:26And I never would have dreamt that this would happen, you know, all these years later.
02:30So it's been a thrill to actually have the CD in my hands only yesterday for the very first time
02:35and to play the songs that I'd forgotten how beautiful the arrangements are.
02:40They're by Christopher Gunnick, who have recently had won awards for the music of Poirot and La Vie en Rose.
02:47Magnificent arrangements.
02:49And of course, I had Dudley Moore on piano for the sessions as well.
02:52Wow.
02:53So just magnificent orchestrations.
02:55I'm thrilled to bits to have it at last.
02:57Yes.
02:58Although the youngsters these days, Judith, are going back to vinyl.
03:03So hopefully they'll re-release the vinyl version too for all the people who want to scratch it.
03:09You are absolutely right. It's a thrill.
03:12The convenience of a CD, of course, can't be matched.
03:15But there's nothing like holding that album cover in your hand.
03:17Exactly.
03:19Yeah.
03:20Judith, we were talking to one of our cameramen here in the studio today,
03:24who actually attended this concert way back when at the Maya Music Bowl.
03:28What are your memories from that time?
03:30And did you ever imagine that now, 40 years on, you'd be here in Melbourne talking to us this morning?
03:36Oh, I never could have dreamt what's happened in my life in the last 50 years.
03:40It's absolutely astonishing.
03:41When I left The Seekers back in 1968, of course, then I had 25 years
03:46where I was just a solo artist and doing all my own compositions.
03:49And of course, the featured track on this album is now Let Me Find Love,
03:54which is on a CD now for the first time, this particular arrangement.
03:57So, you know, looking ahead, I could have never dreamt all the things that would be ahead of me.
04:02And I'm still, it seems like I'm still meant to be going
04:04when you think the brain hemorrhage didn't stop me.
04:07So I don't know what will, but something's going to.
04:10Well, look, you posted a photo on Facebook over Easter of you having Easter lunch
04:16with enjoying a vegan lunch with your family.
04:18What's life like for you away from the stage and the spotlight now?
04:23Gee, it's a good looking family.
04:24Yeah, beautiful.
04:25Well, I know they're all better looking than I am.
04:28I don't know how come I was the one who got in the spotlight.
04:31But look, life is very, very busy because I am a songwriter.
04:37I write music as well as lyrics.
04:39And plus the fact, of course, I've tried to keep the Seekers out there
04:43because of our 50th anniversary tour and everything.
04:46It's been very, very busy.
04:48And so now to have the opportunity to have a solo release and who knows,
04:52maybe a solo tour could be around the corner.
04:54So who knows? I mean, life is very exciting.
04:57That's a good hint.
04:58Oh, the jitterbounds.
04:59I'm starting to get excited.
05:01Fingers crossed.
05:02People often say, when I mean people, I mean David Koch,
05:05that they just don't make music like they used to.
05:08Do you think that's the case?
05:09What do you enjoy listening to these days in terms of contemporary artists?
05:13Well, I do enjoy, yes, I do enjoy many artists.
05:16There's no doubt about it.
05:18But I find the production misses melody for me sometimes.
05:22I like songs that you can sing along with and emotional songs,
05:27meaningful songs.
05:28I mean, that's what many of the songs on this album,
05:31the Climb Every Mountain album, they have a lot of meaning,
05:33even though I didn't write.
05:34Well, I co-wrote one of them with my husband, a very happy song
05:38called What Could Be a Better Way.
05:40But generally speaking, I wasn't writing songs back then.
05:44But for me, that's what's important, the spiritual side of things,
05:48meaningful things, things that will help give people comfort.
05:52That's what I aim for now in anything that I do.
05:55So I really, yeah, I think it's important.
05:58You know, there's a lot of very, very nice music out there.
06:01Very, very clever productions.
06:03I always marvel at people's ability.
06:06But, you know, when it comes to it, I just like melody myself and rhythm
06:09and something that will help people and comfort them in their lives.
06:13That's fantastic.
06:14Judith, it's lovely to speak to you.
06:16I reckon you'd love Hosea.
06:18I'm going to send his album to you.
06:19I'm a bit addicted to it, to it at the moment.
06:21I reckon it's your sort of music.
06:23I'll send you a CD.
06:24And the vinyl and the cassette.
06:26Exactly right.
06:27Lovely to see you.
06:28Thank you so much for joining us, Judith.
06:31Judith Durham's CD, Climb Every Mountain, is out now.
