BRIAN CADD
From this Side Of Things

I’d love to share one of the long, languorous and largely liquid lunches that he obviously enjoys so much with Brian Cadd, Australia’s very own Billy Joel-esque piano man and the man who wrote ‘Little Ray Of Sunshine’- so beloved of father’s everywhere!

A born raconteur, tales of his incredible life creating music around Australia, in London, Los Angeles, Nashville and more roll from his keyboard effortlessly – and it’s a testament to his remarkable adventures and affable nature that he doesn’t have to resort to dishing out dirt on any of his famous acquaintances to make this book such a fascinating read.

From performing to writing and recording with The Groop, Axiom, The Bootleg Family and solo, not to mention his work in the publishing and production side of the music industry, there isn’t a hell of a lot of pies Cadd hasn’t stuck his fingers into at one stage or another, and to his credit he always has a witty, entertaining and intelligent insight into not only his own past but also the many facets of his chosen industry.

It’s not all business in “From this Side Of Things”, though – this is a man who has raised two separate families in different continents, as well as step-fathered another, and the heartbreaking passages detailing his longing for his kids on the other side of the world provide a tear-jerking human side to his story.

Along the way of course, there’s random anecdotes involving Australian and American legends Jim Keays, The Bee Gees, Johnny O’Keefe, The Pointer Sisters, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Glenn Shorrock and many more, making this a must-read for any fan of Australian pop/rock.

Shane Pinnegar