Musicians

Warumpi Band

Origin
Papunya, Northern Territory, Australia
Genre/styles
Country | Rock
About Warumpi

The Warumpi Band formed in Papunya in the central desert. They released the first rock song in an Aboriginal language (Jailanguru Pakarnu) and sing in Luritja and English. The band was active from 1980 to 2000.

Members included (changed frequently): Brian Butcher, Gordon Butcher (*), Sammy Butcher (*), Murray Cook, Bill Heckenberg, Bill Jacobi, Dennis Minor (*), Alan Murphey, Neil Murray (founder, non-Aboriginal*), George Rrurrumbu, Kenny Smith, Hilary Wirri, George Burrarrawanga. (*) = original members

The name comes from the honey-ant dreaming site located near the Aboriginal settlement of Papunya (240 kilometres west of Alice Springs).

Discography

Album formats explained

Album formats

  • 10": 10 inch vinyl records were played at 45 or 33 1/3 rounds per minute (rpm). The former could hold 9, the latter 12 minutes of music per side.
  • 7": 7 inch records (often referred to as 45s) were played at 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm, with about 4:30 or 6 minutes of music per side.
  • LP: Long play, is a vinyl record played at ​33 1⁄3 rpm with a 12 or 10-inch diameter.
  • EP: Extended play, are vinyl records that allowed two or even three songs on each side.

Jailanguru Pakarnu (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - Jailanguru Pakarnu (7")
Released
1983
Tracks
  1. Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out from Jail)
Notes

The Warumpi Band wrote, recorded and released this as the first rock song in an Aboriginal language (Luritja).


Blackfella/Whitefella (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - Blackfella/Whitefella (7")
Released
1985
Tracks
  1. Blackfella/Whitefella
  2. Fitzroy Crossing

Sit Down Money (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - Sit Down Money (7")
Released
1986
Tracks
  1. Sit Down Money

Big Name No Blankets

Released
1986
Tracks
  1. Waru (Fire)
  2. Blackfella/Whitefella
  3. Breadline
  4. Nyuntu Nyaaltjirriku (What Are You Going To Do)
  5. Animal Song
  6. Warumpinya (Papunya)
  7. Wiima Tjutja (All The Kids)
  8. Fitzroy Crossing
  9. Sitdown Money
  10. Mulga & Spinifex Plain
  11. Gotta Be Strong
Notes

This is Warumpi Band's debut (long play) album.


My Island Home (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - My Island Home (7")
Released
1987
Tracks
  1. My Island Home

No Fear (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - No Fear (7")
Released
1987
Tracks
  1. No Fear

Stompin Ground (7")

Sorry, no image for: Warumpi Band - Stompin Ground (7")
Released
1996
Tracks
  1. Stompin Ground

Too Much Humbug

Released
1996
Tracks
  1. Wayathul
  2. Stompin Ground
  3. Makes You Feel
  4. Never Change
  5. Djulpan
  6. Stars
  7. Cold Weather
  8. Marrayilyil
  9. Joining My Life
  10. Koori Man
  11. Holdin You In My Arms
  12. We Shall Cry
  13. Blackfella Whitefella (remake)
Notes

The Stompem Ground Festival 2000 in Broome (October) was their last gig. After it Neil Murray retired. Neil Murray also wrote two books, 'Sing For Me Countryman' and 'One Man Tribe'.


Warumpi Band 4 Ever

Released
30 October 2015
Tracks

CD/side 1

  1. Waru (Fire)
  2. Blackfella / Whitefella
  3. Breadline
  4. Nyuntu Nyaaltjirruku (What Are You Going To Do?)
  5. Animal Song
  6. Warumpinya (Papunya)
  7. Wima Tjuta (All The Kids)
  8. Fitzroy Crossing
  9. Mulga & Spinifex Plain
  10. Gotta Be Strong
  11. No Fear
  12. Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)
  13. Yolngu Boy
  14. Secret War
  15. My Island Home
  16. Didjeridoo Blue
  17. Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore)
  18. Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad And Lonely)
  19. My Countryside
  20. Falling Down
  21. From The Bush

CD/side 2

  1. Wayathul
  2. Stompin' Ground
  3. Makes You Feel
  4. Never Change
  5. Djulpan
  6. Stars
  7. Cold Weather
  8. Marrayilyil
  9. Joining My Life
  10. Koori Man
  11. Holdin' You In My Arms
  12. We Shall Cry
  13. Blackfella / Whitefella (Remake)
  14. Yaka Bayungu (live, Broome, 2000) (Bonus Track)
  15. Sitdown Money (Powderworks A-side, 1986) (Bonus Track)
  16. Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail) (Hot Records A-side, 1983) (Bonus Track)
  17. Route 66 (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
  18. It's All Over Now (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
  19. Promised Land (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
  20. Warumpi Rock (CAAMA cassette, 1983) (Bonus Track)
Notes

Warumpi Band 4 Ever sees the band's three albums – 'Big Name, No Blanket,' 'Go Bush!' (CD 1) and 'Too Much Humbug' - remastered for the very first time, and supplemented by some non-lp material (CD 2), including that original recording of "Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)," a live recording from one of the band's last gigs of a never-before released song, and a handful of rocking covers that reveal their early energy.


Go Bush

Released
1988
Tracks
  1. No Fear
  2. Jailanguru Pakarnu (out from jail, rerecorded)
  3. Yolngu Boy
  4. Secret War
  5. My Island Home
  6. Didjeridoo Blue
  7. Kintorelakutu (Towards Kintore)
  8. Tjiluru Tjiluru (Sad and Lonely)
  9. My Countryside
  10. Falling Down
  11. From the Bush
Notes

The track "My Island Home" was covered by Christine Anu in 1995 and also recorded by Tiddas for the soundtrack to the feature film Radiance.

From mid 1987-1992 the Warumpi Band took a break while the band's Aboriginal members honoured family and tribal commitments.


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Korff, J 2020, Warumpi Band, <https://creativespirits.info/resources/music/warumpi-band>, retrieved 28 March 2024

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