TEX MORTON
Tex Morton (1916–1983), born Robert William Lane in New Zealand, was the pioneering figure of Australian country music. Inspired by Jimmie Rodgers, Carson Robison, and other American recording artists, he developed a distinctive style that combined yodeling, cowboy songs, bush ballads, and straightforward guitar accompaniment. Between 1936 and 1943 he recorded more than ninety titles, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar for most of them, and helped establish country music as a popular genre throughout Australia and New Zealand.
THE GREATEST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE
Recorded March 10, 1938 — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Matrix: CT-1571 - Regal Zonophone G-23382
"The Greatest Mistake Of My Life" is a sentimental ballad delivered with Morton's characteristic sincerity. His accompaniment is built on a steady alternating-bass pattern with restrained chord changes and bass runs that support the melody without distraction. Like many of his early recordings, the performance reflects the influence of American country music while retaining the direct, conversational style that became a hallmark of his work.
OLD PAL OF MY BOYHOOD DAYS
Recorded June 5, 1937 — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Matrix: CT-1517 - Regal Zonophone G-23669
"Old Pal Of My Boyhood Days" is a nostalgic waltz that reflects Tex Morton's gift for straightforward storytelling. His guitar accompaniment remains simple and understated, relying on a steady alternating bass, smooth chord transitions, and subtle bass movement to support the melody. The performance demonstrates how an economical accompaniment can reinforce the warmth and sentiment of the lyric without ever becoming intrusive.
WHEN IT'S NIGHT TIME IN NEVADA
Recorded April 12, 1938 — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Matrix: CT-1577 - Regal Zonophone G-23382
"When It's Night Time In Nevada" is a nostalgic western ballad that reflects Tex Morton's deep affection for the American West. His guitar accompaniment is characteristically restrained, built on a steady alternating bass, smooth chord transitions, and subtle bass runs that gently support the melody. The performance illustrates Morton's ability to create warmth and atmosphere through a simple, song-centered approach to accompaniment.
DREAMS OF SILVER AND MEMORIES OF GOLD
Recorded September 11, 1939 — Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Matrix: CT-1684 - Regal Zonophone G-24327
"Dreams Of Silver And Memories Of Gold" is a wistful western waltz that highlights Tex Morton's gift for warm, unpretentious storytelling. Accompanied by a steady alternating bass and smooth chord transitions, the guitar provides a gentle rhythmic foundation that perfectly complements the song's nostalgic mood. The performance is a fine example of Morton's ability to create atmosphere through simple, expressive accompaniment.
DYING DUFFER'S PRAYER
Recorded November 21, 1938 — Sydney, Australia
Matrix: CT-1638 - Regal Zonophone G-23582
“Dying Duffer’s Prayer” draws directly from the Australian bush-ballad tradition, telling of a dying prospector and his final thoughts. It is a good example of how Tex Morton combined distinctly Australian subjects with the country style he had absorbed from American recordings, creating a repertoire that was increasingly his own.
SLEEPY HOLLOW
Recorded November 30, 1939 — Columbia Studios, Homebush, Sydney, Australia
Matrix: CT-1737 - Regal Zonophone G-23934
“Sleepy Hollow” shows the more sentimental side of Tex Morton’s repertoire. Rather than drawing on Australian bush life or cowboy adventure, the song looks toward an idealized rural retreat, giving Morton material closer to the popular pastoral songs that circulated widely in country music during the period.
LITTLE SWEETHEART OF DAYS GONE BY
Recorded November 30, 1939 — Sydney, Australia
Matrix: CT-1735 — Regal Zonophone G-23933
“Little Sweetheart of Days Gone By” is a nostalgic country song recorded by Tex Morton in Sydney in late 1939. Morton performs it alone, accompanying himself on guitar, in the spare vocal-and-guitar style that characterized much of his early work.
