The Very Best of Slim Dusty Reaches 1000 Weeks in the Aria Country Albums Chart

1st artist to achieve this milestone


Article heading image for The Very Best of Slim Dusty Reaches 1000 Weeks in the Aria Country Albums Chart

John Elliott

He’s known universally as Australia's King of Country and even though he passed away over 14 years ago it’s a title to which Slim Dusty can still lay an unchallenged claim. 

Slim Dusty’s Greatest Hits collection, The Very Best Of Slim Dusty, has achieved the milestone of 1000 weeks in the ARIA Country Albums Chart. This was formally recognised in the chart dated Monday July 16.
 
Originally released in 1998, the album has achieved almost 20 years straight in the ARIA Country Albums chart. To recognise this incredible achievement both ARIA and EMI Music Australia (Slim’s career-long record company) are celebrating and paying tribute to a remarkable artist who has left an unparalleled legacy. 
 
"The Very Best of Slim Dusty" has spent 1000 weeks in ARIA Country Albums Chart, sits at No.8 in ARIA Country Albums Chart this week, has spent a whopping 72 weeks in Top 100 of ARIA Albums Chart and the album has been certified 5 x Platinum - this is why we call him The King.

Never before has an artist achieved this landmark feat. 

  
“It’s a wonderful feeling to see that Slim’s voice and songs are still so loved by Australian listeners,”says Joy McKean, Slim’s wife, manager and the writer of so many of his most enduring songs. 

“The Very Best Of collection is representative of Slim’s most popular and best performances and I’m incredibly proud to see his legacy living on.”
 
John O’Donnell, Managing Director of EMI Music Australia, said, “Slim is a national hero and the rock upon which we built EMI Australia. Our relationship spans 70-plus years and over 100 albums. We will forever be indebted to Slim for his music, his mateship, and the way he took his music and his storytelling to every corner of this nation. For all of us at EMI, it is a privilege and honour to represent Slim’s great body of work.”
 
Dan Rosen, CEO of ARIA, said today, “ARIA would like to congratulate the late ARIA Hall Of Famer Slim Dusty on this amazing achievement. To see an artist reach this milestone is a testament to the King Of Country’s enduring appeal and incredible artistry. He is, and always will be, an Australian icon and clearly his music will continue to be loved by generations of fans.”

To celebrate, EMI Music has released a limited quantity of Slim’s final recordings Columbia Lane: The Last Sessions on vinyl. Originally released in 2004 on CD and cassette, the vinyl has only previously been available as part of the limited edition Dusty By The Decadesbox set. Now with a limited run to celebrate the 1000 weeks milestone, this special item is sure to be a fan favourite. 


Columbia Lane is available on vinyl, CD, download and streaming services here:
https://SlimDusty.lnk.to/ColumbiaLane

EMI has taken the celebration over to streaming as well, launching a suite of Slim Dusty playlists on Spotify: Best OfCompleteDrinkin’ SongsTruckin’ Songs and People & Places.


Slim has been the face of Australian country music for its entire history, since its early roots in hillbilly and folk music. In that time, he evolved with the industry, setting the agenda and changing with the times.
 
Once again, we raise a glass and salute Slim Dusty on asserting his memory and the bequest of his music is immortal.
 
 
Track listing:

  1. Looking Forward, Looking Back
  2. A Pub with no Beer
  3. The Lights on the Hill
  4. The Biggest Disappointment
  5. Three Rivers Hotel
  6. Ringer From the Top End
  7. Where Country Is
  8. Leave Him in the Longyard
  9. Plains of Peppimenarti
  10. Duncan
  11. Charleville
  12. Indian Pacific
  13. Sweeney (Live)
  14. G’Day, G’Day
  15. Walk a Country Mile
  16. When the Rain Tumbles Down in July
  17. I’m Going back again to Yarrawonga
  18. Old Time Country Halls
  19. Camooweal
  20. We’ve Done Us Proud
  21. Country Revival
  22. Cunnamulla Fella
  23. By a Fire of Gidgee Coal
  24. Losin’ My Blues Tonight (Live)
  25. Waltzing Matilda

 
Listen to “The Very Best of Slim Dusty” here: https://SlimDusty.lnk.to/BestOf

 

16 July 2018




Listen Live!
Up Next