Spirit of Place (album)
Spirit of Place is the debut studio album by Australian folk rock band Goanna. It was originally released in November 1982, it peaked at No. 2 on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart and was certified double platinum by May 1983. Spirit of Place was the first charting rock record to feature the didgeridoo. The didgeridoo is particularly prominent on "Solid Rock", which was a No. 3 hit on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart in October. The album was also heavy on social protest themes; "Solid Rock" deals with issues of land rights for Indigenous Australians. "Razor's Edge" tackled rural despair and achieved a Top 40 spot in April 1983. The album was re-released in a remastered and expanded form in 2003. Background The Goanna Band was formed as an Australian folk rock group in 1977. The original line-up was Mike Biscan (guitar), Richard Griffiths (bass guitar), Shane Howard (lead vocals, guitar) and Rod Hoe (drums). In 1979, the group was Howard with keyboardist and vocalist Rose Bygrave, drummer Gary Crothall, lead guitarist and vocalist Warwick Harwood, vocalist and harmonica player Ian Morrison and bass guitarist Carl Smith. They recorded the independent 12-inch EP, The Goanna Band, which