Paul Kelly Marks Milestone Age with New Album
From St Kilda to Kings Cross, from a hill overlooking the MCG to the vast outback, few artists have portrayed Australian life as vividly as Paul Kelly. Now, at 70, the celebrated singer-songwriter releases his 30th studio album, aptly titled 70.
Kelly shared that reaching this age feels like both fortune and fulfillment, noting that he has never been happier or sounded better on stage. Reflecting on longevity, he remarked:
"You've got to live that long. Everything else after that is, you know, gravy."
Inspiration and Process
Kelly continues writing and performing with his signature curiosity and attention to language. His creative spark often comes from snippets of dialogue or lines from literature that resonate with him.
"If I read something, I think 'that's a good line', or a line of poetry or something from a book, or just general conversation that's got a good ring to it, I'll write it down," he said.
One of his popular songs drew inspiration from a casual exchange at a pub:
"'I've done all the dumb things' was something I heard at a pub just down the road in Richmond – the Corner Hotel."
Paul Kelly’s album 70 will be available starting tomorrow.
Author’s summary: At 70, Paul Kelly celebrates his milestone with a new album that reflects his continuing passion for songwriting and the rhythm of Australian life.