When You’ve Got A Friend

Coral Drouyn talks to Deborah Conway about her up-coming show, an homage to the music of Carole King and James Taylor, “You’ve Got A Friend”.

It’s over forty years since Deborah Conway caused a splash with the hit song “Man Overboard”, recorded when she was part of the group Do-Re-Mi. In those days Conway was considered just a little bit shocking, not least of all when her naked bottom graced billboards advertising Blugrass jeans! In spite of a somewhat elite upbringing, and posh education at Lauriston Girls School and Melbourne University, Conway was always considered a rebel and anti-establishment.

“What do you mean WAS?” She asks me when we speak. “I still am, if there is something worth rebelling against.” Sixty-five years old next month (“I’m okay with that – it was sixty-four that really hit me – that bloody Lennon/McCartney song”) Conway still thinks outside the box, and so it’s surprising to some that she is embarking on a mini-tour with Golden Guitar winner Darren Coggan celebrating the music of two of pop’s most mainstream stars – Carole King and James Taylor. Not surprisingly Deborah doesn’t agree with me.

“There’s a difference between mainstream and timeless,” she insists. “I bought Carole King’s Tapestry album when I was about twelve, with my own pocket money. I’d never heard such songs; the lyrics just blew me away. I mean, the opening lines of “Too Late”, ‘Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time’ …who hasn’t done that? She’s telling a story we can all relate to. That’s the stuff of standards, the human condition. I didn’t know anything about relationships, but I wanted to hear more of that story. I wanted to be a storyteller,” she concludes with just a touch of defiance.

Over the past forty+ years, Deb has left a mark on all facets of the Australian Entertainment industry, including starring with Terry Serio in the film Running on Empty; dubbing the vocals for Tracy Mann in the hit ABC series Sweet and Sour; producing albums for herself and others; playing Patsy Cline on stage; having her portrait painted twice for the Archibald Prize; being inducted into the National Live Music Awards Hall of Fame as a Living Legend and being awarded the Order of Australia medal.

Somehow she managed to find the time to raise three daughters with partner of thirty two years Willy Zygier, whom she married in 2007. It’s been a blissful union.

“You know when you’ve found the right person,” she says. “Willy is so chilled and laid back, and I need that. We virtually have never had a fight. At least, not since the GPS was invented.”

The two still tour together and are planning a revival of their show Songs From The Book Of Life.

“It’s so great at this age to still be doing what I love, and mixing the work up a bit,” she explains. “I know Carole King has had a profound effect on me and I know Darren feels the same way about James Taylor. This show is very much a labour of love and we will have some great musos along with us. We’re not trying to imitate the two, just to honour them. There surely can’t be anyone who doesn’t love at least one King or Taylor song…their songs are without any artifice. They go straight to the heart.”

So is this show an early birthday present to herself, I ask.

“One of them,” she tells me, “but my middle daughter Alma Zygier, who is a jazz singer, is releasing a new album on my actual birthday, so that’s very special.”

Meanwhile there’s a whirlwind tour for us all to enjoy. Deb Conway has proved over the years that we really DO have a friend, in her music.

SYDNEY State Theatre Friday 19th July @ 7.30pm

BRISBANE Concert Hall, QPAC Saturday 20th July @ 8.000pm

ADELAIDE Festival Theatre Wednesday 24th July @ 7.30pm

PERTH Concert Hall Saturday 27th July @ 7.30pm

MELBOURNE Hamer Hall Saturday 2nd August @ 7.30pm