JOHN FARNHAM: I Remember When I Was Young (Sony/BMG)

JOHN Farnham explores a range of Aussie classics on this collection, subtitled The Great Australian Songbook. Oddly enough, it's also Farnsy's first jazz album. Keyboardist/arranger Chong Lim gives The Voice a distinctly jazzy bed on which to interpret Come Back Again, One Perfect Day, Downhearted, Green Limousine, Girls on the Avenue, Reckless and a swinging Come Said the Boy, among others. The closest he gets to rock is on Matt Taylor's bluesy title track. The good news is he avoids the standard Farnsy histrionics and pays fitting respect to these songs, recording some of his finest performances.

JEFF CRAWFORD