Jenny Morris is a New Zealand pop/rock singer. Her first success came with New Zealand band The Crocodiles, who scored a hit with "Tears". Re-locating to Australia, she became a back-up vocalist for bands such as The Models, and INXS (on their 1984 album The Swing), before going on to a successful solo career.

History

Jenny Morris was born in New Zealand in 1956. She entered the music business in 1978, when she began performing in the all-girl group The Wide Mouthed Frogs. This was followed in 1980 by the band The Crocodiles, with whom she scored a Top 20 hit in New Zealand with 'Tears'. In February 1981, at the behest of manager Mike Chunn, The Crocodiles moved to Sydney, only to disband in July.

Morris began her solo career by singing the title track for the film Puberty Blues, which was a local box-office success in 1981. A follow-up single in 1982, 'Little By Little', failed to make an impact.

In 1983, Morris formed QED with Rex Goh (ex-Air Supply). The duo's debut single, 'Everywhere I Go', peaked at #19 on the Australian charts in early 1984, but a parent album, "Animal Magic", and two subsequent singles were less successful.

In October 1985, Jenny Morris released 'Get Some Humour', which again failed to chart. In 1986 she then performed with The Rock Party a charity project initiated by The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA), which included many Australasian musicians such as Neil Finn (Crowded House), Reg Mombassa (Mental As Anything), Eddie Rayner, Tim Finn, Nick Seymour (Crowded House), Paul Hester (Crowded House), Geoff Stapleton (GANGgajang), Robbie James (GANGgajang), Mary Azzopardi (Rockmelons), Andrew Barnum (The Vitabeats), Lissa Barnum, Michael Barclay, Peter Blakely, Mark Callaghan (GANGAjang), Deborah Conway, Danny De Costa, Greg Herbert (The Promise), Spencer P Jones, Sean Kelly (The Models), John Kennedy, Paul Kelly, Martin Plaza (Mental as Anything), Robert Susz (Dynamic Hepnotics) and Rick Swinn (The Venetians). The Rock Party released a 12" single "Everything To Live For", which was produced by Joe Wissert, Phil Rigger and Phil Beazley.

Morris's next single proved to be her solo breakthrough: 'You're Going To Get Hurt' hit #24 in August 1986, finally establishing her as a serious singer/songwriter.

In July 1987, Morris released her first solo album, Body and Soul, produced by Mark Moffatt and mixed by Tim Kramer. It sold over 70,000 copies in Australia (platinum status), and spawned a number of singles, the biggest of which, 'You I Know' (written by Neil Finn), reached #13 - her biggest hit to date. She won an ARIA for Most Popular Female Performer in 1987 and 1988.

In July 1989, a second album was released:Shiver. This was a more mature effort, featuring the joyful reggae of "Self Deceiver", a gentle love song to her unborn child "Little Little" and the up-beat woman’s anthem (and #5 Australian hit single) "She Has To Be Loved". The album peaked on the Australian chart at #5, selling over 140,000 copies (double platinum).

As one of Australia's leading female singer/songwriters, Morris has toured extensively in Australia and overseas, first with Tears for Fears, then Prince, INXS and Paul McCartney.

A cover of Janis Joplin's 'Piece Of My Heart' was a hit in 1990, and was followed by a third album, Honeychild, released in October 1991. A much more dance-orientated effort, the album reached #5 on the Australian album chart and featured the single 'Break In The Weather', which peaked at #2 on the Australian charts.

In November 1992, The Story So Far, a best-of compilation was released. The album included 'Jackson' which was originally performed as the finale of the Countdown music show in 1987 and was produced by Michael Hutchence

In August 1995, Salvation Jane. After a four year gap, with some of Jenny’s strongest vocal work, including the languid "Rhythm and Flow," with its Aboriginal influences. Produced by Andrew Farriss.

For the next few years Jenny Morris dropped out of the limelight, combining occasional gigs with work for environmental causes and her life as a mother.

In August 2002, Hit & Myth. Despite the long layoff, it sounds like the work of a relaxed and confident woman. The production of Nick Wales has given the album a polished, contemporary feel, with Jenny’s vocals placed high in the mix, allowing the warmth of her voice to shine through.

In 2002, a portrait of Jenny Morris by artist Jan Williamson was entered in the Archibald Prize. The portrait did not win the main prize, but won both the popular awards, the "Packing Room Prize" and "The People's Choice Award".

In March 2003, Port Fairy's 27th Annual Folk Festival with Archie Roach, John Williamson, Renée Geyer, Jenny Morris and emerging Australian band the Waifs were among the popular performers.

In April 2004, Listen: The Very Best of Jenny Morris. The previous Best Of Collection (The Story So Far) was a platinum success and, due to popular demand, is now repackaged with new artwork and a bonus track. This collection boasts such classic hits as 'Body & Soul', 'She Has To Be Loved', 'Saved Me', 'You I Know' and 'You're Gonna Get Hurt' plus many more.

In May 2005, Alive DVD was recorded in the heart of Sydney at The Basement and features Jenny Morris playing some of the biggest hits from her career. The DVD is the culmination of 20 years of music from one of Australia's most beloved singer/songwriters.

In June 2006, Clear Blue In Stormy Skies was the latest album for Jenny Morris. It featured a dozen remodelled radio hits of the '80s and '90s.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Australia	New Zealand	Certification
1987	Body and Soul	13	21	—
1989	Shiver	5	—	2x platinum
1991	Honeychild	5	—	Platinum
1992	The Best of Jenny Morris	12	—	Gold
1995	Salvation Jane	70	—	—
2002	Hit & Myth	—	—	—
2004	Listen: The Very Best of Jenny Morris	—	—	—
2006	Clear Blue in Stormy Skies	—	—	—

Singles

Year	Song	Australia	New Zealand	Album
1982	"Puberty Blues"	88	—	Single-only
	"Little by Little"	—	—
1985	"Get Some Humour"	92	—
1986	"You're Gonna Get Hurt"	24	—	Body and Soul
1987	"Body and Soul"	55	—
	"You I Know"	13	30
	"Lighthearted"	70	46
1989	"Saved Me"	27	37	Shiver
	"She Has to Be Loved"	5	3
	"Aotearoa"	—	35
	"Street of Love"	51	—
1990	"Self Deceiver"	94	—
	"Piece of My Heart"	24	—	Single-only
1991	"Break in the Weather"	2	5	Honeychild
	"I've Had You"	39	39
1992	"Zero"	89	33
	"Crackerjack Man"	—	—
	"Tears"	92	18	The Best of Jenny Morris
1993	"Price I Pay"	78	—	Salvation Jane
1994	"Only We Can Hear"	—	—
1995	"Rhythm & Flow"	—	—
	"In Too Deep"	—	—
	"What Do I Do Know"	—	—
2001	"Home"	—	—	Hit & Myth
2002	"Downtime"	—	—

Various artists

• 1998 – Good Vibrations
• 1999 – The Underwater Melon Man
• 2002 – The Women at the Well ("Beggar on the Street of Love" - Track 14)
• 2003 – All the 80's ("You're Gonna Get Hurt" - Disk 1, Track 14)
• 2005 – All the Beer Songs ("Break in the Weather" - Disk 3, Track 3)

Session musician

• 1982 – Geoff Chunn – Tracks
• 1983 – I Am Joe's Music – I Am Joe's Music
• 1983 – The Models – The Pleasure of Your Company
• 1984 – D.D. Smash – The Optimist
• 1984 – INXS – The Swing
• 1984 – Dropbears – Dropbears
• 1989 – Various – ABC Children's Series No 2
• 1997 – Moondog – Moondog

Awards and recognition

Year	Award-giving Body	Award	Result
1987	ARIA Award	Best Female Artist	Won
1988	ARIA Award	Best Female Artist	Won
1992	ARIA Award	Best Female Artist (Honeychild)	Nominated

Notes

References

• Dragon set for a slaying performance at Markets by Moonlight The Rocks right Now (Retrieved 19-07-2007)
• Jenny Morris Australiasian Entertainer Bio Aussie Bands Maintain by Tony Senatore (Retrieved 19-07-2007)
• ARIA Award website
• Port Fairy Folk Festival

External links

• Jenny Morris - official website
• Jenny Morris at the Internet Movie Database
• Jenny Morris Lyrics Lyrics Time (Retrieved 19-07-2007)