Gudinski ‘humbled & proud’ after #1 debut for Home Front album

Michael Gudinski’s Mushroom Group landed their fourth #1 record of the year after the Music From The Home Front album topped the ARIA Charts on Saturday (June 27).

The concert, to honour Anzacs and frontline workers, saw an unprecedented lineup of over 50 musicians come together with live-streamed performances filmed in lockdown.

By all reports, the undertaking was as ambitious as it was necessary. The final product proved a big hit with viewers, securing a national peak audience of almost 1.5 million Australians.

Music From The Home Front was the most-watched show on April 25, even surprising the top brass at Nine, the Mushroom Group boss told TMN in April.

Nine aired an encore screening on June 22 to coincide with the album’s release, with all proceeds from sales of the soundtrack donated to music biz charity Support Act.

Track one on the soundtrack is a welcome speech by Gudinski, followed by tracks lifted from the telecast, including Tones And I, Dean Lewis, G Flip and Lime Cordiale.

After topping the charts this week, Gudinski – who also launched a new boutique label last week – said the project has entered the top five moments of his career.

“Music From The Home Front is in the top five moments of my life and I will never forget this unprecedented event that will remain etched in Australian music history,” he said of the Bloodlines release.

“I’m humbled and proud to receive this award from ARIA on behalf of all the incredible artists who stepped up at the eleventh hour and delivered for Support Act, RSL and frontline workers.

“I want to thank them all, and I’m also immensely proud of the Mushroom team, Channel Nine, and of course all the media that helped promote this most significant event.”

Ocean Alley also scored their first appearance in the Top 10 this week with Lonely Diamond. The band’s third studio album comes two years on from Chiaroscuro, which featured their breakthrough hit ‘Confidence’.