Alan Fletcher Breaks Down Every Track On New Album ‘The Point’

Alan Fletcher is a household name in Australia after a 28-year stint as Dr Karl on the TV series Neighbours and a 15-year residency at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow in St Kilda with his rock band Waiting Room.

Alan spent the past 18 months writing and recording The Point – his first album release in the Americana/alt-country genre. The album, which is out February 10, is full of witty and heartfelt original songs and follows his EP Dispatches, which was released in June 2022.

Produced by Lachlan Bryan and Damian Cafarella (Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes) at End Of The Road Studio in Melbourne, The Point showcases Alan’s particular take on the world drawing influence and inspiration from singer-songwriters such as Jason Isbell, John Prine and Guy Clark amongst others.

Alan says, “When I began this journey with Lachlan and Damian I expected to, with luck, write and record a few songs that might get a release. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would have produced such a substantial body of work over the last 18 months.”

Alan will launch the album at George Lane in St Kilda on February 18 with support Katie Bates before heading to the UK (March-April) to tour with Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes.

We’re so delighted to bring you this exclusive track by track, as Alan Fletcher talks us through each individual track: the creation, sentiment, and everything in between.

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1. The Point

The title track commenced life as a light spoof on religion. I quickly realised that the song had much more potential. Do we not spend our lives asking the biggest question, what is the point of it all? I’m not trying to make a didactic statement here simply express my pleasure that I have found MY POINT.

2. All That I Can Do

Some people believe they aren’t suited to settling down and no one can ever tame their free spirit. They can be so convinced of their invulnerability that to succumb when they least expect it is a revelation. Even if it is too late.

3. Hey You

My mother was a spiritualist who believed in the transmigration of souls or reincarnation. She was my spiritual guide in life and always promised that she would be watching over me and guiding me after she had passed. It is a very seductive thought that I would like to believe. Hey You is a plea for some indication it is true.

4. How Good Is Bed

Health experts are united in their believe that bed rest is a powerful tool for betterment of mind and body. On top of that it is a fun place to be! How Good is Bed is a tribute to my favourite place in the world.

5. Fish And Whistle

I include this John Prine cover in recognition of the profound influence his music has had on me. Fish and Whistle was the first Prine song I ever heard.

6. Leavin’

My producer Damian Cafarella brought this poignant song about end of life to me, and we honed it together. I was always enamoured with Damian’s observation “I’ve been leavin’ since I came”. The positivity and acceptance in the song is its hallmark.

7. Lost And Found

For 27 years my script file for Neighbours had a cartoon on its cover. It depicted a man standing at the Lost and Found counter in a store and the server asking, “Do you recall when you lost your dignity?” The cartoon has always tickled my fancy and it inspired this song.

8. Somebody

My wife and musical partner Jennifer, (Mrs F), and I have happily survived 32 years of marriage by being very careful about laying blame at each other’s feet. Much easier to blame “Somebody”.

9. Jack

In the 1960s, I spent almost every school holiday on my Grandparent’s farm in the Western Australian wheatbelt. I only ever knew my grandfather Jack when he was an old man and I have only sketchy details of the life he led from birth records and my older brother’s recollections. I know he fought in the Great War at the tender age of 15. I know he led a hard pioneering life in a harsh environment, and I have my own observations when he had retired. The rest is speculation to an extent. Jack is my tribute to him. You don’t have to know someone very well to admire them and want to honour their memory.

10. Quiet Time

A song gifted to me by my producers Lachlan Bryan and Damian Cafarella. Quiet Time reflects on the upsides and downsides of “settling”. If it is true, that “Living is horizontal falling” (Jean Cocteau) then is standing still a failure to live?