Kris Kristofferson was so taken by a then-teenage Graeme Connors when Connors opened for his 1974 Australian tour, he offered to produce the young singer-songwriter’s 1976 debut, And When Morning Comes. Connors’ next album, North, would only be released 12 years later, but the Mackay-born artist kept busy in the interim, penning tracks for Slim Dusty and John Denver, among others. It was North, and its lead single “A Little Further North Each Year,” that defined the sound that’s endured as his own. Connors pays homage to traditional American country and infuses it with his Aussie larrikin personality; his easygoing songs feel instantly familiar, and provide a window into everyday Australian life. There’s keenly observed storytelling, biographical reflections, and plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor, all of which demonstrate his creativity and wicked sense of fun.