Troy Cassar-Daley Greatest Hits released on October 19

“I don’t know if there was too much wine involved, but she said ‘you’ve got quite a catalogue of stuff, have you ever thought about doing a best of,” Cassar-Daley said.

“I said ‘not really’.”

But then he thought about it. 

While Cassar-Daley has won 36 Golden Guitars since collecting his first one in 1996, and has had 31 singles reach number one, in recent years there have been reasons to reflect on his career.

From releasing a very honest autobiography to being elevated to the Country Music Roll of Renown, the last couple of years have been a time that has recognised Cassar-Daley’s place as one of the all-time great artists in Australian country music.

“I turn 50 next year, and I figured that instead of going through a mid-life crisis I might gather up what I’ve done over the last 30 years of playing music and put into some sort of form and have a look at it.

“So I did it, and I thought this is not a bad idea, it’s not just the wine talking.”

The result is a collection of 42 songs, from the very first single he recorded while living in Tamworth in the early 90s, through to his new single, Wouldn’t Change A Thing.

In between are all 31 songs that reached the top of the chart, with a few others thrown in as well that are often requested by fans.

Among the collection of hits are Dream Out Loud, Born To Survive, True Believer, They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore and Freedom Ride.

The new single, Wouldn’t Change A Thing, takes a look back at his early years.

“I wanted to go back and do a reflective song on the times that I had in the middle of recording songs, touring with Brian Young when I was only 20. Places I’ve gotten to see and the joys and disappointments that I’ve had.”

Cassar-Daley said he has never regretted the bad times, and recalled the tough living conditions when he first moved to Tamworth as a young artist.

“I was living in a little caravan and it was the coldest winter I’ve ever had in my life.

“There was a little heater, a little gas heater, that I was frightened to turn on, and frightened I’d burn the thing down. It was very cold, but if it wasn’t for the warmth of the people - I wouldn’t change any of that. Because I had people around that cared about me.”

Looking back now, Cassar-Daley said that period of time was special to him.

“I don’t even know if Tamworth and the New England know how important they’ve been to me - not just in my career, but my personal development as a man too.”

And he said there were plenty of people to help him along.

“I know I’ve said this enough, but from the musicians to the panel beaters, the mechanics and auto electricians that helped my EH stay on the road, you don’t get to ever say thanks to them.

“And my uncle and aunty who were so good to me while I was living there, Peter and Val White, they don’t realise how much they helped get me through.

“I don’t think I would have made it, I probably would have packed up and gone back to Grafton. But I had champions in Tamworth like no other, and I have to thank the town for the love.”

For the first time in a long time, Cassar-Daley will be performing acoustic shows when his tour begins.

“I thought it was time to show how these songs were born, because you can’t really show that side of a tune without doing it acoustically,” he said.

“Say I’ve sat down with Col Buchanan and written a song, when we first play it acoustically together the song has a bit of an essence to it that never, ever gets kept. It always gets produced and then recorded.

“I wanted to go out on the road and show people how these songs were born, and some of the stories behind them.”

Special guest for the Greatest Hits Acoustic Tour is Jem Cassar-Daley who will open the show for her Dad every night.  The 17-year-old, a talented singer and pianist, is taking a gap year in 2019.

“Instead of her taking a gap year and costing her money, I think she’s going to save a bit, and maybe pay us back for that half of the car we paid for,” Cassar-Daley said.

“She’s excited too because she’s a great little artist and she’s not wanting to go out pursue a country music career, but I want her to see the privilege that is playing music for a living, from my perspective I guess and how exciting it is to see Australia the way I do. I want her to see it through my eyes.

“What better bonding could you have with one of your kids than that?”

Jem will open each show with a half-hour set.

Looking ahead to the tour, Cassar-Daley admitted he would not be able to include all 42 tracks in the show, but he did have an idea about which songs would not miss out.

“I normally would never play a set without River Boy, I would never play a set without Born To Survive, or They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore. I’d have to put in Ladies In My Life, (and) Freedom Ride is a really important song.

“The whole idea of the show is that it’s full of familiarity for people. There will not be one in there that hasn’t charted at number one. It’s all going to be songs people know.”