Pete Murray's Top 10 Songs Ranked

Pete Murray is heading out on the road across the next three months on one of his biggest tours in years and we're going to take you through his best musical moments across his two-decade career. From the multiplatinum smash albums Feeler and See The Sun through to his latest two COVID-released EPs, Murray's brand of acoustic pop rock has been a staple of Australian music, but what are his best moments? We give you Pete Murray's top ten songs... ranked. 

10. Hold Me Steady (2021)

The lead single from Murray's latest EP Before I Go, this track is everything we love from Pete Murray. Strong acoustic guitar and a driving beat as a choir weaves in and out of the strong melody. As with many of his songs, he manages to create a lush soundscape that envelopes you while at the same time giving the feeling of intimacy and sparseness. No doubt this will be a fan favourite in his live set for years to come. 

9. Saving Grace (2008)

The second single from his Summer At Eureka album, this is a classic stripped-back love song; the kind we look for on every Pete Murray album. If it didn't soundtrack your wedding it's probably only because another Pete Murray song beat it out.

8. Bail Me Out (2004)

The fourth single from Pete's massive debut Feeler, this one came off the back of his biggest hit and showed a less emotive side. This is the soundtrack to many trips to the coast and just makes you want to jump in the surf.

7. Free (2011)

In 2011 Pete dropped Blue Sky Blue, one of his more straight-ahead pop rock efforts. It's hard not to fall in love with this anthem. A gold record for him, this is one of his strongest records, so strong in fact that he recorded it twice with the 'Byron Sessions' version of the record stripping things back to their acoustic essence and creating a masterclass in songwriting and how a set of songs can trigger different emotions through a different production treatment. 

6. Found My Place (2020)

From his 2020 EP The Night, this is a great inspirational tune. The stomp box and finger-picking acoustic give way to a dark production that beguiles the positive lyrics. "Your heart's where I found my place" is a memorable chorus that completes the recipe for one of Murray's most interesting singles. 

5. Opportunity (2006)

Following up a 7x platinum debut album is a pretty tough ask, but Pete Murray managed to do it with the quintuple platinum-selling See The Sun. Resisting the temptation to go all Ed Sheeran on our asses and create an overproduced schmaltzfest, Pete stayed true to his acoustic roots and it's great tunes like Opportunity that cemented his reputation as a real musician. With minimalist production and a focus on his vocal, this is still a song that's a staple to throw at any Aussie teenager learning guitar. 

4. Always A Winner (2011)

The lead single from Blue Sky Blue, this is one of Pete's most immediate sing-a-long rock songs. With a video featuring Martin Sacks (Blue Heelers), Pete gets to back a bunch of ninjas. Featuring a horn section, it's a cracking tune and shows that there are far more strings to the Pete Murray bow than simply acoustic ballads. This one racked up another gold record for Pete's wall.

3. Feeler (2003)

While this wasn't a massive ARIA Chart hit, this is the song that started it all off for Pete Murray, becoming a massive triple j success. Whether on multiple acoustic or chill albums or discovered via its massive #20 Hottest 100 placement that year, this is the song that heralded the arrival of one of the highest-selling Australian artists of the 2000s. In stark contrast to the previous song's lavish video, this one doesn't even have a clip on YouTube, but it didn't need it. There's something special about your first time hearing an artist and for many of Pete's fans, this is the one. 

2. Better Days (2005)

The first single of sophomore record See The Sun, the world knew Pete Murray doubled down on the formula that made Feeler a cultural phenomenon. Better Days pulled up just shy of being another Top 10 hit for Murray, achieving gold status, no mean feat when the album containing the song sold over a quarter of a million in its own right.

1. So Beautiful (2003)

Yeah, yeah, I know. It's the obvious one, but it's obvious for a reason. Even Pete's probably reading this sighing, but So Beautiful has surpassed its stature of hit single and moved into the realm of Aussie classic. Is it bigger than Mighty Joe? At least we think so... The vault of classic Aussie songs seems to run out in the '90s. We're quick to bring up Streets Of Your Town or Throw Your Arms Around Me, but Australian music history is starting to be written by Gen Y and as tunes from the '90s, '00s and '10s start being inducted into the classic consciousness, this is the tune that will represent Pete Murray. Played at countless weddings, soundtracking countless house parties and still fluttering the hearts of many a Pete Murray fan, So Beautiful is just that. Simple lyrics, a memorable tune and a certain something that just hits a nerve. You don't sell half a million albums of Feeler without it. 

No doubt Pete Murray will be pulling out a good percentage of these bangers when he hits the road this month for the Before I Go tour. Check out all the details here.