The Tin Lids
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | Jimmy Barnes (parent) |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Children's pop music albums and singles |
The Tin Lids was an Australian pop ensemble for children, established in 1990 and consisting of Mahalia, Eliza-Jane "E.J.", Jackie, and Elly-May Barnes—four offspring of the rock artist Jimmy Barnes and his spouse Jane.
Their discography includes three albums: Hey Rudolph! (November 1991), which reached No. 6 on the ARIA Albums Chart and earned platinum certification; Snakes & Ladders (July 1992), which received a nomination for Best Children's Album at the 1993 ARIA Music Awards; and Dinosaur Dreaming (1993). Notable singles were "Christmas Day" (December 1991), which climbed to No. 40 on the ARIA Singles Chart and secured Children's Composition of the Year at the 1992 APRA Music Awards, a rendition of Was (Not Was)'s "Walk the Dinosaur", "School" (August 1992) featuring The Yunupingu Kids, and "Dinosaurs in Space" (1994).
History
The group comprised the four children of Scottish-born Australian rocker Jimmy Barnes and his wife Jane: Mahalia, Eliza-Jane "E.J.", Jackie, and Elly-May. Their band name, "Tin Lids," originates from rhyming slang meaning "kids". Their first appearance was as backing singers on their father's single "When Your Love is Gone" (March 1991), as well as performing alongside his band during live shows.
Their initial album, Hey Rudolph!, featuring Christmas songs produced and arranged by David Froggatt at Barnes' Freight Train Studios in Sydney, peaked at number six on the ARIA Albums Chart and earned platinum status. The lead track, "Christmas Day," garnered the Children's Composition of the Year award at the 1992 APRA Awards.
In May 1992, they released a cover version of "Walk the Dinosaur", accompanied by a music video showcasing characters from Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones. Their sophomore album, Snakes & Ladders, arrived in July 1992 and was nominated for Best Children's Album by ARIA. The single "School," penned by Mandawuy Yunupingu of Yothu Yindi, featured The Yunupingu Kids—the daughters of the Indigenous leader—and supported the Sister Schools initiative aimed at fostering cultural awareness.
Their last album, Dinosaur Dreaming (1993), included the single "Dinosaurs in Space" released in 1994. The band dissolved later that year.
Members
- Mahalia Barnes (ages 9–12)
- Eliza-Jane "E.J." Barnes (ages 7–10)
- Jackie Barnes (ages 5–8)
- Elly-May Barnes (ages 2–5)
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| Hey Rudolph! |
|
6 |
|
| Snakes & Ladders |
|
54 | |
| Dinosaur Dreaming |
|
128 |
Singles
| Single Title | Release Year | Highest Chart Positions | Associated Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | ||||
| "Christmas Day" | 1991 | 40 | Hey Rudolph! | |
| "Walk the Dinosaur" | 1992 | 64 | Snakes & Ladders | |
| "School" (featuring The Yunupingu Kids) |
131 | |||
| "Dinosaurs in Space" | 1994 | — | Dinosaur Dreaming | |
| "If Santa Forgets" (collaboration with Jimmy Barnes) |
2023 | — | Blue Christmas | |
| "—" indicates singles that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||
APRA Music Awards
| Year | Work Nominated | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Christmas Day" (David Leslie Froggatt) | Children's Composition of the Year | Won |
ARIA Music Awards
| Year | Work Nominated | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Snakes & Ladders | Best Children's Album | Nominated |