Category: Country

Remembering Stompin’ Tom Connors

Stompin tom connors in 2002 crop
Stompin tom connors in 2002 crop (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Canadian legend and troubadour Stompin’ Tom Connors passed way on March 6, 2013.  He was 77.  While he has had a long and great career, Canadians will always remember him for his classic “The Hockey Song“.  Give it a listen, it can’t help but put a smile on your face.

 

 

He got the nickname from his habit of stomping the heel of his boot while he played.  He was a staple on Canadian TV, not only having his own shows, but also by supplying theme songs for various shows and his talent for creating anthems, such as The Hockey Song.  Here is another fine example of his populist song writing skills, “Bud The Spud“.

 

 

In his later years, he pushed away from the limelight.  He had a few disputes with such institutions as the Juno Awards (he returned all his Juno’s to protest their qualification guidelines) and the CBC who would not air a music special about him.  In response to their refusal, he simply stated:

 

“As far as I’m concerned, if the CBC, our own public network, will not reconsider their refusal to air a Stompin’ Tom special, they can take their wonderful offer of letting me sing a song as a guest on some other program and shove it.”.

 

Rest in Peace Stompin’ Tom.

 

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Song Of The Day – The Lone Bellow – “Teach Me To Know”

The Lone Bellow
The Lone Bellow (Photo credit: wfuv)

I first heard this band, the Lone Bellow, from another one of my sources for new music, this being the iTunes free single of the week.  Don’t know if this happens in other countries, but in Canada they give away a song every week.  I religiously download it without listening.  If I like it great, it stays, if not, I will search them out on YouTube and elsewhere to confirm or refute my thinking.  Chalk this one up as a refute.  I did NOT like the freebie, but found that I liked pretty much everything else they did.  The band is a Brooklyn trio, and they show a powerful country rock variant that can easily cross over into pop, rock, roots or folk.  As an aside, is it my imagination, or is New York City, England and Canada beginning to dominate the new music scene.  It seems everything I have brought up here, has come from these places.  No matter, good is good.

The Lone Bellow Home

The Lone Bellow on iTunes

The Lone Bellow on Twitter

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Song Of The Day – Remembering Chris Ethridge

The Gilded Palace of Sin. Flying Burrito Broth...
The Gilded Palace of Sin. Flying Burrito Brothers 1969 LP (Photo credit: sludgegulper)

Another part of music history has passed on.  Chris Ethridge, bass player, passed away on April 23.  He was 65.  He was suffering with pancreatic cancer Check out this list of players and bands he worked with, but first, note that he was the bassist for The Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman.  These guys pretty much created the country-rock genre of music.  Chris wrote several songs with the band.

The List

Judy Collins, Leon Russell, Johnny Winter, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Paul Kantner, The Doors and the list goes on.

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Lazy Day

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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 19

Talent Tuesday – New Canadian Releases – March 13, 2012

Talent Tuesday – New Canadian Releases – March 13, 2012

Talent Tuesday New Canadian Releases – March 6, 2012

Canada’s Best Music – Part 14

Canada’s Best Music – Part 14

Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 12

Today’s edition includes a couple of classic rock songs, some country, an 80’s pop queen and a more current dive.  A so-so set in my view, but all are essential Canadian artists with their own place in our musical history.

1. Glass Tiger

“I’m Still Searching”

Air Time: The Best of Glass Tiger

Released in 1988, this is one of my favourite songs by Glass Tiger.  This is the second entry by the band in the top 500.

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2. Dalbello

“Gonna Get Close to You”

Whomanfoursays

Not my favourite song by Lisa Dalbello, but this was a major hit for her back in the day.  Born in Toronto, she had a string of hits from the late 70’s to the mid 80’s.

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3. Platinum Blonde

“It Doesn’t Really Matter”

Alien Shores

Another classic rock band from Toronto, they started life as a Police tribute band.  Their main period was Mid 80’s to early 90’s.  Interesting band.

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4. Prairie Oyster

“One Precious Love”

Canadian country music band Prairie Oyster in ...

Prairie Oyster have been around since the mid 70’s and are still touring and recording.  They are members of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2008) and have won 6 Juno Awards as best country group or duo. For those of you wondering what a prairie oyster is, thing demi-glasse, freshly castrated bull testicles.  apparently a delicacy, but not one I’ll be sampling any time soon.

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5. Celine Dion

” Where Does My Heart Beat Now”

Celine Dion performing "Taking Chances&qu...

Celine Dion, what else can be said.  She may be Canada’s biggest export.  We had the opportunity to see her in 1990, before she was anywhere close to big.  It would have been in a 300 seat hall in St. Albert, AB.  Missed it, messed up.  C’est la vie.

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Canada’s Best Music – 5 Songs At A Time – Part 10

Fred Eaglesmith @ Roots of Heaven (Haarlem, Th...

Fred has recorded since 1980 with many incarnations.  A great songwriter, this is a live version of one his finest ballads.

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2. Glass Tiger

“Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”

Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)

This classic rock band recorded this song in 1986.  It reached number 1 in Canada and number 2 in the USA.

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3. Tommy Hunter

“Travelin’ Man”

Pure country, Tommy had his own TV show on the CBC for 27 years.  he has recorded since the early 60’s.

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4.  Alexisonfire

“The Northern”

Alexisonfire discography

Canada’s group of the year in 2009.  Pure rockers, including the obligatory shouted lyrics, which works well in this tune.

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5. Burton Cummings

“Break it to them Gently”

English: Burton Cummings, lead singer and song...

The Guess Who’s lead singer goes solo.  Great voice.  This is a live version from what appears to be 1978 or so.

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Rachele Lynae – Twitter Thursday

Presented for your listening pleasure is Rachele Lynae.  Rachele is a young, budding star with a great voice.  Currently doing the country thing, I can see her moving into some bluesy, R&B/Soul songs without much tweaking.  Either way, I see  some excellent potential going forward.  Check out this song.

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He Don’t Know

I tend to judge by live performances.  Live music rules.  Here is a video I found of Rachele singing an original composition.  It appears that she has undergone a name change at some point in the last 2 years.  Again, she shows that she can pretty much do country to blues.  I’ve said on several occasions that Country is not my favourite genre, so I tend to convert this into R&B or blues to get a feel for what I’m hearing.

 

Sometimes You Fly