Arthur / Up to the Mountain – Allison Crowe Releases Double-A-Side Today

Today, the amazing Allison Crowe releases a double-A-side single – two new song recordings available world-wide for enjoyment in audio and video formats:

“Arthur” - Playing her vintage upright-grand piano, at home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada, Allison Crowe sings of love weighed through life and time.



“Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)” - Already a lover of American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, Allison Crowe’s introduction to this Griffin tune came from Canadian rock and soul musician Bob Benvenuti when the two Canucks performed at a Christmas "Tidings" concert together. Crowe brings it on home with guitar and vocals - performing as her own Jordanaires for back-up.



Rubenesque Records Ltd., Canada’s most independently successful music label, celebrates its tenth anniversary with this characteristically passionate performance pairing.



Here, above, is “Arthur” - as it’s heard on the new release.



NB The single version of "Up to the Mountain" is on guitar. We're fortunate to also have this video of a piano performance - Allison live-in-the-studio - "Out of the Fog" in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.

Warmest thanks to the team behind this popular news and arts magazine - Michael Fisher, Television Producer, Bruce Lane, camera - and all the OotF crew at Rogers television.

Sounds Like Canada

To quote Brad Pitt - "technology rocks!"

It does when you come across a fun interview and can share it... Here's Allison Crowe, performing on Canada's national public radio, CBC, and chatting with "Sounds Like Canada" host Shelagh Rogers. This show marks the first-ever performance by Allison of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" - just before her first-ever European concert tour!

Spiral remixes

Dig the creativity of remixers! Allison Crowe's "Spiral" is re-imagined by Jeris, salvatore_j, Incoherent Mumble Train, unreal_dm, CSoul, and Alex @ ccMixter Rock, blues, grunge, jazz, bass, drums, pop, techno, dance, industrial, electronica...

Allison's musical patron for "Free! Music! Contest 2011 - FreeMixter"

Tonight Will Be Fine

Allison Crowe covers Leonard Cohen's "Tonight Will Be Fine". Plus, an impressionistic ride through a trio of European countries...

Music Everywhere

Exciting times - even in the rain! We aim to have Allison Crowe's double-A-side single available digitally before the end of this month. More news on this two song recording - "Arthur" / "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" coming in the next few days. Here's a look at the single cover art - photo by Allison!


Next month, August 23, marks the tenth anniversary of Allison's label, Rubenesque Records Ltd. Along with virtual cake and balloons, we'll make it a special celebration together :)

Fourth of July reflections

boyhowdy at the Cover Lay Down blog presents a genuinely thoughtful reflection and celebration of America for this July 4 weekend. And, he includes, in a terrific song selection, Allison Crowe's cover of "Independence Day" by Ani DiFranco.


The post's final note: "Happy Birthday, America. Long may your contradictions endear us to you. May you never lose hope. And may we never stop singing."

Free! Music! Contest Salutes Creativity and Evolution

This weekend, Canada Day, “north of the 49th”, and Independence Day in America, marks the international launch of “Free! Music! Contest 2011”. Organizer Musikpiraten e.V., explains this year’s focus is on “free” as in “freedom” rather than in “free beer”. Considering the strong European flavour to the community involved, though, it’s win-win however you brew it.

"FreeMixter" is the motto of this event and, as that suggests, emphasis is on enabling remixes – via ccMixter, the remix portal where many artists, including such high-profile creators as the Beastie Boys, Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), and DJ Vadim, release tracks that others can use to make new music.

Allison Crowe’s posted the vocal and piano tracks for "Spiral" to ccMixter, saying:

"Creative Commons is, in my opinion, the best way to license your music!

You can choose what you're most comfortable with, without someone choosing it for you - in a sense rendering it the most personalized, realistic and human way to do things - sharing art, and joining artists, all together from all around the world. That's what it's all about!

All the best with this year's Free! Music! Contest :) Can't wait to hear what happens!"

Allison Crowe is delighted and honoured to be designated Musical Patron for this year’s celebration of creativity – following previous F!M!C Patron, author, journalist and Boing Boing blogger Cory Doctorow, a prominent advocate of Creative Commons licensing, an increasingly welcome alternative to traditional copyright.

Artists, academics, everyone, in today’s evolving environment, can tune in, and turn on to the greater flexibility and compatibility with digital realities afforded by Creative Commons aka CC licensing.

Here’s to “The Power of Open”. Prost!