Superman to Super Songs: Allison Crowe Changes Tack as "Newfoundland Vinyl" Sets Sail

"Newfoundland Vinyl", the newest album of music from Allison Crowe, is out now on Rubenesque Records.

The limited edition, 180 gram vinyl, LP is available in Canada at Gary Bennett Music in Corner Brook, NL, Fascinating Rhythm (Nanaimo), Lyle's Place (Victoria), and Salt Spring Sound (Salt Spring Island), BC, Canada - and online, worldwide, in digital formats @ allisoncrowe.com, on Bandcamp, iTunes and more.

As Musical Director for TNL's production of "Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side" at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, the Canadian musician, born in Nanaimo, BC, on the Pacific, is active now in her Atlantic setting, curating and arranging songs for this Summer's GMTF cast.

It's a rich and varied collection harvested from the island region's popular music and oral traditions. The album's 10 tracks traverse parlour songs to country tunes and folk favourites, songs of land and sea that share the strength and the struggles, the joys, heartbreaks and the humour of people.

As well as being a premiere songwriter, musician and performer of original material, Crowe's recognized as one of the great modern interpreters of song - via her internationally-acclaimed and much-loved versions of songs by Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, and plenty more greats - Allison Crowe's singular performances deliver familiar and much-loved songs afresh and with renewed joy.

Crowe's just returned to her home in Corner Brook, NL, after attending the World Premiere in New York City of "Man of Steel", the Zack Snyder-directed Superman epic in which she has a cameo. MoS is currently the #1 box office draw on planet Earth. (Had things not gone so wrong on Krypton, it'd surely be a smashing success there as well.) Next she rolls on to Cow Head, in Gros Morne National Park -- and says:

"I am so grateful to have been asked by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, two years in a row, to put together songs and musically direct for a show called 'Newfoundland Vinyl'. As part of the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, I get to work with extremely talented and fun people each Summer in a gorgeous setting - Cow Head, NL. From the vast and encyclopaedic sea of beautiful music to come from, and out of, Newfoundland and Labrador, here is a collection of some of the songs from this year's show."

The GMTF season runs May 31 through September 14 - and "Newfoundland Vinyl: The Flip Side", written and directed by Jeff Pitcher, is on the boards July 12 - August 30, 2013!

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl

http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/gmtf.html

"Newfoundland Vinyl" - Allison Crowe's newest music release on the record rack at Lyle's Place, Victoria, BC, Canada

Here, now, is Allison Crowe's take on these songs that, over 200 years, come from, and out of, Newfoundland and Labrador - with ageless melodies and meaning:

BLACK VELVET BAND - lively traditional song recorded on both sides of the Atlantic, including a version by the legendary 'His Nibs' Harry Hibbs

EASY - penned by Terry Skinner and made a classic radio hit by country star Eddie Eastman

MEN WHO DIE FOR A LIVING - Gary O'Driscoll, award-winning songwriter and producer from Bay Bulls and NL's southern shore, wrote this potent elegy "for the miners here and gone"

CLIFFS OF BACCALIEU - Jack Withers sea-faring song has previously been sailed by such distinct voices as Anita Best, Louise Morrissey and Stan Rogers

SKIPPER BILLY'S WAKE - songwriter Ellis Coles' jaunty mix of moonshine, Screech and more was well popularized by Dick Nolan

SONNY'S DREAM - Newfoundland's "Man of 1000 Songs", Ron Hynes, created this anthem of the heart and home

TINY RED LIGHT - a traditional Newfoundland song revitalized in the vinyl era by The Dorymen (popular east-coast combo founded by John Drake and Tom Rose - a pair of lads out of Fortune Bay communities Belleoram and Bay du Nord)

THE MOBILE GOAT SONG - composed by St. John's Tom Cahill, frequent collaborator with "Newfoundland's First Lady of Song", Joan Morrissey, who released this cheerful romp on her 1973 LP "Home Brew"

SEVEN OLD LADIES - a bawdy song which musically plumbs a 1700s nursery rhyme, ("Johnny's So Long at the Fair") - and a tune also recorded by the great Joan Morrissey

SWEET FORGET ME NOT - first published in 1877, this tender tune by Bobby Newcomb was the first single, and a vinyl hit on the mainland as well, for Cape Shore's Eddie Coffey and his Coffey Mates


Songs performed, arranged, engineered and produced by Allison Crowe - home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

Allison Crowe's Synchronous Orbit with "Man of Steel"

Allison Crowe returns to Canada from the World Premiere screening of "Man of Steel" in New York City. Alongside the thrills of walking the red carpet at NYC's Lincoln Center, the musician is proud and humbled to have a cameo in the artistic and commercial hit cinematic reframing of the Superman myth.

Frank Zappa famously commented: "It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia." On this, the 75th anniversary of the birth of Clark Kent / Superman, MoS film-makers - which includes Hollywood auteur Zack Snyder and writers David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan - have soared past the potential of "Death by Nostalgia" by delivering into today's world the most super of all comic book heroes - portrayed by island of Jersey-born Henry Cavill. Helming the film's music is maestro Hans Zimmer.

Allison Crowe appears in the film very much as she does in concert - a troubadour of fiery spirit and true passion. Her cameo, performing the iconic Johnny Cash tune, "Ring of Fire", is result of a day of filming at the Cassidy Inn - an historic miners-to-bikers bar located on Vancouver Island, just about ten minutes drive south of where Crowe's born.

A relationship begun in 2008, between the bi-coastal artist, who is at home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and her birthplace, Nanaimo, British Columbia, and the dynamic movie duo of Director Zack Snyder and Producer Debbie Snyder, is cherished by the independent Canuck.

Celebrating the experience of "Man of Steel", released this month by Warner Bros. studio and its partners, Allison Crowe's own label, Rubenesque Records Ltd., has compiled "Songbook" - an oeuvre-spanning, 22 track, collection representing each album+ release from Crowe's dozen+ years of recording as one of the great singer-songwriters, interpreters and live performers in popular music.

Canadian musician celebrates connection with celluloid heroics of Superman

Songbook Salute

Celebrating “Man of Steel” – the Zack Snyder-directed Superman movie in which Allison Crowe appears in a cameo – we’ve created Songbook - an oeuvre-spanning album of tracks representing each album+ release from Rubenesque Records Ltd. (12 Years Free & Strong: 2001 - 2013)

May you enjoy these 22 song performances from Allison here and now.

album cover above - for Allison Crowe's "Songbook"

Drawings by Allison Crowe, and design/artwork by our long-time graphics collaborator, Alix Whitmire.

+ more word, credits, and thanks to follow the music…

Man of Steel Premiere - NYC After-Party

Musician Allison Crowe with Movie Director Zack Snyder at the "Man of Steel" World Premiere After-Party.

Super Night of Nights - Man of Steel Premiere

The premiere of the new Superman movie - the Zack Snyder-directed "Man of Steel" - happens at the Starr Theatre in Alice Tully Hall at NYC's Lincoln Center.

Here's Allison Crowe on the red carpet at Lincoln Center.

Allison flanked by Director Zack Snyder and Producer Deborah Snyder - stepping outside the Starr Theater where MoS has just premiered.

Allison with "Man of Steel' music maestro Hans Zimmer - celebrating the movie premiere - after-party at Skylight at Moynihan Station.

Up, Up and Away

Super featurette lifts us into the orbit of "Man of Steel".

Allison Crowe's excited as can be and is soon up, up, and away to New York City to join the red carpet and red cape celebration for MoS!!