No Change in Me

Ron Hynes and Murray McLauchlan’s classic “No Change in Me” is another song in the key of life heard on Allison Crowe’s new album, “Newfoundland Vinyl IV”:

Cultural treasure-chest GEST Songs of NFLD shares lyrics, ("This getting nowhere is getting to me, Wondering where you can go to be all you can be..."), and the original recording plus variant @ http://gestsongs.com/07/nochange.htm  And you'll find more from Allison on GEST, as well @ http://gestsongs.com/acrowe.htm

Newfoundland Vinyl IV 

https://allisoncrowe.bandcamp.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-iv-2

The lovely isle of Newfoundland, off Canada’s Atlantic coast, is inspiration for this collection – the newest in the “Vinyl” series from Corner Brook, NL musician Allison Crowe.

Allison’s in harbour with a boatful of tunes reveling in, and revealing, the region’s rich culture and history – stirring music that nourishes heart and soul.

The album opens with "Mice March" and closes with "Russian Dance", both selections from Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” – freshly arranged and performed “trad” style for Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s “Ed & Ed’s Newfoundland Christmas Concert”. And between these tracks is a bounty of adventuresome musical ideas – embracing songs of land and sea.

Traditional music, and modern favourites – funny, poignant, earthy and ethereal – all part of the “Newfoundland Vinyl” stage-show lovingly curated and directed by Allison Crowe each Summer at TNL’s Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

The album cover photograph by Allison shows us what she sees at home making music. And the songs themselves let us feel it all, as well. Joys and hardships be tugging on the heart-line first cast by Buddy Wasisname, and true as ever: “You might think she’s rugged and cold, but she’s home, sweet, home to me.”

Credits:

Allison Crowe: all vocals, instruments, engineering and production.
Album cover photo: Allison Crowe.
Graphics: Mind Palace Design.

Sláinte!

"A Brush of Hope" Auction

“A Brush of Hope” auction is live – for the next ten days, from now ‘til midnight EST on November 8: http://bit.ly/croweboh2017

The Foundation illuminates this “Opportunity to own an ORIGINAL, one of a kind piece of art by Allison Crowe. All proceeds will go to support the valuable work of The Kidney Foundation of Canada by allowing us to continue our patient services programs, education and awareness initiatives and life saving research. These programs and services enable us to improve the lives of the 1 in 10 Canadians who are living with or affected by kidney disease.”

Allison’s contribution – on 8 x 10” canvas board, signed – is a painting of an American Avocet – a bird that Winters on the coast.

Hang out in “A Brush of Hope” gallery – https://www.ebay.ca/usr/kidneyfoundationofcanada - enjoy, and bid on, paintings by Allison, Bif Naked, Tim Fox, Bret Hart, Elizabeth May and more Canucks in support of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Atlantic Branch.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Foto Fun

Fun reveal - Allison Crowe's foto for "Sea and Be Scene" - to celebrate the 6th anniversary of Stephanie Beaumont's site saluting East Coast Canada! (with a contest, to boot) http://seaandbescene.com/2016/07/sabs-6th-birthday-salute-for-july-29th

Oceans - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances

“A Mari Usque Ad Mare”. Canada’s motto well frames the dominion of Allison Crowe – “from sea to shining sea”. From her birth in the harbour city of Nanaimo, BC on the Pacific coast to her creative years at home in Corner Brook, NL on Atlantic shores there’s a vast expanse of beauty.

Crowe’s approach to music-making, along with bandmates Céline Greb aka Lin Lin, Billie Woods, Sarah White and Dave Baird – on record and on-stage – is so true, as well, that in an industry of processed audio and calculated everything, the sound of Allison Crowe and Band is refreshingly real as that of the natural world.

Diving further into the just-released album, “Introducing / Heirs + Grievances”, take a swim now in “Oceans”:

Oceans - Allison Crowe and Band - Heirs + Grievances from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances

"A Brush of Hope" Celebrity Painting Auction Opens

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Atlantic Branch, today launches its “Brush of Hope” Celebrity Paintings Auction on ebay. Musician Allison Crowe is delighted again by the opportunity to contribute to this great cause and campaign. Nowhere else can you see such a collection of works from a range of Canadians that also includes Leonard Cohen, Elizabeth May, Don Cherry and more.

The gallery is open! The Foundation tells us what it’s about:

“This is a rare opportunity to own an ORIGINAL, one of a kind piece of artwork by ALLISON CROWE. All proceeds from the sale of this artwork will go to support the valuable work of The Kidney Foundation of Canada by allowing us to continue our patient services programs, education and awareness initiatives and life saving research. These programs and services enable us to improve the lives of the 1 in 10 Canadians who are living with or affected by kidney disease.

Item Details: 8 x 10 canvas board, acrylic, signed on back”

Bidding runs from October 31st to November 9th!

click on image of painting above - to go to eBay auction!

Newfoundland Vinyl 3

Raising a 'netful of music from Allison Crowe, here's "The Irish Rover", a traditional song popularized by Ryan's Fancy and others much-loved in Newfoundland and Labrador and well beyond.

This week brings the release of “Newfoundland Vinyl 3” - newest in the acclaimed series of albums refreshing folk, traditional, and popular music of Canada’s Atlantic coast. Waltzes, parlour songs, rousing tunes of land and sea emerge from Allison Crowe’s role as Musical Director with Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s hit show, “Newfoundland Vinyl”, at the annual Gros Morne Theatre Festival.

Newfoundland Vinyl 3 - album front and back covers

"Muruch.com Presents: Allison Crowe"

In 1999 a teen-aged Allison Crowe was already building her legend as a musician – radiating from her birthplace of Nanaimo, BC to perform in nightclubs and bars up and down Vancouver Island on Canada’s Pacific coast.

That same year, across the continent in the USA, a West Virginia-based poet and cultural commentator was launching one of the first, and now longest-running, legal-mp3 music websites. Under the banner of “Murúch”, the Irish word for “mermaid”, pioneering Editor/Head Writer Vic and her team of writers and photographers still plumb the currents of music, books, film and other arts.

“Murúch’s RSS feed is syndicated on Hype Machine, Elbo.ws, Livejournal, Facebook and Twitter… The site has been featured on VH1’s Best Week Ever Blog, The Woodstock Film Festival website, MSN’s Money Central Blog, Technorati’s Top 100 Music Blogs and The Guardian’s website.” Rolling Stone has reposted the site’s content, and its reviews are quoted “in countless press releases, Amazon and Wikipedia pages and even album liner notes”. Cited, as well, by the University of Maryland as an example of excellent critical writing – the fuller story of Murúch can be found @ http://www.muruch.com/about and http://www.muruch.com/2000/07/muruchhistory.html

Along their courses, sometime before Allison Crowe migrated to Canada’s Atlantic shores, making her home in Corner Brook, Newfoundland a decade ago, “Murúch” discovered Allison and has been a steadfast champion of her music ever since.

Mutual admiration and respect has grown through the years such that Allison’s honoured to be described these days as Murúch’s “musical mascot”.

“Muruch.com Presents: Allison Crowe” is a digital album, coming very soon, comprising the blog’s personal favourites from Allison’s recorded repertoire. Curated by Murúch, it’s a 21-song playlist that’s, both, passionately individual and universal.

Cover art is also by Muruch.com – pictured here on the album’s front is the entrance to Newgrange, the great national monument of Ireland that predates Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt. Photographed this Summer in County Meath, the triskele symbols on the giant stone carry forward from pre-Celtic and Celtic times to our age (even giving design to the centre-piece adapters for vinyl “45” RPM recordings).

It’s apt entry point for the intersection of 15+ years rocking and rolling by Allison Crowe and Muruch.com.

Set Sail with Rob Carnell's "Salt Water Music" on CFRC+

Rob Carnell - https://twitter.com/robertcarnell - is behind the mic each week since May 2007 for “Salt Water Music” – broadcasting on air and online on CFRC 101.9 FM in Kingston, Ontario. Born in Placentia, Newfoundland – Rob’s an enthusiastic and enduring champion of East Coast Canadian music. He’s a wonderful supporter and friend to Allison Crowe and the diverse community of musicians in our Atlantic region. Worthy of weekly salute from us all!!

Rob’s show airs on Fridays – indeed, that includes tonight - from 6 - 8pm EST. Music-lovers around the world can listen live @ http://www.cfrc.ca/saltwatermusic_20150529 “Salt Water Music” is also heard aboard East Coast Kitchen Party - Thursdays at 6m AST – visit http://www.eastcoastkitchenparty.net/

“Sea and be Scene” producer Stephanie Beaumont chatted with Rob for a profile feature @ http://seaandbescene.com/2012/06/salt-water-music-with-robert-carnell And, for a rare glimpse of the radio studio – from the Producer/Host’s side of the mic – check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9aSuUuQj8A 

And, be sure to set sail with Rob Carnell on “Salt Water Music” expeditions – and savour the riches of Canada’s east coast song-makers!

This Little Bird

Chiming from “Sylvan Hour”, Allison Crowe’s newest, classic, release is “This Little Bird”. Born on the Pacific, in the Harbour City of Nanaimo, BC, Canada – Crowe migrated to lovely Corner Brook, Newfoundland, on Atlantic shores right after recording this batch of songs. The bi-coastal musician’s creative flight shows she’s made good on her promise: “This little bird’s gonna see the good life has to offer / and how you can give your heart and still feel free”.


This Little Bird from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Accompanying Allison Crowe’s music on this video journey are scenes from “The Song of the Birds” – 1935 entry in the ‘Color Classics’ animation series of Fleischer Studios.

          

Paddy McGinty's Goat

P’raps there is not yet a website for goat songs and lyrics – but there well could be – from Joni Mitchell’s “California” to Tom Cahill’s “Mobile Goat Song”- which featured last year on Allison Crowe’s first album of “Newfoundland Vinyl” songs – there’s plenty of music referencing the curious and clever creature to be herd… uh, heard.

“Paddy McGinty’s Goat” comes from the stable of the prolific English music hall+ songwriting team of R.P. Weston (1878 – 1936) and Bert Lee (1880 - 1946) – joined for this particular composition by Bob Adams and Bob Allen (aka “the two Bobs”). It was a worldwide hit for the Irish crooner, Val Doonican, in the swinging 1960s.

On the lovely isle of Newfoundland, it’s recorded by Jack Houlihan of Flat Rock, NL – a town with rich Irish heritage. It’s here now sung and played with characteristic kidding and joy by Corner Brook’s Allison Crowe on “Newfoundland Vinyl II”:

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

Woman of Labrador

Canadian poet, singer-songwriter, sailor and islander Andy Vine (http://www.andyvine.com) composed this song in the late 1970s. While music-making in St. John’s, Newfoundland he discovered “Woman of Labrador”, the remarkable autobiography of Elizabeth Goudie. Of Inuit, Indian, French and English roots, Goudie (née Blake) was born in 1902 in Mud Lake, Labrador. At 18 she’d wed a trapper, raising their eight+ children in the brush – her memoirs recounting life and travails and dwellings from a trapper’s “tilt”, and log cabins to a Summer lake-shore fishing house and beyond – all that comes with and from such a pioneering existence in territory that encompassed family homes in Mud Lake, North West River and Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Inspired by Goudie’s story, Vine distilled things into music – and a song popularized by legendary NL folk-rock group Figgy Duff (Pamela Morgan singing this tune with that band of pioneers in their own field).

The image accompanying the music in this video, of “The Labrador ‘liveyere’ ”, is found in “The Story of Grenfell of the Labrador”, a biography of medical missionary Wilfred T. Grenfell (1865 – 1940) – first published in 1922, and, then, digitally, in 2005 as an ebook by Project Gutenberg’s Jeannie Howse and team.

Sir Grenfell’s biographer explains that liveyeres are those hardy souls who permanently reside in the region (as distinct from folks who come for Summer-fishing or other activities, and don’t stay in Wintertime). As well, for his international audience, the author Dillon Wallace notes: “It will be interesting to turn to a map and see for ourselves the country to which Doctor Grenfell was going. We will find Labrador in the northeastern corner of the North American continent, just as Alaska is in the northwestern corner.”

And so lives and events mingle and tales are passed on – through oral and written histories. Through song.

Of musician Allison Crowe, veteran Canadian playwright, and Artistic Director of Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, Jeff Pitcher (http://www.jeffpitcher.ca), says: "No matter where she is in this world, that voice, that conviction, it crosses all borders. She's one of those rare artists that fits into any culture, any community because she is who she is - an incredible talent."

“Woman of Labrador” finds home again on “Newfoundland Vinyl II”, Crowe’s just-released album: http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/newfoundland-vinyl-ii

As the album title suggests, it's a song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison Crowe's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at Canada's Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by TNL.

The album celebrates this creative bond between Crowe, an internationally-loved touring and recording artist, and Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, a professional theatre company founded on Newfoundland's west coast in 1979.

For these past three Summers TNL's engaged Crowe as Musical Director of "Newfoundland Vinyl" - a perennial favourite at the annual GMTF.

TNL AD Jeff Pitcher's conception of a revival of vinyl era, and more, songs of Newfoundland and Labrador put wind in the sails of Allison Crowe's curatorial mission.

"It's here!" says pioneering music blog Muruch, "Allison Crowe just released Newfoundland Vinyl II and it's the perfect follow-up to her traditional folk masterpiece, Newfoundland Vinyl".

Of her immersions as Musical Director with TNL, and the melodic bounty that's landed, Allison Crowe notes: "There is so much wonderful music - you could piece together multiple anthologies and still only scratch the surface of such an extensive and rich collection. Each of these songs is its own story, of land and sea, of people, and each story in-and-of-itself could be an entire show. I'm truly grateful that you are here to hear the story these songs have to offer." She gives special thanks to "the incredibly talented and versatile" casts and crews of TNL's productions for their inspiration.

Newfoundland Vinyl II

"Newfoundland Vinyl II", Allison Crowe's newest album, (and her third album globally released in 2014), comes out this week.

Right now, here's the front cover art of this album - which, as the title suggests, is another song collection inspired by, and arising from, Allison's involvement with the hit stage show, "Newfoundland Vinyl" - presented at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, and produced by Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador.

TNL's Artistic Director Jeff Pitcher conceived the musical production and Allison Crowe has served as the show's Musical Director for three Summers now at GMTF.

 

Album cover photo by Allison Crowe

Here’s the flip-side of the album art for “Newfoundland Vinyl II” – Allison Crowe’s next album. The music and more will be released tomorrow – via Allison’s own music pages @ http://music.allisoncrowe.com plus iTunes and all online outlets.

 

John Lennon envisioned making records as immediate as newspapers. In these times, Allison is doing  that – figuratively and literally.

NV II track-list and more song tracks and videos to come… to join "The Water Witch" vid posted @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEM9DIRAGyk

Album photo/art by Allison Crowe

          

The Water Witch

From Corner Brooker Allison Crowe's upcoming album, "Newfoundland Vinyl II", comes this stirring song of a shipwreck and brave rescue efforts that occurred on November 29, 1875.

The Water Witch, a Brigus Schooner, was heading for its home port of Cupids, Newfoundland, (the birthplace of English Canada), when it ran aground near Pouch Cove, NL in a blinding snow-storm.

The historical facts, (which flow loosely in the song on certain points), can be found online thanks to a number of resources, including:

The Pouch Cove Heritage Committee site @ http://www.pouchcoveheritage.org/waterwitch.html

“The Disaster Song Tradition” webpage @ http://disastersongs.ca/1870s-water-witch

And, with more musical history, the ever-deep riches of Gery Deugaw’s “GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador” - http://wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/witch.htm

“View of Pouch Cove” ca. 1900, the photograph accompanying this music, is by Robert E. Holloway and preserved by Library and Archives Canada.

There's plenty more word - and all the music - to flow in early December 2014 - once we're back from some concert fun!

GMTF Company Makes a Splash for ALS Challenge

“The Gros Morne Theatre Festival was nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - and here's our video!” taps Allison Crowe from the festival’s home-base in western Newfoundland. “We nominate Rising Tide Theatre and Donna Butt, Sarah McDonald, Kevin Perdue, Brian Ball, Natalie Tsang and Vickie Marston!!!” GMTF 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh9UGoy7gPQ “Go to - http://www.ALS.CA/ICEBUCKETCHALLENGE - to donate!”

Earlier in the day, Denise Dolliver, GMTF Production/Company Manager enjoyed a solo dousing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jkyjsG7GIQ – and this Atlantic participaction flowed yesterday with a challenge from Gaylene Buckle, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s GM.

ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) is a progressive neuromuscular disease in which nerve cells die and leave voluntary muscles paralyzed. This Summer’s Ice Bucket Challenge has focused worldwide goodwill on awareness-and-fund-raising for this cause. ALS Canada has the scoop @ http://www.als.ca/ in, both, our nation’s official languages - English and French.

Easy Livin', Lovin'

A song for a Winter's night... and any time! One of the most vital popular music artists of this, or any, generation, Allison Crowe is also among the most versatile. With her release of “Newfoundland Vinyl” earlier this year, Allison delivers unvarnished roots and country to the mix.

 

Canadian country great Eddie Eastman recorded Terry Skinner’s song, “Easy” first in 1979. Here’s Allison’s new take: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U_GDkkfCa4

 

 

Gery Deugaw, Owner/Archivist of the treasure-trove that is “GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador” @ http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld - notes: “After all the years of travelling the Trans-Canada, Eddie Eastman was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour in 2010. Allison Crowe performs this song with the easy sound it needs to be successfully reprised in the 21st century.”

        

Allison Crowe "At Home Here" on Sea and Be Scene

Allison Crowe is featured in Sea and Be Scene's "At Home Here..." series. SABS, created and produced by Halifax, Nova Scotia-born Stephanie Beaumont, musical performer, broadcaster and more, is a magazine-style website that celebrates Canada's four Atlantic provinces.

Musician Allison Crowe - photo by Billie Woods

Enjoy Allison's "Cool People Profile" @ http://seaandbescene.com/2013/09/allison-crowe-at-home-here-in-newfoundland-labrador and discover some of the things that make her home in Newfoundland & Labrador so special.

Choose to Be (Happy) - Allison Crowe

This afternoon, Allison went walking - here's what happened.

Summer side of life - new album hatching

For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, Summer is nearing its end - and Autumn/Fall starts to reveal itself.

For me, it's a season of musical revelation.

Allison has started to create her next album. She travels from Canada's Atlantic coast to the Pacific in about two weeks' time to record her fellow musicians - Billie Woods, on acoustic guitar; Dave Baird on electric and acoustic bass; and Laurent Boucher on percussion.

These are the band-members who've toured with Allison in 2009.

There'll be an electric guitarist, joining the group on about three songs. Right now Alley is working with a brilliant, and incredibly sympathetic, orchestrator. One of the big questions at the beginning of this process was - how would the strings and orchestral elements Allison was hearing on several songs be realized?

We've learned over the years, that it's like alchemy, the joining of art and science (in the form of technical engineering/production). It's a magic that calls for invention, serendipity, inspiration.

It's early on, two songs in to what promises to be a 12 song collection - but, I'm hearing it.



Sir George Martin talks about The Beatles' recording art - listen here

My Dad made buttons for my brothers, sister and myself that said "I am a Beatle" and I was happily wearing that more than forty years ago, before I'd learned to ride a bicycle.

At this moment, I feel the same excitement that stirred when George Martin (now Sir) got together with those four lads from Liverpool.

Much more to come ( :