Martin Luther King Jr. Day

On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day – celebrating the birth of the civil rights leader and marking the struggle for equality, justice and peace that continues today – here’s Allison Crowe with her guitar take on Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain”:

Paying tribute with piano – Martin Luther King Jr. Day musical celebration by Allison Crowe w. Patty Griffin’s paen “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)”:

Arthur: V Day Playlist #7 of 7

Latest in our series, celebrating Valentine's, V, Day, is Allison Crowe's newest release - a song that speaks to love at 18 as well as at 88:



And, here's an instrumental version of "Arthur", too.

I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You): V Day Playlist #6 of 7

Many of Allison Crowe's releases are akin to modern-day field-recordings - with a naturalness absent from popular music for decades. Here, visiting a friend's log-home on Salt Spring Island, Canada, she takes a seat at the piano and performs, in a single, first, take, a blues song by Ronnie Shannon - that which became a break-through hit for Aretha Franklin in 1967.

LaJay Alexander, friend to the late songwriter, and an artist who recorded "Say So" for Shannon's blues, soul, funk+ label, Black Gold Records, generously posts: "Hello all, the young lady did a jam up job on the song, Ronnie Shannon would have loved it":

Wedding Song: V Day Playlist #5 of 7

Allan Showalter, erudite and entertaining MC at '1 Heck of a Guy', a Leonard Cohen-centric blog of rare scope, in comparing Allison Crowe's cover of "Me and Bobby McGee" with this original, "Wedding Song" -



- says such act "leads to an unavoidable conclusion: Once you’ve heard one Allison Crowe song, You’ve heard one Allison Crowe song." The good doctor adds: "Turns out all the hype about about Allison’s vast tonal, thematic, and emotional range is true."

In My Life: V Day Playlist #4 of 7

Here's a tune first delivered to the world by The Beatles and George Martin on the "Rubber Soul" LP. From the timeless songwriting team of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, it's a "John song". Allison Crowe sailed to sea and performed for Lennon family and friends come together with Scottish villagers and music-lovers from all across Europe, in Durness, Scottish Highlands. The Scotsman newspaper calls Allison a "Canadian angel" and her "In My Life" cover "one of the weekend's most magical moments". Here's a video version -



and a different performance from Allison on her "Tidings" album.

How Long: V Day Playlist #3 of 7

"How Long" is something of a curious member of Allison Crowe's song repertoire. It's overwhelmingly popular with international audiences, and particularly in those countries where English is not a first language. As it's rarely heard in concert, we have no video or still images of Allison performing the song. The pic accompanying the audio in this vid looks down a road to the sea off the coast of the Orkney Islands, Northern Scotland. It's taken by Billie Woods, photographer, musician and friend of Allison, when the pair were graciously invited by composer Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, the Queen's Master of Music, and "Max"'s partner Colin Parkinson to visit their Orcadian home:

Time After Time: V Day Playlist #2 of 7

Allison Crowe's interpretations are much-loved, and this is one of those song favourites. Captured live, by Scott Littlejohn of Nanaimo, BC, Canada, here's Allison's take on the Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman-penned "Time After Time":

Northern Lights: Valentine's V Day Playlist #1 of 7

Valentine's, V, Day is a week off. Here's the first in a seven-part Allison Crowe playlist - original songs and interpretations to carry us beyond the galaxy of Moon-June-spoon, to land on and explore the real terrain of the heart. Intentionally rustic, Northern Lights reflects the raw beauty of nature.



Allison's music is paired with images of the Aurora Borealis captured by Yukon-based photographer David Cartier, Sr. - who's added lots more pics to his awe-inspiring sets @ Flickr

Oh Canada... Cut the Cake

When she's not cooking up music, Allison Crowe is baking rainbow cakes, tossing salads, knitting helmets and all manner of things. Celebrating her secret life is a new blog - "7 Thumbs Up". Dig in, and dig it ( :


To accompany all the good food and bonhomie, we've selected a vintage song performance - in fact, "A Case of You". According to legend, this Joni Mitchell song, (originally on her "Blue" album), references the relationship of Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, two quintessential Canadian singer-songwriters.

Saluting this, July 1, Canada Day, here's Allison's interpretation (from her "This Little Bird" album).