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!

Songs of Life and Death

With, both, “Cover Me” and “Coverville”, a pair of the world’s premiere homes for lovers of cover songs, sending birthday wishes to Allison Crowe today, it’s an invitation to explore the artist’s body of interpretive work. All music can be found linked via the “ABC List” @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/ABC.html 

A supreme interpreter and arranger of songs - traditional, Celtic, jazz, Broadway, hymns, carols and aires – Crowe’s famed for her renewal of popular songs – including those first penned by Canadian icons Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, and Atlantic coast treasures Gary O’Driscoll, Al Pittman / Ron Hynes, Wince Coles, Harry Hibbs+, alongside tunes from The Beatles, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, Ani DiFranco,Counting Crows, Lovin’ Spoonful, Phil Ochs, Annie Lennox, Radiohead, Ronnie Shannon, Patty Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, the Rolling Stones and more.

In this rich and varied repertoire, each of Crowe’s singular performances is a favourite.

Having just come off the road with Allison Crowe and Band – during our travels we learned of Leonard Cohen’s passing. Tonight, his manager released these details:

“Leonard Cohen died during his sleep following a fall in the middle of the night on November 7th. The death was sudden, unexpected, and peaceful. He is survived by his children Adam and Lorca, and his three grandchildren Cassius (Adam’s son), and Viva and Lyon (Lorca’s daughter and son).” http://cohencentric.com/2016/11/16/statement-details-leonard-cohens-death-robert-kory-president-rk-management-manager-leonard-cohen

Allison Crowe, together with countless people all over our world, shares a special bond with the bard “born with the gift of a golden voice”. This relationship intertwines with the DNA of Leonard Cohen songs – among those in her repertoire is his universal “Hallelujah”. Of this, “Cover Me” founder and editor Ray Padgett opines:

“Born in British Columbia, Crowe has amassed a loyal following in Canada and Europe. The songwriter’s songwriter pure tones sound like a bell, no show-off acrobatics necessary. The amazing thing isn’t just that she performs the best version of Leonard Cohen‘s oft-covered ‘Hallelujah’ (sorry Jeff); the amazing thing is that she does so using the same solo piano style that everyone else does. There’s nothing particularly creative about it; her voice is just that good! So throw all those other ‘sensitive’ covers. This one’s the keeper.”

The blog 'anacronyms' says:“Crowe's version is a living thing, a meditation and a celebration and a benediction."

Thank you, sincerely, L. Cohen. We have the music.

The Elusive Resurrection

Times of great trouble in this world. Times, also, of great inspiration. And of great hope.

Hear “The Elusive Resurrection”, from Newfoundland poet Al Pittman’s first collection (Brunswick Press, 1966*):

“Oh for the strength
the indomitable courage
to cast away
this shroud
and leap to life
to run and sing
to free these lips
that now do nothing
but argue
and would kiss
to reach
into the sun and stars
and grasp
what little of heaven
has been given us
to devour”

Another NL great, singer-songwriter Ron Hynes, turned a poem from Pittman’s final collection, “Thirty-for-Sixty”, (published by Breakwater Books in 1999*), into a song. Musician Allison Crowe, home in Corner Brook, NL, where Al Pittman grew up, delivers here the essence of those words:

* Both poems appears in Breakwater’s 2015 release “Al Pittman: Collected Poetry”.

Celebrating Al Pittman

April 11, today, marks the 75th anniversary of the birth of legendary Canadian writer Al Pittman (who passed away in 2001). Born in St. Leonard's, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, the cherished poet and playwright grew up in Corner Brook – home to musician Allison Crowe.



30 for 60 from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

From Pittman’s 1999 selection of poetry, “Thirty for Sixty”, Newfoundland’s “Man of 1000 Songs” Ron Hynes set words to music – and a tradition of artistic regeneration is on deck once again here with Allison’s take on this elegiac hybrid.

King's in the Kitty

Elvis Aaron Presley’s born on this day, January 8, in 1935. Shuffling the video deck in tribute, here’s Allison Crowe dealing musical cards from Newfoundland singer-songwriter Ron Hynes and poet Al Pittman – “and life's about chances” – “30 for 60”:

30 for 60

Dealing from the deck of "Newfoundland Vinyl II" - Allison Crowe lays down "30 for 60" - suiting the existential gambit of Ron Hynes and the late Al Pittman.