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.

Up to the Mountain (Patty Griffin) - Allison Crowe + "Faces" by Phil Robbins

Allison Crowe is, again, cooking up musical soul food in her kitchen. That's where she's recorded "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)" - from the pen of the sublime Patty Griffin. Allison serves as her own Jordanaires - providing backing accompaniment to the lead vocals and guitar :)

Allison's delighted by a recent opportunity to participate in a visual art project in the friendly and vibrant cultural community that is Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada -- home on the Atlantic range to the much-loved and acclaimed singer-songwriter.



"Friday March 4th 2011, I performed 'Faces: Broadway' a projection onto windows of the old Black Thorn Stick Cafe location on Broadway," says Philip N. Robbins, one of the creators, noting "this projection creates an implied conversation, or narrative, between all of the participants in the videos."

CornerBrooker.com, the city's culture and news web portal (http://cornerbrooker.com/2011/03/faces-on-broadway) explains: "This was part of a project by Phil Robbins and Jillian Parsons (often known for their work with Stockpile or Larger Than a Cat) called Faces: Broadway which was a lead-up to Phil's larger project, Faces: Newfoundland."

Expressing a fascination "with the haunting portraits by Richard Avedon specifically his 'In the American West' portrait series," Robbins is broadening the "Faces" canvas -- and "crowdfunding" -- aiming to sail successfully over the mercantile mosh pit to cover costs. You can learn about this project @ http://www.philipnormanrobbins.ca and aid the cause @ http://rockethub.com/projects/1082-faces-newfoundland

Allison Crowe is among the "Faces: Broadway" -- and, here, Phil and Jillian's video imagery projects a spirit as natural as the musical performance.

http://music.allisoncrowe.com

Tidings Time for One of Today's Greats: Musician Allison Crowe

Allison Crowe’s recent concert tour of continental Europe again reveals her as one of the great popular musicians of the modern era. Playing for audiences in Germany, Holland, France, Austria and Italy, Crowe, possibly the world’s most independent recording artist, shares a joy of music and a personality that is wild as the wind.

Talent today can matter more than it has for decades and few, if any, performers in rock or pop music demonstrate that reality more abundantly than does the singer-songwriter whose Canadian home stretches from Nanaimo, British Columbia to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Canada.

Along with releasing seven albums/CDs containing original song-writing of a singular range and quality, this century Allison Crowe has earned a reputation for her gorgeous voice, and unique ability to viscerally communicate emotion without sentimentality.

Crowe’s honest approach serves well, too, in making her, not only an uniquely exciting songwriter and live performer, combining voice, piano and guitar, but, at the same time, a peerless interpreter of a most varied songbook.

Upon her return to Canada from Europe, "Cover Me" blog's Editor-in-Chief Ray Padgett, (SPIN, Consequence of Sound, Mashable and more), premieres Allison Crowe's take on Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart - Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams"

In the accompanying article, "Allison Crowe Shows Us What 'Sweet Dreams' Are Made Of…", writer Eric Garneau says of Crowe's bare take on the song: "She delivers a reading on this '80s mainstay at once beautifully melodious and ferociously in-your-face."

Allison Crowe being a rock musician - well, what was called rock in the '60s - she really enjoys, but doesn't replicate, the sounds of the original's pop sensibility. She strips things to their emotional core.

"1 Heck of a Guy", a blog renowned for its witty reportage on Leonard Cohen, shines a light on Allison Crowe's "alchemy" in covering songs - saying:

"Allison, whose covers include not only outstanding versions of Joni Mitchell’s 'River' and 'A Case of You,' Leonard Cohen’s 'Hallelujah,' 'The Beatles’ 'In My Life' and 'Let It Be,' Lennon’s 'Imagine,' and Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time,' but also the most provocative and seductive (forgive me, Aretha) take I’ve heard on Ronnie Shannon’s 'I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You).' And, I stand by my conviction that Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson’s lyrics."

News of this latest cover magic has spread to the MTV blog: "Allison Crowe Strips Down Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams' " – and the site which has been serving 'Sweet Dreams' to devoted Eurythmics fans since 1999 - ethrillnet

Allan Showalter’s “1 Heck of a Guy” includes a link to this YouTube audio with pic.

It’s been only a few months since “Cover Me” first shared its discovery of Allison Crowe’s interpretations, including her version of “Hallelujah”. In the years since Crowe recorded the song for her “Tidings” CD, it’s been covered by more than 200 acts – from cult-type faves in various genres, such as Susanna and the Magical Orchestra, and folkie Kathryn Williams, to mainstream crooners kd lang, Susan Boyle, Justin Timberlake w. Matt Morris, and more. It’s been adopted by Simon Cowell and the Idol/X Factor/Got Talent et al franchises.

The remarkable harvest of “Hallelujah” recordings, and the Olympian marketing exercises that attend some releases of the song, add to the stature of Crowe’s single/first take interpretation. Says music journalist Padgett: “The songwriter’s 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.”

It’s coming on Christmas, and for Allison Crowe, this means a “Tidings” concert tour. It’s time to stir together traditional Christmas carols and holiday favourites with an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. "Be prepared to be amazed," chimes ChristmasReviews.com "Music for the season and all time."

Allison Crowe’s Canadian Tidings Concert 2010 Tour dates:

Nov. 25 - Campbell River, BC: St. Peter’s Anglican Church – w. the Campbell River Children’s Choir – to aid CR Food Bank & the Hospice Society
Nov. 27 – Gibsons, BC: Heritage Playhouse Theatre – w. Ellisa Hartman
Dec. 3 – Ladysmith, BC: Ladysmith First United Church – w. Lena Birtwistle
Dec. 4 – Victoria, BC: Fairfield United Church – w. Bob Benvenuti – to aid Artemis Place & HepCBC
Dec. 10 - Gabriola Island, BC: The Haven
Dec. 11 – Nanaimo, BC: St. Andrew’s United Church – w. Hayley Read, Kiana Smith, Mathew Walker, Taylor Manns, Brynn Newman, Chelsea Peckett, Emily Blake, Kevin Patton & “Maestro” Rick Becker – to aid The Mind’s Eye &
Woodlands SS Band & Basketball programs
Dec. 17 – Corner Brook, NL: Corner Brook First United Church

Full details on these shows will be announced next week on Allison's website.

Here’s to peace on earth, goodwill toward all.

"Best of the decade" and beyond

Entertainment website Muruch announces its top 25 albums of the decade – on a list that ranges from The Dresden Dolls to Muse, the eclectic blog places Allison Crowe’s “Live at Wood Hall” in the number 8 position, commenting:

“Oh that voice! Still gives me chills. I’ve posted about Allison Crowe so many times over the years that I consider her Muruch’s musical mascot. As I said in my 2007 review“there’s really no way to convey through mere words how much the music on Allison Crowe’s Live At Wood Hall moves me”. Forget Susan Boyle, Allison sang the definitive cover of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’.”

It’s been a year in which Crowe elevated her artistry beyond levels consistently seen in rock music for decades. A decade of international touring and online presence combined with inventive and inspired writing and recording and peerless live shows has translated into making the bi-coastal Canadian one of the world’s most popular, successful, and truly, independent musicians.


Allison Crowe climbs every rung with rare artistry - Photo by Billie Woods

Crowe’s achievement could only be reached free of the status quo, side-stepping the mainstreaming rackets of, both, corporate record labels and institutionalized funding agencies. It’s a revolution, not just in her home country, but, on a global scale.

A review from the latest concert on her “Tidings” tour, which wraps this weekend in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, exemplifies peoples’ response to Allison Crowe’s singular nature as one of the most moving singer-songwriters and interpreters of any generation.

Eric McLean, band leader of the Nanaimo Blues All Stars, (and President of the Old City Quarter Association), wrote of Crowe’s December ’09 concert in that city: “I have seen and met, hordes of great performers over the years, from Clapton, Jeff Beck, Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Warnes, Sara, Little Feat, to Grappelli, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, etc, etc, etc, and I honestly believe that (Allison Crowe is) in the same league.” McLean sums up the feeling of many, saying: “I really felt that I was in the presence of something great.”

Allison Crowe’s seventh CD, “Spiral”, is due to be released in early 2010.



* NB A friend in Scotland, where folks, naturally, take great pride in Susan Boyle, wrote to express concern that it's "an unnecessary swipe being taken at a Scottish personality" by the music blog. I am certain, and have confirmed directly, the writer means no harm to Susan Boyle or Scotland!

In the context of knowing the reviewer is an huge fan of "Les Mis", they're not saying to forget Susan in entirety. Their simple, and passionate, view is that with respect to the song "I Dreamed a Dream", Allison best captures its mood. Their turn of phrase is not meant to extend beyond that artistic point.

From here, at least, it seems media marketing maven Simon Cowell et al have been rather callous in their exploitation of Susan Boyle, and there's been disregard for her health and well-being.

That's a separate issue, I know. Still, if you care for artists as people, health matters more than the fame or money. It's not evident how much an operator like Mr. Cowell cares about the human toll.

Knowing the business side of the record industry, one can only hope that the singer from West Lothian comes through it all better than many who are fodder for the machine.

I Dreamed a Dream + When I'm Gone - simple vids

A simple post now. We rarely have any video footage of Allison Crowe, however, we do see some beautiful still photography from Allison's friend, and fellow-musician, Billie Woods.

The images accompanying both of these vids come from Woods' portfolio - and were captured in concert at the Edmonds Centre for the Arts, Edmonds, Washington, USA on January 31, 2009.

First up is Allison's performance of Fantine's "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables - words and music by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg) - found on her "Live at Wood Hall" double-album.

US music blog Muruch says: "Here Allison Crowe once again proves that there is no song too great for her powerful voice to conquer. Her vocals on 'I Dreamed A Dream' are especially potent and moving. As with her cover of 'Hallelujah', she seems to put every fiber of her being into the song and it's an awe inspiring thing to hear."



British and American "reality" tv talent show maven Simon Cowell's newest signing looks to be Susan Boyle, from Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland. Her recent appearance on the UK program "Britain's Got Talent" singing "I Dreamed a Dream" has brought the song to the front of public attention - much as Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was brought to a mass audience via "X Factor"-winner Alexandra Burke.

In times when much of the world is being bombarded by news stories that make people fearful and distressed, the story of an underdog wins hearts and minds.

This song has been rarely performed by Allison - I remember this time so well ( :

And, here's Allison performing Phil Ochs' elegiac "When I'm Gone":



With this choice, Allison gives a nod to, not only the late great activist/singer-songwriter, Ochs, but, also, to righteous babe Ani DiFranco who's recorded this song for the soundtrack of "Steal This Movie" - a film based on the life and adventures of '60s radical, Yippie Abbie Hoffman. Crowe's recording of "When I'm Gone" is on her newest album/CD, "Little Light".