• Acoustic,  Roots Rock

    New Bruce Cockburn: Life Short Call Now



    Flying completely under my radar last week was a brand spankin’ new release from my other favorite Bruce, Mr. Cockburn. ‘Life Short Call Now‘ is his first studio offering since 2003’s ‘You’ve Never Seen Everything‘. I was introduced to Bruce’s music back in 1994 when I heard “Southland of the Heart” on the radio. Back in 1994 there was one cool station in Phoenix: 101.5 KZON (now one of those “Free FM” stations). “Southland” came from ‘Dart to the Heart‘, an album that zeroes in on matters of the heart, relationships, longing, L-O-V-E baby. From there, I dug into Bruce’s catalog, and was hooked.

    ‘Life Short’, released July 18 here in the U.S., is Cockburn’s 29th – yes 29th – album. It’s everything you’d expect from a quality Cockburn album: the intelligent and insightful lyrics, calm yet urgent vocals, and an array of eclectic and wholly original melodies. Check out the falsetto on the haunting “Beautiful Creatures”; the unwavering faith of “Mystery”; the pounding rhythm of the instrumental “Jerusalem Poker”.

    I’m not sure why Cockburn isn’t as popular down here in the US as in his native Canada, but that’s just fine by me (and Bruce is probably okay with that too). But by all means, if he stops through your town on his current tour supporting this album, go and see a living legend.

    Here’s one off the new record with Ani DiFranco lending a hand with background vocals.

    Bruce Cockburn (w/ Ani DiFranco): See You Tomorrow (mp3)

    And while you’re at it, check out this cool version of Bob Dylan’s “Chimes of Freedom”:

    Bonus Tune: Bruce w/ Yossou N’Dour: Chimes of Freedom (mp3) – 8/3/1994, Columbia Records Hour

  • Acoustic,  Laid Back

    Welcome to my World

    Well, it’s been a good week. My second daughter was born into this world yesterday morning, right into my waiting hands. Words can’t describe it, my friends. The miracle of birth makes skeptics like me into believers. I only wish the world I’ve brought my daughters into was a very different place.

    The music that is a natural accompaniment to great moments like these is the music of Bruce Cockburn. Since I discovered his vast catalog of music in the early 90’s, I have turned to Bruce’s music when I want peace, calm, inspiration, and gentle reason.

    Here are a couple from my favorite Bruce album, 1979’s Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws.

    Bruce Cockburn: Creation Dream (mp3) | Hills of Morning (mp3)

    And it goes without saying that one of the first recorded human voices my daughter will hear is Elvis Presley’s.

    Elvis Presley: Welcome to my World (mp3) – from Aloha from Hawaii

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    Other Bruce News: For you Sirius Satellite Radio subscribers, check out an exclusive interview with the Boss this Sunday. Details are here. An interesting note in this press release regarding the upcoming tour:

    Each night, an all new evening of gospel, folk, and blues will be presented by Springsteen with the 17-member Seeger Sessions Band.

  • Christmas

    Christmas with Cockburn

    [See this 2008 post for the show.]

    Since we’re on the final stretch to Christmas, I thought I would sneak out a few of my essential tunes courtesy of my favorite Canadian, Bruce Cockburn. In 1994, the Columbia Records Radio Hour broadcast Christmas with Cockburn, which featured Bruce with special guest Nancy Griffith. I had my cassette deck locked and loaded.

    These are the songs that make me forget about the almighty dollar and the overall stress of the holidays, and actually get me into the Christmas spirit.

    Christmas with Cockburn:

    Shepherds
    Deer Dancing on a Broken Mirror
    I’m Gonna Fly Someday
    One Day I Walk / Intro to Huron Carol
    Huron Carol
    Mary Had a Baby

    This isn’t available anywhere, but you can buy Bruce’s Christmas album, or any other of his excellent albums spanning more than 30 years.

  • Folk,  Laid Back

    My Other Favorite Bruce

    Every now and then, I find it imperative to spread the good word of Bruce Cockburn. So here’s a soothing, laid back ballad from the Good Man from Canada.

    Bruce Cockburn (pronounced Co-burn for the uninitiated): Live On My Mind (mp3)

    • Written in Maui, January 1993
    • Bass: Rob Wasserman, Drums: Gary Craig, Vibes: Gary Burton, Keyboard: Janice Powers, Harmonies: Jonatha Brooke, Resophonic & Electric Guitar: Bruce Cockburn
  • Folk

    I’ve Stood on the Street Corner

    It’s a dreary, rainy holiday weekend here in the Arizona desert, so I’ll kick it off with something on the mellow side. For some reason or another, Bruce Cockburn – who is well known up north in his home country of Canada – has always remained somewhat of a cult figure here in the U.S. (which is fine by me). The man has been going strong for over three decades, for crying out loud.

    These selections come from a Columbia Radio Hour broadcast of Christmas with Cockburn that I taped off the radio back in 1994 (eleven years ago – gasp). “One Day I Walk” has always been one of my BC favorites because of its beauty and hope. The mp3 ends with the introduction of the next song, the “Huron Carol”, so I feel obligated to include that as well. The “Huron Carol” was written by a Jesuit missionary to the Huron Indians in the 1600’s, and is sung in the Huron language. Bruce elaborates on it in the intro… I recommend downloading both of these songs, and listening to them in succession. Enjoy…

    Bruce Cockburn – One Day I Walk (mp3)
    Bruce Cockburn – Huron Carol (mp3)

    From the 1994 Columbia Radio Hour broadcast of ‘Christmas with Cockburn’.

    See Bruce’s Official Web Site.
    Buy Bruce’s Music on Amazon.