Valdy still strikes chord
Published Wednesday November 19th, 2008
The last time Valdy was in these parts, he was one of the headliners of the inaugural Saint John Folk Festival, a couple of years back. Sometimes even a headliner has to pitch in and help out. When the sound guy didn't show up for the gig by U.S. bluesman Chris Smither, our favourite folksinger volunteered to twiddle the knobs.
"I was honoured to do it, I do sound at my club back in B.C., and well, that's what you gotta do. Chris Smither was great that night."
Valdy comes all the way from New Zealand, where he tours occasionally with local star Grahm Wardrop, a good friend. It's a cool arrangement, where Valdy opens for him in the Antipodes, and returns the favour in Canada where he's the more well-known one. Here, however, local star Jessica Rhaye will round out the bill. Valdy says you can expect all of his classics.
"People do want to hear the songs they know me by, and of course, I don't disappoint. But I still get to work in the new songs, and that's what keeps me excited."
He has authored songs that have stayed with us for 30 years, including Rock And Roll Song, Yes I Can and Me And Martin. Even though most of us can sing along to them, he doesn't claim to have a secret formula for creating a classic.
"I can't write an anthem, but I like to make songs that are accessible to people. Sometimes it's for social change, sometimes it's the environment, sometimes it's that emotional closeness we all want. If it connects, that's great. It's the people that make the anthem, not the writer."
Catch Valdy in action, with Jessica Rhaye, Thursday at the Blue Olive in Saint John, and Friday the at The Playhouse in Fredericton.
SUZIE McNEIL - ROCK-N-ROLLER (Universal)
McNeil's career is a perfect example of how the music world has changed. Television and new methods of song placement and exposure have moved her forward. First, the Toronto native was a top finalist on Rock Star: INXS in 2005. Her first single, Believe, started appearing everywhere, including the shows The Biggest Loser and Beauty And The Geek. The anthem has only gotten bigger since, with lots of tie-ins for anything requiring an inspirational theme, even the upcoming 2010 Olympics. Stopping by the office on a recent promotional trip, McNeil confirmed the song's unending appeal.
"I keep hearing from people who are sick, or athletes, teams, whatever, that the song has made a difference to them, it's just one of those songs that works for so many people and situations."
There's even a re-recorded version her new disc, a more stripped-down take on it, just piano and strings. However, the rest of the disc is full of up tempo, fun, punchy pop songs.
"The first album was full of big ballads, power ballads" she says. "This time, I wanted to get closer to my personality, which is rock and roll and fun."
The first single, Let's Go, has already been used as the theme to the show The Next Star, and there's yet another major TV appearance coming. McNeil will team up with Theory Of A Deadman frontman Tyler Connolly to sing, yes, Believe, on the Grey Cup halftime show Nov. 23.
TOM PETTY & the HEARTBREAKERS - RUNNIN' DOWN A DREAM (Warner)
Over four hours on this two-DVD set, director Peter Bogdanovich lets the viewer in on the great secret of Petty's long career: determination. Nothing was going to move him off his path. Whether it's record company shenanigans, or bad band behaviour, Petty refused to bend, even if it meant saying goodbye to friends. Bogdanovich had access to amazing archival footage, including shots of the group, then known as Mudcrutch, leaving Florida for fame out west, only to have its van promptly break down. Another telling moment happens at a Roger McGuinn recording session, where Petty tells off a couple of label weasels for trying to make his hero and friend record substandard material. The guy won't back down. Full of vintage clips, revealing interviews, and generous amounts of concert footage, the pace is perfect, and the story compelling from start to finish. You will stay up way too late, determined to watch it all in one sitting.
DAVID BOWIE - iSELECT (EMI)
Bowie as selected by Bowie. Asked to compile his favourite career tracks, not surprisingly, he steers far away from the hits. His choices are still eye-opening, and the accompanying self-written liner notes are revealing as well. The songs range back to 1971, with Hunky Dory's Life On Mars? and The Bewlay Brothers, the latter we're told is a reference to himself and his brother. The Lodger/Scary Monsters era comes up strong with three cuts, including Fantastic Voyage, and the even later pop number Loving The Alien remains a favourite for him. Two rare cuts will tempt collectors, a new remix of Time Will Crawl that is much better than the original and the Eno-Bowie outtake Some Are. Even if you have most of these, it's a cool and different mix, Bowie approved.
CAT STEVENS - TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN, TEASER AND THE FIRECAT (Universal)
New deluxe editions of Stevens' best two albums, from 1970-71. These two-disc sets feature the classic originals, then they present alternate versions of each song on disc two. The bonus cuts come from live shows of the era, original demos and more recent versions recorded during his recent comeback. With extensive liner notes, original producer Paul Samwell-Smith breaks down the recording process to show how innovative Stevens was, using the studio to build his acoustic guitar and keyboard tracks, and directing the rest of the musicians in the arrangements. Too often dismissed as soft and singer-songwriter, numbers such as Wild World, Bitterblue, Peace Train and Father And Son have retained their power and their message. At least, so it seems to this writer, a son when they first came out, and now a father.
Bob Mersereau is a music writer and the arts reporter for CBC in New Brunswick.
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