>>PREVIEW
JANE HAWLEY, STEWART MACDOUGALL, TOM PHILLIPS AND TIM WILLIAMS
Saturday, March 11
Crossroads Community Centre
A mystique has grown around the forthcoming release of Ruby Moon Records’ Sorrow Bound: Hank Williams Re-Examined. When the studio band – consisting of Tim Leacock, Kit Johnson, Thom Moon, Charlie Veilleux and Ron Casat – gathered at Sundae Sound with engineer Dave Alcock, no one could imagine how deeply the sessions would illuminate life’s sweet and sour moments.
Sweet was Billy Cowsill, Tim Williams, Tom Phillips, Jane Hawley and Stewart MacDougall each choosing three Hank songs and three of their own to sing on the double disc. Sour was Ruby Moon owner and music aficianado Joel Shortt dying of a heart attack in 2004 during the mixing of the recording, and singer Billy Cowsill, the heart and soul of the sessions, passing away mere weeks ago in Calgary.
Blessedly, this unique album will provide some solace to music lovers in Calgary and around the globe. Below, Williams, Phillips, Hawley and Stewart each share a few details of their personal connection to Hank Williams and their experience recording the CD.
STEWART MACDOUGALL
· Background: Vocalist, pianist, worked with k.d.lang, Ian Tyson, Great Western Orchestra. Lives with his wife Janice and samoyed Gofer Gold in the shadow of the ghost of Fort Edmonton on the flats of the North Saskatchewan.
· The first time I heard Hank: I was too young to remember.
· Favourite Hank Williams’ song: "So Lonesome I Could Cry" – Jane did it beautiful justice.
· How did you pick your own songs for the project?: "If You're Still There" is a modern traditional country ballad. Hank Williams is the father of the genre. I tried to hold it to his standard, so it definitely qualifies as being touched by the Spirit of Hank. "Wrong Side Of The Hill" may have been touched by the spirit of Luke the Drifter. "When Somebody Wins" owes a lot to the accounts of the legendary marital spats between Hank and Audrey.
· Magical moment: Too many magic moments. I'm not copping out when I say it would be unfair to single one out or to pick a standout track.
· Most frustrating moment: There was only one frustrating moment - the last note of the last song and the inevitable breakup of a magic band.
TOM PHILLIPS
· Background: Guitarist and lead vocalist in the Men of Constant Sorrow. Lives in Calgary with Hank in his CD player.
· Favourite Hank song: "Cold Cold Heart"
· First time I heard Hank: I was seven or eight years old.
· How did you pick your Hank songs: Did three I knew.
· How did you pick your three others: Hardest country songs I had written – two I hadn't recorded before.
· Best moment: Doing my vocals with Billy (Cowsill) at the board.
· Worst moment: Doing my vocals with Billy behind the board.
· One of the other artist's tracks that hits you: Jane Hawley’s "Take These Chains" by Hank.
· How are you getting ready for the CD release: Changing my strings.
TIM WILLIAMS
· Background: Acclaimed blues guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, studio session player, and producer of Sorrow Bound. Lives in a duplex on Scotsman's Hill with his wife, two cranky old cats and a house full of funky musical instruments.
· The first time I heard Hank: Hank Williams was a favourite of my mother and my aunt. I probably heard his music in the womb.
· Favourite Hank song: "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
· How did you pick your Hank Song: In picking Hank songs, I let other people go for the well-known songs and tried to pick lesser-known gems.
· Best moment: After a week of recording, watching Billy become stronger every day instead of more exhausted, healed somewhat by the music we were making. Jane's take on "Take These Chains" and Stewart's reading of "Men With Broken Hearts" were both stand-outs for me.
· Worst moment: My only frustration was having to leave early every day, because I was also working as Musical Director on Joni Mitchell: River at Alberta Theatre Projects.
· How are you getting ready for the CD release: I'm talking to the media and making sure we have product on hand... also getting copies to all the players so they can remember what they did 15 months ago.
JANE HAWLEY
· Background: Singer, was a member of Jr. Gone Wild and Beautiful Joe. Lives in Longview with her music, children and husband and lots and lots of dreams.
The first time I heard Hank: I was a teenager and into country music.
· Favourite Hank Williams song: It changes.
· How did you pick your own three songs for the project: "Sympathetic Heart" for that sad Hank feeling, "Please Check Your Heart at the Door" for the rhythm, and "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" was picked out by Tim and Billy.
· Magical moment: Getting to experience the process of recording with Billy. Like doing "Jambalaya," and I’ve been doing that song for years, but I slowly had changed it. And with Billy, that won’t do. It has to be perfect, just like Hank’s version. And I have this other melody line stuck in my head, so we took it line by line.
· Worst moment: My worst moment would be doing that song and being afraid that I’m not going to get it. Me going, "Oh my God, I can’t do this." And Billy going, "You’re getting it, it’s OK." Because Billy is hard on you, but then when he helps you get it, he gives you positive feedback and it pumps you back up. He’s very strict. I guess my worst point would be my best point.
· How are you getting ready for the CD release: I am doing some vocal exercises. There was a really powerful feeling in that studio. I have been in a lot of recording sessions before but that one had this feeling to it – this spirit, magic. And now when I look back and see what’s happened since, I kind of understand about it. |
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