If Colin Linden (The Band, Bob Dylan, Bruce Cockburn), Stephen Fearing (multiple Juno award winner), and Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Lee Harvey Osmond), have learned anything in the past seventeen years it’s that Blackie and the Rodeo Kings is a journey, not a destination. The plan was to take time out of their own solo careers to make High or Hurtin’, a tribute album to the great songwriter Willie P. Bennett. However, once tapped into the locomotive energy of Bennett’s songs the three songwriters found together they were making some of the finest roots-inspired music in all of North America. So, the train kept rolling and B&RK went on to release seven albums, culminating in the 2011 release of Kings and Queens. You’d think that a proclamation to the throne shared with the likes of Rosanne Cash, Emmylou Harris, Serena Ryder, and Lucinda Williams would be a good place to stop, but the road had other plans for The Rodeo Kings.
While touring the festival circuit in support of Kings and Queens the band would occasionally be driven into the merch tents by the weather. During these spontaneous acoustic sessions the three songwriters found themselves rejuvenated by a groove totally separate from that of their lauded full band stage production and they were inspired to get to work on a new bare bones record. It was going to be just the three of them on a vinyl only release; all acoustic with one cover and one original from each member. When they brought these songs to Colin Linden’s Nashville studio they found the originals were more exciting than the covers. Then they tried out the full band with Johnny Dymond on bass and Gary Craig on the drums, and the songs changed yet again. The only carry over from the original plan is that there isn’t an electric guitar to be found; instead Colin Linden applied his production prowess to give a powerful depth to Blackie’s most confident songs to date.
The result is South; Tom Wilson suggested the title South as an homage to their Nashville sessions. Colin would pen the title track, reflecting on how he followed in his parents’ footsteps by moving his family from Canada to America. Tom also took a shot at writing the title track, but had gotten a little turned around on what the album title actually was and penned the locomotive swing of lead track “North“. With the two cardinal directions taken care of the rest of the songs were free to roam. There’s both a lament a
nd a celebration of the years (I’d Have to be a Stone, Reinventing the Wheel of Love), an anti-surfer anthem (Summertime’s Over), and a song of Canadian in California who may never return home (Fleur De Lys). Only after a run of eleven originals, South is brought to a close by a cover of Willie P. Bennett “Drifting Snow”.
In support of these songs Blackie and the Rodeo Kings have released the North 7″ vinyl single, their first time on vinyl! Only available on tour and via the File Under: Music webstore. The original jacket artwork by Stephen Fearing perfectly compliments the full length South which is out now on CD and digital. Throughout 2014 the Canadian kings of roots-rock will travel along “the old grey ribbons”, so don’t miss your chance to be a part of the ongoing journey.