BLUE RODEO - We Churn Out Some Good Musicians in the Land of the Maple Leaf

When the Truth Comes Out - Blue Rodeo

aka: The city mouse and the country mouse :)

The 13th full length studio album was released by my favourite all-time band Blue Rodeo last week (Tuesday October 29, 2013). Of course that number doesn't include live albums and compilations. Pretty impressive still, considering more than a hours worth of new material is released every other year. A review of the numbers adds up like this. 18 releases which include several double (and more) albums while putting out 8 solo projects for Jim (3) and Greg (5) alone. Other band members have also released solo efforts. But it's not their prolific output that draws me in. It's more like, that as with a favourite author you can pick up an old book and enjoy as much or more than you did the first time you read it. No matter how many or few books that author writes you just can't wait to get the next one. The writing style will be the same the characters will change but it feels like an old friend has come back into your life. Blue Rodeo is my old friend. In the good times and the bad time in my life, they have always been there to comfort me with their words and music. 

Alright, I know you can say that about many recording artists but unlike some of the music that is manufactured with a sameness quality that is cookie cutter to fit the mold of a world-wide success formulation, Blue Rodeo steps outside the box and seem to do what makes them happy and in the end, their fans also. Some releases have a decidedly country feel, others more blues and soul but none better (or worse) than the other. With their commitment to travel this country on tour and still continuing to play in smaller venues, they are accessible to the people and the people/fans can relate. It feels like you are going to support an old friend. No disrespect intended with the old reference :) The band was well into a successful career when I saw them for the first time - at a tiny, blink and you'll miss it town that was having a harvest corn festival. The seating was bales of hay on the edge of the field. But what did it matter - one song and you were on your feet dancing and swooning. To me they were mega stars who sang the music of my life. But they were Jim and Greg who sang the music of my life and happened to be very famous. :) 

Photograph by: Pat McGrath, Ottawa Citizen

I suspect that with the early move to New York City to pursue music (and in Jim's case love - in the form of his now wife) there was an intent to make it big in the US market and then conquer the world. But as we know that didn't happen and they came back to find success in Canada leaving their alter ego's the Hi-Fi's and Fly To France in the Big Apple. The 1980's were all about hair and punk, and the mass market machine was not very accepting of their unique sound labelled countrified rock. Especially in the very trendy-conscious New York music scene. 

There was an additional attempt to break into the US market with the release of Casino that was produced to appeal to that specific market. I have read that the concern was the very different vocal and song styles of Jim and Greg being one band. Interestingly, it seemed to work for Paul and John (Beatles) but they really didn't stand out that way until they had established a foothold. I appreciate the differences in Jim and Greg. You can always count on Jim for a love song and Greg for a song with some deeper life meaning. It's not exclusive of course but relationship songs tend to be in the new and exciting stage when Greg tells the story and the maturing, comfortable family style with Jim. Well, that's the way I see it anyways. 

In this country, Blue Rodeo has done well. They have won nearly half of the Juno awards they were nominated for which is unprecedented and includes Group of the Year 5 times. If you know Canadian music, you know that is impressive! Musicians and comedians, we churn out some good ones in the land of the Maple Leaf. In 2012, Blue Rodeo was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The country's capital city of Ottawa may have declared Friday, March 30th 2012 as Blue Rodeo Day, but in my world it is Blue Rodeo Day every day. For not a day goes by that I don't hear at least one song by my favourite band ever. They were given the keys to the city of Toronto, and a star on the Walk of Fame (2009) plus a street in the city will be named after them. Blue Rodeo Drive should be ready for fans and traffic in early 2014. I wanted to live there until I learned it doesn't exist just yet. Can I put an order in for a copy of the street sign please!  

I admire and appreciate the versatility of this band. You never quite know what you are going to get when you unwrap the CD but you can be guaranteed of bliss for your ears. Some of Jim's soft and swaying sound and lyrics that hold and comfort you like an old friend and make you feel safe and appreciated. Some of Greg's deeper and grounded sound that when it hits you, you know you are going for a ride - wild on the roads or deep within your consciousness. Wherever you want to go, Blue Rodeo will take you, it just depends what CD you put in the player. Sometimes it's like a roller-coaster with it's ups and down and curveball twists, sometimes it's like a wave at a sporting event. You know it's coming and you get a lot of joy from the ebb and flow because you are with friends. 

New Morning Sun - Blue Rodeo

"Solo record..." :)

Let's consider the massive discography that has been covered in that 25 year career that thankfully shows no sign of easing up.

1. Outskirts - released 1987 - Try was the first big hit for the band on mainstream radio although they were still considered a primarily county band. This was based solely on their name with the country implications in the term rodeo. Although when I first heard the title Rose-Coloured Glasses, I immediately thought of a country song by the same name. But I was watching MuchMusic and this saucy looking young man singing didn't strike me as any cowboy I envisioned. I was hooked by the sound, words and beat to keep my eyes affixed on the screen. Jim and Greg's harmonies went together like rum and pepsi - smooth and leaving you wanting more. The whole band looked like they were really having fun and enjoying their own music. Truth be told nobody did that better than Bobby Wiseman when he jumped up to the beat while he pounded the keys on the keyboard. It was infectious and I caught the Blue Rodeo fever then and there! 
Many songs for this release were written while the boys were trying to spread their wings in New York City. A YouTube search of my playlist entitled My Blue Rodeo Treasures will astound you with a very raw version of Rose-Coloured Glasses sung by a uncharacteristically dark-haired Greg Keelor in Fly To France (as they were known then). Ah to be young again :) 
2. Diamond Mine - released 1989 - This is one of my favourite releases and not because of what snippets were shared with the public. Two releases: Ballad of Dime Store Greaser and the Blonde Mona Lisa - prompted me to create a video to share my love of the song - and House of Dreams. The record has a more country feel than some of the others with a distinct Blue note. I love where this whole album takes me on a lazy Saturday afternoon.
A little side note about this time in the life of Blue Rodeo. I recently learned that Greg Keelor was a part of another band - Crash Vegas. I always thought that band deserved far more recognition than it received. Have a listen to Smoke...you won't regret it. 
3. Casino - released 1990 - Although there is a very pop mainstream feel to this album, there are a number of songs that I am drawn to over and over again - primarily for the lyrics. Songs like Til I Am Myself Again and Last Laugh. Of course how can you not gravitate to a release that gave you After the Rain! They have done a fabulous job of up-dating this but I thought the original was pretty damn good too...with Jim repeating his falsetto "oooh" that we first heard in Try.
4. Lost Together - released 1992 - The title track brought a new batch of followers to the Rodeo and there weren't too many weddings thereafter that didn't feature Lost Together as the first couples' dance if not in the playlist. We all wanted that surreal feeling of being lost together forever in someone else's arms and eyes. Of course the precursor to that should be Is It You! :)
Once again a transitional recording this one due to the loss of Bobby Wiseman as keyboardist. So we hear a lot of slide the introduction of a variety of instruments including violin if the song warranted it and minimal keyboard.
5. Five Days in July - released 1983 - This is the first release that includes a non-Cuddy/Keelor composition, but they make their cover of Rodney Crowell's Til I Gain Control Again their own. On a personal note, there are so many songs on this release that correlate to my own life events, particularly Hasn't Hit Me Yet and Bad Timing. Although it was many years after the release, I was starting a new chapter in my life and driving across the country with kids and belongings in tow listening to some Blue Rodeo when Know Where You Go/Tell Me Your Dreams precipitated a wonderful conversation between the kids and I that meant so much and still does. Gives me warm fuzzies every time I hear it still. 
On the part of the band, this was their most acoustic release and one that they had the most control over. Not caring about how many would sell or if it would they did it almost "devil may care" inside and outside of Greg Keelor's farmhouse instead of in a studio and with only Blue Rodeo themselves acting as producer. This is another one of those lazy Saturday afternoon listens that transports you to that farm with the boys just jamming...and being wonderful.
6. Nowhere To Here - released 1995 - This release is darker in lyrics and the music more morose than anything else the band had shared previously. In fact Jim Cuddy has stated that this is a time when the band was in complete conflict and crisis, even on the verge of breaking up. Returning to the farm to try and recapture the magic of 5 Days was an abysmal failure. I've heard of some Blue Rodeo songs before described as stoned epiphanies. I would characterize this album like that. Head swimming and mellow tunes supporting you in the the background like a cloudy sky with the sun trying to poke it's way through. For all it's difference there is one thing that remains - great tunes like Blew It Again and Sky.    
7. Tremolo - released 1997 - A definite return to the flavour and upbeat sound of the old Blue Rodeo including the uptempo Graveyard which is very reminiscent of the Hi-Fi's style. This is a close running to Diamond Mine as a personal fave with songs like Dragging On, Brother Andres Heart, It Could Happen to You, No Miracle No Dazzle, Falling Down Blue (which features Greg on drums). After the tensions of the previous release, they were re-grouping and learning to like and respect each other again even if they were walking on eggshells to ensure that no-one was offended or off-put in the recording process. According to one source, it was the first release to hit #1 in the country charts. 

Falling Down Blue - Blue Rodeo

besides the beauty of the song, 2 things prompt me to include this video here, Greg playing drums and Greg in a suit!

8. Just Like A Vacation - released 1999 - A two-disc compilation of live performances from Stratford and other venues. The liner notes in this CD make it a must have in the collection. It is fascinating to hear the band talk about the songs and how they came to be. We all have our own personal experiences that we draw from when we hear music for the first time and that helps us to relate to the words and music. At least for me that is true. I can't tell you how many songs Blue Rodeo wrote about me and they don't even know me beyond a face in the crowd. :)
9. The Days In Between - released 2000 - A very eclectic mix of songs on this release and again a complete u-turn from Tremolo in terms of style and feel. The instrumentation seemed to be the focus instead of the lyrics and doesn't showcase the vocal talents of Jim and Greg that draw the audience in to sing along. Beyond Rage, Greg has stated that he didn't like the songs on this release and so they never play them live.   
Ironically one of the lines in Rage is "You won't remember a word of this tomorrow" and when asked to comment on it, Greg struggles to recall the specific tracks stating that he never listens to it and during one interview he calls it the record the "runt of my litter". Personally if Rage was repeated 12 times I would be happy. Hands down, that song is the strongest in the catalogue for deriving strength and support with a little edge and defiance in the NSW lyrics :)   
10. Greatest Hits Volume 1 - release 2001 - A couple of notes regarding this release. Firstly, After the Rain (from Casino) was re-recorded to include the current band members and a horn section. Secondly, a never before released tune was included and that was a cover of the Bee Gees To Love Somebody. Doesn't qualify as a greatest hit but it sure is a great one. Well done boys.
11. Palace of Gold - released 2002 - Featuring the personal faves Bulletproof and Love Never Lies this record with it's strong influence of strings and brass is a far cry from the countrified rock label that was attached to the band. Much more control was taken by the band in final sound of this CD that was recorded in the bands own brand new studio and produced by them alone.

12. Are You Ready - released 2005 - Tired of Pretending and Don't Get Angry both start with a heavy dark trumpeting solo that quickly gives way to lyrically beautiful songs. There is a sense of return to the Blue Rodeo of the days of old and in several of the tracks I get the sense of relaxing at the farm enjoying nature and life. Somehow, it seems that they have re-united in their shared voices. I can't get enough of I Will and the sense of peace I get from it.
13. Live In Stratford - released 2006 - two disc release. Hard to come by and waiting on the mail to hear this gem. Meaning a little more since I had the opportunity to go to Stratford and listen for myself (albeit a little late for this recording). 
14. Small Miracles - released 2007 - This seems to me to be a very reflective album. Lyrically there is a lot of looking back as opposed to looking forward - a byproduct of aging. But the whole album is still very upbeat and has a strong keyboard sound. Rather than an emphasis on a Greg song and a Jim song there is a lot of harmonization on every song. I like that because just like a left and right glove - one without the other just isn't as warm. Sure in a pinch you can put one hand in your pocket while the other way stays out but they can accomplish greatness when they are together. (Yes, I am glad that they have pursued solo careers while keeping Blue Rodeo alive).   
15. Blue Road - released 2008 - a compilation album with acoustic versions of many of the faves that were recorded at Massey Hall in Toronto plus a bonus DVD documentary. As a special bonus, a throw back to yesteryear a (small) poster for the wall. I love these versions of the songs I know so well. 
16. The Things We Left Behind - released 2009 - The release of a double length album when the trend is heading for single YouTube or iTunes releases was a bold move but for me it was a God send. Going through a very rough time in my life - from the first song to the last it was an orchestration of understanding and support. I clung to each and every word and held on for dear life. From One Night Left in Heaven to Don't Let the Darkness in Your Head I alternately cried and sang. And I love the nod to the Skydigger's in Arizona Dust. 
17. Blue Rodeo 1987-1993 boxed set - released 2012. With the cost and my financial predicament at the time I was unable to pre-order and snag the video bonus which included the unreleased track "Let It Ride" live at the Horseshoe Tavern in 1989 among other video gems. Anyone get it and wanna share or sell? 
I am grateful to the people in my life who love me enough to indulge my passions. This set is a fascinating insight into what makes the final cut and how it has changed over the years - technology advancements and all. The version of some of the tracks that were included in the Odds and Ends disc are superior (to my ears) than the commercially released rendition. Raw and real! Going back and listening to these re-mastered CD's is magical. The innocence and wide-eyed naivety of youth that has all but slipped through your fingers and left the smile lines behind comes flooding back.
18. In Our Nature - released 2013. I read a publicized review of this record that compared it to a comfortable well-worn denim jacket. I would agree with that analogy in that the sound is the classic Blue Rodeo we have all come to love, however I would add a warm blanket and a cup of Tims' to complete the comfort level of this latest release. The track Never Too Late touches a personal chord since I first heard it live in the spring of 2013. But I gotta say that Paradise is becoming a fast favourite as is You Should Know. In changing over the years and dealing with changes in personal and professional lives, Blue Rodeo has u-turned once more and come full circle to what made them iconic to so many ordinary Canadians (and music lovers everywhere) more than a quarter century ago. This is the perfect blend of Cuddy and Keelor, guitar, bass and keyboard, strings and horns, songs to contemplate and songs to sing and dance to. Beautiful! It almost seems unfair that we get to selfishly keep them within our border - but I for one don't want that to change if it means less small town face time :)

Flying Solo and Members of the Band and Other Media

1997 Gone - Greg Keelor says that his first solo effort never sold and bombed drastically. It was recorded after a trip to India and several life changing events that helped to shape his outlook on the later years of his life and look back with a new east coast viewpoint. I have recently been exposed to this recording and between Home and No Landing (Lucknow) this is far from a failure. It is hauntingly beautiful.  
1998 All In Time - Jim Cuddy is a man in love and his passion is revealed in the songs he writes and sings. He makes you wish that you were in his same position. He makes you wish that he could be that other half for you. His smile is infectious and his eyes draw you in. You know you will be safe. 
2005 Seven Songs For Jim - Greg Keelor is alone in this vocalization of raw emotions and final farewells. I personally have not heard this release but I understand that it is a very moving and deep tribute to his father who passed away at the age of 80 after 6 months of hospitalization after a fall. Are You Ready would eventually become a musically (if not vocally) upbeat Blue Rodeo title track.
2006 Aphrodite Rose - Greg Keelor has lightened up the mood of his songs and there are a lot of tunes here that may not entice anyone to crowd surf but they sure will get your foot tapping and maybe singing along. One of the first songs he ever penned Colour and Rhyme is showcased and it has a very 60's feel. Sounding like it's been recorded in a cavernous space, If You Go really gives the feel that Greg is alone in an empty place after the pictures have indeed been taken from the walls. Love that track!
2006 The Light That Guides You Home - Jim Cuddy spawned a lot of water cooler talk amongst his fans with this rollicking collection of tunes. Many tracks seemed to speak to relationship strife and that was very uncharacteristic. But he was just spreading his lyrical wings, all was calm and we sat back and enjoyed this latest offering. Jim doesn't really stray too far in musical tone from comfortable Blue Rodeo offerings. It's easy for Blue Rodeo fans to get a fix here in between band releases.  
2010 Gunless Official Soundtrack - Greg Keelor takes the official billing for this musical release however, on the DVD and the CD it is more likely to be billed as Greg Keelor and Blue Rodeo. Makes some sense for not only does a track from The Things We Left Behind appear as the credits roll but Jim Cuddy did pen a couple of musical scenes. A long time fan of the work of the star Paul Gross, I knew this would be a must see - it became a must see opening night when I saw Blue Rodeo had a hand in it. The music is great but the CD is a lot more meaningful if you know the movie. Watch the movie - it's highly under-rated and hilarious.  
2011 Skyscraper Soul - Jim Cuddy became a real person to me with the tour he embarked on with this release. I could count on one hand how many concerts I had been to previously, there were just other priorities in my life. But this was a time when the fruits of my labour could sweeten my existence with treats like tickets to a Hamilton show promoting this release. It was a dream come true - first the singing and then the picture and autograph session. One of my idols took the time for me (and a bunch of other fans too). But still - that connection with the fans - priceless!  
2012 Down and Out in Upalong - Greg Keelor recently teamed up with Travis Good (from The Sadies) and Gord Pinsent (an actor and poet) to release this double album of Pinsent poems put to music and sung by Keelor and Good. Then the poetry is set to music as it is vocalized.   

I know that other band member have released solo efforts. Bazil Donovan (bass player extraordinaire) has released Matinee. Bob Egan (pedal steel and multi-instrumentalist) has The Glorious Decline, The Promise and a self-titled efforts to his credit. Under the name of The Swallows, drummer Glenn Mitchum put down the sticks to strum and sing on three albums. They include The Beauty of Our Surroundings, Awkward Situation and Turning Blue. 

This chart represents the evolution of Blue Rodeo in the terms of it past and present members. Colin Cripps has recently been officially added to take over some the guitar role that Greg Keelor has had difficulty with because of on-going ear issues. The addition of Colin ensures that Greg can remain on the stage during live performances. 

According to one source, the band has released a total of 5 video/DVD's. I want to know what they are and more importantly where can I get them. I have two - the one that came with Blue Road and a second that was released as part of a 20th anniversary celebration called Stereovision. Even if this website is up-to-date and one of the five is the pre-order bonus with the box set that still leaves two unknowns....hmmm

I wouldn't consider it a band release, but you can catch a glimpse of the band performing live (in the background) of a scene in the latter part of the 1990 movie "Postcards From the Edge". It seems that Meryl Streep was a fan of Blue Rodeo and requested that they accompany her vocals on "I'm Checkin' Out" which was written by Shel Silverstein. 

There are many references to how Blue Rodeo influenced, affected and were a part of my life. This is not intended to be a completely objective view of the band but a devoted fan of the band wishing to share the pleasures derived in the hopes that maybe you will give them a listen and judge for yourself. For me, this has been a labour of love and something I am proud to share under my banner. Here are links to some other thoughts I have shared about the band in the last year or so

http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2013/06/see-you-down-road-blue-rodeo-in.html

http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2013/05/a-part-of-rodeo-blue-rodeo_26.html

http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2012/04/blue-rodeo-day-at-junos.html

http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2012/02/jim-cuddy-beautiful-soul-with-voice-and.html

http://pinkpantherfancanada.blogspot.ca/2011/12/blue-rodeo-more-than-small-miracles.html

There are Blue Rodeo official versions of many of the bands songs for your listening pleasure ("Try" before you buy) on their official YouTube channel. I chose these CBC versions specifically because I own the CD's and I love to hear and see the interactions between Jim and Greg in this informal manner talking about how their music and songs came to be. A little insight into the mind and relationship of Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. And the humour...I love their playful brother-like tongue-in-cheek banter.

One final note: I'll be front and center January 31st enjoying this latest tour! I can hardly wait! See YOU down the road boys! 


credit where credit is due
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/twenty-five-years-later-blue-rodeo-is-still-at-work/article6113343/?page=all

http://exclaim.ca/Features/Timeline/blue_rodeo-better_off_as_we_are

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Rodeo
http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=194971
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Blue+Rodeo+That+familiar+sound/9092914/story.html

"Blue Rodeo Day" feels like Bologna in their Shoes

Lost Together - Blue Rodeo

Did you hear about the honours that have been bestowed to the best band to come out of Canada? I think I may have mentioned it before! :) Although Blue Rodeo has experienced some international success, they have remained true to their Canadian roots. After all, how many groups boast band member hockey jerseys for sale on the web store? Only in Canada you say? lol! Blue Rodeo is that band and I promise that if I had the extra cash flow, I would have one of those hockey jerseys! 

Blue Rodeo was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame on April 1st during the Juno's telecast. A long time coming for sure, but to be fair the Hall of Fame has only been in existence since 1978. Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor the foundation of Blue Rodeo have been collaborating in since 1977 but we would wait 10 years before the debut of Outskirts and the iconic "Try". Thereafter would follow some 15 albums in the next 22 years - clearly these boys have the music in them, for this doesn't even include the various solo release that they have put out. Yes, I am a fan! I adore everything that they put out as a band and as solo artists. Every release has a different feel in the music and concept of the album but the voices and the depth of meaning in the songs remain the same. Unlike so many other artists, each song is unique and stands alone in both the words and music. While the city of Ottawa may have declared Friday, March 30th as Blue Rodeo Day, in my world it is Blue Rodeo Day every day. For not a day goes by that I don't hear at least one song by my favourite band ever. 

The induction itself, I feel is a great honour for any band and was looking forward to some hoopla and fanfare during the telecast. I have to say that in the end I was a little disappointed with what was offered. While I have heard many Blue Rodeo collaborations with Sarah McLachan that I very much enjoy, I don't believe that this was the time nor the place for Sarah to be a part of the performance. It was Blue Rodeo's time and they should have been  showcased on their own. I also would have liked a more detailed and elaborate retrospect of the decades long career of the band. Perhaps some still shots and recollection of the many accomplishments. I could have seen this as a way to introduce a whole new audience to the magnitude of talent that is Blue Rodeo. 

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The Juno's are the Canadian version of the Grammy's celebrating the music from this country. I love the Juno's because there is an opportunity to learn about artists that may not have made it to the mainstream radio stations. While it is nice to see Canadian musicians experience success on the grand scale of the Grammy's because the patriotism has a chance to swell like the proud peacock thrusting out its chest, it is for me, not mandatory to prove success. This year for example, Canadian artists were all but shut out of winning any of the coveted Gramophones but they sure tore up the US Billboard charts. In fact, at one point in December, four of the five top spots in the chart were held by Canadian artists. Go Canucks! It seems that the top contenders north of the border were shut out by time not talent. Eligibility for the Grammys ends September 30th of the proceeding year and the likes of Nickelback, Fiest, Bieber and Buble all missed the cut off date. By next year these efforts may be all but forgotten with nearly a full year of new offerings coming to the plate.

Onto this years Juno telecast from the capital city of Ottawa, not the best I have ever seen sadly, William Shatner as host was okay but not great. When he did his spoken-word medley of rock classics, he should have forgone the awkwardness of having the guitar placed over his head since he didn't even do a good job of faking the playing of it and it turned into an unnecessary prop. When it came to the performances during the telecast, I thought the medley of songs by the likes of Dragonette, Alyssa Reid and Angulie were mostly sung flat and off key. The idea of the mini-showcase was a great idea though, a little teaser to introduce some of the upcoming talent. And did the entire audience suck in all the air at the Scotia Bank Place when K'naan lost his footing and ended up in the "ditch" between the stage platforms while he collaborated with Simple Plan? Sitting at home, I emitted an audible gasp for sure. Ah, but like a cat, he landed on his feet and continued on, unbeknownst to Pierre Bouvier. And I for one watched the stitled acrobats very closely during Hedley's performance to ensure they didn't suffer the same fate for I swear, one came pretty close! It was a real treat to see Hey Rosetta! perform during the show and I thought they were fabulous. My only beef with the performance of Dallas Green was the fact that I was visually drawn to the enormity of the tattoos that seemed to cover every inch of his hands and fingers to the distraction of the talent of the musician itself. But that is a reflection of my personal distaste of tattoos in general. 

The last beef that I had with the Juno's telecast was in the production itself. The secondary stage for the handing out of hardware was a good idea but seemed to fall short in that after the presentation, the winning artist didn't know what to do with the microphone left in their hands and there was confusion on how to exit the stage. On high heels and with fancy dress, it would be nice to have an escort off the stage rather than walk off into oblivion alone. This aspect may have looked better on paper than it played out on the live stage. I was also saddened by the number of nominees that couldn't be bothered to attend, in particular Justin Bieber who was busy getting slimed at the Kids Choice Awards in the US. 

I do think that we have to make a better show and a bigger deal out of the honour of winning a Juno to ensure that the artists show up to claim the hardware. As we know, it was Pierre Juneau himself who lobbied the Canadian government to ensure that Canadian artists had an shot at airtime above and beyond what the mighty dollar could pay for. It is for him that the awards celebrating the excellence in Canadian talent was named in their inception in 1970. He was instrumental in ensuring that the artists who wished to remain north of the border had a chance at success - we need to keep it going even after his death this past year. Some of the nationally published reviews of the show, threw out terms like "a giant April Fools Joke" and "the ultimate alienation of talent" because of some of the victors in the various categories. While I can't personally say that I agree with all of the choices that were made by the powers that be, I would suggest that there was better choices for album of the year than the remake of Christmas songs by Michael Buble - not that he isn't a talented musician. Of course, it goes without saying that I believe that Jim Cuddy's solo effort "Skyscraper Soul" deserved more than a passing mention. If it counts for anything, it is the best in Canadian music I heard all year! :)

As for Blue Rodeo...I'll see you boys soon! ;) So excited I can barely stand it!

Blue Rodeo - More than Small Miracles!

Try - Blue Rodeo

What kind of fan would I be if I didn't acknowledge the accolade that have been bestowed upon the greatest (in my opinion) bands in Canadian history. BLUE RODEO is to be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the 2012 Juno Awards, according to the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Spanning their 25+ year career, Blue Rodeo has won 11 Juno Awards over the years and given the adoring public 12 studio albums. Personally I can't get enough. 

Although Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor have been collaborating since their high school days in 1977 as a psuedo-punk band trying to crack the New York City music scene, it wasn't until 1984 that the boys returned to Toronto to form Blue Rodeo. Their first album Outskirts was released in 1987 and spawned the above hit Try. 

Outskirts and Try was my introduction into Blue Rodeo. A crossover band that at times has struggled with the notion that they were a country band, trying to break into the mainstream top 40 radio playlist. I still find some people who think they are a predominately country band. While there are some tracks that do have that country feel, the talent of these boys transcends to many genres. You cannot pigeon hole them. 

Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo is the only band that I would pay money to go see live. What I hear on the mass recording is what I hear on the live albums and in concert. It is a true sound based on music they create, play and sing. There is no need for a lot of electronic enhancement to make them sound better. Sadly, I have only been able to see them live once. I just never had the finances to put towards concert tickets - well I tried but the ankle-biters insisted on eating. :) But the one concert I saw was amazing, a small venue, a county fair. I was beside myself with joy. 

Maybe it was because I sacrificed in order to feed him, but when my son went off to university, he would go to a bar and listen to a band he had come to like. Signal Hill played Sunday evenings at the Lower Deck in Halifax and they did an excellent version of Blue Rodeo's Try. And now and then, I would get this crazy phone call that just sounded like a lot of undecipherable noise. But it was in fact Signal Hill playing the requested song for his mother many miles away. Try...It warms my heart thinking about it.

As a band, Blue Rodeo has sold over 4 million records. Both Jim and Greg have managed to have successful solo careers, always returning to collaborate once again. If you enjoy Blue Rodeo, I encourage you to look into the solo efforts that the boys have put out. Talented in their own right and phenomenal as a team. 

I can't pick any one song that I would lay down and say this is my favourite Blue Rodeo song, because so many of them have meaning for me. A connection to a moment or person in my life. The music moves my soul, and warms my heart the lyrics speak to me. For every emotion there is a song that comforts me. It is the music of my life. I feel sorry for anyone who hasn't had a chance to experience and enjoy the talent which is Blue Rodeo! Do it now!

All The Things That Are Left Behind - Blue Rodeo

So finally Blue Rodeo will get some well deserved recognition for there musical contribution by the CARAS - Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. I'm only disappointed that it took this long, but I offer my heart felt congratulations to Jim Cuddy, Greg Keelor and the rest of the band. It is more than well deserved and well earned! By far the best of Canada and this saying a lot considering the wealth of musical talent here in the north!

If I have peaked your curiousity and you would like to hear or learn more about BLUE RODEO, I invite you to check out their website at
www.bluerodeo.com
and look up some of their music on YouTube. Each album has its own unique feel and sound. Don't like one, TRY another :)

Love it like I do? Let's get LOST TOGETHER...