Colin Linden

through the storm
through the night

Compass 42402
visit Colin's website
also available on amazon

Grab Hold and Hang On!  This disc is one of the best things I have ever had come into my mailbox.  It won't even apologize to the other 4 slots on my disc player for not letting them do their thing, it just keeps repeating.  This disc, for those that want comparisons, takes the best of the sound of The Band, mixes in some of the witty, intelligent sensibility of Jesse Winchester, excellent electric blues guitar playing, and the soul and other worldliness of the gospel resonance of the Staple Singers.
I kept hearing of this disc, but never received my copy, until a chance remark by a friend reminded me and I wrote one more time requesting it.  The uplifting joy it gives in its myriad ways more than makes up for the time lost in the mail.  Colin Linden is a Canadian singer/songwriter (he penned 10 of 13 on this disc), blues guitarist who keeps growing in stature, and as this disc becomes more known, he will become the household item in the lower 48, that he is above the border.

moon follow me home opens this disc and that great sound that resonates in the spreading roots of all American music, that the band brought to our attention, is right there propelling you into this journey.  He gives hints of his vision by using the fantastic harmony and richness of The Fairfield Four (a gospel group) to fill out the song and take it to other dimensions.  We do a bit of a switch on, when the carnival ends, which has the tone and sensibility of a Jesse Winchester at his very best, without changing any of the spiritual richness of this disc.  There are many other switches and change-ups along the way, none extraneous, none thrown in just to pull a shift, all go to enhance this disc. I don't think there is a weak or extraneous cut here. GET it!  It is that good.

Colin Linden

Songs, writers, and times - All songs by Colin Linden except where noted
1.  moon follow me home -  4:04
2.  when the carnival ends -  4:46
3.  art of the wilderness -  4:22
4.  no rest for the wicked - 6:04
5.  reason of the rhyme - 3:58
6.  the last time - Robuck Staples - 3:41
7.  waiting is over - 5:22
8.  you'll be mine - Willie Dixon - 2:34
9.  homesick in my own backyard - 3:33
10. your are here - 4:04
11. devil music - 5:19
12. precious lord, take my hand -Thomas A. Dorsey - 2:22
13. sad & beautiful world - 5:10
 
Musicians and instruments
Colin Linden - lead vocals, guitars, mandolin
Gary Craig - drums, percussion, harmonica background vocal (7)
John Dymond - bass
Richard Bell - organ, clavinet, accordion, horn arrangements
Michel Pouliot - percussion, cocktail drum, abacus
The Fairfield Four - Walter Searles, Wilson Waters James Hill & Issac Freeman -             vocals - tracks 1, 4, 6, 12
Stephen Donald - trombone -track 2, 9, 11, 13
Perry White - alto saxophone -track 2, 9 - baritone and alto (11, 13)
Chris Whitely - trumpet -track 2, 9, 11, 13
Jody Golick - tenor saxophone -track 2, 9, 11, 13
Rick Danko - harmony vocal -track 2, 11, 13 - Georgia Sea Island Choir (5)
Jim Welder - acoustic guitar - track 3
Ken Whitely - harmony vocal - track 3
Scott Dibble - harmony vocal - track 7, 11
Janis Powers - keyboards - track 12