Vail's straightforward approach has appeal
Published Thursday October 22nd, 2009
Randy Vail's music is not slick, commercial and youth-oriented. And that is the way his fans and increasing numbers of radio stations like it.
His new collection of original songs is on his CD Life. The simple joys of rural New Brunswick, family history, remembered friends, the strength of heroes and the sadness of the nearly forgotten are all part of Life.
Vail said his music has been getting radio airplay.
"A lot of college radio, particularly out west," he said, noting he has seen the charts for college radio play and he was on right behind Neil Young.
He has also been picking up airplay in Newfoundland, where VOCM has e-mailed him and asked for more of his recordings. His new CD will likely continue to expand his popularity.
The first track is Bellisle Moon.
"You go up on the hill, look down on the moonlight, there's nothing prettier than the moon on Bellisle Bay," Vail told me.
Harold, George and Me is the second track, about his years playing with Harold O'Donnell and George Hector in the early 1970s. Both friends are now deceased. Vail has many memories of playing with friends over the years, such as playing guitar for Eddie Poirier in a fiddling contest promoted by Woolco. Poirier won the contest, with the prize being a chair.
Vail played with O'Donnell's sons, Phil and Jimmy in Country Clover, with John Sommerville. After Vail left the band they went on to back up Joan Kennedy. Phil is now is based in Nashville and Vail is thrilled by his former bandmates success as a producer and songwriter.
The third track is Matt Scarlett, about his mother's father and his life story about how he wound up living in New Brunswick after leaving home at 12 to sail on a ship. Pictures of Scarlett are featured in the CD artwork. By taking Scarlett's serial number off his cap in a picture, they could trace naval archives and Vail features them in the CD notes.
The fourth track is Heaven's Oprey and it is about all the friends in music Vail has made meeting up again to play together.
The song lists many well known names from the New Brunswick country scene who have left us but who have left many memories behind.
Easy Money is next and it is an amusing song about a young lad who thinks he wants to quit school and go to work.
His father tells him to go ahead and when the youngster winds up in the mill covered in tree sap and swarmed by flies, he has second thoughts.
Heroes Overseas is a tribute to our armed forces and track seven The Coalition was a single released earlier about the opposition parties in Ottawa trying to form a coalition government.
The sad plight of some elders living in retirement homes is featured in The Visit. The ninth track, The Special One is dedicated to Vail's late sister Marian Kellow.
The Home Children is about young children landing in Saint John and being taken into local homes, some of whom endured terrible abuse.
The song is dedicated to them and their descendants. The last song is Where Do You Go From Here?, a concerned look about where we are headed as a society. The final track is an instrumental reprise of the music to The Home Children, a tune that inspires reflection of all that had been said and sung on the CD.
The CD features many talents including New Brunswick Country Music Hall of Famer John Jefferies on tenor banjo, acoustic guitar and dobro; Bluegrass Diamonds member Matt Hayes on fiddle; Joe Ness on piano and strings; John Sommerville on drums, pipes and tire iron; Vail on bass and rhythm acoustic guitar; Pat O'Donnell on fiddle; Ken Webb on banjo; Jason Myers on whistles; Mike Boyer on harmonica; Ray Caissie on steel guitar; Cheryl Currie on background and harmony vocals and Claude, Claudettte and Claudine Melanson on background vocals.
The CD is available at www.cdbaby.com or by emailing Vail at ranvail@nb.sympatico.ca
Blue Side of Lonesome show
Carolyn Steeves will host an evening of classic country with her band Blue Side of Lonesome on Saturday October 24 at the Memorial Hall in Havelock.
Special guests will be Ralph and Lynn Henderson, George Steeves, John Gerrior, Cassey Steeves, Tom Burgess, Gerald Carter, Mort Mills, Justin Bannister and Gary Jones. Showtime is 7 p.m. and admission is $5.
Melanie Morgan CD launch
Melanie Morgan's official CD launch party will take place at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton, presented by Choix 99 L'Acadie Country on Saturday November 21, from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tickets on sale at the box office, Franks's Music and Université de Moncton. Special guest is Rik Reese and Neon Highway.
Correction: Christien Belliveau plays acoustic guitar with Shirley Albert's band. Incorrect information was given in last week's column.
* NB Country is a regular This Week feature about New Brunswick country music and performers. If you have an idea for a future NB Country column, contact Tony McGarrigle at kingscountycountry@yahoo.com.
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