Billed as “Canada’s Roots, Rock, Folk, Country and Blues Label,” Stony Plain celebrates 40 years of delivering some of the best down home sounds you’ll ever want on this 3 disc retrospective.
The width, breath and depth of this label is pretty impressive, as displayed here. The 3 discs are divided into “Singers, Songwriter…” Blues, R&B, Gospel, Swing, Jazz…” and “Rarities and Previously unreleased Material.” What binds them all together is an rhythmic earnestness that is simply irresistible.
The Singers/Songwriters entry ranges from Nashville/indie sounds by Colin Linden to traditional Irish by Corb Lund. Emmylou Harris sounds deliciously homey and some great rockabilly is delivered by Albert Lee. The Blues/R&B disc is brewing with the boogie as Jay McShann takes you to Kansas City, Amos Garrett makes the strings moan and Jeff Ealey picks and grins. Maria Muldaur, Taj Mahal and Long John Baldrytake you to a cozy back porch with some earthy folk blues. The Rarities feature Duke Rollibard strolling and hitting it 8 to the bar while David Wilcox picks and grin.
This material cuts to the marrow of the bone, delivering the essence of what makes all of what’s being performed today seemed stale and over polished in comparison.
Stony Plain Records
www.stonyplainrecords.com