Not only does the USA have its birthday in July, so do our neighbors to the north. And before the last seconds of this fine month tick away, and admittedly more than four weeks late, I thought I'd offer up Gene Marshall's touching rendition of Vincent Quaranta's thoughtful ode to his adopted country. It's clearly true that, as the words tell us, Vincent's "place" is actually in Italy (whatever that means), but he seems to consider Canada to be almost as peachy.
This song and performance don't exactly inspire me to visit either Canada or Italy - it seems sort of maudlin and dreary, to be honest - but the words seem heartfelt. I really have to wonder if Mr. Quaranta was happy with this rather morose setting of his lyrics.
Download: Gene Marshall - I Love Canada
Play:
The problem was probably really with the era at the Preview label. The records made there in the mid and late 1970's (this record dates to 1976) are generally uninspired and display shoddy workmanship, and an abundance of going-through-the-motions. Their generally not even pressed well. In comparison, the records made while Rodd Keith were there generally display a feel that it was a fun and interesting place to be. The records from later in the '70's, such as this one - both the side just shared and this one, "The Little Rocking Chair", make it sound like working at Preview was probably a chore by that point. At least, that's what most of that era's Preview records indicate to me.
Download: Gene Marshall - The Little Rocking Chair
Play:
3 comments:
I agree with you. Most Preview records from this era leave me cold, cold, cold, despite Gene Marshall's best efforts.
They all have that synth with the one "strings" setting!!
Still....you have to love the site of a record label that just puts it right out there: I Love Canada! Now who's going to argue with that? I mean, who? Show me the man!!!
(just want to correct my spelling on my last comment...."sight" not "site")
Post a Comment