Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band

[2011 Vol.1 re-release] [2011 Vol.2 re-release]

Garth Hudson Strikes Up The Band With An All-Canadian Line-up Press release, October 2010: 35 Years After "The Last Waltz," Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band! In Stores November 16, 2010. "It was very organic how the artists and songs matched up so perfectly. I had aural visions of how each song could be enhanced by the talent of each artist... each voice, instrument, and spirit."-- Garth Hudson After 10 studio albums, inductions into the Grammy(r) Hall of Fame, JUNO Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and 35 years after their epic farewell concert, "The Last Waltz," The Band's Garth Hudson (Keyboards and Saxophone) brings us Garth Hudson Presents A Canadian Celebration of The Band, with partial proceeds to support The Hospital for Sick Children. In this first ever solely Canadian recording of The Band's songs, original band member Garth Hudson enlisted Canadian musicians Blue Rodeo, Bruce Cockburn, Great Big Sea, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida, Mary Margaret O'Hara, The Sadies and Neil Young, among others, to create this historic album. This is the first time any collection of The Band songs has been curated and produced by an original member of the group. Rarities beginning with The Basement Tapes on through latter-day albums Jericho and High on the Hog are again new. "These songs were among the most enjoyable to me while The Band was together because of the words, or the story, or humour... an example of all three is the reading of "Clothes Line Saga" written by Bob Dylan and sung by Margo Timmins with Cowboy Junkies. Each of these songs stands on its own, yet they mystically sequence together as a string of jewels." -- Garth Hudson Produced and performed by Garth Hudson with Grammy(r) award-winning co-producer and engineer Peter J. Moore at his side, Garth Hudson and this amazing list of artists answer the question: "Which of The Band songs were your favourites?" Raine Maida commented: "It is an honour to be a part of this record. Garth is without question a living legend and the opportunity to record "Moon Struck One" live off the floor with an artist of his genius will be an experience I treasure always." The Band's original ensemble consisted of Canadians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, Robbie Robertson, and American Levon Helm from Arkansas. The Band began as The Hawks with Ronnie Hawkins, then Levon & The Hawks, and officially becoming The Band in 1968 and performing together until 1976... with their last concert documented in the Martin Scorsese film "The Last Waltz." They reunited from 1983-1999. The Band continues to be one of rock's most influential and enduring groups. Now there are members who have passed and three founding members continue on with their individual lives and projects. Here is one project that is especially personal to one charter member... an intimate project Garth Hudson wanted to share with his country in an all-Canadian celebration of his life in The Band with the songs he enjoyed most.

The Canadian indie label Curve Music re-released Garth Hudson Presents... as two separate CDs in 2011, Volume 1 and Volume 2. The first CD has the first nine tracks from the original, plus the bonus track "Million Dollar Bash" with Steve Leckie & Thin Buckle. Vol.2 has the remaining nine tracks plus a version of "Whispering Pines" with Doug Paisley.

Tracks

1. Danny Brooks & The Rockin' Revelators - Forbidden Fruit
2. Mary Margret O'Hara & the Sadies - Out Of The Blue
3. Peter Katz & The Curious - Acadian Driftwood
4. Neil Young and The Sadies - This Wheel's On Fire
5. Suzie McNeil - Ain't Got No Home
6. Cowboy Junkies - Clothes Line Saga
7. Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
8. Bruce Cockburn & Blue Rodeo - Sleeping
9. The Road Hammers - Yazoo Street Scandal
10. Raine Maida - The Moon Struck One
11. The Sadies - The Shape I'm In
12. Chantal Kreviazuk - Tears Of Rage
13. Hawskley Workman - I Loved You Too Much
14. Great Big Sea - Knockin' Lost John
15. Blue Rodeo - King Harvest
16. The Trews - Move To Japan
17. Garth Hudson - Genetic Method (Anew)
18. Ian Thornley & Bruce Cockburn - Chest Fever

Art Director and Designer: Maud Hudson 2010

Garth Hudson/Various Artists - Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band - 2010 - Sony Music