Ode To A Ballad
a cd review by Live Music Head
(originally published in the Nov 13, 2008 edition
of The University of Toronto Newspaper)
A military drum and an Olympic trumpet
open up the new 16-track cd from the
Canadian flag-waver of country music,
Stompin' Tom Connors.
Two songs feature versions of classics which
celebrate Canada's love of its national sport:
Hockey Mom,
an ode to "the mom I can't forget"
and The Hockey Song,
a well-known sing-a-long anthem from 1971.
Connors, born in St John, New Brunswick
spent his formative years growing up in Skinner's Pond, PEI
but not unlike American folk hero Woody Guthrie,
"a drifter I will always be on the road of life”.
Some may find his work nothing more than
a collection of silly novelty songs;
songs to get drunk by on a
Sudbury Saturday Night.
But those who dig a little deeper
will be heart-warmed by songs like
the wedding waltz of a lovely Bride and Groom,
as they "dream of days and friendlier ways".
With songs about the Lady Slipper,
a favourite flower of PEI
and the birth of a Timmins, Ontario mine,
Stompin' Tom, at the age of 72,
clearly still loves his country,
as he yodels to Take Me Back to Old Alberta.
And he throws an Irish hangman's tale into the fray...
“They hung young Kevin Barry on that cold November day”.
The Ballad of Stompin' Tom was also a stage production
touring theatres across Canada this past year.
And to honour his contribution to our country
the face of Tom will also grace a postage stamp,
due out by Canada Post sometime next year.
How can we not honour a songwriter who sings...
“Hello there Chickee Poo,
I just fell in love with you.
You’re gonna be my new tattoo.
Saucy face and sassy clothes,
and where did you get those?”
Stompin' Tom website...
www.stompintom.com/
