Music of the West
By Hugh McLennan
Oct - Nov 2006
Songs from the Gravel Road
 Ian Tyson
When I listened to the beautiful song Silver Bell from this CD it struck me how much we have in common with our friends in the great state of Texas, and in spite of our shared values and love of cowboy ways, the physical distance from Western Canada to Texas is huge. It’s a touching story of an Alberta cowgirl who knows she won’t make it home to the northern range for Christmas.
To really appreciate the songs on this album, and the feelings behind them, I had to shut out the distractions and pay attention to the words and music. There’s some real heartache in songs like Love Without End. Lines like “An old man rides these hills alone”, and “Maybe love without end is in God’s eyes only” reflect emotions that are bittersweet but real.
The mood is lightened considerably with Range Delivery, a reggae-flavoured duet Ian does with Cindy Church and the chemistry sure works. Ian and legendary poet Paul Zarzyski collaborated on Jerry Ambler on Ian’s Live at Longview CD, and the story continues with The Jerry Ambler Saddle, an intriguing account of some rodeo history.
Two tracks from the East Longview hall concert: Moisture – a clever upbeat sing-along look at the weather in the West, and Casey’s Gone – a great tribute to what must have been a good dog are included.
From a soprano saxophone to a smoky muted trumpet, there’s real variety in the arrangements, and Ian’s voice, whether he’s caressing the lyrics with those silky smooth tones or talking with a spellbinding cadence, just keeps getting better.
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