Manitoban singer songwriters and musicians have long been celebrated for their talent. Just think of the Crash Test Dummies, The Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Eagle & Hawk or Chantal Kreviazuk. Their songs are heard around the world. There's also a new generation of artists whose music isn't as well known, but certainly deserve recognition.
With that in mind I created the Manitoba Covers Project to give local artists a chance to pat each other on the back, musically speaking.
I asked people to pick two tunes that were important to them and that they could put their own musical stamp on. The final list includes songs from the Guess Who and Neil Young to Greg MacPherson and Keri Latimer. By the way, more new music will be added to the site in October featuring Marco Castillo and Alana Levandoski.
It was a pleasure working with all of the artists and I know you'll enjoy their work as well.
Spread the word.
Alana Levandoski
www.alanalevandoski.com
- Song:
- Moody Manitoba Morning
- Composer:
- Rick Neufeld
- Vocals:
- Alana Levandoski
- Guitar:
- Murray Pulver
I chose to record "Moody Manitoba Morning" because it has special meaning for me. I performed it at my good friend Tusa's wedding during the ceremony and Tusa, is Rick Neufeld's daughter. It is an honour to play such a well-crafted song that depicts our province so well.
Cara Luft
www.caraluft.com
- Song:
- Since You asked
- Composer:
- James Keelaghan
- Vocals:
- Cara Luft
- Guitar:
- Tim Butler
- Percussion:
- Damon Mitchell
James Keelaghan is simply one of my favourite songwriters and "Since You Asked" is one that really touches me. I also chose to cover a male songwriter, because I love hearing a female voice interpreting songs originally sung by a male.
- Song:
- 1000 Stars
- Composer:
- Greg MacPherson
- Vocals:
- Cara Luft
- Guitar:
- Tim Butler
- Percussion:
- Damon Mitchell
Greg MacPherson is another of my favourite songwriters, very different from James Keelaghan, but equally as strong. Again, I liked taking a song meant for a male and than interpreting it as a female. "1000 Stars" really spoke to me in that way.
James Keelaghan
www.keelaghan.com
- Song:
- The Wind
- Composer:
- Keri Latimer
- Vocals and guitar:
- James Keelaghan
- Mandolin:
- Hugh McMillan
Nothing sums up the experience of living on the prairies like this song by Nathan. The line that caught me and slid around in my head for weeks was "The wind, the wind has every nook and cranny rattlin', every fissure whistling every sheet upon the clothesline snapping". It speaks to loneliness and wonder.
Keri Latimer
nathanmusic.ca
- Song:
- Love, Lust and Loneliness
- Composer:
- Jaxon Haldane
- Vocals and guitar:
- Keri Latimer
- Mandolin:
- Keith McLeod
- Steel guitar:
- Bill Western
- Drums:
- Joanna Miller
- Bass:
- Marie Josee Dandeneau
Jaxon can twist a phrase with the best of them, and I have been a fan of the D.Rangers from the first time I saw Aaron Goss fall backwards into a drumset. It's hard for the audience not to sing along to Jaxon's songs and I'm no exception.
- Song:
- West St. James
- Composer:
- Greg MacPherson
- Vocals and guitar:
- Keri Latimer
- Mandolin:
- Keith McLeod
- Steel guitar:
- Bill Western
- Drums:
- Joanna Miller
- Bass:
- Marie Josee Dandeneau
This is one of my favourite songs. Not only is it superbly crafted, but I like the way Greg let's us into this little snapshot of someone leaving Winnipeg. I feel the ache, but it's a joy to sing.
Ministers of Cool
www.ministersofcool.com
- Song:
- Queen Jealousy
- Composer:
- Greg Leskiw
- Guitar:
- Greg Lowe
- Vocals and guitar:
- Paul McNair
- Vocals, keyboard and sax:
- Leonard Shaw
- Keyboard:
- Gerry Atwell
- Trumpet:
- David Lawton
- Bass:
- Don Benedictson
- Drums:
- Daniel Roy
There are so many amazing Manitoba songs to choose from with strong music and lyrics. We needed tunes we could "Ministerize" - or adapt to the personalities of the 6 members of Ministers of Cool. We always loved the music of Greg Leskiw and felt that his great song "Queen Jealousy" was a good "fit" for Ministerization.
- Song:
- I Don't Lie
- Composer:
- Alexa Dirks
- Guitar:
- Greg Lowe
- Vocals and guitar:
- Paul McNair
- Vocals, keyboard and sax:
- Leonard Shaw
- Keyboard:
- Gerry Atwell
- Trumpet:
- David Lawton
- Bass:
- Don Benedictson
- Drums:
- Daniel Roy
The producer of the project Kinzey Posen suggested we try this song performed by Chic Gamine and written by Alexa Dirks. It was a huge challenge for the Ministers since it was definitely a tune sung from a woman's point of view. We applied the Ministerization to it and love the way the song turned out.
Sarah and Christian Dugas
- Song:
- Love Sees Everything
- Composer:
- Graham Shaw
- Vocals:
- Sarah Dugas
- Drums, percussion:
- Christian Dugas
- Bass:
- Kevin Torgalson
- Keyboards:
- Marc Arnould
- Guitar:
- Damon Mitchell
Graham Shaw is one of the strongest songwriters out there and his material has great range. This song "Love Sees Everything" just tells the truth about love.
- Song:
- Cigarette Song
- Composer:
- Righteous Ike
- Vocals:
- Sarah Dugas
- Drums, percussion:
- Christian Dugas
- Bass:
- Kevin Torgalson
- Keyboards:
- Marc Arnould
- Guitar:
- Damon Mitchell
What can you say about Righteous Ike. He's one of the legends on the Manitoba music scene and a songwriter whose songs deserve to be heard by a lot more people.
Steve Bell
www.stevebell.com
- Song:
- Stubble and Hay
- Composer:
- Gord Johnson
- Vocals and guitar:
- Steve Bell
- Guitar:
- Joey Landreth
- Keyboards:
- Zach Antel
- Bass
- Meg Dolovich
- Drums
- Christian Dugas
When folks ask who my greatest musical influences are it's always the musicians I've actually known and worked with who first come to mind. Gord Johnson's songs have been constant companions of mine for the last 30 years and my own work would be so much the lesser without them. "Stubble and Hay" seemed the obvious choice as I turn 50 this year and appropriately start to reflect and evaluate the first "half."
- Song:
- The Greatest Gift
- Composer:
- Byron O'Donnell
- Vocals and guitar:
- Steve Bell
- Guitar:
- Joey Landreth
- Keyboards:
- Zach Antel
- Bass
- Meg Dolovich
- Drums
- Christian Dugas
I was a sideman in Byron O'Donnell's bands for several years in the 80's and was blessed to be mentored by such a great writer. Of the vast catalogue of Byron's wonderful songs I had to choose from, I picked "Greatest Gift" simply because we haven't had a good wedding song in awhile. More than just paying homage to this outstanding Manitoba songsmith, I though it may just be time for some new matrimony music. I've sung this at more weddings than I can remember.
Marco Castillo
- Song:
- These Eyes
- Composer:
- Burton Cummings/Randy Bachman
- Vocals, guitar and percussion:
- Marco Castillo
- Bass
- Gilles Fournier
- Drums and percussion
- Scott Senior
Far away and long ago in Brazil I heard this song "These Eyes" by the Guess Who. When I was invited to participate in the project by Kinzey he give me some suggestions and these songs popped into my head right away. Given my Brazilian cultural background, I heard and imagined the song as a very cool samba style called partido alto. I also translated parts of the song into Portuguese and it was a big challenge for me, but my family helped me finish the lyrics.
- Song:
- Heart Of Gold
- Composer:
- Neil Young
- Vocals, guitar and percussion:
- Marco Castillo
- Bass
- Gilles Fournier
- Drums and percussion
- Scott Senior
Neil Young is also a musician I heard a long time ago with the band "Crosby Still Nash and Young" I was interested in the song " Heart of Gold" because of the simple lyrics. I felt the song lent itself to a Brazilian mood as a "Xote". "Xote" is a very popular rhythm from Brazil that was brought from Europe in 1851. There are at least four variations of "Xote" and this is one of them. Once again, I did a portion of "Heart of Gold" in Portuguese and tried to keep the essence of the song intact. That of course is the magic of music, everything can have a different point of view.
