Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 11:48 AM

Received mine today and thought I knew what to expect as I had listened to the two tracks..... on the Youtube site.... however I did not consider it would be so compulsive. I have listened and listened and have three valid OBJECTIONS to make to the CD.
1) It is too short!!! there are not enough tracks on it.
2)As a consequence of No 1) I spend too much time listening to the ones already on it.
3)I don't have enough time to keep listening to those tracks.

Brilliant Bruce... absolutely top notch stuff.
Oh and thanks for naming me as one of those who helped.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Amos
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 12:33 PM

Mine haven't arrived yet either, as of Sunday night. Patience is allegedly a virtue, and virtue is its own reward. But I'ds rather have the CDs.



A

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: john f weldon
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:12 PM

Listening to Bruce while racing against a deadline, great stuff. I think "You made my Heart Beat Fast" may be my favourite, but I'm hoping "Last Man Standing" will be on the next CD...

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: olddude
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:14 PM

I have Bruce on ourstage.com
He is currently number 96. Anyone wanting to help push "I can see you now" up in the ranking please click
a href="http://www.ourstage.com/video/channel/127-roots-videos/YWCUPLNFPRAU-bruce-murdoch-i-can">OURSTAGE BRUCE

thank you

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Beer
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:17 PM

Just back from a little rest/change of scenery and great to see lots happening for Bruce. Takes a while to get caught up on threads. There was a word mentioned by someone earlier that has stuck with me. That word was "JUNO". Give it some thought Bruce. A great goal to work toward.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: olddude
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 09:17 PM

Apologies, the link isn't right this one is
Cut and paste this into your post:

OURSTAGE BRUCE">MURDOCH I CAN SEE YOU NOW

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: KenM
Date: 04 Aug 08 - 10:04 PM

Adrien....welcome back. It was great that Bruce was on WFDU yesterday and Ron had many complimentary things to say about the cd. I like the JUNO reference too, as well as the double entendre of Ron Bankley's "Lock Up Your Grannys Tour."
Ken

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: bankley
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 08:43 AM

'The Independent Music Awards' (Toronto)...is worth considering, deadline for entry submission, 3rd week of Aug.

"Canadian Folk Music Awards" for next year...

"Junos".. deadline for submission, this Nov...

whether or not you get to take a 'Granny' home is another story,    main thing is that it doesn't cost much, and gets the music out there even more...

of course we could wait a couple of years for 'Oxygenarian Idol'

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 08:46 AM

That'd be great. The kids get groupies and we get gropies, huh? (Good line that, Ron.)

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:26 AM

yes indeed thanks for the dedication. quite humbling and unnecessary, but received with thankfulness.

The writing has a guile about it. Somehow it rewards a second and third listen. The voice is exquisite - world weary, tough, vulnerable all the same time.

I'm sure its all occurred to everybody else so I won't go on about it.

There are a couple of tracks though , I would simply loved to have produced - brought in pomp rock keyboard player. But as it is, the album has a wholeness and integrity - a single vision, rather like John Wesley Harding.

well done Bruce Murdoch!

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:27 AM

...and I have some photos.
Let me know if you want them so you can send them off to a tabloid to improve your gossip factor.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 09:43 AM

WLD, there were tracks I thought were asking for a keyboard, but the fact we can hear these things in our heads is good. There are so many possibilities with these songs.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: bankley
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 10:52 AM

this project is built around the Voice and Guitar.... anything else, as my Native pal, Willie, would say, is 'beads and feathers'... ie. decorative support...

the important thing is to be able to go out and play the songs, solo when necessary... or as duo when able... lean, mean and mobile...

down the road when the budget allows, the glockenspiel player can be re-hired

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:19 AM

What budget?

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:40 AM

One thing to be clear about. This CD sounds as good as it does because of the foresight of Ron Bankley and the engineering skills of Simon Jodoin. Clement Rosa was a major help because he came to 'believe in' the project.

Ron had some seriously mediocre tracks to work with--places my voice was weak or guitar wasa buzzing, etc. I have no idea how much personal time Ron put into this CD but suffice it to say I couldn't afford to pay him, yet.

Ron Bankley is a seriously great guitarist. he can sense where things have to go 'for the sake of the song' and he has never once let his skills overshadow either lyrics or voice.

On day one, we decided perfect was too expensive and we'd settle for damned good. And please believe me when I tell you that this CD is as much his creation as it is mine; in fact, it's more because of Ron and his belief that we WOULD get it done and the obstacles of time, distance, time constraints and geography (violin player .

His guitar solo on "As Soon As Possible" is understated but THERE! It rocks and takes the song with it (when my rhythm had slowed). I think that all the guitar and voice from me were recorded in one or two takes. I don't recall any 'take threes'. It will continue to be that way from MY perspective. I'm tired (in a way) of super-clean glitzy and glossy music. I want stuff that lets me know the singer, song writer, musicians have seen some rough road and lived to tell about it.

We had difficulties of time, distance, name it.

Violin player I'd never met, back-up singer from Scotland now living in Morocco, producer/guitarist in Ontario, studios in Quebec and my humble self in Alberta. I basically put my trust in Ron--because for all he believes in my skills/art, it's for darned sure I believe in his and him. He is one of the best people I have ever met.

Our next CDs will have a musical first--so far as I know, and for the first time in my life I will be splitting writing credits with another person. In this case, Jeri Corlew. She is a wonderful writer to work with.

Ron has taken a song we didn't get a good take on ("Last Man Standing") and worked magic with an arrangement that is gonna make people shake their heads and listen five times to figure out why it works. My writing credit on that song is going to be split with the arranger--in this case, Ron Bankley. What he did is great.

I have very much appreciated the kind comments here and via message. Thank you all.


Bruce

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 11:49 AM

Just got all tingly...

Bruce, I LIKE 'As Soon as Possible'. The way it rocks out in a collected sort of way was a surprise, and it works.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 12:19 PM

Thanks, Jeri.

There were people whom I know were disappointed when they received mp3s of the stuff while it was in progress. They sounded unfinished. Well, they're finished now, and Ron had told me months back, "We are gonna do an album (hey, he's my age and we still think vinyl) that you can be proud of." Ron we have.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 12:30 PM

"Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: GUEST,Neil D - PM
Date: 30 Jul 08 - 02:01 PM"

Neil, please send me a message or an e-mail, OK?

Bruce

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: bankley
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 12:52 PM

man, I could write a novella on some of the behind the scenes stories, the challenges, the lack of dollars, but the humour always carried things when the sky was dark.... still does.. we never were short of human resources' or desire.... thanx again for the public acknowledgement Bruce.... like yourself, I don't wear praise all that well... when we were doing the credits for the liner notes... I was reluctant to have 'producer' next to my name, Bruce insisted.. but that's allright... no lynchmobs have shown up.... yet..
all too often someone elses vision gets in the way of the music... instead of enhancing it.... I was fortunate enough to have learned some valuable lessons early on in my studio days... what it comes down to is.... the song... and the performance... all the gear in the world won't do anything without that.... so keep writing those fine songs BM.... and we'll find ways to perform them... a solid CD is a great place to start... no ?   much love   Ron

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 12:58 PM

Bach atcha bro.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 05 Aug 08 - 01:11 PM

Ring-A-Ding Ding?

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:10 PM

Hey all you guys & gals. On Aug 04 - 08:08 AM I wrote a comment on this thread questioning whether the spirits were conspiring against me because I had not yet received my copy of Bruce's CD. About 20 minutes after that I heard a HUGE crash & bang outside my home. An enormous part of an enormous locust tree had fallen in my yard down three levels of stairs to the sidewalk and street, tearing up the d electric pole and the cable wires. BUT, thank God, no one was killed or hurt and no cars were damaged. And that was a miracle in and of itself, since my daughter & a tenant who lives in our basement apartment had walked down those stairs 1/2 hour before, and since the garbage removal people had picked up our garbage right where the tree fell 15 minutes before. There usually are a number of cars driving up & down this street on any given day. BUT no cars were on that street when that tree decided to come down. Yes, I believe in miracles.

The electricity for the entire block was off from 8:30 AM until around 6:30 PM Monday August 4th {I heard that the tree falling down made the local tv news}. I just got cable restored about a half an hour ago, and I feel as though I am now reconnected with the world.

AND Bruce's CD came today too!!! He mailed it on July 23rd, 2008.

This experience has taught me not to sweat the small stuff. It also has taught me that good things do come to those who wait and work and keep on keepin on.

Congratulations, Bruce!!! My favorite songs on your CD are "I Can See You Now" {acoustic version}, "Daly's Song", "When I Can't Sleep At Night" and "You Make My Heart Beat Fast". I thank you for including me on your acknowledgment list.

Bruce, I'm awed by your songwriting, singing, and guitar talent & skill. And I am very glad to count you as my friend.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:20 PM

We've spoken about the tree and I am thankful you are fine and that no one was hurt.

A parenthetical note: Azizi informed me that those CDs were mailed from Ormstown, Quebec on July 23. Today is August 6. Same package went to some folks in England. There were there in five days. So, if I told you I mailed a CD, I really did. I cannot account for the Postal System--or even vouch that indeed it IS a system. FYI.

And more importantly, thank you Azizi.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Amos
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:27 PM

Yayyy! ANother vote for "Daly's Song!!" :D


A

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Beer
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:30 PM

Mail leaves Ormstown Monday to Friday at 5 p.m.
Borded problems I suspect.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:33 PM

Gotta be, Adrien. The same post office also sent the ones going to England. Heck, someone had his in four days. So it must be the border and customs. No offense to anyone.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:36 PM

Borded problems I suspect

What? Those people are bored?? Well, they need to listen to Bruce's CD. Maybe they need to be hot wired and then their hearts will beat fast.

**

Amos, did you get your copy of the CD yet?

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: KenM
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 02:45 PM

Our dear Azizi sounds on top of the world now that she has:

a) power restored;
b) cable restored; and, most importantly,
c) Matters of the Heart in the CD Player.

The sequential order of the above items are also important. If she had got the cd without the electricity to play it or without the cable to share her joy with the rest of us, the results may not have been pretty......

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 03:23 PM

Hello, Ken!

Well, I kept you guys and girls in my heart, although I was so hyper as a result of this experience that my heart was definitely beating faster than it usually does.

And since I couldn't sleep at night, I'd sit up and count the stars-not to mention think heavy duty thoughts. I wouldn't say that I was hotwired since that evokes other connotations for me. And since this is much too public a communication vehicle, I'll leave that subject alone.

But I will say that I wanted things to happen as soon as possible, like right away. But the angels in my heart {or watching over my heart} had a master plan and I had to learn to be more patient and learn to be grateful for what I have rather than always pining or locust treeing :o) for what I don't have, and may never have.

I am still learning those important lessons.

But,finally, I can see you all better since I now have electricity & Internet connections restored.

And that's the way it is.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: rumanci
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 03:31 PM

Attagirl !

That first robin of springtime'll have NO tree to warble in now ?

Sorry to hear of your woes Azizi. Good to have you back here.

rum

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Vicar
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 03:33 PM

Bruce just sent me copies of the new cd! What is there about his voice that is so captivating. And the poetry - I think that comes from his fascination with Ezra Pound, et al. He and I almost did an album together and then Richie Havens came along. The last time I saw him we were sitting having a beer with Tom Paxton and Phil Ochs.Oh well! , he's back singing and writing and it's as good as ever. Welcome back, my old friend.
                                                Joe Frazier
                                                CMT

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 04:17 PM

Great to see ya, Joe. And thank you.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Amos
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 04:47 PM

Joe:

Welc,ome to the 'Cat. Make yourself ta home.

A

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 04:49 PM

We had a tornado rip through here and take out power for... I think it was over a day. I was in Ormstown Thursday night, not here, and I'm happy I was. I'm glad you're OK Azizi, and that you're back here.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 05:17 PM

Caution: This post is going to involve some SCREAMIN' so if ya' can't take no SCREAMIN' then just pass it by...






















I mean no offense to anyone here because there are some of the most talented people I have ever known here but...
















THIS CD IS IN A CLASS BY ITSELF!!! FINEST FOLK MUSIC I'VE HEARD IN YEARS!!! NO SHIT!!! GREAT SONGS, GREAT MUSICANSHIP, GREAT VOCALS, GREAT, GREAT, GREAT....

Thanks, Brucie... I know there had to be a reason why I've always thought of you as one of the coolest of the cool here and now I reckon the last piece of the puzzle is in place and everything is much clearer now...

Thank you, my friend...

I'll get my CD off to you in a day 'er two... Want it mailed to the address on the mailer you sent the CD in???

BTW, great friggin' CD, buddy...

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: ragdall
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 07:34 PM

My copy of Matters of the Heart arrived yesterday. There were no borders to cross on the way here. Couldn't read the mailing date. I think that Canada Post smudges the cancellation stamp deliberately to cover up the slow delivery.

Bruce,
Everything about this CD is top notch. The music sounds wonderful! You did fantastic work on every aspect of these songs and you assembled the best people to assist you in the production of them. So much talent on one CD!

When I'm not playing the CD, the tunes and lyrics are replaying themselves in my head. I don't have a favourite song, they're all so good. Thank you for giving us all the opportunity to hear you at your best.

rags

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 08:47 PM

I'll need a bigger hat. Thank you Bobert and rags.

Bobert: I'll message ya.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Beer
Date: 06 Aug 08 - 09:34 PM

Welcome to Mudcat Joe. Lots to talk about here and meet old and make new friends.
Beer (adrien)
Ormstown, Quebec

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Beer
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 07:05 AM

Received this from Mike Regenstreif this morning. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I pasted the information here.

These reviews are from today's -- August 7 -- edition of The Montreal Gazette.

--


BRUCE MURDOCH

Matters of the Heart

www.brucemurdoch.com



Bruce Murdoch, one of Montreal's finest singer-songwriters of the 1960s and '70s, quit the music business, moved to Alberta and became a high school teacher before his last LP came out in 1980. Murdoch's guitar sat unopened in its case for 25 years until a recent burst of creativity brought forth these 11 new songs. While the focus is more personal and less obviously political than his older material, Murdoch's songs are as compelling as ever; several reveal more layers of meaning every time they're heard. Many are informed by the pain of separation including Angels in My Heart, written for his daughters, and the poignant I Keep You in My Heart, in which he tries to explain absence to a child who can't understand. ****



Podworthy: I Keep You in My Heart



--MIKE REGENSTREIF

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: C. Ham
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 07:50 AM

Mike's review on the Montreal Gazette site

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 03:04 PM

It made it to Chesham two days ago, and I refused to open the jiffy bag as I was up to my arse in dayjob alligators and I did not want to skim through it. But today it got three uninterrupted listens through, and ...

Respect!!! Big fella, where the hell had you been these 30 years? This is writing from the gut, and as for the delivery, what can I say - the vocal is SOLID, it puts the heart on the platter for you to touch and feel the pulse. I felt an interesting effect: Although the songs are written from different time perspectives, describing events/feelings at various stages of the past as well as now, the delivery made me feel as if the time had concertinaed all into one instant, in other words it added an immediacy to the feelings, as if Bruce was living each moment he sang about, as he sang it (which he very probably was).

Favourites just HAVE to be "I can see you now" and "I keep you in my heart", though very closely followed by "That's the way it is" and "As soon as possible".

And then I noticed my name in the dedication... Very touched, mate, very touched, and I'll have a whisky tonight to you and to the friends we have yet to meet.

Finally - olddude, everyone should have a friend like you. But then, Bruce clearly deserved you.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Peace
Date: 07 Aug 08 - 03:27 PM

George, I hadn't wanted to say this unless you found some stuff to like. "Life's Eyes" rubbed off on me, and that helped me a great deal with an approach to one song on the CD--the acoustic version of "I Can See You Now". When you sing you are 100% in the lyric. I know you give attention to stage stuff on stage, but in the artifical room of the recording area your singing on "Life's Eyes" was chilling because you were so concentrated, and it bared your soul in places. I thought about that for weeks and weeks, literally.

So thank you for the things you just said. They are are words I will treasure as I do their author. I hope someday we can actually meet and write a song together/sing some songs together.

Bruce

PS-olddude is a wonderful guy and a good friend.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: GUEST,peace
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:38 PM

I'm sitting here with Bob R and he's lookin' better than he was four months back. Great to see him and touch base again. Fyi.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: bobad
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:40 PM

Glad to hear it, thanks Bruce.

P.S. Hi Bob

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:47 PM

Hello Bob! :0)   Good to hear you're doing well..I have Bob on my Myspace, he makes great music too. That 'Soul Eater' sends shivers down you...

Bob Ryszkiewicz myspace

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: rumanci
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:47 PM

Glad to hear it too. Stay well Bob.
I bet you're BOTH smiling

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 01:55 PM

We need a map of Canada and some push pins.
Glad the Bruce was able to visit you and you're doing well!

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 02:38 PM

Friends: Thanks to one and all...Good to see BM in person. Great to still be above grass. Got that feeling deep down inside, you ain't seen nothin' yet from Bruce Murdoch. I think that young boy has a future in music. Be sure to contact your local radio station and ask them to play "Matters of the Heart..." If they tell you "what's Matters of the Heart? or who's "Bruce Murdoch?", leave a note right here and we'll hip them to it...So they do it, and get right to it... Bless...
bob

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: gnu
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 07:03 PM

Bob... "Great to still be above grass." Glad too.

Subject: RE: Bruce Murdoch CD-Matters of the Heart
From: Severn
Date: 08 Aug 08 - 07:50 PM

However, they don't make those damned "Keep Off The Grass!" signs for those below it.