David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage

Subject: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 06 Mar 07 - 02:01 PM

It just came out this weekend - David Francey's new CD "Right of Passage". It's wonderful. We went to his CD release concert at Hugh's Room last Sunday night. Has anyone else had a chance to hear the album yet?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:54 AM

Okay, I guess it's too new for comments here yet. Nonetheless I suggest you check it out. David sang to 2 sold-out enthusiastic audiences at Hugh's Room (Toronto) last weekend.

The instrumentation on thic recording is a wee bit different from his other ones, including even an Appalachian dulcimer.

Here's from the liner notes:

Musicians

David Francey: lead vocals, guitar, shruti box

Craig Werth: guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, dulcimer, shruti box, backing vocals

Geoff Somers: fiddle, mandolin, backing vocals

Shane Simpson: percussion

Julia Davie: backing vocals

Instruments of note:

The shruti box appears courtesy of Cynthia Chatis. Many thanks.
Craig's dulcimer was lovingly crafted by his wife, Liz.
Shane plays a Woodskin drum.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:47 AM

Okay, I'll bite. Are you talking about the bloke who sings with the fake, Scottish accent?
If not, I apologize in advance.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:49 AM

Fake? He was born in Scotland. Came over when he was about 7 years old, I believe.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:55 AM

I shared the stage with David last June at the Seldovia Music Festival here in Alaska. He is a very talented songwriter and I can't wait to hear his new CD.

Mike

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:56 AM

Okay, I was wrong. He was 12, not 7, when he came to Canada from Scotland. Well deserving of that accent, I'd say!


He're part of David's bio, below:


Biography

David Francey was born in 1954 in Ayrshire, Scotland, where as a paper boy he got his first taste of the working life. He learned to read at an early age, and by age eleven was devouring the newspapers he delivered. This helped establish his interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.

He was twelve when his family immigrated to Toronto. He says he can trace his love of the land, the history, and the people of his adopted country to weekend family drives exploring southern Ontario. Music played a large part in these family outings. They sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. Dad and sister Muriel sang melody, while mother and David sang harmonies.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 11:11 AM

Are you Canadian, black walnut?

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 11:32 AM

I've been told that my sons do a good Scottish accent too but they've never done it to my face. For those of us saddled with such an affliction while living in a foreign land, we spend our whole lives talking as slowly and clearly as we possibly can, just to be understood.
If you enjoy him, good on you.
Tell me: Does he speak with a Scottish accent too?
I'm sure it sounds cute to North Americans but I just feel, I'm being mocked when I hear him.
His bio says he left Scotland when he was twelve but like you, I was under the impression that he was seven at the time.
Has the bio changed or did we both just get it wrong?
Enjoy him. He is an excellent songwriter and a former Scot but the accent is fake.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:16 PM

Jim, I've heard him and I've heard you, and I'm sure you fake the accent better than he does. He sure writes better songs.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Effsee
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:16 PM

..."a former Scot"...eh?

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:20 PM

I think we might be better off talking about the music. Me, included. Sorry about the 'fake' crack. I do admit I was wrong about you though, Jim. I'm going to go see if there's any more information on the CD available.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:25 PM

Here's news of the CD: "Right of Passage ~ Liner Notes and More" from David Francey's website.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:30 PM

He is a much better writer than I am. Of that, there is absolutely no doubt. His accent is a marketing tool. That's just the way it is. It works for him in North America.
I remember the first time I heard him. Knew the accent was fake by the end of the first line and waited to see where he came from. It's a pity he did it that way and I'm not too sure whether it is now too late for him to change it.
Maybe if he crossed over into some other genre.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 12:54 PM

Jerri: "I'm sure you fake the accent better than he does"
What you hear in my accent is a Scot, trying to soften it up as much as possible, just to do justice to the song and be understood.
I've gone through years of dealing with blank stares, sheep jokes, kilt jokes and terrible, terrible mocking accents every time I speak.
I'll say it again. The man is a great writer. It's just a pity he doesn't do it in his own dialect.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 01:16 PM

This is unbelievable.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:50 PM

Craig Werth is local to us (coastal New Hampshire USA) and I just saw him at a gathering in Portsmouth Tuesday evening to publicize the New Hampshire Folk Festival in April -- Craig will be there with David Francey.

So will Tom and I as part of The Press Room Gang -- but we'll be on the Friday night bill along with Gordon Bok and Cindy Kallet.

David Francey & Craig Werth will be on Saturday's bill with Greg Brown,Chris Greiner, Laurel Braun & Guy Capacelatro III.

I'm looking forward to finally seeing David Francey in person!

Linn

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: balladeer
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 02:54 PM

I haven't heard David's new CD yet, but I've heard all the others and love them. And I know David, and he couldn't be more real. I was born in England, got all the usual hazing after my family emigrated to Canada. My dad was straight-on Bradford, a Yorkshireman through and through; my mum was from one of those unpronounceable towns near Cardiff in Wales.

Eventually their accents shifted, so that they sounded British to the North American ear, but American to the Brits. (I think they call it a mid-Atlantic accent.) Perhaps that's what happened to David. His accent sounds plenty Scots to me, and I have a pretty good ear for accents. Btw, I pick up accents so easily now that strangers sometimes think I'm mocking them. Many of my friends think I'm a Yank.

That's how it goes with accents.

Anyway, David is a poet with the soul of a working man, and that's what he sells, but not in a fake way. He's just being who he is, and that's what moves us.

Balladeer

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 04:05 PM

I'll be looking forward to hearing it.

Subject: ADD: All Lights Burning Bright (David Francey)
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 04:09 PM

Here's the best singalong on the album, imo. One of those ones that keeps coming back into your head when you least expect it:

(and look where it's written, Mooh)


ALL LIGHTS BURNING BRIGHT

On lake boats the last entry in the Watch Log Book at the end of each shift reads "All navigation lights burning brightly." I took this phrase as a metaphor for life. Keep your own light shining…brightly.

(September 28, 2005. Goderich, Ontario)

We were standing the last watch
At the close of the day
Three days on the water
Out from Thunder Bay

'Cross Superior, Huron
And into St. Clair
On a bright day in summer
I found myself there

Dead calm on the water
As blue as the sky
And we waved from the water
As we slowly passed by

We entered Lake Erie
It was late in the day
You could see that storm coming
From a mile away

We had all lights burning bright
All lights burning bright
We had all lights burning bright
All lights burning bright

That storm overtook us
And it fell like the night
And the Point and the Island
They passed out of sight

But we sailed on rock steady
Set course through the storm
As the sky fell upon us
And the wind drove us on

And I thought to myself
I'd be just like this ship
If I kept my light burning
On every trip

The watch it was ended
With the turn of the night
And I wrote in that log book
All lights burning bright

We had all lights burning bright
All lights burning bright
We had all lights burning bright
All lights burning bright

Lead vocal: David Francey
Guitar: Craig Werth
Bouzouki: Craig Werth
Fiddle: Geoff Somers
Percussion: Shane Simpson
Backing vocals: The Boys Brigade Irregulars

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 05:53 PM

In fairness to David; he is an excellent folksinger and writer. I've tried to point that out with each post. If you're not convinced then here are some quotes from David Francey's own page....

"…one of Canada's best loved troubadours"
"one of the biggest stars of Canadian folk Music"
"One of Canada's outstanding poets, songwriters,"
"the BEST folk singer/songwriter going in Canada today"
"Hands-down the best songwriter working in Canada today."
"he's the closest thing this country has to Woody Guthrie"
"David Francey is coming into his own in middle age as one of Canada's best songsmiths"
"the likeliest candidate for all-Canadian folk singer"
"David Francey is the best Canadian folk writer that I have heard in 20 years"
"Francey has emerged as one of Canada's most gifted songwriters."
"established himself as one of Canada's most revered folksingers"

That's just a small sampling of the many words of praise you will find at http://www.davidfrancey.com/

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 07:19 PM

Yeah b.w., cool eh! I like his art too, there's a piece included in the "Through A Musician's Eyes" calendar.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 08:52 PM

As in March? Yes! (3 other months too. He is the featured artist.)

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:15 PM

Yes Jim, he's a Canadian treasure. Just like me. :-)
(Canadian that is).

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 09:34 PM

I have no doubt that you are.
(A treasure, that is)

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,Barry
Date: 09 Mar 07 - 10:46 PM

I haven't heard David sing his songs & wouldn't give a shit about his accent if I had but I keep hearing others singing his songs. Francey this & Francey that & I'd fancy hearing him even if he sounded like a bullfrog with what he writes & what I've been hearing from others about him. I'm delighted to find out he'll be in the Portsmouth area next month. If he can sing why woulld it matter about an accent, I don't get it? I'm told that I speak (& sing??)with the thickest Bostonian accent that some have ever heard & even had other locals (though not real Bostonians) translate for me, to other Americans no less, but no one has ever cared about my accent when I sing! What's with this?? Linn can you tell me more about when David will be around town, hope it doesn't conflict with NEFFA (4/20-4/22)? And tell me about what the "Press Room Gang" is doing there? Friday night???

Barry

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:39 AM

I just went & listened to a few of his mp3's at his site. He's got a wonderful voice & style of singing, comes across like a warm summer's dawning after an ice cold winter's night, plays a great guitar & writes some incredule stuff. I could listen to him singing his stuff all day long & then all night. What accent? Who'd even notice?

Hi Linn, missed you at the press room, hope you're feeling better. I went to find out about David being at the NH Folk Festival & couldn't dig up anything, they haven't updated, they're still on last summers schedule & it's April? Went to David site too, nothing there either. Can you fill me in? After hearing his mp3 & after hearing others do his songs I wouldn't want to miss the chance of hearing him.

Thanks
Barry

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 09:08 AM

He'd laugh at the phrase "plays a great guitar". He rarely plays guitar - he has very talented sideguys. David is a singer-songwriter-storyteller.
~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 10:22 AM

Barry, Try This .

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 11:46 AM

"What accent? Who'd even notice?"

Well, you're the first on the thread to deny Francey even sings in an accent, whether affected or not. And one poster who does not have a record on this forum as being particularly mean-spirited, has stated that he not only notices the accent, but finds it irritating, for the reasons he stated. This same poster has gone 'way out of his way to praise Francey's song-writing, and after his first or second post refrained from any more criticism in regards to Francey's accent. Like you said yourself: you "don't get it". Fine. The matter of affected accents has been discussed, dissected and argued about on previous threads, and the one thing that has clearly emerged is that some people find affected accents objectionable and other people don't. No one seems capable of changing anyone else's mind on this issue, so I'm afraid it's one where we have to just agree to disagree.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:03 PM

All well & good, I didn't deny he had an accent. If I like the singer & the song an accent is no distraction at all, effected or not, as I understand we all must have at least one. I just don't see why one would care if the one singing is good, ended. It's nice of you to have pointed this out.

Thanks BW for the link, the 28th is a great date. He may laugh, it miht not be him doing the guitar work, who ever it is, is far better than what I'm used to hearing.. Hopefully I'll be seeing Linn & Tom at the Press Room today & will know more.

Barry

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:22 PM

1) I heard him sing one song, long ago with an accent that he didn't own. I've never listened again and have no idea whether he's still doing that.
2) B.W. posted this thread twice and no-one took any notice. Now you are and despite the irritation I may have caused B.W. can now get on with discussing one of his/her favourite artists.
3) Once in a while, it's okay to disagree although, more prudent to say nothing if something is not to your taste. In this case, no-one showed any interest at all so little harm was done.
4) I can't think of anything for (4) so I'll just say....
Good Morning All!
Cheers
Jim

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:24 PM

2) I did? If so, it was certainly not intentional.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:36 PM

Got my Terminology wrong. You wrote a wee letter, on this thread thingy, twice (on the 6th & 9th) and nobody answered. You know what I mean.
Buenos Días
Jim

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:37 PM

Oh, I get it now. Not 2 separate threads, just refreshed. Yes, I did that.

I don't mind you expressing your opinion about what you hear, Jim, except for when it starts to turn David into a marketing fraud.   Which I absolutely don't believe he is.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:47 PM

Fraud?
I said "His accent is a marketing tool."
I'd have to go down into the BS threads to call someone that and I'm not going there.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: black walnut
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 12:51 PM

Didn't you say that his FAKE accent is a marketing tool? Just not all in the same sentence.   To my way of thinking that kind of person would be a fraud. Perhaps I shouldn't go into law....

~b.w.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 01:19 PM

Whether or not it's any kind of fraud, it's any extremely common practice. Some of us find it irritating; others don't. Some of us feel it is somewhat dishonest; others don't ... And many couldn't care less one way or the other.

" I didn't deny he had an accent": Sorry - when you wrote "What accent?", I understood that to be a rhetorical question implying the man sings with no (notable) accent.

"It's nice of you to have pointed this out." Not at all, not at all - although, I'm sure exactly what is it was nice of me to point out. Not that it much matters, really ...

By the way, I've quite liked anything I've heard from this Francey fellow ...

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 01:42 PM

Does he still sing with a Scottish accent or not? If he doesn't, I'll gladly give him a listen.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Effsee
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:49 PM

His accent sounds entirely natural to this native Scot!

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:50 PM

Does he still sing with a Scottish accent or not?

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:54 PM

Never mind. I have to switch "Braveheart" off and put "Shrek" on for the wean.
Black Walnut: Sometimes we just have different tastes. That's all!

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 02:58 PM

David sings exactly the way he talks. He played a concert in my living room (a few years back) and stuck around to jam with the audience afterwards. He sang harmony on one of my songs, and on one of his own (letting me lead). He's an absolutely honest, generous, and straightup guy. He has an accent, and it's not very broad, but it is entirely genuine. I think I MIGHT agree that he chose not to lose it as he grew up in Canada, rather than saying he affects it. 'Cause he don't do that!

Hope that helps. Give him another chance, and try to see David live.

Sincerely,
Jack Cole (also in Canada, and hosting Steel Rail tonight, including guitarist Dave Clarke who backed up David Francey in my living room!)

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:18 PM

The song I heard was about the things he saw, driving down a logging road and the accent (to one who is afflicted by it) was definitely affected. I've asked if that's the way he sings or speaks and you have come the closest to answering that. Has he changed since what he was doing back then?

"he chose not to lose it as he grew up in Canada, rather than saying he affects it."

Having two Scottish parents would certainly reinforce it at home but spending all of your teenage years with Canadian teenagers, in Canada should all but annihilate it. It doesn't make friends or find work.
I have never questioned the man's character. I just didn't like what I heard. I'm absolutely positive that there are many who don't like what I do.
That, my dear friends is why they call it "Art" and not "You just have to love this guy".

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jeri
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:20 PM

I'm certainly not enjoying the overwhelming, ceaseless pettiness of this "I don't like his accent" bullshit...

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:22 PM

Steel Rail
Steel Rail
Sat., Mar. 10
Registry Theatre
122 Frederick St. Kitchener, ON
8 pm
Folk Night at the Registry

Advance tix: 1-800-265-8977

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:31 PM

Oh dear, Jim - someone's not enjoying your posts.

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:36 PM

And somebody else is pushing my buttons.
Where's mah bunnet?
Ahm ootey here.
Cheers, Meself
Jim

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:42 PM

"Ahm ootey here."

C'mon, that accent doesn't fool me - you're really from Etobicoke, aren't you? Aren't you?

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: Jim Lad
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 03:47 PM

My wife tried to make me eat Etobicokes once. I'd raither hae neeps onytime.
Regards to all in Tatumahoochy!

Subject: RE: David Francey's new CD- Right of Passage
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 10 Mar 07 - 04:21 PM

Hokey-dokey. Over and out.