Reflecting now with home-movies of Allison Crowe and her delightful rendition of a song that’s one of the treasures of Canadiana renewed by “Newfoundland Vinyl”, Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador’s much-loved hit. This year’s edition of “Vinyl” has begun rehearsals in prep for a “greatest hits” run this Summer at the Gros Morne Theatre Festival, June 11 – September 2, 2016: http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/shows/newfoundland-vinyl-the-greatest-hits-2016/ “Now I’m 64” is a traditional Newfoundland parlour song – here delivered by Allison Crowe and Band on their debut release, “Heirs + Grievances”. Earlier variants include recordings by Atlantic Canada musical legends Ryan’s Fancy, Harry Hibbs, Ray Mclean and more. The invaluable lyrics and video site “GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador” has plenty to help us cherish an history that’s, joyfully, tunefully alive today: http://www.wtv-zone.com/phyrst/audio/nfld/01/sixtyfour.htm http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/heirs-grievances ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCVu-o_gxw4

"Allison Crowe's cover of Leonard Cohen's classic 'Bird On The Wire' is mournful and, true to the lyrics of the song, conscientiously abjures cheap conventional sentiment or ginning up the type of pseudo-consolation that relies on false promises of living happily ever after, e.g., that irreparable conflicts will somehow be resolved, emotional damages repaired, or the pain of personal loss alleviated. Yet, Crowe's voice and phrasing convey such empathy and intimacy that solace and succor are nonetheless granted through grace. It's a great cover of a great song." Those words could only have been penned by Allan Showalter. Liel Leibovitz, author of “A Broken Hallelujah - Rock and Roll, Redemption, and the Life of Leonard Cohen” has tagged him “arguably the greatest living Cohen expert” and, for years, Showalter (aka DrHGuy) has proven to be the most erudite and entertaining writer to turn their mind to illuminating the world of the iconic poet, songwriter and author – and to share such treasures freely online. The Spook Lights have gone out o'er the good doctor’s beloved blogs – '1heckofaguy.com' and 'drhguy.com'. Allison Crowe, (and her barnacled manager), be humbled and honoured to have received the attentions and appreciation of Allan Showalter. Allison’s music featured numerous times on those blogs that have been deep sources of delight for Cohen-philes, and fans of Anjani Thomas, Sharon Robinson, Perla Batalla, Adam Cohen, The Webb Sisters and so many more artists+. We hope the world may again some day be brightened by the mysterious DrHGuy’s singular “pastiche of posts with song, dance, snappy chatter, and notes on prose, poesy, love, lust, life, & Leonard Cohen”. For now, we’ve pulled out the cornbroom to dust-up this video of “Bird on a Wire” in loving salute to ‘1 Heck of a Guy’ – Allan Showalter. This Leonard Cohen classic has been covered by Jennifer Warnes (on 1987’s “Famous Blue Raincoat” collection AKA “Jenny Sings Lenny”), as well as by Johnny Cash, Joe Cocker, Bob Benvenuti, Katey Sagal (for the US tv program “Songs of Anarchy”), Tim Hardin, The Neville Brothers… in total, more than 150 recording artists since its release on Cohen’s 1969 album “Songs from a Room”. Judy Collins, who introduced the songs of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and other great songwriters to wide audiences “early on”, came out with her cover of the song months earlier - in November 1968 (on her album “Who Knows Where the Time Goes”). During a tour engagement with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Allison Crowe performed "Bird on a Wire" live on-stage - with dancers choreographed by Jorden Morris - and also her interpretations of Cohen's “Hallelujah” and "Sisters of Mercy". Here's Allison ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ik8_WNTfz4