“…so Canadian you can practically hear the snow falling” Food and Drink Skating Rink was awarded a JUNO (the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – CARAS - award) in the Best Roots and Traditional Album - S...
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“…so Canadian you can practically hear the snow falling” Food and Drink
Skating Rink was awarded a JUNO (the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – CARAS - award) in the Best Roots and Traditional Album - Solo category in 2004
David's song, "Skating Rink" is the signature song of Hockey Day in Canada.
On Saturday November 22, 2003, the song "Skating Rink" aired as part of the Molson Canadian Heritage Classic Hockey Game
Skating Rink – Liner notes
The songs on Skating Rink are drawn from various stages of my life. Most were finally written down at the kitchen table where, if you look out the window, you can see the lights of the skating rink throwing at least a small part of the world into sharp relief.
Words and music by David Francey
Skating Rink
I live in a small village in Quebec across the street from the skating rink. In winter the rink becomes the focal point of the village. It is the meeting place, the spark of joy in the winter darkness, the very image of Canada in the heart of winter. From my house I can hear the thin music from the loudspeakers, the sound of hockey being played, the cut of steel on ice, the thud and boom of the puck on the boards, and the yells of joy and disappointment; sounds that seem to laugh in the face of winter itself.
Ayer’s Cliff Quebec, February 19, 2002
Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Guitar: Geoff Somers
Fiddle: Geoff Somers
Broken Glass
This was written for my daughter, Amy, when she was 14 years old. I remembered what it was like to be a boy in love, and unable to say so. I realized that all the awkwardness and unrequited passion of high school days remain unchanged from generation to generation.
Under Bunker Road, Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, 1993
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Backing Vocals: David Francey
Exit
A song about one man’s passing and the realization that we all carry our own burdens.
Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, May 28, 2002
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Mandolin: Geoff Somers
Backing Vocals: David Francey
Come Rain or Come Shine
One of the first love songs I wrote for Beth, on a rainy night on Highway 401.
Ennismore, Ontario, 1989
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Fiddle: Geoff Somers
Backing Vocals: David Francey
Midway
A song about the Ayer’s Cliff Fair and the sights you see there on any given night. The fair represents both a celebration of summer and a recognition of its passing.
Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, September, 1997
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: David Francey
Guitar: Geoff Somers
Backing Vocals: Geoff Somers
Belgrade Train
I had the great good fortune to take the train through Yugoslavia in 1980. A reflection on the trip and a love that got lost along the way.
Ayer's Cliff, Quebec, January 21, 2001
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Mandolin: Geoff Somers
Lead Guitar: Terry Tufts
Backing Vocals: Jenn Cianca, David Francey
Streets of Calgary
The view from my hotel window in Calgary, overlooking the corner of 4th Avenue and 3rd Street on a warm night in summer.
Calgary, Alberta/Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, 2001
Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Evening News
I was watching the news on TV one night and wondered through whose eyes I was seeing the world.
York Village, Maine, 2001
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Accordion: Karla Mundy
Backing Vocals: Karla Mundy
Grim Cathedral
The events of September 11th, 2001, as they unfolded on my TV screen.
Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, November 8, 2001
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Backing Vocals: Jenn Cianca
Annie’s House
The days when God is in His heaven and all’s right with the world are few and far between. I wrote this song at my friend Annie‘s house in Tamworth, New Hampshire, on just such a day.
Tamworth, New Hampshire, April 19, 2002
Vocals: David Francey
Mandolin: Geoff Somers
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Valley’s Edge
I used to live in Spruce Court Co-op in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto, just above the Don Valley. I spent a lot of time wandering through the neighbourhood and the valley below.
Ayer’s Cliff, Quebec, 1998
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Mandolin: Geoff Somers
Backing Vocals: David Francey
Nearly Midnight
The view through my windshield on a drive alongside Brome Lake, Quebec – in the dead of night, in the dead of winter. This is a love song for Beth and for the Eastern Townships. They are both so very beautiful.
Knowlton, Quebec, December, 2000
Lead Vocals: David Francey
Guitar: Dave Clarke
Backing Vocals: David Francey
A Winter Song
When I was young our family always sang on car trips, short or long. Now I sing this song in the car with my own family. Consequently, the voices you hear on this recording belong to my wife Beth, my youngest daughter Julia, my son Colin and myself.
Vocals: Beth Girdler, Julia Davie, Colin Francey, David Francey
Banjo: Kate Murphy
Skating Rink Credits:
David Francey: Vocals, Backing vocals, Guitar
Dave Clarke: Guitar
Geoff Somers: Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar, Backing vocals
Karla Mundy: Accordion, Backing vocals
Kate Murphy: Banjo
Terry Tufts: Guitar
Jenn Cianca: Backing vocals
Beth Girdler, Julia Davie, Colin Francey: Backing vocals
Produced by: David Francey, Dave Clarke and Geoff Somers
Arranged by: David Francey, Dave Clarke and Geoff Somers
Engineered and mixed by: Keith Mariash
Recorded at: Puck’s Farm Studio, Schomberg, Ontario and Frontline Studios, Toronto, Ontario
Mastered by: Simon Pressey, Good Noise Recording Services, Arundel, Quebec.
Cover photo Beth Girdler, back David Francey
Inside photography: Beth Girdler and David Francey
Design: Ben Wolfe
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