Five Days in July
Encyclopedia
Five Days in July is a 1993 album by Blue Rodeo
. It was keyboardist James Gray's first album with the band. The band's most commercially successful album, it has been certified six times platinum as of 2008.
The album was recorded on singer/guitarist Greg Keelor
's farm in Southern Ontario
in July 1992. While the band originally intended for the recordings to serve only as demos, they found that the songs had a warmth and spontaneity that warranted releasing the collection as an album. Guest musicians on the album include Sarah McLachlan
, Colin Linden
and Anne Bourne.
This album is supposed to be a tribute to the Harvest-era Neil Young
sound. This is especially evident on the song "5 Days in May."
"5 Days in May", "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" and "Bad Timing" were notable hit singles for the band.
and Jim Cuddy
, except where noted.
Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo is a Canadian pop and country rock band, which was formed in 1984 in Toronto, Ontario. They have been signed with Warner Music Group since their debut album Outskirts in March 1987...
. It was keyboardist James Gray's first album with the band. The band's most commercially successful album, it has been certified six times platinum as of 2008.
The album was recorded on singer/guitarist Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor
Greg Keelor is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also released three solo albums and appeared as a guest musician on albums by Crash Vegas and Melissa McClelland...
's farm in Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
in July 1992. While the band originally intended for the recordings to serve only as demos, they found that the songs had a warmth and spontaneity that warranted releasing the collection as an album. Guest musicians on the album include Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, Colin Linden
Colin Linden
Colin Linden is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, T-Bone Burnett, Colin James, Leon Redbone, Rita Chiarelli, Chris Thomas King and The Band.Linden is primarily a electric blues guitarist,...
and Anne Bourne.
This album is supposed to be a tribute to the Harvest-era Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
sound. This is especially evident on the song "5 Days in May."
"5 Days in May", "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" and "Bad Timing" were notable hit singles for the band.
Track listing
All songs by Greg KeelorGreg Keelor
Greg Keelor is a Canadian singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as a member of the band Blue Rodeo, where he shares song writing and vocal duties with Jim Cuddy. Keelor has also released three solo albums and appeared as a guest musician on albums by Crash Vegas and Melissa McClelland...
and Jim Cuddy
Jim Cuddy
Jim Cuddy is a Canadian singer-songwriter primarily associated with the band Blue Rodeo. He has also recorded three solo albums with the Jim Cuddy Band, which features musicians Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay and Gavin Brown...
, except where noted.
- "5 Days in May" – 7:12
- "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" – 5:14
- "Bad Timing" – 5:09
- "Cynthia" – 4:40
- "Photograph" – 4:10
- "What is This Love" – 6:16
- "English Bay" – 3:20
- "Head over Heels" – 4:01
- "'Til I Gain Control Again" – 4:29 - Rodney CrowellRodney CrowellRodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
- "Dark Angel" – 5:16
- "Know Where You Go/Tell Me Your Dream" – 9:22
Track trivia
- "What is This Love," "Dark Angel" and "Tell Me Your Dream" feature Sarah McLachlanSarah McLachlanSarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
. - Singer/guitarist Jim CuddyJim CuddyJim Cuddy is a Canadian singer-songwriter primarily associated with the band Blue Rodeo. He has also recorded three solo albums with the Jim Cuddy Band, which features musicians Bazil Donovan, Colin Cripps, Joel Anderson, Anne Lindsay and Gavin Brown...
has said that "5 Days in May" was inspired by his sound engineer's practice of writing his wife's name in the sand whenever he finds himself on a beach. Cuddy noticed the engineer doing so while the band was on tour in New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and was inspired to write lyrics combining this story with the story of how Cuddy met his own wife.
Chart performance
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian RPM Country Albums | 3 |
| Canadian RPM Top Albums | 8 |