Linda McRae
Encyclopedia
Linda McRae is a Canadian
rock
and alternative country
musician.
band Spirit of the West
from 1988 to 1996. A multi-instrumentalist playing accordion, guitar, bass, and banjo she also appeared as a guest musician on The Wonder Stuff
's album Never Loved Elvis
. McRae played her final show with Spirit of the West on New Year's Eve
of 1996, and left amicably to pursue a solo career.
Her debut album as a solo artist, Flying Jenny, was released in 1997. That album was produced by Colin Linden
, and included guest performances from members of Blue Rodeo
, The Tragically Hip
and The Band
, as well as Syd Straw
and Gurf Morlix
and showcased the songs Linda had written while with SOTW.
In 2003, she released her pure honky-tonk second album, Cryin' Out Loud produced by Gurf Morlix
and recorded with Vancouver band Cheerful Lonesome. Her third album, Carve it to the Heart co-produced by McRae and Marc L’Esperance featured 10 new songs steeped in the dust bowl traditions as far-reaching as the Canadian Prairie to the heartland of the Appalachian Mountains.
In 2008 she moved with her husband to Nashville. They are currently working on her next recording to be released later this year. She also writes a monthly column for BC Musician's Magazine entitled This Winding Road.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and alternative country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
musician.
Career
McRae was a member of platinum folk rockFolk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West
Spirit of the West are a Canadian folk rock band, who were popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s before evolving a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences which made them one of Canada's most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.-Early years:The band began...
from 1988 to 1996. A multi-instrumentalist playing accordion, guitar, bass, and banjo she also appeared as a guest musician on The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff
The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band, originally based in Stourbridge, West Midlands, in the Black Country, England.-Origins:...
's album Never Loved Elvis
Never Loved Elvis
Never Loved Elvis is the third album by The Wonder Stuff released in June 1991.Guest musicians on the album include Kirsty MacColl and Linda McRae....
. McRae played her final show with Spirit of the West on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
of 1996, and left amicably to pursue a solo career.
Her debut album as a solo artist, Flying Jenny, was released in 1997. That album was produced by 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 included guest performances from members of Blue Rodeo
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...
, The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip
The Tragically Hip, often referred to simply as The Hip, is a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie , Paul Langlois , Rob Baker , Gord Sinclair and Johnny Fay . Since their formation in 1983 they have released 12 studio albums, two live albums, and 46 singles...
and The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
, as well as Syd Straw
Syd Straw
Syd Straw is an American rock singer and songwriter. The daughter of actor Jack Straw , she began her career singing backup for Pat Benatar, then took her distinct voice to the indie/alternative scene and joined the Golden Palominos...
and Gurf Morlix
Gurf Morlix
Gurf Morlix is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer residing for many years in Austin, Texas. He has worked with many of the best known performers of Americana and alternative country music. His most notable works include albums by Lucinda Williams, Robert...
and showcased the songs Linda had written while with SOTW.
In 2003, she released her pure honky-tonk second album, Cryin' Out Loud produced by Gurf Morlix
Gurf Morlix
Gurf Morlix is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer residing for many years in Austin, Texas. He has worked with many of the best known performers of Americana and alternative country music. His most notable works include albums by Lucinda Williams, Robert...
and recorded with Vancouver band Cheerful Lonesome. Her third album, Carve it to the Heart co-produced by McRae and Marc L’Esperance featured 10 new songs steeped in the dust bowl traditions as far-reaching as the Canadian Prairie to the heartland of the Appalachian Mountains.
In 2008 she moved with her husband to Nashville. They are currently working on her next recording to be released later this year. She also writes a monthly column for BC Musician's Magazine entitled This Winding Road.
Discography
- Jason Eklund TBA 2007
- Joanne MacKell Brand New Loneome 2008
- Linda McRae Carve It to the Heart 2007
- Rodney DeCroo War Torn Man 2006
- Escovedo 101, Alejandro Escovedo Tribute 2004
- Rodney DeCroo Rodney DeCroo and the Killers 2004
- Gurf Morlix Cut’N Shoot 2004
- Linda McRae Cryin’ Out Loud, 2003
- Leslie Alexander Savage Country 2003
- John Guliak The Black Monk 2002
- Neko Case Furnace Room Lullaby 2000
- Jim Whitford Poison in the Well 2000
- JT King, Ruby River, 2000
- Bruce Cockburn Where Have All the Flowers Gone, Pete Seeger Tribute 1998
- Linda McRae Flying Jenny 1997
- Spirit of the West Open Heart Symphony Live with the VSO 1996
- Spirit of the West Two-Headed 1995
- The Waltons Cock’s Crow 1995
- Spirit of the West Upfront! Canadians Live On Stage Various Artists 1994
- Spirit of the West Faithlift 1993
- The Wonder Stuff Never Loved Elvis 1992
- Spirit of the West The Hanging Garden 1997
- Spirit of the West Go Figure 1991
- Spirit of the West Collected Works Compilation 1991
- Spirit of the West, Save This House 1990
- Easy Money, Standing in Your Shadow 1981
- Easy Money, Getting Lost 1980