Red Earth (Crash Vegas album)
Encyclopedia
Red Earth was the debut album of the Canadian
indie band Crash Vegas
. It was released by Risque Disque
, a label formed by Blue Rodeo
. Greg Keelor
, one of Blue Rodeo's musicians, collaborated with Michelle McAdorey
and co-wrote some of the music for the album, and also provided guitar performances for the recorded version of the songs "Red Earth" and "The One That Keeps Me Running". The band toured in support of the album in 1990, and again from late 1991 to mid-1992. The second tour included opening act Junkhouse
, which became increasingly popular as a result of this exposure.
The album is typically described as melancholic and brooding folk rock
, with a style reminiscent of Cowboy Junkies
or 10,000 Maniacs
. It was recorded at The Lab, a studio in Hamilton
operated by Jocelyne Lanois
, of Martha & The Muffins, and Malcolm Burn
.
Songs that received notable airplay on Canadian radio included "Sky", "Smoke" and "Inside Out", which became a Top 20 hit in Canada. It also includes a cover of "Down to the Wire" from the unreleased album Stampede by Buffalo Springfield
, which first appeared on the album Decade
by Neil Young
.
Performers for the recorded album, in addition to the band members and Keelor, include Malcolm Burn, who played piano
, keyboard
, percussion
and provided backing vocals; Sammy Vegas, lead guitar on "Down to the Wire", and Anne Bourne on keyboards for "Red Earth".
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...
indie band Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas
Crash Vegas was a Canadian folk rock band which formed in 1988, and achieved moderate success in the early 1990s.-Biography:The band was formed by Michelle McAdorey and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo in 1988. Jocelyne Lanois joined the band as bassist and shortly after Ambrose Pottie as drummer...
. It was released by Risque Disque
Risque Disque
Risque Disque was a Canadian independent record label, active from 1985 to 1990. Formed by John Caton, Prairie Oyster's band manager, and based out of the basement of the Horseshoe Tavern, the label was best known for releases by Blue Rodeo, Bob Wiseman, Scott Dibble and Crash Vegas....
, a label formed by 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...
. 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...
, one of Blue Rodeo's musicians, collaborated with Michelle McAdorey
Michelle McAdorey
Michelle McAdorey is a Canadian singer-songwriter.In the early 1980s, McAdorey lived in the UK, where she was briefly a backup singer for Kirsty MacColl. While there, she joined a new wave band called Corect Spelling...
and co-wrote some of the music for the album, and also provided guitar performances for the recorded version of the songs "Red Earth" and "The One That Keeps Me Running". The band toured in support of the album in 1990, and again from late 1991 to mid-1992. The second tour included opening act Junkhouse
Junkhouse
-History:Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia....
, which became increasingly popular as a result of this exposure.
The album is typically described as melancholic and brooding folk rock
Folk 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...
, with a style reminiscent of Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
or 10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs
10,000 Maniacs is a United States-based alternative rock band, which formed in 1981 and continues to be active with various line-ups.-1981–1993:...
. It was recorded at The Lab, a studio in Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
operated by Jocelyne Lanois
Jocelyne Lanois
Jocelyne Lanois is a Canadian musician, bassplayer and songwriter from Hull, Quebec, who has been a member of the bands Martha and the Muffins and Crash Vegas. She has also had touring stints as bassplayer with Ani DiFranco and Chris Whitley, and played on Sarah McLachlan's album Solace...
, of Martha & The Muffins, and Malcolm Burn
Malcolm Burn
Malcolm Burn is a Canadian-born music producer, recording engineer and musician. In 2001, he won a Grammy Award with Jim Watts and Emmylou Harris for his work on Harris's Red Dirt Girl. -Biography:...
.
Songs that received notable airplay on Canadian radio included "Sky", "Smoke" and "Inside Out", which became a Top 20 hit in Canada. It also includes a cover of "Down to the Wire" from the unreleased album Stampede by Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
, which first appeared on the album Decade
Decade (Neil Young album)
Decade is a triple album compilation by Neil Young, released in 1977, now available on two compact discs. It contains 35 of Young's songs recorded between 1966 and 1976, among them five tracks that had been unreleased up to that point...
by 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...
.
Performers for the recorded album, in addition to the band members and Keelor, include Malcolm Burn, who played piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
, percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
and provided backing vocals; Sammy Vegas, lead guitar on "Down to the Wire", and Anne Bourne on keyboards for "Red Earth".
Track listing
- Red Earth – 4:06
- Down To The Wire – 2:59
- Sky – 3:39
- Smoke – 4:20
- I Gave You My Heart – 3:15
- The One That Keeps Me Running – 4:58
- Moving Too Fast – 3:31
- Inside Out – 3:50
- Julia Rain – 3:17
- It's Not Funny Anymore – 3:45
- Bury Her – 4:06