Turn

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		Consequence Free	3:11
2		Feel It Turn	3:47
3		Jack Hinks	3:02
4		Demasduit Dream	3:31
5		Boston and St. John's	3:47
6		Margarita	3:27
7		Trois Navires de Bl	4:27
8		Ferryland Sealer	3:15
9		Can't Stop Falling	3:23
10		Old Brown's Daughter	2:40
11		I'm A Rover	2:52
12		Captain Wedderburn	3:38
13		Bad As I Am	2:53

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Description

Released in 1999, Turn included seven GBS-penned originals, a traditional French song, and a video where San is bullied by a female wrestler!

The Traditional Material

Jack Hinks is one our Newfoundland super-hero songs. Its celebration of courage and strength comes from the early 1800s, when Newfoundland first achieved independence. The tune in the middle is known as The Hills of Home, a dance from Mrs. Minnie White.

Our friends and mentors Fergus OByrne and Dermot OReilly taught us Im A Rover; a much loved song in St. Johns traditional circles, undoubtedly of Irish origins. We could not imagine recording it without having Fergus and Dermot join us on the chorus.

Trois Navires de Bl is a rare song from Newfoundlands French community. Originally collected from Guillaume Robin of Cape St. Georges, the tune came to our attention through Keith Murphy, a St. Johns man now performing in New England. The Title translates as Three Wheat Ships, and describes a mildly salacious dialogue between some sailors and three sisters on the beach. The sailors intentions are to sell them some wheat and win their hands. The girls, alas, are too smart and the sailors fail on both accounts.

There are dozens of versions of Captain Wedderburns ancient riddle floating around Newfoundland. San learned his from Jamie Moreira, a Nova Scotian who wisely chose to study in St. Johns for a few years. The instrumental section is the beautiful air Give Me Your Hand.

Ferryland is a small fishing community on the Avalon Peninsulas southern shore whose fishermen, like those of many outports, sought scarce winter employment in the seal hunt. Ferryland Sealer describes the hard and dangerous journey of the sealers or swilers as well as a celebration of their safe return from the ice. Hunt The Squirrel, Bobs accordion solo, is from the repertoire of the late Newfoundland fiddle master, Rufus Guinchard. We suspect it to be of English origin due to the rarity of squirrels on the Island, for hunting or otherwise.

Johnny Burke, the great St. johns balladeer of the early 1900s penned Old Browns Daughter. His melody was lost to the mists of time but we sure like the tune Ron Hynes added a number of years back. The songs lyrics hearken back to a more colourful or, shall we say, nave period in the English language.

- Bob

Musical Contributions by

The Chieftans Paddy Moloney, Matt Malloy, Derek Bell, Martin Fay, San Keane, and Kevin Conneff
Al Cross drums and percussion
Ryan MacNeil cabasa
Fergus OByrne banjo and backing vocals
Dermot OReilly backing vocals
Steve Berlin Hammond organ and effects

The Chieftans appear courtesy of RCA Victor/BMG Classics
Steve Berlin appears courtesy of Hollywood Records/UMG

Recorded at First City Productions, St. Johns, Newfoundland