Blog

Raylene in iTunes

Hard to believe that, up until now, Raylene Rankin recordings were not available online anywhere. But that’s changed. You can now download  ”All the Diamonds” from iTunes and CD Baby. You can still get them from me, from my music store, in hard copy, but for you folks who like to go directly to portable [...]

John Reischman & The Jaybirds

Here’s the great thing about John Reischman and The Jaybirds: they’re coming to Halifax on March 27th and playing at the Carleton. Truth be told, there are many great things about John and his band, but for me it’s especially good to know he’s coming to town. John and I go back to my first [...]

Christmas windows and manhole covers

I’m not sure if I written about this before. If so, I apologize. Christmas window displays in department stores seem to suspend time, stopping us in our determined shopping tracks and sending us into a revery of memory and a bit of nostalgic longing.  Simpson’s in Halifax, Eaton’s in Toronto, Ogilvie’s in Montreal, Woodward’s in [...]

‘Copters and cads

Re: Peter McKay. Remember this?  ”…And I promise never to unite the Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance.” Shameful. Those who rub elbows with this sort of man should either scrub their arms with antiseptic or cut them off. So sue me.

Happy Birthday Danny Greenspoon

…and Lisa Kent and Charlie Greenspoon. Have you met Danny? What a goof. Who does he think he is? Big shot producer, wine snob, Scotch snob, wanna be tennis pro. Oh, and he thinks he can cook. What a goof. Well, ok…maybe not such a goof. Great producer, generous friend, fantastic dinner companion, oblivious to [...]

You Need It When? Courier Service

I worked on a project recently that had very tight deadlines. Very tight deadlines. Tight deadlines. Here’s how it unfolded (abbreviated version): All ducks were corralled and set in a straight line – studio, producer, engineer, musicians, manufacturer, and all the other details required to record and manufacture a CD. Photos – done. Artwork, design [...]

Raylene’s new CD – All The Diamonds

  I’m so, so happy to tell you that Raylene’s CD is available on this website. If you go to the Music Store, you’ll find a PayPal button that will allow you     to pay online. I’ll pop one in the mail to you. These are pre-release sales – the CD won’t be in [...]

November 4th in Lucca

Today is the day Italians commemorate the end of WWI. Around the corner, a brass band plays patriotic music, and speeches are being made. It’s raining. The red tile roofs and the golden trees are a dramatic contrast to the grey sky. Very beautiful. The anthemic music, the handsome uniforms, the solemn faces and the [...]

Coffee, gelato, bad book

We chose a new neighbourhood in which to stay in Rome this time, close to the Pantheon. I was hesitant, knowing that it would be close to a tourist site, packed with people and teeming with the sellers of cheap toys and cheaper umbrellas. But our apartment is six flights up, overlooking a quiet(ish) piazza. [...]

Where am I?

Sorry for the late post, sorry for the brevity, sorry for the pared down writing. I’m in the Halifax airport on my way to Rome, wondering how the last days of our tour slipped by so quickly. After Virden, we forged on to Pinawa, and then to Manitou. in Pinawa, we stayed in the comfortable, [...]