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I'm Not Fifty Anymore

by Brian Blain

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    Songs that lift the spirit and provide some food for thought. The last track is a ten-minute instrumental meditation - a soundscape for Tai Chi or whatever meditation you practice or let it guide you into a new space.

    Includes unlimited streaming of I'm Not Fifty Anymore via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Excuse me if I don't recall your name Old age is wreaking havoc on my brain But there's one reel left in this movie And you can have a leading role Just go easy on me, honey I'm not 50 anymore The label wants to sign me If I'm prepared to hit the road But I can't drive in those blizzards Can't lift those heavy loads But if it's a short itinerary If we can keep it close to home If we go easy on me, honey I'm not fifty anymore I tell all the pretty women I'm not the man I was before I don't get out like I used to Is there a washroom on this floor? I'm blind without my glasses Just point me to the door. And go easy on me honey I'm not fifty anymore
2.
I had a dream about Jesus Got to shake his hand? Got to know him in person Got to understand Got to feel his presence And everything was OK But then I awakened When I heard him say You are also His son He is in us both God is the spirit And you are the host If you read your scripture No matter what faith It's all about lovin' It's not about hate Nothing is certain We don't know what awaits But if you get to meet Jesus I reckon he'll say You are also His son He is in us both God is the spirit And you are the host
3.
J'etais un jeune garcon - quand j'ai quitte ma ville Arreté par la police – en liberté conditionelle Ma blonde était enceite - ma vie a la poubelle J'ai dit "Goodbye Sherbrooke – Ontario m'appelle" Deux ans au Sherbrooke Record – deux semaines a La Tribune Aprenti vendeur d'annonces - photographe a temp partiel Dans l'temps des chambres noir - pas d'fax et pas d'couriel J'ai dit "Goodbye Sherbrooke – Ontario m'appelle"
4.
She was a mother A single mom making do Working at Simpsons She's the mother I never knew Someone to lean on Someone to help you work things through Spent her life helping others That's the mother I never knew She was never angry And she'd calm you if you were Always ready to listen And your secrets were safe with her And she loved music Or sitting back watching the news Always rooting for underdogs That's the mother I never knew BR: And it's been beautiful to learn these things Hope she knew how she was loved The family sharing precious memories has shown me who she was A kind-hearted woman A person of very deep faith Only thinking of others Some might even call her a saint But she was just a mother A single mom making do Working at Simpsons She's the mother I never knew
5.
I work hard on the factory floor I'm getting overtime and ready for more I'll see a pension and a good vacation And I don't worry 'bout the automation I heard they might be going back to coal Just like in the days of old We'll be happy I had some trouble with the girl of my dreams We've been together since our early teens But things are changing as we both grow older And now she kinda said it was over But I'm not worried this has happened before She'll be back knocking at my door We'll be happy The fortuneteller said I'd write a hit tune But she also said it wouldn't be soon So I'm 'a sitting here scratching my head Hopin' it happens before I drop dead But I'm not worried cause it's coming to me I'll be winning that lottery I'll be happy
6.
Water Song 05:26
The woman needs water – She's dying of thirst Asking why has her life has been so cursed Her children starving - she's praying for rain Tribal war brings more hardship and pain There's water yonder but nothing for her A cry in the desert, can you hear her? Donner Moi de L'eau….J'ai soif Baby crying in the dark of night Mother desperate - no help in sight Hiding the child - so they won't be found No turning back - village burnt to the ground They killed her son and they raped her daughter And it's been days since she's had a drink of water Donner Moi de L'eau….J'ai soif In Attawapiskat there's water in the sink But half the time it's not safe to drink It's no wonder things have gone so wrong With the water protectors all beaten down Now it's come to haunt us and it's going to get worse When the so-called civilized world is dying of thirst Donner Moi de L'eau….J'ai soif
7.

about

For this album, Brian wanted to bring attention to the water crisis that is affecting 3 billion people on the planet. "Water Song" is a pretty dark "ear movie" with a world-beat vibe provided by Sadio Sissokho (kora) and Harry Manx (mohan veena). The haunting vocals are provided by Ruth Mathiang. "I'm Not Fifty Anymore" kicks off the album with Brian's signature tongue-in-cheek sense of humour and some fine harp playing from Steve Marriner. “The Not Worried Blues (An American Dream)” and “You Are Also His Son” were recorded with Julian Fauth and Gary Kendall, Mike Fitzpatrick and Pat Carey from Downchild. “Blues Des Cantons (Goodbye Sherbrooke)” is a leaving-home barrellhouse boogie “en francais” with David Vest pounding the 88s. Patrick Merner added some bass & synth, and Clayton Doley overdubbed some organ from his studio in Melbourne, Australia. Ken Whiteley played some lap steel on "You Are Also His Son", Jesse O'Brien added some piano and organ to "The Mother I Never Knew" and drummer Michelle Josef provides a solid backbeat throughout. Some songs end with extended jams (because Brian loves to jam) and the last track is a ten-minute acoustic soundscape with Michael Jerome Browne from the last day of recording his “Overqualified For The Blues” album years ago in Montreal. He calls it “Tai Chi Ten,” …"because it’s just the right pace and length for my Tai Chi set, but it makes for a fine meditation even if you aren’t moving."

credits

released September 11, 2020

Produced by Brian Blain
Mixed by Margaret Stowe @ Ozworld Toronto
Mastered by Harris Newman @ Grey Market Mastering
All Songs by Brian Blain © Blainco Music
Art Director Linda Turu
Designer Keijo Tapanainen
Photography Margaret Mulligan

The title track, “I’m Not Fifty Anymore” (with some fine harp from Steve Marriner) has certainly provided many smiles and a lot of LOL and is a natural follow-up on my usual lighthearted approach to songwriting but for the rest of the album I was delving a little deeper.
“Water Song” was my effort to bring more attention to the global water crisis. On World Water Day, March 22, we released a single and a video but our campaign was totally derailed by a more urgent crisis (though no doubt the water crisis will still be there when the COVID-19 crisis is over). Sadio Sissokho (kora) and Harry Manx (mohan veena) give it a world-beat vibe. The haunting vocals are provided by Ruth Mathiang
“The Not-Worried Blues (An American Dream),” the first tune in my Trump Trilogy and “You Are Also His Son” were recorded with Julian Fauth and some friends from Downchild at Loud Mouse Studio with L. Stu Young and Gary Kendall at the helm.
“Le Blues Des Cantons (Goodbye Sherbrooke)” is an auto-biographical leaving-home tune “en francais” with some explosive barrel-house piano from David Vest (recorded by Sydney Galbraith at Desert Fish Studios). “The Mother I Never Knew” was inspired by the recent discovery of my birth mother and what I learned about her. Jesse O’Brien added some keys from his Hamilton studio.
Patrick Merner provided some bass and a hint of synth from his home studio and Clayton Doley’s organ was recorded in his home studio in Sydney, Australia. Ken Whiteley’s lap steel was recorded at Casa Wroxton by Nik Tjelios. Michelle Josef's drums were recorded by Margaret Stowe at Ozworld Toronto
The last track is a ten-minute instrumental jam with Michael Jerome Browne from the last day of recording my “Overqualified” album long ago at Fast Forward Studios in Montreal with Rob Heaney at the board. I called it “Tai Chi Ten” because it’s ten minutes long - just the right length and pace for my Tai Chi set but it makes for a fine meditation even if you aren’t moving.


The Players
Brian Blain (guitar & vocals 1-7, bass 1,3,4), Harry Manx (mohan veena 6), Steve Marriner (harmonica 1), Ken Whiteley (lap slide 2), David Vest (piano 1,3), Julian Fauth (piano 2,5), Clayton Doley (organ 2,3), Jesse O’Brien (piano, organ 4), Gary Kendall (bass, arrangements 2,5), Mike Fitzpatrick (drums 2,5), Pat Carey (sax 2,5), Patrick Merner (bass 6, synth 3, 6) Michelle Josef (drums, 1-6), Michael Jerome Browne (slide guitar, mandolin 7), Ruth Mathiang (vocals 6), Sadio Sissokho (kora & djembe 6)

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Brian Blain Toronto, Ontario

Brian Blain has been called an"elder blues statesman" and is this year's recipient of the lifetime achievement "Blues Booster" Maple Blues Award from the Toronto Blues Society. He's been a sideman, frontman, producer, publisher, blogger and has played with top blues players in Canada at his popular "Campfire Jam", and backed blues legends like Kathi MacDonald, Long John Baldry and Hubert Sumlin. ... more

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