Bruce Cockburn’s Greatest Hits (1970 – 2020)
Out Dec. 3 on True North Records, legendary Canadian singer songwriter Bruce Cockburn’s Greatest Hits is a masterpiece 2-CD collection of 30 songs spanning his 50-year career. The release coincides with the singer’s induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame on December 4, and his “2nd Attempt” North American tour for his 50th anniversary, which was postponed in 2020 due to Covid.
Cockburn selected the songs himself from over his 50 years of record releases. The songs are arranged in chronological order, and the result is a double length album of shimmering talent. The songs in this collection take listeners on a chronological tour of Cockburn’s long and diverse musical career and showcase his range of musical styles—from folk to blues, gospel, jazz and funk, to reggae, pop, and rock.
The collection kicks off with the lovely iconic folk song “Going to the Country,” one of the singer songwriter’s first, and his first hit, off his debut album in 1970. The next song, “One Day I Walk,” has undertones of gospel. Then, he slides into the bluesy “Mama Just Wants to BarrelHouse All Night Long,” followed by reggae-tinged, “Rumors of Glory,” and the moody jazz number “Silver Wheels.” Included are several of Cockburn’s biggest hits, “Wondering Where the Lions Are,” named the 29th greatest Canadian song of all time, and the pop hit, “If I Had a Rocket Launcher,” written about his reaction to a Guatemalan refugee camp he visited that was shelled by government helicopters. You can’t talk about Cockburn’s songs without mentioning his activism as they are often one and the same.
He is well known for his outspoken commitment to the environment and human rights, illustrated by his songs “They Call it Democracy,” “If a Tree Falls,” and “Stolen Land.” Whether you have been listening to Cockburn for years, or you are a newer listener, you’ll love this collection with its diverse songs spanning the first half century of this legendary musician’s career.
For our earlier interview of Bruce Cockburn, see here: Interview: Bruce Cockburn on “Crowing Ignites,” Meeting Jerry Garcia, and “Little Ass” Bells
Order the album here: https://truenorthrecords.com/brucecockburn/
or here: http://brucecockburn.com
Bruce Cockburn 2021/22 Tour Dates:
December 7, 2021 Center for the Arts, Grass Valley, CA
December 8, 2021 Rio Theater, Santa Cruz, CA
December 9, 2021 Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley,CA
December 10, 2021 Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley,CA
December 12, 2021 Soreng Theater, Eugene, OR
December 13, 2021 Tower Theater, Bend, OR
December 14, 2021 Rogue Theater, Grants Pass, OR
December 16, 2021 Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
December 17, 2021 Aladdin Theater, Portland, OR
December 18, 2021 Bing Crosby Theater Spokane, WA
December 19, 2021 Neptune Theater, Seattle, WA
February 24, 2022 Higher Ground, Burlington, VT
February 25, 2022 The Egg, Albany, NY
February 26, 2022 Academy Theatre, Northampton, MA
February 27, 2022 The Wilbur, Boston, MA
March 1, 2022 Opera House, Waterville, ME
March 2, 2022 Centre for the Arts, Fall River, MA
March 4, 2022 Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield, CT
March 5, 2022 Newton Theater, Newton, NJ
March 6, 2022 Peter Jay Sharp Theater, New York, NY
March 8, 2022 The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI
March 10, 2022 Old Town School Of Folk, Chicago, IL
March 11, 2022 Old Town School Of Folk, Chicago, IL
March 12, 2022 Barrymore Theater, Madison, WI
March 13, 2022 Englert Theater, Iowa City, IA
April 19, 2022 Showplace Theatre, Peterborough, ON, Canada
April 21, 2022 Centre In The Square, Kitchener, ON, Canada
April 22, 2022 Massey Hall Toronto, ON, Canada
April 23, 2022 National Arts Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada