Ruthie Purves Smith – “Piano in the Field”
Americana Highways is hosting this video premiere of Ruthie Purves Smith’s song “Piano in the Field,” the title track of her forthcoming album which is scheduled for release on August 16. The album was produced by Derek Pulliam and Jonathan Lagore. It was recorded at Dog in the Window Studio in Calgary, Alberta.
The video recording of “Piano in the Field” is Keith Floen on piano, Jonathan Lagore on guitar, Corbett Frasz on drums, Mitch Jay on steel guitar, Ruthie Purves Smith on lead vocals and Esther Purves Smith on background vocals. Acting in the video are Chan Tania (Ruthie’s daughter), James Sowery and his son, Noah Sowery.
Packing up the pickup truck to move, with your young child, and a piano in the truck bed, then setting up your new home on a tarp in a field – these scenes introduce the song. “She loved him, but she could never save him, or stop her heart from breaking.” And then the dawn breaks and “she’s left that piano in the field and who knows if she’ll ever play again.” The video is more than just a music video, it’s a vignette and a window into the lives of so many people who need to start over but they don’t know how. Yet. And the song will stand alone to tell this story, with or without the video. A powerful song.
Everyone knows the old saying about having a piano tied to their butt…going too slow in the hurry up and ride slipshod over everything world. Whatever you do, don’t drag a piano around with you. Apparently, I didn’t get the memo. The story of ‘Piano In the Field’ and the journey of this song are synonymous. To make this video, we actually hauled a 1200 pound piano out to the field TWICE! This true story takes place over two seasons, so, on October 4th, 2023, we loaded up the moving van with an upright grand piano with the ramshackle set, and headed out to location very close to where this saga happened in real life. The wind was blowing crazy that day. The farmer next to the dead-end road showed up wondering what on earth was going on, and someone even called the law officer to come check us out. We’re we setting up a homeless camp with a tent and a piano!? In The Spring, we did it all again on May 10th, 2024; this time loading everything onto the classic flatbed GMC featured in the film. It was the hottest day we have had this year, and, of course, the old truck overheated halfway through the shoot out on the gravel road. We limped it back the 20 miles to the other set a couple hundred yards at a time, finally having to pull the thermostat to make the last few miles. The story became the reality of the metaphor that IS ‘Piano In the Field.’ Sometimes in life, our most beautiful treasures are hard won. When we find ourselves up against the odds and facing huge challenges, our belief in keeping our humanity alive in The Storm is how we endure. In these troubled times, so many are desperately dragging their ‘pianos’ around with hopes of better days ahead….hopes for creating a community of love and beauty. The song, ‘Piano In the Field,’ written by me and my sister, Esther Purves Smith, is based on a true story that happened out here on the windswept prairies of Alberta. The gal eventually didn’t come back for her piano. This video was filmed and produced on location in Central Alberta by Joel Varjassy of Louis Studios; our crew being my true friends with strong backs, one of whom we lost before second shoot. The actors are Chan Tania (my beautiful daughter), James Sowery and his amazing son, Noah Sowery. The song was recorded in Calgary, Alberta, at Dog In the Window Records, produced by Derek Pulliam and Jonathan Lagore. The recording features Keith Floen on piano, Jonathan Lagore on guitar, Corbett Frasz on drums, Mitch Jay on steel guitar, Ruthie Purves Smith on lead vocals and Esther Purves Smith on background vocals. I am humbled by all the Love that made this happen. – Ruthie Purves Smith
Find more details here: http://ruthpurvessmith.com/
Great song, great video!
I Love it!