author: Gina Livingston
The invaluable gift of historical song writing requires a combination of well-researched, authentic facts with a careful intermingling of credible assumptions. With their John Johnston era CD, singers/songwriters Sue Askwith and Dave Stanaway truly excel at this unique and effective method of preserving our past, musically crafting vivid imagery to reveal both the tenderness and the tenacity of life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during the late 1700's and early 1800's. From the soft and soulful "Sweet Willy" to the crusty air of the voyageur's "Canot du Maitre", their songs recount an era of extreme challenge and vulnerability, sure to appeal to all who appreciate the story power of everyday lives. As delightful as it is insightful, this is so exceptionally well done as to leave the listener with mental images that will not go away...
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author: Bill Krieger
These songs and stories by Dave and Sue seem to bring alive what I imagine were the difficulties, the satisfactions, the victories and the defeats of John Johnston and his wife and the people who became close to them. It is of an era of rugged individualism and the artists have captured that. In each song, the artists adapt the tones of their voices to help carry and strengthen the message. For example, both the lyrics and Susan’s voice bring home the lessons of life in “Susan’s Song”. Her tone is clear and nearly free of harmonics, carrying the message of the truth of life. In contrast, in “Sweet Willy, My Boy”, she uses more harmonics in her voice to carry the love of a mother, more husky and full of emotion. Dave does the same kind of thing in his songs and the two musicians work well together to effect the same thing in their other songs. In his song, “Boatman”, Dave uses a variety of tones to enhance the message of the lyrics. In his voice, we can hear the stress and anxiety of a boatman and we can feel the aspects of a boatman’s life through the lyrics. This album is well done and the songs represent America’s folk music at its best. Listen to each piece. Each is an individual, just as the Johnstons were.
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Excellence in orginality and edification
author: Rick Smith
Folk music afficianados will not be dissappointed because they will find enjoyment in the skill and artistry employed on the instruments, vocals and lyrics of every song. Case in point and of special note, as Stanaway opens "Sweet Willy, My Boy" on his guitar, the listener immediately gets a sense of the heart break about to follow in the intimate imagery conveyed in the apt vocals by Askwith. That song alone is worth the price of the whole CD and one shouldn't be surprised if it becomes a folk classic. Production values on the CD are excellent as well.
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Original, professional and emotionally provoking.
author: Mimi Gabriel
This original, researched and professional CD about life in Sault Ste. Marie in the early 1800's is done with simply instrument and voice. This emotionally provoking style allows the story to be told as it must have been. Dave's sense of history and Susan's sense of Native American life and spirit is an awesome combination.
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