Album Notes

Born in the North Song List 1. Born in the North (3:05) - Jess Lee Basically this song is just about having pride in living in the North. I love hunting and fishing and living in the bush. It's just a big part of my life. I love visiting my friends and having bannock and moose meat. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath, Gary Lee Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Mandolin: Greg McEachern Acoustic Guitar: Ray St. Germain, Jess Lee Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Chris Allen, Wanda Mundy 2. Fly Sparrow Fly (3:18) - Jess Lee We're basically all as vulnerable as sparrows, and we're all in this life together. It's funny how this song hits everyone. It's really popular in the bars and honky-tonks. I guess it's inspirational and spiritual. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Acoustic Guitar: Freddie Pelletier Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Steel Guitar: Rob Anderson Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Electric Piano: Gary Dere Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix 3. Bingo Song (2:23) - Jess Lee & Karen Lord My girl likes to play bingo. Personally, I never had any use for it. But I started going in order to share time with her. I figured the game needed a song. Lead Vocal: Jess Lee Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Jaw harp, Clavinette: Greg McEachern Banjo: Greg McEachern Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern, Jess Lee Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix, Greg McEachern, Karen Lord, Jess Lee 4. Shood da Doo (2:49) - Jess Lee I was working on songs one morning, after being up all night drinking beer. My girl told be I should go to bed. So I started singing "What should I do" as a smart-ass comeback, and before 24 hours had passed I had this song. Lead Vocal: Jess Lee Lead & Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Accordion: Alex Maduk Mandolin: Greg McEachern Drums: Tim Lent Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix 5. She Ain't Gonna Rock (2:42) - Jess Lee, B. James, Ed Molyski I started writing this song with Ed Molyski and Bonny James back in 1989, during a gig in Port Hardy, B.C. Playing in bars for so many years one observes certain trends, like the many times you see drunken, horny men try to put the moves on women when all the women want to do is dance. Lead Vocal: Jess Lee Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern, Jess Lee Piano: Kevin Nickel Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmonica: Christopher Allen Harmony Vocals, Wanda Munday, Chris Allen 6. You and Me (3:05) - Jess Lee This is a classic love song. I mean, who hasn't been in love. Everyone should give it a try at least once. Lead Vocal: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Acoustic & Lead Guitar: Freddie Pelletier Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Slide Guitar: Greg McEachern Harmonica: Greg McEachern Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Wanda Mundy, Chris Allen, Greg McEachern 7. Love Street (3:03) - Jess Lee & Ed Molyski This is an old song Ed and I started writing back in the Midnite Rodeo days, but we never got around to finishing it. I wrote another verse in 2001 and finally finished the damn thing, then I sent it out to Ed and he liked it. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Steel Guitar: Rob Anderson Piano: Kevin Nickel Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix 8. Lake Wabamun (2:52) - Jess Lee I lived out in Lake Wabamun for two years. I was talking to some old people in their 80s, and their eyes lit up when talking about the old days at the lake. That was the inspiration for the song. We all have our "good old days." Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Lead & Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Piano: Greg McEachern Brushes: Tim Lent Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix, Greg McEachern, Jess Lee 9. Alberta (2:53)- Jess Lee & Karen Lord This province has a lot to offer everyone, and the song basically heralds that fact. Standing at attention is optional. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Lead & Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Brushes: Tim Lent Steel Guitar: Rob Anderson Harmonica & Mandolin: Greg McEachern Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix, Greg McEachern, Jess Lee, Josette McEachern, Karen Lord 10. Let Love Fly (2:47) - Jess Lee If you're going to bother to do anything you may as well try and do it right. Holding back on love is hardly love at all. You have to just let it fly. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Wanda Mundy, Chris Allen 11. Hidin' Out (2:50) - Jess Lee This was written for Cindy, my second ex-wife. I started it back in 1993 when I fled Vancouver for the north. The autobiographical elements in this song are hard to deny. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Rhythm Guitar: Freddie Pelletier Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Trumpet: Bob Grant Harmonica: Greg McEachern Lipbone: Jess Lee Piano: Benny Benoit Steel Guitar: Rob Anderson Harmony Vocals: Andy Greatrix 12. Send me an Angel (3:13) - Jess Lee & Debbie Cochran I have had this song for a while. I started it out back in 1988 at the Barnet Hotel in Port Moody. In 1991 Ralph Murphy hooked me up with Debbie Cochran in Nashville and we finished the song together. It's for all those living in self-imposed exile from their family at Christmas. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Calvin Vollrath Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern High String Rhythm Guitar: Jimmy Flett Piano: Kevin Nickel Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Christmas Bells: Jess Lee Drums: Bob Grant Harmony Vocals: Wanda Mundy, Chris Allen 13. You Getting Over Me (2:31) - Jess Lee I wrote this song in the back of my bus, the Métis Rose, the day I left my family in Burnaby. Just feeling sorry for myself... Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Lead & Rhythm Guitar: Greg McEachern Bass Guitar: Jess Lee Steel Guitar: Rob Anderson Drums: Bob Grant 14. Dry Creek Goose Camp (2:41) - Jess Lee During my absence from the music scene I was a goose guide in 1999, taking American tourists out for some shooting. Lead Vocals: Jess Lee Fiddle: Gary Lee Acoustic Lead Guitar: Greg McEachern Rhythm Guitar: Jess Lee Banjo: Tex Taylor Jaw Harp: Greg McEachern Midi Drums: Gary Dere Goose & Duck Calls: Slim Wallet Jess Lee is a truly natural performer who was born to sing. Since the age of 14, Jess Lee has been a professional musician, singer, entertainer, and songwriter. Playing the drums and bass in country bands, it was evident that his pure country voice stood out in any crowd. RCA liked his voice too, and the rest of the country soon found out when the Midnite Rodeo Band was signed with Jess Lee’s voice at the front. Jess wrote and sang three hit albums for them and his voice was enjoyed by millions. His work with Rocky Swanson and the great musicians on the west coast scene earned him several awards including BCCMA Male Vocalist and Album Of The Year honours. Following these huge successes, he recorded his first solo album “Honky Tonk Love Affair” in 1990. This album included 5 charted hits, including the #1 hit “Crowhill Road”. The title track was featured in the movie “Harmony Cats” starring Lisa Brokop, was voted song of the year by the BCCMA, and garnered Jess Lee the Country Male Vocalist Of The Year Award. He spent several years in Nashville and co-wrote songs with many famous songwriters. In the mid -90’s Jess Lee returned to his aboriginal musical roots, and together with songwriter Bonnie James wrote the landmark album “Sacred Ground”. This incredible recording reflects true experiences of the aboriginal and metis peoples of North America and was subsequently nominated for the JUNO awards. In 2004, Jess Lee and Mighty Peace Records released a cd of new original roots music “Born In The North”, and has been credited by Larry Delaney and Country Music News as one of his top ten album picks for 2004. Jess Lee is currently writing and producing several new projects and is touring in 2006/07. He is a fan’s favourite wherever he performs.