Album Notes

"No Special Rider" is the result of a collaboration between Juno Award winner Bill Bourne, guitar wizard and producer Andreas Schuld, and R&B legend Hans Stamer. Orchestrated by Schuld, who worked with both Bourne and Stamer in the past, a session was planned for late '96. Bourne and Stamer had only heard about each other, but never actually met until the night before the recording, when a brief get-together was held to discuss possible material for the session.

The recording was done "live off the floor", setting up "in the round" and employing "ancient" microphones. After a few hours of recording the trio had 24 songs in the can - mostly first takes- over 100 minutes of music.

A genuine love for the blues shines throughout the album, which features songs popularized by Leadbelly, Skip James, Robert Johnson, Louis Armstrong, as well as numerous traditionals and one original by Bill Bourne.

The album was released to critical acclaim and was nominated for a "Best Blues" Juno in 1997.

"If you don't have this, go out and get it!"
- Tom Coxworth, CKUA Alberta

"A really wonderful recording!"
- Bill Wagman, KDVS Davis, California

"Pure class!"
- Gil Wilson, KCXL, Liberty, Missouri

"Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing. These cats are!"
- Kathy Kirby, See Magazine

"...blends the traditional blues genre with a modern touch...a great audio pictorial of what the blues can convey."
- Peter Hofmann, Discorder

"...One of the best releases I've heard in a long time!"
- John Detcheverry, CKUT Montreal

"...Pure toe-tapping roots music that meanders along at its own pace, like a cool
mountain stream."
- Mary Lamey, Montreal Gazette

"Stamer and Bourne are national treasures and Schuld deserves an award for bringing the two together in the studio."
- Peter North, Vue Magazine

"Spontaneous, self-assured and generous interplay makes for a rare West Coast blues
release."
- Tom Harrison, The Province

"Great album!"
- Peter Kearnast, WTSR Ewing, NJ

"...scorchingly spontaneous tribute to the early Mississippi greats."
- Mitch Potter, Toronto Star