Wade Hemsworth is a legend among Canadian folk singers. Raised in Ontario and later settling near Montreal in Quebec, Hemsworth's songs are sung by more Canadians than any other songwriter in the book. Although his actual corpus of original material is quite small, songs like "The Blackfly Song" and "The Log Driver's Waltz" are known by heart and sung in schools, at campfires, and every song circle in Canada. These two songs, in particular, have also been immortalized by Canadian Film Board animation shorts of the same name that feature Hemsworth himself singing "The Blackfly Song" and the McGarrigle Sisters singing "The Log Driver's Waltz." These two songs capture some essence so Canadian they've become folk anthems.

The McGarrigle Sisters, who are friends of Hemsworth and were influenced by him in their early days when they all sang together in Montreal coffee houses, recorded "Foolish You" on their first album. Rick Fielding has recorded "The Wild Goose," a shiveringly beautiful song/poem about watching the geese in the fall.

Ironically, the only recorded Hemsworth songs from his prime years are covers of traditional Canadian folk songs rather than his own songs. Those recordings highlight his pleasant voice and stylish arrangements of his classical guitar.

That is why The Songs of Wade Hemsworth is such a treasure. Although Hemsworth was nearly eighty when this album was recorded, it is magnificent. His voice is no longer in its prime nor is his guitar playing as sure, but the spark and originality are there. "The Land of the Muskeg," "The Story of the I'm Alone," and "The Log Jam Song" are fine songs that will live on and on. To be honest, though, not everything Hemsworth wrote is a classic. A few songs are actually difficult to listen to all the way through. These, however, don't detract from the overall impact of his masterpieces. Featuring Hemsworth singing his songs accompanied only by his own guitar, this album is the real thing. Honest and essential.

The Songs of Wade Hemsworth *
1995 Penny Rose 8 rue Vivaldi, MORIN-HEIGHTS, QC. J0R 1H0; telephone: 450-226-2126; e-mail: jenanson@hycroponix.com

The Wild Goose; The Land of the Muskeg and the Shining Birch Tree; The Blackfly Song; Foolish You; The Story of the I'm Alone; The Log Driver's Waltz; The Log Jam Song; In the Wintertime; Quiet on the River; Song of the Old Rooster; My Mother is the Ocean Sea; Montréal; Our Last and Humble Home; Long Dog Days; Remember Moose Mountain; Oh Charna 53:33