Stuck on a Cold Steel Pole (1995) is an eclectic mix of contemporary, mainly Toronto, artists you would never expect to see on the same album. The subtitle--"A Collection of Songs About Winter & Some That Aren't"--sets the slightly whimsical tone. The cuts range from fiddle compositions to electric, tongue-in-cheek arrangements of traditional Christmas songs, with everything in between. The album, conceived and produced by Michael Wrycraft, is a delightful compilation with highlight after highlight. Recommended.

Stuck on a Cold Steel Pole *
1995 Duke Street (DSRSD31097)

Beneath the Ice, They Heard Bells (Schroer, Oliver); Lila (Snider, Bob); O Little Town of Bethlehem (Strong, Philip); The Coventry Carol (Koziol, Andrea;Moore, Jennifer); Jingle Bells (del Junco, Carlos;Greenspoon, Rich); Rita (Wheatley, Katherine); Psalms (Stochansky, Andy); Cracked Hymn (Lynch, Barbara); Cheer My Baby Up for Christmas (Taxi Chain); Winterrise (Sokol, Casey); Round Winter (Thomas Handy Trio); Lady of the Streets (Browne, October); Bourresque (Keenan, Catherine); 6 Feet of Silence (Hille, Veda); Auld Lang Syne (Quinn, Christopher;One Horse Town); My Garden Lies Empty 'til Spring (Woodhead, David); Song for this Child (MacDonald, Laurel); Rezerection (Lauzon, Jani); Toques, Tincans & Ballantines (Coppins, Grier); The Balfa Waltz (Swamperella) 72:46