Tidings

Tidings is the third studio album by Allison Crowe, released in 2003 in EP form and expanded to full album length in 2004. Recorded live-off-the-floor, it is primarily an album of traditional songs of the season and Christmas carols alongside cover versions of some of Crowe's favourite popular, secular, songs of spirituality and redemption. This collection includes several songs by fellow Canadian songwriters, along with international writers. Among these is a single/first take recording of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah that is the best known of the artist's numerous acclaimed song interpretations. It has been commented upon extensively in print and broadcast media, including a November 2008 BBC radio documentary, "The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall". Crowe's recording of Hallelujah was selected as the soundtrack accompaniment to a love scene in The Watchmen, before being replaced by Cohen's own live version. "I originally had a different version of 'Hallelujah' on that scene (involving characters Nite Owl and Silk Spectre II) - it was the version by Allison Crowe, and it was really beautiful. says the movie's Director Zack Snyder. In another interview, Snyder explained that Crowe's recording is "too romantic" and "too sexy" for the scene which is meant to come across as ironic and "ridiculous". A DVD version of this album includes one original song written by Crowe, "Whether I'm Wrong". Tidings is also the subtitle of a one-hour television special, featuring Allison Crowe in performance and interview, broadcast across Canada each December from 2003 - 2008. Tidings is also a seasonal concert series - Allison embarks upon each year (starting in 2003). In 2017 Canada's amazing Allison Crowe (vocals, piano, guitar, fiddle & bodhran), pairs with exquisite cellist/vocalist Celine Sawchuk to bring “Tidings” – stirring together traditional Christmas and holiday favourites from English, French and German repertoire, with a blend of rock, jazz, folk, roots and soul. Music for the season & all-time. Track listing

"It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" (Words — Edmund H. Sears, Music — Richard Storrs Willis; Traditional ~ Arranged by A. Crowe) – 0:41
"River" (Joni Mitchell) – 4:11
"Hallelujah" (Leonard Cohen) – 4:33
"Silent Night" (Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr ~ English translation by John Freeman Young. Crowe) – 4:02
"In the Bleak Midwinter" (Words - Christina Rossetti, Music - Gustav Holst ~ Arranged by A. Crowe) – 5:31
"What Child Is This" (Words — William C. Dix, Music — Greensleeves, Music Origin Unknown; Traditional ~ Arranged by A. Crowe) – 4:04
"Let It Be" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:07
"The First Noel" (Origin Unknown; Traditional ~ Arranged by A. Crowe) – 5:33
"In My Life" (Lennon, McCartney) – 3:02
"O Holy Night" (Placide Clappeau, Adolphe Adam ~ English translation by John Sullivan Dwight. Crowe) – 4:16
"Shine a Light" (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – 3:51
"Angel" (Sarah McLachlan) – 5:26

Personnel

Allison Crowe - vocals, piano
Dave Baird - acoustic bass, electric bass
Kevin Clevette - drums

Production

Producer: Larry Anschell
Engineer: Larry Anschell
Cover photos: Billie Woods
Art Direction: Alix Whitmire
Redesign: Christina Richard (2008)

References

^ The Toronto Sun review (four stars)
^ The Fourth, The Fifth, The Minor Fall, BBC, Saturday 1 November, 2008
^ Interview: Zack Snyder of Watchmen, retrieved 2009-03-04
^ Crave Online: Zack Snyder Talks Watchmen, retrieved 2009-03-02