Blue Rodeo on making new album ‘Many a Mile’: ‘Everybody was willing to put aside how everything was before and it was really cool’

Sometimes fate intervenes in mysterious ways.

For example, take Blue Rodeo: The creation of the Toronto collective’s new album “Many a Mile,” released on Friday, came as a surprise to the co-songwriters and anyone else, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor.

Although it has been five years since his last studio work, “1000 Arms”, it seemed like it would be a while before a new batch of songs was cooked.

But apparently 67-year-old Keelor ​​had other ideas, unbeknownst to Cuddy, 65.

“As far as I knew, there was no album planned,” Cuddy said during an interview earlier this week. “Maybe that’s not entirely true, because a couple of years ago when we played in Vancouver, Greg said to me, ‘Let’s do another record.’ I was surprised, because I thought the previous album was a bit rough on him: hard on his ears, hard on his head, and hard on his psyche.

“I said, ‘Well, let me think about it.’ And … our manager said, ‘Greg is waiting for you.’ And I thought I was waiting for it. I guess I was wrong. “

It was well documented that Keelor ​​had been suffering from a variety of hearing ailments, including tinnitus, but the performance disruption imposed by the pandemic had allowed him to get enough rest to feel rejuvenated.

After finishing promotional duties for “Share the Love,” Keelor ​​wrote “When You Were Wild,” eventually the opening track to “Many a Mile,” and set out to record it with Blue Rodeo guitarist Jimmy Bowskill. at Bowskill’s studio in Cobourg, along with a single album compadres James McKenty and Ian McKeown.

“We built the track and it sounded great,” Keelor ​​recalled. “And I thought, ‘Maybe this could be a Blue Rodeo record.’

Keelor ​​sent “When You Were Wild” and several other songs to Cuddy.

“It was a surprise to me to have Greg’s songs practically finished,” Cuddy recalled. “And I was filled with joy; These sounded great! They are great songs and there are many. “

The timing was a bit inconvenient because Cuddy had eight songs for his own solo project, the Jim Cuddy Band, but it didn’t take long for him to change the subject.

“I try not to overlap, so I had to start writing songs again,” Cuddy said. “But he was also on a good songwriting roll … So I was able to take a 180 degree turn, start writing for the Blue Rodeo album and it was a lot of fun.”

Here’s the intriguing part: Keelor ​​and Cuddy were never in the same studio during the recording process.

“It was really very inspiring how everyone accepted this different way of making a record,” Keelor ​​said. “Everybody was willing to put aside what it was like before and it was really cool.”

Cuddy and Keelor ​​hired the remaining musicians at Blue Rodeo (drummer Glenn Milchem, bassist Bazil Donovan, guitarists Colin Cripps and Bowskill, and keyboardist Mike Boguski) one day at a time to replace previously recorded parts or complete new ones. .

When they needed to sing each other’s songs (Cuddy wrote five and Keelor ​​wrote seven for “Many a Mile”), digital tracks were sent out and their harmonies recorded in their respective studios.

“It happened the way it happened because of COVID,” Keelor ​​said. “It was an interesting way to make a record.”

And “Many a Mile” is a great record, combining the familiar mix of rock, country and pop that the Toronto boys have perfected over the past 37 years on a dozen tracks that blend Cuddy’s romanticism on tracks like “I Will Wait for You “. and “I Think About You” featuring Keelor’s thoughtful and sometimes philosophical remarks on “When You Were Wild,” “Deep Dark Well,” and “Symmetry of Starlight.”

There’s also the “Opening Act,” a lighthearted, bluegrass-tinged honky-tonk piece that Keelor ​​claims was inspired by the constant misidentification of a warm-up act due to a brain fart.

“The last tour we were on, Terra Lightfoot was the opening act,” Keelor ​​said. “Every night he would introduce the opening act and take them out to sing ‘Lost Together’ with us on our set, and every night he would say, ‘Thanks to Tara MacLean!’

“I don’t know why I was doing that. I did it half the time and it got ridiculous. My brain often abandons me and needs a fuck. I do not remember the names of the people, it is something embarrassing “.

Looking back at the band’s humble beginnings on Queen Street West, Blue Rodeo recently revisited its roots with a surprise set on the 40th anniversary of Cameron House.

“It was a focal point for a lot of musicians, sculptors, artists, and video makers in the mid-1980s – kind of a cross-pollination scene,” Keelor ​​said. “When we started hanging out on Queen Street West it was Coney Island dogs and a bookstore and Peter Pan and Horseshoe and that was it. So the Cameron is an extraordinary place in that it has remained committed to being a haven for the artistic and the lost. “

Cuddy said it was extraordinary to play in a venue where they often celebrated the court in the back room during their training days.

“We played for Ann Marie Ferraro and Paul (Sannella), who owned the place, I mean, she used to buy tickets at the door when we started, so it was a really nice nostalgia bath. It was also very inspiring to know that it continues. Because after playing, there was a lineup of great artists singing a song or two. It was a great, great night and I had a fantastic time, just sitting there and listening to everyone play. The musicality was magnificent. “

The only thing that is reflected in the interview is how much the partners still admire and appreciate the Blue Rodeo as a vehicle for their muses. After beginning with Bobby Wiseman on keyboards and Cleave Anderson on drums for the albums “Outskirts” and “Diamond Mine,” the trio of Cuddy, Keelor ​​and Donovan have leaned towards country with pedal steel guitarists Kim. Deschamps and Bob Egan as part of their lineup at different points, and they even went psychedelic with their albums “Five Days in July”, “Nowhere But Here” and “Tremolo”.

“The funny thing, and Jim and I were talking about this the other day, is that we both love writing songs,” Keelor ​​said. “Part of it is that we have been surrounded by great musicians in our adult lives. It’s inspiring as a songwriter to know that there is an audience that will listen to it, and that there are all these musicians that we hang out with and put together the song. It’s a very satisfying endeavor. “

Cuddy added: “It’s great to have a partner like Greg who was willing to move on. Everything that has happened since then has seemed like a gift. It often occurs to me that I am grateful that we can make music, that I can make music with such good musicians. “

Speaking of good musicians, tickets for Blue Rodeo’s 22-date Canadian tour, which includes a pair of shows at Massey Hall on January 28 and 29, went on sale Friday and Cuddy says 2022 will be a busy year. full of “postponed makeup dates”. who were hit due to the pandemic.

Keelor ​​is well aware that his ears will be subject to annoying volumes.

“I have to be prepared and accept that yes, it will put me in a kind of compromised audition situation,” he said.

“And I’m going to be looking forward to touring, even though my ears struggle with high volumes. I love singing these songs and being in this band. “