"Turnaround" (Stan Rogers) - cover version

[@GoneButNotGone]

Stan Rogers was born and raised in Ontario, but he spent many of his summers with family in Nova Scotia, where he drew much inspiration for his music. He died in a plane crash in 1983 at the too young age of 33, but his songwriting legacy endures. I think he’s right up there with Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young as among Canada’s finest songwriters.

[@IntraMoeniaArt]

Your cover of 'Turnaround' is simply extraordinary! You have paid perfect homage to Stan Rogers, capturing his soul and energy. Your interpretation is authentic and respectful of the original, yet it also brings a personal touch that makes it unique. Your voice has such a warm and enveloping timbre that it perfectly matches the atmosphere of the song. Congratulations!!!

[@GoneButNotGone]

Another great example of exceptionally good, economical songwriting by Stan. He is able to pack so much power into so sparse an arrangement and lyric. Every student of songwriting can learn from this song. Glad you enjoyed my interpretation. I’m sure you have Italian songwriters who are as marvelous at song craft. Canada has a few great ones.

[@IntraMoeniaArt]

@@GoneButNotGone You're absolutely right. However, there's something that saddens me: they're all irreparably old or deceased. The younger generations in my country feel empty, devoid of soul.

[@GoneButNotGone]

@ That’s because they are generally devoid of soul and music imagination. This social media Spotify generation has been anesthetized by technology. That’s why I choose the older great songs, to hopefully catch the ear of a young musician who can be introduced to something they’ve never heard.

[@IntraMoeniaArt]

@@GoneButNotGone From my experience, having known some of my younger son's friends, I can tell you it's all futile. They're incapable, and will always be incapable, of understanding true musical art. The innovation and experimentation of artists in the past were the result of an open, unindoctrinated mindset, something which is lacking today.

[@maxwashingtonmusic7000]

Wonderful cover! I never heard of Stan Rogers. I’ll look into him. There’s so many greats who are under appreciated: Los Lobos, Mark Murphy, my cousin Ken McGorry 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵✨✨✨✨✨✨

[@GoneButNotGone]

@@maxwashingtonmusic7000 Thank you very much, sir. Yeah I’m not sure if Stan is well known at all outside of Canada. I love Los Lobos, and I’ll check out the other two you mention. Thanks again.

[@RoseAkerman]

Nicely done Peter!

[@GoneButNotGone]

👍

[@RoughGuessMusic]

God - what a song, and a great cover, Peter. One of Stan Roger's beautifully understated numbers, which kind of flies below the radar if you don't pay close attention to the lyrics. As a Maritimer who has bid farewell to too many family members and friends who've moved away, I'm sometimes left wondering if I'm only staying for lack of courage. Not sure if this is what Stan is getting at exactly in this song, but there is a bit of a through line in his work that makes me think this might be the case - the tension between staying and leaving is definitely a theme for him. I really enjoyed this, despite getting a bit misty eyed! 😀

[@GoneButNotGone]

@@RoughGuessMusic It’s one of the greatest songs I’ve ever heard. I was working a summer up north BC at a remote fly fishing lodge circa 1990 when someone loaned me a cassette of his album. First time I heard this song, I may have cried. It just instantly impacted me. Never forgotten it. The lyric is so real, so NOT contrived. Musically, it’s breathtaking in its simple beauty. That transition major III chord just before the chorus, might be one of my favourite moments in music. I think Stan’s legacy is greatly regarded within Canada’s music circles, but not much beyond that. Maybe I’m wrong. I do think he deserves to be in the same conversation as Young, Mitchell, Cohen, Lightfoot. He sort of occupies the kind of space Murray McLaughlan does, a songwriter’s songwriter, but without broad notoriety.

[@RoughGuessMusic]

@@GoneButNotGone Well stated - I completely agree. He's one of the most authentic songwriters and performers I've heard. It's crazy to think he's been gone for over 40 years!

[@GoneButNotGone]

@ Remember those signatures scratched into the base of my guitar? One of them is Garnet Rogers. The house I was living in at the time hosted the Regina Folk Festival afterparty. That would have been around 1985 or 86. I remember Garnet’s sets at the festival. He played lots of Stan’s material. That was only two years after Stan’s death. My guitar’s previous owner (a roommate) got really drunk and had all these musicians sign the guitar. He ended up quitting music and selling me that guitar. I don’t think I’ll ever need another acoustic guitar.

[@RoughGuessMusic]

@@GoneButNotGone Such a cool guitar to have - it sounds pretty darn sweet, too! I've seen Garnet play a couple of times - once at Stanfest in Canso (the setting for The Jeannie C, and perhaps Make and Break Harbour), and he's a pretty powerful performer in his own right.