Discography
“Two-Bit Suit” (2007), John Wort Hannam's third album, was recorded in Vancouver under the direction of music producer, songwriter, and ‘if it's got strings, he can play it' extroidinaire, Steve Dawson. The album features 11 songs written by John Wort Hannam and has been released in Canada on independent label Black Hen Music. On Two-Bit Suit John expands his writing repetoire to include the straight ahead love song “ Sweet Sweet Rose” , the anti-war song “ Infantryman” which has become somewhat of a Remembrance Day anthem, and the homage to turn of the century hotel's with the song “ National Hotel” , while other songs such as “ Two-Bit Suit ” – a late night drunken jig around town and “Wrecking Ball” where John brings together the loss of love and the march of progress in his hometown , stay true to John's Blue Collar Roots sound. Other song titles show where John Wort Hannam's inspiration comes from: “ 10,000 Acres”, “Digger's Lament”, and “Black As Coal”. Two-Bit Suit brings together a great cast of musicians that includes John on lead vocals, 6 string and tenor guitar, Steve Dawson on all kinds of guitars, banjo, Weissenborn, Hawaiian guitar, and pedal steel, Keith Lowe on bass (Fiona Apple, Bill Frisell), Geoff Hicks on drums, Chris Gestrin on keyboards and features guest musicians such John Reischman on mandolin, and J.T.King's Jeanne Tolmie and Tyler Bird on backup vocals.
All lyrics and music by John Wort Hannam.
DYNAMITE AND ‘DOZERS John's second full-length studio album “Dynamite and ‘Dozers” was again recorded at Homestead Studios in Edmonton. Again Barry Allen lent his production and sound engineering expertise. John's second kick at the can produced a much more mellower and folkier recording of 13 original tracks. While the CD opens and closes with the acca pella song “ Blue Collar ”, what has come to be known as John's signature sound, the rest of the album is grounded in a country-folk feel that mostly highlights songs about John's small town prairie surroundings. There are tribute songs such as “ Church of the Long Grass ”, a nod to the beauty and spirituality of Southern Alberta's Porcupine Hills, “ Dynamite and ‘Dozers ” an homage to the last remaining grain elevators and “ Gypsies Grove ” remembering the hobo jungle that existed in the 30's just a few blocks from John's house. Other songs such as “ 3 Cylinders ”, “ Dickson's Slough ”, “ Annabelle ” and “ 50 Miles ” are songs built around the characters too often seen in small town Canada. A highlight is John's duet with Edmonton's Maria Dunn on the love song “ Ballad of Nellie and Joe ” Again John is joined by his regular sidemen Tyler Bird on bass and harmony vocals and Brad Brouwer on drums and percussion. Other guest musicians include Mike Lent on double bass, Rusty Reed on harmonica, Gary Bowman on piano, John Woroschuk on dobro, Curtis Appleton on banjo, Chad Melchert on drums, Shannon Johnson on fiddle, and John Rutherford on banjo-uke.
All lyrics and music by John Wort Hannam.
POCKET FULL OF HOLES John's first full-length studio album “pocket full of holes” was recorded at Homestead Studios in Edmonton. Barry Allen along with John Wort Hannam produced the album. The CD has been described as an east coast meets west sound. There are songs such as “ Fisherman's Son ”, “ Late November ” and “ Seafaring Man ” reflecting on John's maritime birthplace in Jersey in the Channel Islands UK and the “ Pier 21 ” highlighting the immigration of many Europeans to Canada, something John's own family did in 1976. Alongside are songs such as “ Scotsman's Bluff ”, “ Wheatland ”, “ Sons of the Soil ” depicting John's new prairie home. To round it all off, there is the lost love song, “ That Boy ”, struggling town songs such as, “ Dammed Rivers ” and “ We're Getting By ”, and a good old drinking song in “ Buy Another Round ” John's regular sidemen Tyler Bird on bass and harmony vocals and Brad Brouwer on drums and percussion are the driving force behind the recording. Other guest musicians include Mike Lent on double bass, Rusty Reed on harmonica, Gary Bowman on piano, John Woroschuk on dobro, Curtis Appleton on banjo, Chad Melchert on drums, Shannon Johnson on fiddle, and John Rutherford on banjo-uke.
All lyrics and music by John Wort Hannam. |
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Two Bit Suit
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