This Thing Called Love
Liona Boyd
Moston Music 471603 (lionaboyd.com)
Internationally renowned, multi-award-winning Canadian musician Liona Boyd blends her classical guitar with folk, pop and Latin music, her singing, and song/lyrics writing skills here. This surprisingly memorable 14-track release, Boyd explains, “covers” her full range of lifetime emotional experiences. It marks her 50-year career, which has included more than 30 recordings.
The first two tracks are covers. The Everly Brother’s Bye Bye Love has Boyd singing with Mark Masri (of The Tenors) in an upbeat rendition with guitar strums and solos. Producer and longtime collaborator Peter Bond’s bass supports Boyd and Srdjan Givoje vocals in Jamaica Farewell. Two of Boyd’s earlier collaborative compositions/recordings are reimagined here. Gordon Lightfoot, a tribute to the late musician’s classics, includes Ronnie Hawkins vocals. Boyd also revisits her collaboration with the late Olivia Newton-John on lead and harmony vocals, with classical instrumental touches in Summer Dreams.
The other tracks are Boyd compositions. My Dog (Dedicated to all animal lovers) is a heartwarming song about pets, in duet with Andrew Dolson, who also plays steel string guitar here. Guitar melody phrasing is perfect. Nice woof-woof like guitar plucks at the ending. My Canada is a rambunctious patriotic work featuring a full orchestra arranged by Mark Lalarna, choirs and numerous Canadian vocalists. Boyd passionately expresses her personal feelings in the instrumental This Thing Called Love, a moving Boyd/Dolson classical guitar duet. Introspective My Life Alone, and high-pitched Living on Borrowed Time are heartbreaking storytelling songs about the ups and downs of Boyd’s life.
Thanks to this iconic artist for sharing her personal emotions and this marvellous music.
Listen to 'This Thing Called Love' Now in the Listening Room
