Information/Write-up
For Bruce Cockburn, the months leading up to Inner City Front’s 1981 release had been fraught with change: his marriage of 10 years dissolved, leading him to switch from country to city life. Taking an an apartment in downtown Toronto, he assembled a band of crack musicians and adopted a more rugged, urban sound. Gone were most traces of the Gentle Folkie of the late 1960s and even the Mystic Christian of the 70’s. In their place was Bruce Cockburn of the 80s – highly politicized and sporting an electric guitar.
Album Info:
All songs written by Bruce Cockburn
© 1981 Golden Mountain Music Corp. (SOCAN)
All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission
Produced by Bruce Cockburn for True North Productions
Associate Producer: Bernie Finkelstein
The musicians are:
Bruce Cockburn: Guitar and Vocals
Memo Acevedo: Percussion
Bob DiSalle: Drums
Dennis Pendrith: Bass guitar
Jon Goldsmith: Keyboards
Hugh Marsh: Violin and Mandolin
Kathryn Moses: Reeds and Background Vocals
Murray McLauchlan: Background Vocals on “Wanna Go Walking”
Ruhollah Khomeini: Additional Percussion on “Justice”
M. Kaddafi: Additional Background Vocals on “The Strong One”
Engineered by Gary Gray
Mastered by George Marino, Sterling Sound, NY
Remastered by Vlado Meller, Sony Music Studio Operations, NY
Recorded at Manta Sound, Toronto, April-June 1981
Art Direction: Bart Schoales
Back Cover Photo: George Whiteside
Special thanks to Shorewood Packaging, Toronto
Thanks for the help, Jimmy!
Remaster Info:
Digitally remastered at the E Room in Toronto by engineer Peter Moore, utilizing 24-bit technology.
New liner note essay written by Nicholas Jennings.
Released by Rounder Records 19 November 2002.
19 November 2002 – From Rounder Records: Bruce Cockburn self-produced the nine tracks of rock, reggae, jazz and folk-fusions that form “Inner City Front”, originally released in 1981. Now re-mastered with two bonus tracks, it could be called the artist’s Toronto album since it reflects so strongly his move to the city and his embrace of both its attractions and tensions. “Inner City Front” contains some of the most carefree love songs of his career, including a B-52s-like rocker “Wanna Go Walking,” the flute-filled “And We Dance,” and the infectious “Coldest Night of the Year,” which finally joins the album for which it was originally intended. “The Light Goes On Forever” is also included as a bonus track, having been previously available only as a B-side. Produced by Bruce Cockburn.
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