Edwards, Cliff - What's Forever For

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Keep Me Hangin' On	02:56
	2	Love Song for Annie	03:14
	3	Easier Said Than Done	02:52
	4	It's Not You, It's Not Me	04:20
	5	Catch the Dream	03:21

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Grab the Money and Run	03:39
	2	What's Forever For	03:44
	3	Summertime, Friend of Mine	02:48
	4	Better Late Than Never	03:44
	5	Country Rock and Roll	03:21

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Information/Write-up

By 1980, Cliff Edwards had firmly established himself as a thoughtful Canadian singer-songwriter capable of bridging soft rock, country, and folk traditions. Keep Me Hangin’ On, released by Boot Records, finds Edwards turning his gaze toward country-pop crossover territory, crafting a record that blends Nashville polish with the intimacy of his earlier solo works. It’s a relaxed but confident effort—polished in production yet rooted in storytelling and emotional directness.

The album’s recording at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, Ontario, brings an important regional dimension to the project. Co-founded by Daniel Lanois—who contributes electric guitar to “Better Late Than Never”—Grant Avenue was fast becoming a creative hub for roots-based Canadian artists. Its warm, analog sound is on full display here, aided by additional remixing at JMI Studios and mastering at Masterfonics in Nashville, which helps give the album a radio-ready finish without losing its Canadian character.

The title track “Keep Me Hangin’ On,” penned by Nashville songwriter Rafe VanHoy, opens the record with gentle urgency and sets the tone for the mix of original material and carefully selected covers. Edwards shines brightest, however, on his own compositions. Tracks like “It’s Not You, It’s Not Me” and “Catch the Dream” reflect his trademark lyrical introspection, balanced by catchy hooks and clean arrangements. “Summertime, Friend of Mine” recalls the easygoing soul of The Bells era, while “Country Rock N’ Roll” closes the album with playful energy and a knowing wink to the genre’s conventions.

Backing Edwards is a top-shelf group of musicians with deep ties to the Canadian studio and roots scenes:

Mike Francis, already a go-to guitarist and bassist in Toronto sessions, brings versatility and finesse across multiple tracks.

Ron Dann, one of Canada’s premier steel guitarists, adds soaring dobro and pedal steel throughout the album while also co-producing.

Chris Whiteley, a prolific blues and roots player, provides tasteful harmonica touches that enhance the record’s organic texture.

Ray Parker (piano) and Dennis Will (who also sang on Singer of Songs) return with subtle, melodic keyboard lines, while drummers Dave Brown and Dave Lewis keep things tight but unintrusive.

Vocals from Ann Ralph-Edwards and John Michael Waye offer warmth and familiarity, grounding the songs in a communal, lived-in sound.

The inclusion of Kevin Johnson’s “Grab the Money and Run” and a second Rafe VanHoy song, “What’s Forever For,” positions the album alongside mainstream country radio trends of the time, though Edwards’ delivery remains distinctly personal and less formulaic than many of his Nashville contemporaries.

Keep Me Hangin’ On is an album about craft and comfort—an understated, honest record from a seasoned artist who knows his strengths. With its blend of polished country-rock and Edwards’ signature songwriting voice, it sits comfortably alongside the best of his solo catalog, and stands as a snapshot of a mature Canadian artist working within—and expanding—the country-pop format at the dawn of the 1980s.
-Robert Williston

Cliff Edwards: percussion, backing vocals
Mike Francis: acoustic guitar, electric bass
Kim Brandt: bass
Dave Brown: drums
Dave Lewis: drums
Danny Lanois: electric guitar (track B4)
Ron Dann: steel guitar, dobro
Ray Parker: piano
Dennis Will: piano (track B1), backing vocals (track B1)
Don Adams: banjo
Chris Whiteley: harmonica
Ann Ralph-Edwards: backing vocals
John Michael Waye: backing vocals

Produced by Cliff Edwards and Ron Dann
Engineered by Gerry Lester and Rick Knight
Remixed by Curt Allen
Mastered by Jim Loyd
Recorded at Grant Avenue Studio, Hamilton, Ontario
Remixed at JMI Studios
Mastered at Masterfonics

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