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 folk, country, and soft-rock traditions. What’s Forever For, released on Boot Records, finds Edwards leaning into country-pop crossover territory, crafting a record that blends Nashville polish with the intimacy of his earlier solo work. It is a relaxed but confident effort—polished in production yet rooted in storytelling and emotional directness.

Recorded primarily at Grant Avenue Studio in Hamilton, Ontario, the album carries an important regional connection. Co-founded by Daniel Lanois, Grant Avenue was emerging as a creative hub for roots-based Canadian artists at the dawn of the 1980s. Its warm, analog sound is evident throughout the record, complemented by additional remixing at JMI Studios and mastering at Masterfonics in Nashville, lending radio-ready clarity without sacrificing character.

The album opens with “Keep Me Hangin’ On,” written by Nashville songwriter Rafe VanHoy, setting an immediate tone of emotional urgency. The album’s thematic centrepiece is the title track “What’s Forever For,” also by VanHoy, which reflects Edwards’ affinity for carefully chosen material that balances introspection with broad emotional appeal. Edwards’ own compositions remain central to the record, with songs like “It’s Not You, It’s Not Me” and “Catch the Dream” showcasing his reflective songwriting style within clean, accessible arrangements.

Additional highlights include “Summertime, Friend of Mine,” which recalls the melodic warmth of The Bells era, and “Country Rock and Roll,” which closes the album with playful self-awareness and genre-savvy charm. The inclusion of Kevin Johnson’s “Grab the Money and Run” further situates the album within contemporary country-rock currents.

Backing Edwards is a seasoned group of musicians drawn from Canada’s studio and roots scenes. Mike Francis contributes acoustic guitar and electric bass with restraint and versatility, while Ron Dann, one of Canada’s premier steel guitarists, adds pedal steel and dobro textures and also co-produces the album. Chris Whiteley supplies harmonica accents, Ray Parker and Dennis Will handle keyboards, and drummers Dave Brown and Dave Lewis keep the rhythmic foundation understated and supportive.

What’s Forever For stands as a mature statement from an artist comfortable in his craft—an album that reflects Cliff Edwards’ ease within the country-pop format while maintaining the personal, songwriter-driven voice that defined his post-Bells career.
-Robert Williston

Musicians
Cliff Edwards: vocals, percussion
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

Production
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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