Better Days

Welcome to the blog of Doug "Duke" Lang, songwriter and host of Better Days, a radio show spinning journeys from music and language, heard Thursdays ten-to-midnight Pacific time at www.coopradio.org Listen to songs at www.myspace.com/dukelang

Name:
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Friday, November 04, 2005


These beautiful young children, orphaned as a result
of the tsunami, live now in Khuk-Khak Village, in the
Takuapa District, Phang-Nga Province, Thailand

Hands Across The Water

Hands Across The Water : A Benefit For The Children Of The Tsunami
was an idea first discussed on December 28th, 2004, between John
Cutliffe and Andrea Zonn, the eventual producers of this fine disc.
They were witnessing the initial video clips of the tsunami disaster
in southeast Asia. They were overwhelmed, and began to discuss
how - as individuals - they could help. Beyond sending money to
aid organizations, they wondered how they might put their hearts
into action. Somewhere in that long-distance conversation across
the Atlantic Ocean between North America and the UK, they
imagined how their need to express their humanity might be able
to join hands across the water and make a difference. An idea
came to them, the idea of making a benefit recording for orphaned
children in the lands devastated by the tsunami. They decided to
call on favours from friends and musical colleagues, to invite
artists to perform - together - from both sides of the Atlantic.

Over 100 musicians, 30 engineers, 30 studios, thousands of e-mails,
phone calls, data transfers and text messages later, the result is this
16-song benefit recording to raise funds for the orphaned children
of he tsunami. The record is to be released December 20th, 2005,
six days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the tsunami. All of
the proceeds will go to boosting the flagging aid, still required.

Each of the sixteen tracks on this disc is a hands-across-the-water
collaboration between artists from both sides of the ocean. Artists
include, among others, Darrell Scott, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh,
Oisin McAuley (Danu), Bonnie Raitt, Paul Rodden, Jon Randall,
Alison Brown, Mairtin O'Connor, The Duhks, Andrea Zonn, Flook,
Tim O'Brien, Lunasa, Sharon Shannon, Jackson Browne, Solas,
Mindy Smith, John Prine, Fiona Prine, Dermot Byrne, Blue Merle,
Beth Nielsen Chapman, Paul Brady, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill,
Pauline Scanlon, Altan, Vince Gill, Stuart Duncan, Cerys Matthews,
John Jorgenson, Jown Cowan, Brock McGuire Band, Jerry Douglas,
Ciaran Tourish, Jim Lauderdale and Maura O'Connell.

It's a beautiful collection of songs that, in my opinion, you may wish
to give to a few of your friends this holiday season, as well as
having a copy for yourself. I've received a number of collaborative
cds - with themes, or done in tribute to a deceased legend - and
with almost all of them the heart and imagination behind the
project supercede the actual performances. Not so on this one.
On Hands Across The Water, they took the time to get it right,
and the performances are the magic.

Make note. December 20th, 2005 is the release date. Compass
Records is the label. All proceeds to the aid organization judged
- at the time - to be performing the most effective and credible
job on behalf of the children of the tsunami-devastated areas.
If you want to learn more, visit the project website below. You'll
not only be getting (or giving to a friend) a wonderful recording,
but your money will be going to children who could use the blessing
of whatever kindness we can send their way.

www.handsacrossthewater.com

DL