I was just listening to an eclectic radio (I know, I’m way out of the tech-loop) station, and I way treated to a song called “North Country”, by a group named the Rankin Family.
It sounded like an attempt at a radio single by a normally-folk-oriented band. I checked out the website, and they apparently disbanded in 1999, reforming this year.
I like my folk music. Are there any SDMB people out there who are Rankin Family fans? Should I go get the CDs? Does that girl with the really sweet, pure voice sing most of the songs?
Please respond, as I’m getting tired of my Dust Bowl Ballads, and need a folk injection!
I love the Rankins. My mom turned me onto them many years ago. I’m not sure where she caught wind of them though. I’m wondering if they were ever on “A Prairie Home Companion”?
Some of their more “chipmunky” stuff is somewhat of an acquired taste, but they’re quite talented. I’m most familiar with the “North Country” album.
Checking out their new site, I see that one of the brothers, John, passed away. I don’t think I knew that, but I may have forgotten. Anywho, it appears that his 19 yo daughter is now playing guitar and fiddle with the band.
Most of their vocals (at least in the past) are lead by the same sister that sings “North Country”, but you can hear a lot more of the various harmonies on some of their more traditional folky pieces. There are a fair amount of songs with male lead vocals, and they are quite good as well.
Canuck here. Yes, the Rankin Family (Or The Rankins, as I think they became) is popular in Canada. They’ve been ‘quiet’ for a few years following a death in the family.
Jimmy Rankin’s got a couple of solo albums out. I bought Song Dog just to play Followed Her Around over and over and over in my car. Ah, 'tis nice to be alone in the car and play the same song five times in a row if you feel like it.
Endless Seasons is good too. I like their mix of Gaelic/East Coast music and some slightly more rockin’ stuff.
In addition to what Savannah said, the Rankins are back on tour in Canada this year. I think it may be the first time since the death of John Morris Rankin. The Rankins are from Nova Scotia, and more particularly, Cape Breton Island. To me, their music has a Canadian folk/Celtic feel to it.
Two of my favourites of their songs: Fare Thee Well, Love, ballad that may have been their first hit in Canada; and Rise Again.
They are fairly big. I know when my Mom’s gone to concerts she’s told me it’s pretty full.
I grew up listening to them, and hearing the odd family story let drop since Mom’s family is from Nova Scotia and knew some of them. (I’m not that young, but I was only about 7 when their first CD came out). I swear we wore out Fare Thee Well Love as well as North Country and Endless Seasons. Collection is another good one, if only for the live version of Mull River Shuffle.
The reason they were actually quiet was they decided to do their own thing for a bit starting in 1999. Several went to spend more time with their own families (John Morris was one, and I think a couple of the girls did too) while Jimmy went on to do his solo thing (Savannah I love Followed Her Around also, and Midnight Angel). It just happened that John Morris was killed during the hiatus.
But yes, I love their music and I do have a copy of Reunion and find it as good as the others.
I’d say the Rankin Family are pretty well known among those of us who like Canadian music, as well as CBC listeners. They’re sort of like the McGarrigle sisters in that way.
OK, bought North Country, and I really like it (I work from home some days, and it’s great background music). Whichever girl is singing…wow! I did like the “Tell my Ma” trio as well.
I really liked that Portobello song, with Liam O’Man-something as a collaborator (wasn’t he in some 2-album band in the 90’s?..they had a hit and I can’t remember it).
Love the Celtic stuff. Surprisingly, I liked the guy’s voices, too. The one about the train was pretty darn good.
I may have to search Prairie Home’s website. I make it up to MN fairly often…I’d love to have it coincide with a Rankin appearance with Keillor.
We saw them in the early 90’s (1992?) at a gaelic festival in Maryland, when they were quite young, and fell in love with thier music. Glad to hear they have reformed!
If you want a recommendation for a similar group gaining notoriety (they have been on PHC several times) check out The Wailin’ Jennys…three very talented Canadian women, with terrific vocals and instrumental work. Saw them Live in Ann Arbor, MI a few months back and they sounded incredible!
We were pretty sad when we found out too. That was back in 2000, most recently Geraldine passed away at her home in Calgary little over a month ago (she was one of the original members of the group iirc. I could be wrong on that though.).
They’re not a huge household name kind of band, but their albums, at least until they sorta broke up (which actually happened the year before John Morris’s death) sold well enough for Canadian albums. They got pretty strong radio play on country radio in the 90s, and Jimmy’s gotten quite a lot for his solo singles, as well.
I’m actually hearing surprisingly little about the new album and tour, but that’s perhaps because of the scheduling difficulties as they postponed the tour when Geraldine (one of the original members of the group, but pre-recordings) died.
If a good friend of mine from Cape Breton is to be believed, he used to date Cookie Rankin.
If you like the Rankins, Cemetery Savior, you may also like the Barra McNeils. Similar sort of setup: a family group doing Celtic and original melodies. Spoonette and I saw them in a club in St. John’s, Newfoundland, some years ago, and we were quite impressed. When we got married, we used one of their melodies (IIRC, it was “The Marquis of Huntley’s Snuff Mill”) at our wedding.
I may have to check out some of those other bands you’ve all mentioned. The Gaelic/fiddle stuff we get here in Chicago is more of the leprechaun-type (good, but less emphasis on the vocals).
Wailin’ Jennys and Barra McNeils. I’ll check them out.
I love the Rankin vocals. All three women have really stroung upper ranges.
I am Canadian. I listen to CBC Radio. I have only the vaguest idea who the Ranking family is. If it matters I am born and bred Greater Toronto Area Canadian.
I don’t think I knew that, but I may have forgotten. Anywho, it appears that his 19 yo daughter is now playing guitar and fiddle with the band.
