Writing blog posts isn't always easy, and this post is no exception. Why is it that something is harder to write about when you feel strongly about it? Maybe you want to do justice to the thoughts you're thinking; you want those thoughts to transfer well to words, but the words fail you. Such is my problem in trying to write about Alan Doyle's Boy on Bridge documentary film that aired on CMT Canada on Friday night. The film follows Alan's journey as he writes and records music for what would become his debut record of the same name.
LIGHT THE WAY
Keith Power, a good friend of Alan's remembers that he always wanted to Alan. Power, nearly six years Alan's junior (the same age as his baby sis Michelle) says that Alan was always the centre of attention- forever telling stories and entertaining people. And now, some 25 years later, he still wants to be Alan, for those same reasons.
For actor/musician Scott Grimes, (E.R., Band of Brothers, American Dad, Mystery Alaska, etc) working with Alan is a thrill. You see, Scott is more than Alan's friend, he's also a fan of his music, having been introduced to the music of Great Big Sea (www.greatbigsea.com) back in 1997. Since then, the two have worked together on a couple movies ( Robin Hood and A Winter's Tale), and several episodes of Republic of Doyle (CBC.ca/RepublicofDoyle).
Alan knew that he wanted Grimes and Power to sing backing vocals on the track Light the Way (co-written by Sean Panting), but given the schedules of the two, it would not be easy to do. So, knowing they were coming to a GBS gig, Alan brought them backstage, where he recorded it in his laptop. Scott, as a joke, had gone up an octave on one set of backing vocals, clearly not expecting it to be used. However, Alan loved the sound of it, so it stayed in.
WHERE I BELONG
Despite all his worldly travels, there is one place that Alan truly belongs, and that's the small fishing village of Petty Harbour (est pop 924 in 2011), located approximately 15 minutes south of St. John's, Newfoundland. It was here that a young Alan Doyle got his start, filling in on rhythm guitar in his Uncle Ronnie's band, The Ringdelles.
Ronnie Doyle, Alan's Uncle and Mayor of Petty Harbour at the time Boy on Bridge was being filmed remembers that day. He called up his brother (Alan's Dad) Tom and asked if Alan would like to fill in for that gig. Tom passed the phone to Alan, who agreed, and did indeed fill in. Ronnie still remembers Alan's amazement at being paid a few dollars like everyone else.
While sitting with his Uncle Ronnie in the Mayor's Chambers, Alan reminisces about days gone by- Sundays at The Squid Jigger, and said that depending on who was playing with the band on that night, the tunes would vary. One fella in particular, you'd be playing a lot of country songs, whereas with another there would be a lot of accordion tunes. It always changed.
It was in Petty Harbour that Alan got his first movie credit as well- although he'd not know of that until many years later- in A Whale For The Killing, where he was listed as Alan Doyle- Boy on Bridge. That bridge played such an important role in Alan's life. He couldn't go anywhere without that bridge; it brought him to school, and later to St. John's, where he would attend university, help start Great Big Sea, and meet the woman who would eventually become his wife- and a brighter future. In retrospect, he supposes that's what Boy on Bridge really means.
JIM CUDDY JUST SANG ON MY RECORD
There are many Canadian musicians who, when writing songs, try to emulate Blue Rodeo. Alan is no exception to that. Hawksley Workman of who Alan says: don't get his way and let him do his thing- wrote and recorded several songs together for the Boy on Bridge record (Sorry, Love While Love's Awake, and one of the bonus tracks Somewhere In The Love We Made), including the song Northern Plains. As he was recording it, Alan thought like many others, "Wouldn't it be cool if Jim Cuddy sang harmonies on the track?" So he called up Jim, who agreed to do it. Obviously ecstatic at this happening, and rightly so, after Jim does the harmonies, exclaims "This record is now called 'Jim Cuddy just sang on my record' and that Jim's picture was going on the cover. "I'm the worst performer on my own record!"
Oh, and a couple pieces of advice.
1. Never challenge yourself to write, sing and record a song about a cruise ship while on a cruise ship, because the free beer and wine slows it down.
2. Hit record before you get the audience to participate in said recording.
The end result was Mutiny on the Dawn, a bonus track available through Alan's website alandoyle.ca. The link for the bonus tracks is alandoyle.ca/bonus
It's a song about the people on the cruise ship the Norwegian Dawn, who plan a mutiny. The audience all sings along, clapping, cheering, singing, and adding in "crazy noises of celebration", making a rollicking tune that much more fun.
ON THE INJURED LIST
Towards the end of the Safe Upon the Shore tour, the slipped disc in Alan's back ruptured, causing him a lot of pain. When he got home and got an MRI to see what happened, the news was revealed, and he was told that he would need surgery or he'd face having nerve damage in his legs. With no other option, he had to go under the knife. Said a source that I won't reveal, he suffered with the pain after. He had a bed in the living room for weeks, and had to use a walker to get around. It was the first time I'd seen him in such incredible pain and it broke my heart. I hope he never has to go through that again.
WORKING WITH THE MAN OF A THOUSAND SONGS
It's unfathomable to me that there are people out there who have never heard of Ron Hynes. Here in Newfoundland, he is a legend, and is also one of Alan's idols. In Alan's opinion, Ron is, he thinks, the best songwriter in Atlantic Canada if not all of Canada. As a young boy in
1978-1982/83, Alan grew up watching the Wonderful Grand Band on TV, as did many others.
This time was not the first time that Alan had attempted to write a song with the great Ron Hynes. The first time, Alan admits that he was too young and excited for the opportunity to get anything done. The second chance came during a time when Ron was battling his drinking addiction. But luckily the third time was a charm and the sad but lovely tune (one of the bonus tunes available on Alan's website) Heart So Longs To Know was born. Written on a postcard of all things, in Ron's kitchen in Ferryland, it became another notch in his songwriting belt.
STRUGGLES AND THE TRIP TO NASHVILLE
GBS manager Louis Thomas, a good friend of Alan's, and also his personal manager, calls him up one day, challenging him to do better and write better songs, not a bunch of GBS B-sides as he put it. Alan was clearly frustrated, not wanting to have to work like a dog to get his own songs on his own record, but he pushed through. He says that the people he has around him are horrible ass-kissers; won't tell you that you're great. He knows its because they're trying to help, but in his mind all he hears is "You suck, I hate your songs." But on the advice of Louis, he heads to Nashville to work with fellow Atlantic Canadian and songwriter extraordinaire, Gordie Sampson.
He didn't know anybody besides Gordie, but somehow he managed to write three songs- Where the Nightingales Sing, I've Seen A Little, and My Day. Also coming out of those sessions was an original, and personal favourite of mine, Break It Slow.
ANTHEMS AND WORRIES
Singing anthems is terrifying, Alan admits, because if you do it well, nobody notices. But if you screw up, everyone loves to make fun of you. This was said of singing the anthems for a Detroit/Toronto game, where he was doing press with Republic of Doyle co-creator and good friend, Allan Hawco. Although the American anthem is difficult for someone that doesn't have a "range-y" voice, Alan delivers (for those interested, there is a clip on YouTube).
There were worries on Alan's part about the whole project. As he and GBS were now at the end of a contract with Warner, they were technically deemed free agents, and he had to find someone else who was willing to release the record. But even if they did, would it be in a limited capacity? Luckily for Alan (and for us fans, Universal Music Canada was, and released the project in full.
I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (RUSSELL CROWE AND COLIN JAMES)
Russell Crowe helps out in Vancouver, and while he loves to tease Alan, ("take another lap around the building", "we're all here to make you look good-notice how many people that takes?") it's clear the two admire each other. Crowe says that when he knows he's writing for Alan, he goes to a higher gear... A place of brevity, because after 24/25 songs together, he knows what Alan wants to hear, and that it comes down to being touched by a song. He also says that Alan lives for his audience, and deserves the big one.
The pair, who met during the 2004 NHL Awards, have fast become good friends, writing many songs together, with Alan producing Russell's only solo cd, My Hand, My Heart. Since then, Alan has appeared in two movies with Russell, and also on Republic of Doyle.
Alan is clearly blown away by Colin James who plays a mean bluegrass style guitar on Testify (sparked by the infamous phone throwing incident in NYC, and written while Crowe was doing press for Cinderella Man), giving it the feel it truly deserves.
Colin, who knows GBS well loves that Alan stepped out of the box and the way he did music.
MORE NERVES
Because of his back, the opportunity to work with great TV composer Mike Post had to be postponed. Alan, was worried he'd lost his chance, but luckily things worked out, and although nervous, he is is glad for the chance.
Post, who became a fan of GBS after seeing them at the HOB in L.A. about 6/7 years ago says that he was immediately blown away by the band. They weren't just rock, folk or pop, but all things combined. He also said that he knows Alan is really smart and talented- no BS. And he knew it when they were fooling around in the studio. He was sick, so they hadn't started until 2 that day, and 3 hours later they had a song. Later that night, Alan finished the lyric.
Says Alan of the experience: I wanted to do something I'd never done before; not something I could've sang somewhere else.
BLOWN AWAY AND GREATFUL
When it comes to the performers on his record, Doyle is blown away. They (Russell, Jim Cuddy, Hawksley, Mike Post, etc) did it for nothing whereas others would've had to pay a lot to get the help he did.
He's very thankful to Great Big Sea too, because if not for the band, he a young man, just out of university, never would've met his wife. And if he'd never met her, they wouldn't have their son together. He tries to pass off his strong emotion here by blaming it on dust, but its clear his family means everything to him.
When asked what advice he'd give his younger self on that bridge, Alan pauses before giving his answer. Even if he could, he wouldn't give any, because that young man found his way on his own and has done very well for himself.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
After watching the documentary, many thoughts have filled my head.
1. I love the behind the scenes look to making the album and seeing how it all came together.
2. It was hard seeing him in pain, and struggling to get around while using a walker, but was touched by his strength.
3. I laughed quite a bit when he was working with Ron Hynes, there was obvious boyish delight on Alan's part, working with an idol of his.
My overall impression is one of awe, wonder and pure delight. I feel as if I was taken on a journey, seeing all the ups and downs, highs and lows and everyday things that can get in the way of your dreams. But Alan is an inspiration, getting through everything and making his dream come true. I can honestly say now that I'll never hear the Boy on Bridge record the same again, and I'll always appreciate and love it more than before because of everything he had to go through to make it.
Two thumbs way up, and five stars here.
Your thoughts?
