"An album for kids and cat-lovers of all ages" - and
anyone who enjoys good songwriting with generous doses of humour.
Norm's long-time fans will recognize his orange cat Syd of "Syd
and The Flea" fame on the cover (in a photo by Norm's mom,
Kathy Hacking). This oft-requested song is finally available on
a recording! It became so popular that Norm wrote "Cats Everywhere"
about all of Syd's and The Flea's feline fans on the stairways,
on the answering maching, eating BBQ in the backyard... When Norm's
son Ben was seven, they recorded the "Side by Side" duet
about living together with Syd and The Flea (a more diminutive cat)
on Main Streeet in Toronto. "When Cats Go Wrong" is a
litany of cat mischief set to tango music - delightful!
Kirk
Elliott, fabulous multi-instrumentalist, adds everything
from fiddle to Japanese koto. Also half of children's performer
team Kirk and Magoo, Kirk takes the lead on his original
song "What the Cat Dragged In." He also wears the recording,
mixing and co-production hats for 9 of the 11 songs.
CBC and other radio airplay has "caught the public imagination"
- and we love the emails from new fans, often telling tales of their
own feline best friends.
"Cats Everywhere" is on CBC
Radio Two's "DiscDrive" host Jurgen
Gothe's "Hit List of 2002"; read
the lyrics and listen to the
mp3 (750k).
The CD led to a nomination for a 2004 Canadian Independent Music
Award in the "Favourite Children's Artist / Group"
category for Norm and Kirk. For more, see www.cmw.net.
Winners in 20 categories were announced March 3, 2004.
Why did Norm start writing songs about his cats? Read his July
2003 "Race Track Hack" column for Taxi News, "Catman."
See also the list of columns on this
website for several others about his cats.
The CD release concert was on Tuesday December 3, 2002 at the Tranzac
in Toronto. Special concert guest Marie-Lynn
Hammond began her musical career with legendary folk group
Stringband and issued her 5th solo album in February 2003. She is
a long-time volunteer with the Annex Cat Rescue. Holmes Hooke
and Michael
Laderoute added to the special occasion. Details are on
the 2002 events page.
A portion of all Orange Cats CD sales go to the non-profit
Annex
Cat Rescue in Toronto. Please support them directly if possible,
have a look at potential adoptees or check the website for tips
to help you better care for your own feline friends.
Read David Kidney's full CD review at GreenmanReview.com
and quotes from many reviews on Norm's reviews
page.
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