Photo - Norm Hacking  

Norm Hacking's Albums:
Orange Cats
(with Kirk Elliott)


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Orange Cats Make the Very Best Friends
Norm Hacking & Kirk Elliott
3FLAM2003 (December 2002)
Distributed by Festival - www.festival.bc.ca or 1-800-633-8282
Still profiled in Festival's "top titles" section in early 2005!

New - listen to 2 track excerpts (mp3 links in title list below)
"When Cats Go Wrong" (track 6) is now a book!

 
Orange Cats CD cover

"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.

 

  Click on song title for LYRICS
  1. Syd and The Flea 3:17
  2. Cats Everywhere 2:49 / mp3 (750k)
  3. This One's the Dreamer 3:19
  4. Side by Side (Harry Woods) 1:55
  5. Orange Cats 4:05
  6. When Cats Go Wrong 3:54 / mp3 (1.22mb)
  7. In a Child's Room 2:31
  8. Waiting for Christmas 3:55
  9. What the Cat Dragged In
      (Kirk Elliott) 5:31
10. The Boy in the Painting 2:46
11. Momma Don't Allow It
      (Charles Davenport) 4:12

 

Produced by Kirk Elliott & Norm Hacking
Recorded & mixed by Kirk Elliott
Except #7&8:
produced by Norm Hacking & Kevin Bell
recorded at Comfort Sound, Toronto

Musicians
Norm Hacking - vocals, guitar
Kirk Elliott - vocals, guitar, all other instruments, programming
Ben Hacking (age 7) - vocal (#4), voice (#11)
Additional musicians on #8:
Kevin Bell - acoustic guitar, harmony vocal
John Arpin - piano
David Woodhead - acoustic bass
Matt Zimbel - percussion

 

When Cats Go Wrong book cover, click for more on the book"When Cats Go Wrong" (track 6) is NOW a beautifully illustrated hardcover book - including a CD single of the song - published by Raincoast Books (ISBN 1-55192-729-2). The first printing is selling out, but may still be available in some Canadian and U.S. bookstores. A full-size paperback with CD single (ISBN 1-55192-917-1) will be released in Canada on February 1, 2006. Cynthia Nugent's delightful paintings bring the lyrics to life. She heard the song on Stuart McLean's national CBC radio show Vinyl Cafe and wrote Norm suggesting that she paint illustrations to turn the song lyrics into a book. The When Cats Go Wrong book page has more information, and we've posted published reviews and teachers' comments. Note that Raincoast does not sell directly to the public.

 

MORE INFORMATION / ORDERING CDs

This CD, the Skysongs reissue and One Voice: A Tribute to Norm Hacking, Vol. 1 are on the Three Flamingos Music label and available through Festival Distribution toll-free (Canada and U.S.) 1-800-633-8282 or through their secure website at www.festival.bc.ca or in stores. For more detail, see Buy CDs / Contact.
OR they are available at Norm's upcoming gigs.

To ask a question or to join Norm's email list for updates on gigs, his When Cats Go Wrong book and upcoming CD The Ache,

send an email to info@normhacking.com


Return to Top
Back to Norm's Discography Overview
or link directly to details of each album:
I Am the Night (poetry and prose CD)
Orange Cats / One Voice (tribute) / Skysongs / The Ache /
A Day in the Studio / Stubborn Ghost / Cut Roses / Norm Hacking Live
See also Norm's songs recorded by others

and list of lyrics and sounds on this site.

Updated December 7, 2005

 

   
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