CHRIS RAWLINGS: UNDER SATURN’S WHEEL CD PRESS RELEASE www.chrisrawlings.ca One of Canada’s first indie-recorded folk singers (Pearl River Turnaround, 1970), Chris Rawlings has recorded his fifth album: Under Saturn’s Wheel. This production features outstanding writing spanning 3 decades. Edgy country folk songs with a jazz feel blend with guitar stylings ranging from Joplinesque ragtime to Johnny Cash country. The title song, Under Saturn’s Wheel, creates a mesmerizing waterfall of guitar accompaniment reminiscent of Bruce Cockburn or Chet Atkins. Special guest artists on this recording include Daisy DeBolt (Frazer and DeBolt) on vocals, Henry Heillig (Manteca) on bass, Jorn Anderson (Folk Alarm) on percussion, Michael Pinsonneault (Bug Alley Band) on flute and alto sax, Anne Lederman (fiddle and vocals) and Chris Whiteley (pedal steel and harmonica). Co-producer and Sound Designer Paul Benedict (Ronnie Hawkins, Matt Minglewood, George Kohler) chose to record the album “live and in the kitchen” at Rawlings’ home: “My first instinct was to choose the most natural vocal sound”, said Paul, “and, of all the places we auditioned, this was the ideal sound.” Each song was recorded as a complete performance of guitar, vocal, bass and drums. The house was a complete mess. A citizen of Quebec and Canada, Rawlings’ music reflects this duality. The Gallic melodic influences of Quebec, Louisiana and Ireland are interwoven with mainstream Anglo-American popular music forms. Perhaps the most unique aspect of all is the choice of subject matter and lyrical dimension. These songs move from love songs to rants of anger and despair as well as invocations of hope, resolve, spirituality and peace. Under Saturn’s Wheel is to be released early in 2008 with concerts being planned for Toronto, Montreal, Sherbrooke and Vancouver ahead of the summer festival season. Advance copies have been receiving airplay on Ryerson’s and Bishop’s University radio.