http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/por...d=706356&more=

CRTC positive for homegrown talent


SONGWRITER IAN TYSON takes time from perform-ing at the Filberg Festival to talk with the Record.PHOTO BY kimberley allan


By Mark Allan
Record Editor
Aug 11 2006


Regulations requiring radio stations to play a certain amount of homegrown music have helped Canadian artists to flourish, a songwriting legend now admits.

In Comox to perform Monday at the Filberg Festival, prolific songwriter Ian Tyson acknowledged a disproportionately large number of Canadian performers are making their mark in the U.S.

“Lightfoot and myself and Leonard Cohen, we all started before the CRTC came into effect, although I must say it’s had a very positive effect.

“I was against it when it first came in. So was Gordon Lightfoot. We were both against it, but we were wrong in the final analysis.”

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandated in 1971 that at least 25 per cent of songs played on Canadian radio stations should be Canadian content.

The percentage was raised to 30 per cent in the 1980s and to 35 per cent in the 1990s.

While he has written many memorable songs, Tyson’s signature tune is Four Strong Winds.

Recorded in 1963 with Tyson’s wife Sylvia, the song has mushroomed into an international folk classic recorded by dozens of performers and revitalized years later by Neil Young.

“That song is really not mine anymore,” Tyson said backstage before performing a set at Filberg Park that ended with Four Strong Winds.

“It’s really not mine anymore,” he said. “It belongs to the country and the rest of the world, I guess.

“It might have been Johnny Cash’s final recording. We’re not sure about that. It was in the final session, I know that.

“It’s become an iconic piece of music. I don’t know how that works or how that happens, but I’m glad it did.

“It belongs out there now. It’s not mine anymore, but I get the royalties,” joked Tyson.

“When you’re in the cattle business that’s good,” added Tyson, whose new album is called Songs from the Gravel Road.

http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/por...d=706356&more=

CRTC positive for homegrown talent


SONGWRITER IAN TYSON takes time from perform-ing at the Filberg Festival to talk with the Record.PHOTO BY kimberley allan


By Mark Allan
Record Editor
Aug 11 2006


Regulations requiring radio stations to play a certain amount of homegrown music have helped Canadian artists to flourish, a songwriting legend now admits.

In Comox to perform Monday at the Filberg Festival, prolific songwriter Ian Tyson acknowledged a disproportionately large number of Canadian performers are making their mark in the U.S.

“Lightfoot and myself and Leonard Cohen, we all started before the CRTC came into effect, although I must say it’s had a very positive effect.

“I was against it when it first came in. So was Gordon Lightfoot. We were both against it, but we were wrong in the final analysis.”

The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mandated in 1971 that at least 25 per cent of songs played on Canadian radio stations should be Canadian content.

The percentage was raised to 30 per cent in the 1980s and to 35 per cent in the 1990s.

While he has written many memorable songs, Tyson’s signature tune is Four Strong Winds.

Recorded in 1963 with Tyson’s wife Sylvia, the song has mushroomed into an international folk classic recorded by dozens of performers and revitalized years later by Neil Young.

“That song is really not mine anymore,” Tyson said backstage before performing a set at Filberg Park that ended with Four Strong Winds.

“It’s really not mine anymore,” he said. “It belongs to the country and the rest of the world, I guess.

“It might have been Johnny Cash’s final recording. We’re not sure about that. It was in the final session, I know that.

“It’s become an iconic piece of music. I don’t know how that works or how that happens, but I’m glad it did.

“It belongs out there now. It’s not mine anymore, but I get the royalties,” joked Tyson.

“When you’re in the cattle business that’s good,” added Tyson, whose new album is called Songs from the Gravel Road.

Great Charlene, this is exactly what we were talking about, a little while ago. Gordon, Ian, Anne, Leonard, they made it, when it wasn't as easy as it is today, in the Canadian Music Biz. Thank's for that Char...Jesse. :)

Great Charlene, this is exactly what we were talking about, a little while ago. Gordon, Ian, Anne, Leonard, they made it, when it wasn't as easy as it is today, in the Canadian Music Biz. Thank's for that Char...Jesse. :)

It is true what Ian Tyson says about "Four Strong Winds" a mate of mine pulled it out of his book to perform a couple of nights ago, and had "Four Strong Winds [Neil Young]" on the heading. He then sang the Neil Young version, begining with the 'Think I'll go out Alberta' verse. When he finished I put him in the picture, Ian Tyson, not Neil Young. But he had never heard of Ian Tyson.

It is true what Ian Tyson says about "Four Strong Winds" a mate of mine pulled it out of his book to perform a couple of nights ago, and had "Four Strong Winds [Neil Young]" on the heading. He then sang the Neil Young version, begining with the 'Think I'll go out Alberta' verse. When he finished I put him in the picture, Ian Tyson, not Neil Young. But he had never heard of Ian Tyson.

That's a dam shame, The song was written by Tyson. But I guees more people heard Neil do it, than Ian who has been for the last decade, if not more, very low profile.

That's a dam shame, The song was written by Tyson. But I guees more people heard Neil do it, than Ian who has been for the last decade, if not more, very low profile.

That song will always be Ian's - it's who I see and hear when I think of it.

Neil does a great version but it's not his. Never will be.

That song will always be Ian's - it's who I see and hear when I think of it.

Neil does a great version but it's not his. Never will be.