We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

from The Unrequited Love by Belle Plaine

/
  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Recorded live at The Artesian in Regina, SK on February 14th, 2015.

    The Unrequited Love is:

    BELLE PLAINE - vocals & acoustic guitar
    JEREMY SAUER - keyboards, accordion & back-up vocals
    ELIZABETH CURRY - upright bass & back-up vocals
    CHRIS SLEIGHTHOLM - electric guitar
    TYLER HAMMER - drums
    CHENEY LAMBERT - trumpet
    KARL VALIAHO - saxophone
    ANNA ROSE - back-up vocals

    - live recording by CHRIS HAYNES
    - mixed by ORION PARADIS, MELANIE HANKEWICH, JEREMY SAUER, & ELIZABETH CURRY at Soul Sound
    - mastered by STEVE BERSON at Total Sonic Media
    - illustrations by MONIQUE BLOM
    - layout by AVRIL BIGGIN at My Studio



    Review from PENGUIN EGGS:

    "I thought Belle Plaine was a town in Saskatchewan. Turns out there’s two – but this one (aka Melanie Hankewich) hails from Fosston, some 3 hours north. And, judging from the full house present at this live recording, recorded in Regina on Valentine’s Day, 2014, everybody knows about her but me.

    Despite the peculiar-looking packaging (a lone, litho’d wolf standing on a snowy highway), Belle Plaine (the singer) has an all-encompassing range, favouring blues and jazz-based covers along with her own well-crafted material, which openly embraces folk and country. On this special night, she’s supported by a revolving cast of talented friends who tastefully embellish her ideas with backup vocals, keyboards, acoustic bass, drums, guitar, horns and accordion.

    Schooled in jazz and recording, Plaine tripped on and off her musical path a few times, arriving at the realization – in 2010 – that her greatest joy comes from performing for an audience. This joy is remarkably audible on The Unrequited Love – a two-part, 18-song performance. A little Billie, a little Tom Waits, some Kristofferson and, best of all, her originals. Of special note, a tribute written in her mother’s honour, “Frozen In Obscurity”, touches nerves in its simple beauty as does, in another way, her autobiographical “Good Heart” with its gentle swing, perky horns and Anna Rose’s delicate vocal backup. At the same time, her rousing version of Jimmie Cox’s depression hit, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out” fully demonstrates her torch abilities – as does her Waits’ cover – while more subdued fare like Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down” reveals her country leanings (with kudos to Jeremy Sauer’s accordion, Chris Sleightholm’s guitar and the horns of Karl Valiano and Cheney Lambert). The uptempo ”Crashing Through” picks up the pace for a too-brief, Tex-Mex rockabilly ride, contrasting with the band’s lovely, folksy treatment of “Wayfaring Strangers”, complete with banjo, reverbed guitar and acoustic bass solo. The closing “Crazy Arms” suggests Plaine’s comfort zone with a rock’n’roll attitude as it underlines her many ‘voices’ and influences, despite its origin with Ray Price.

    Above all, a warm, charming stage manner and her insightful backgrounders to each song makes for a most pleasant surprise."

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Unrequited Love via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more
    ships out within 3 days

      $15 CAD or more 

     

about

composer: Tom Waits

Live at The Artesian in Regina, SK.
Recording engineer Chris Haynes
Mixed by Orion Paradis, Belle Plaine, Elizabeth Curry & Jeremy Sauer at Soul Sound Studio.
mastered by Steve Berson at Total Sonic Media

lyrics

Hey Charlie I'm pregnant and living on the 9th street
Right above a dirty bookstore off Euclid Avenue
I stopped taking dope and I quit drinking whiskey
My old man plays the trombone, and he works out at the track

He says that he loves me, even though it's not his baby
He says that he'll raise him up just like he would his own son
He gave me a ring that was worn by his mother
And he takes me out dancin' every Saturday night

Hey Charlie I think about you every time I pass a filling station
On account of all the grease you used to wear in your hair
Still have that record, Little Anthony and The Imperials
But someone stole my record player. Well, how do you like that?

Hey Charlie I almost went crazy after Mario got busted
I went back to Omaha to live with my folks
Everyone I used to know was either dead or in prison
So came back to Minneapolis this time I think I'm gonna stay

Hey Charlie I think I'm happy for the first time since my accident
I wish I had all the money we used to spend on dope
I'd buy me a used car lot and I wouldn't sell any of 'em
I'd just drive a different car every day, depending on how I feel

Hey Charlie, for Christ's sakes, if you want to know the truth of it
I ain't got a husband, he don't play the trombone
I need to borrow money to pay this lawyer
But Charlie, hey, I'll be eligible for parole come Valentine's day

credits

from The Unrequited Love, released March 4, 2016
Belle Plaine: vocals
Elizabeth Curry: upright bass
Jeremy Sauer: keys
Cheney Lambert: trumpet

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Belle Plaine regina, Saskatchewan

Belle Plaine is a small town prairie kid who grew up to be a sure-shot hunter, amateur gardener, wannabe horsewoman and a singer/songwriter who blurs the lines between folk, jazz and classic country. She has released three albums, and toured widely across Canada and the US. ... more

contact / help

Contact Belle Plaine

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like Belle Plaine, you may also like: