The John P Allen website

The Music

In January of 2008 some old friends convened in a Hamilton recording studio for three days under my nominal baton, resulting in this CD. I dubbed the ensemble "The Bachelor Farmers", although none of them are bachelors, or farmers, to the best of my knowledge. However, I have known them all for 30 years and hereby vouch for their fine musicianship. May this album fill your homes with pleasant sounds.

John P Allen - February 2008

front of cd

#	Title	Composer

1	Snowbird	Gene MacLellan
2	With A Vamp In The Middle	John Hartford
3	Teepee Shuffle	John P. Allen
4	We'll Sing In The Sunshine	Gale Garnett
5	Light At The River	Bud Brewster/Carl Story
6	Four Strong Winds	Ian Tyson
7	Did She Mention My Name	Gordon Lightfoot
8	Ashoken Farewell	Jay Ungar
9	Same Old Thing	Sylvia Tyson
10	Sing A Song Of Sadness	Caitlin Hanford/Chtris Whitely/John Sheard
11	Bud The Spud	Tom C. Connors
12	St. Anne's Reel (Revisited)	Traditional
13	Move Along	Steve Pineo

Prairie Oyster's John P. Allen and Joan Besen are proud to present John's first instrumental solo album, "The Canadian Fiddle (Violin)".

This is not only John's first solo venture, but also the first major project for Canada's only mother and son production team, Joan Besen and Sunny Thrasher.

The CD features John's engaging and distinctive style on violin, viola, mandolin and tenor banjo (his first instrument), with tracks by Joan and Sunny. All of the other musicians are long-time friends who were selected for their unique abilities to suit the songs on which they've played.

There are seven original tunes, and five covers. Each tune takes you on it's own little musical adventure, and all the songs and the styles are near and dear to John's heart.

This record, unless otherwise noted on the jacket, was recorded at 4x5 Studios, so called because is comprised 4x5 feet of space in Sunny's rather small loft. That is why his girlfriend, Bree, is screaming on Track 10.

John, Sunny and Joan all hope you have as much fun listening to this record as we had making it.

November, 2005

image of John's first CD project

#	Title	Composer

1	Tumbling Tumbleweeds	Bob Nolan
2	Makin' Whoopee	Gus Kahn/Walter Donaldson
3	The Golden Way	John P. Allen
4	The First of June	John P. Allen
5	Autumn Ride	Joan Besen
6	Jameson's Jig	John P. Allen
7	Summer Wages	Ian Tyson
8	St. Anne's Reel	Traditional
9	Beausejour Lament	John P. Allen
10	Hugo Brotter's Polka	John P. Allen
11	Side by Side	Harry Woods
12	Lace and Pretty Flowers	Willie P. Bennet