Two Decades Later, the Cooper Bros Return

What Makes Us Great – “The song was inspired by a chance meeting at a hockey game with some young Canadian soldiers who had just returned from Afghanistan,” waxes band member Richard Cooper on the lead song from a forthcoming album that resurrects a band that has been off the radar screen for 20 years.

Continuing, Cooper says: “I was so impressed with how dedicated and proud they were. How idealistic. How they felt that, in their own way, they were working to make a difference, and make the world a better place. I felt so much pride that night. A few days later, I was thinking about these kids, and our country, and how we have so much to be thankful for. As Canadians we really do our part to help with peacekeeping around the world but at the same time being Canadian we are so modest about our achievements. We also know how to have fun and have a laugh at our own expense. Then I wrote ‘That’s What Makes Us Great’.”

When they first started out with their country rock sound, The Cooper Brothers were most often compared to The Eagles with their vocal harmonies and stellar songwriting. With such top 100 Billboard hits as “The Dream Never Dies”, “Show Some Emotion”, “I’ll Know Her When I See Her” and “Rock and Roll Cowboys”, The Cooper Brothers were at the top of the radio charts both in Canada and the U.S.

The new album was recorded in Nashville at Masterlink Studio with an amazing line up of session players. John Whynot mixed it in L.A. and Greg Calbi did the mastering at Sterling Sound in NYC. The lead track, ‘In From the Cold’ features Jim Cuddy, Delbert McLinton and Chuck Leavell who plays on four tracks.

The Bio
Canada’s country-rock band from the ’70s through to the mid 80′s, the
Cooper Brothers first gained international attention when they signed a sizeable
recording contract with Capricorn Records. The Cooper Brothers, Brian and Richard, released two albums under the Capricorn label, the self-titled Cooper Brothers and Pitfalls of the Ballroom. Both albums sold extremely well and the singles ‘The Dream Never Dies’, ‘Rock and Roll Cowboys’, ‘Show Some Emotion’ and ‘I’ll Know Her When I See Her’ all charted on The Billboard Hot 100.

Among critical accolades, the Cooper Brothers earned an ASCAP award for ‘The Dream Never Dies’ and at the height of their career, the band toured throughout North America, sharing the stage with The Doobie Brothers, Black Oak Arkansas, Joe Cocker, Charlie Daniels, Atlanta Rhythm Section, McGuinn, Clark and Hillman and Seals and Crofts. In addition, the band worked with some of the most prolific musicians of the day including Chuck Leavell – keyboardist for The Rolling Stones – who played on a popular Cooper Brothers’ track “Riding High.” After Capricorn Records folded, the brothers released two more albums before disbanding in the mid eighties.

In October 2006, The Best of the Cooper Brothers was released by the EMI/ Pacemaker label and the band performed for the first time on stage in over 20 years. This led to a number of sold-out live dates throughout Southern Ontario including a memorable Ottawa Bluesfest concert, opening up for James Taylor. The experience sparked Richard Coopers muse again and he began writing songs. Before long the brothers had enough for a new album and approached respected musician/producer and old friend, Colin Linden.

“When I heard the songs, I thought they sounded timeless. They were filled with ideas. They weren’t trivial and they were musically and lyrically really so well  thought out,” Linden recalls.

In September of last year, with Linden at the helm, the Coops went to Masterlink Studio in Nashville (Where Neil Young recorded Desert Moon) to begin recording with a line-up of session musicians including Audley Freed (Black Crowes, Jakob Dylan, Dixie Chicks) Dan Dugmore (Linda Rostadt, James Taylor) Kevin McKendree (Brian Seltzer, Lee Roy Parnell) Lynn Williams (John Hiatt, Delbert McClinton) and Steve Mackey (Trisha Yearwood)

“Nashville was amazing.” says Richard, “Playing alongside musicians of that calibre was inspiring and Colin certainly managed to capture the vision I had for these songs…and then some.”

Later this month the new Cooper Brothers album – In From the Cold – will be released. featuring 12 brand new songs.

Here are the songs on the new CD with some comments by Richard:
GUNSHY – This tune sums up my philosophy on guns. “An army of madmen loose in the street. Every single mother armed to the teeth.” Colin Linden is all over this one. Some serious slide going on. Steve Mackey sits in on bass and my bro sings his ass off. This track was recorded pretty much live off the floor. What a blast to play on. Had to be one of the highlights of the session for me.

`62 FAIRLANE – A song written for Terry King, (T.K.) one of the original members of the Cooper Brothers who passed away about ten years ago. My brother and I miss him every day. Dan Dugmore, who used to play with Linda Rostadt, was one of TK’s absolute favourite pedal steel players. It was very emotional watching Dan play on this tune in the studio to say the least. T.K. might be gone but he’s certainly not forgotten.

JUKEBOX – This is a Capricorn reunion of sorts. Chuck Leavell, Delbert McClinton and the Cooper Brothers. Chuck on piano, Delbert on harmonica and bg vocals, Brian sings and I’m on guitar. Great B-3 track by Kevin McKendree. “I’ve been in more bars than museums…” Ain’t that the truth for most of us.

HARD LUCK GIRL – Sometimes you just can’t catch a break. This tune is about a girl
whose only luck seems to be bad. Two of my favorite vocalists share the lead on this one, my bro and Jim Cuddy, from Blue Rodeo. For a songwriter, it doesn’t get much better than that. Colin on baritone guitar, Dan on pedal steel.

THAT’S WHAT MAKES US GREAT – I’m proud to be a Canadian. There I said it. We
all are. We’re also proud of our sense of humour. This tune addresses both. Our buddy, Tyler Kealey on rock and roll accordion and Fats Kaplan on fiddle.

NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE – Marriage is easy when things go right. When things go
wrong? That’s a different story. I wrote this tune for my wife. The tougher things get the more amazing she gets. Newest Cooper bro, Jeff Rogers does a stellar job on lead vocal. The McGrary sisters sing backup. “But as twilight fades into black, I know somebody’s watching my back.”

PARADISE PIE - I love L.A.! I do. In spite of the traffic, the mudslides, the wildfires, the earthquakes, the drive-bys, the smog, the botox, etc. We got in touch with our “inner Neil” as Colin calls it, on this track. (Neil Young, that is.) This has to be the “loosest” Cooper Bros. cut ever recorded. Lynn Williams on drums is exceptional. Chuck on piano. We even got Colin singing on this one.

OUR LOVE DESERVES BETTER – You have to work at any relationship. Even a good
one. Vintage Cooper Bros vocals on the chorus. Soulful lead by Brian. Beautiful solo by Dan Dugmore. Jeff, Dar and Tyler on backgrounds.

LOVE OF THE AGES – This a song about not settling. He/she is out there. You`re
going to find them. No matter how long it takes. You know it`s a long shot but hey,
what`s the alternative? I wrote this tune when I was visiting an old friend in the
Coachella Valley in California. Maybe that explains the desert reference.

TEAR DOWN THE WALLS - Mexico is an amazing place. I have been going there for
over 20 years. But I fear that the gap between rich and poor just continues to grow. If ever there was place that was due for another revolution, it’s Mexico. This tune is for my buddy, Alejandro Montano who showed me parts of his country I never would have
seen as a tourist. Dar, Colin and Audley playing electrics.

THE WAY SHE SHINES – A song about a woman who might be a little rough around
the edges but you don’t really care. More than any other song on the record, this
reminds me of the original Cooper Brothers for some reason. Me and Darwin on ’52 and ’53 Les Pauls respectively.

LITTLE BLUE CHURCH – This is more like a short story than a song. I’m not sure
where this tune came from exactly. Except that… I know that the Church has had a lot of negative press of late. And I know there are some bad apples. But that’s not been my experience. The priests and nuns I’ve met in my life have been truly exceptional people. This song is for them! Audley Freed on guitar, Colin on dobro. The most country track on the album. “Keep one eye on the heavens, son. The good lord’ll bring you home…”