Graham Brown's Musical Evolution: the legacy continues...
- grahamsongs
- Aug 9
- 4 min read
Last post, we traced Jr. Gone Wild’s rise and eventual breakup, paving the way for a new chapter. Now, let’s dive into the evolution that shaped me as a solo artist and bandleader. After *Brand New Smile*, I rejoined Happyman for our final album, *Just Like You* (1999), my fourth with Stomp Records. Jay Homenchuk and I had shared a decade together, and though parting was tough, that record brought us some closure. Recorded on a shoestring budget, its songs earned solid reviews and have stood the test of time.
By 2001, I returned to the studio for my second solo effort, *Good ‘n Broke*, with Mark Gruft on drums and Gary Vincent on bass. Paul Baker engineered, and we laid down bed tracks in four hours, with most vocals as first takes to capture that raw edge. Completed in 36 hours, it opened global doors with strong reviews. Touring as a trio with Mark Gibbs on bass and vocals was a thrill, though the road eventually wore us down.
For my sixth Stomp release, *Stand Your Ground* (2005), we shifted to Lemon Loaf Studios in Burnaby with engineer Blair Calibaba. Mark Gruft, Mark Gibbs, and I recorded in 40 hours. When Gibbs stepped back from touring, I recruited Dave Bridges after seeing him live—his smooth bass lines and harmonies were a perfect fit. He quickly mastered my catalog, and we hit the road, earning more good reviews.
My seventh release, *Do What You Should* (2008), featured friends like Robbie Steininger (slide), Gary Comeau (fiddle), and Rick Hopkins (Hammond B3), recorded with Paul Baker. The Prairie Dogs name stuck, reflecting our wild prairie runs. We played the CCMA roots/rock showcase in New Brunswick and the Cavern Club in Liverpool—a surreal night on Beatles turf—followed by a BBC live recording, a hazy Marquee Club gig after 36 sleepless hours (where I pulled off guitar and bass solos), and promoter interest.
Tensions rose, and Dave Bridges left after a Saskatoon blowout. I ditched the Prairie Dogs label to avoid a country tag, launching The Graham Brown Band to record freely. My eighth Stomp release, *Hiwatt* (2011), a double album, featured John Werner (bass) and Rob Blackburn (piano/guitar). Paul Baker began engineering but, after his cancer diagnosis, passed the reins to Dave Meszaros. Paul’s death hit hard—he called from his hospital bed to ensure the record’s completion. We honored him at a wake with Chilliwack and Colin James. *Hiwatt* received solid international reviews, and I felt I had my strongest band yet.
After years on the road, we recorded *Give & Take* (2014) with the same lineup—Mark Gruft (drums), John Werner (bass), Rob Blackburn (keyboards/guitar/harmony vocals), and me (vocals/guitars/harmonica). Dave Meszaros engineered as we laid down 20 songs live off the floor in one afternoon at a large room, with minimal overdubs. Tracks like “Waiting” became fan favorites, and extensive prairie touring yielded strong reviews across Canada, the USA, and Europe.
The cycle continued with *Let Me In* (2018), my first on Word Song Records, recorded at Bryan Adams’ Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. With Dave Meszaros, we tracked 18 songs on Saturday, followed by acoustic overdubs on Sunday. Unhappy with the initial mixes—possibly due to Dave’s busy schedule with Colin James—I turned to Bill Buckingham at Palace Studios. Bill’s fresh mixes elevated the album, which I consider my best-sounding record yet, earning rave international reviews. Road work followed the pattern.
After a Calgary gig, a cancelled Edmonton interview led us to Edmontone Studios for a 5-hour session, recording 19 songs live off the floor with acoustic overdubs. Covid halted gigs, but rediscovering those masters at home prompted Bill to mix *Spirit and Soul* (2021). The result blew me away, garnering critical acclaim worldwide, sparking more tours and videos.
In 2023, with some band members unavailable, I recorded *Solo* at Palace Studios with three vintage acoustics, laying down 15 folk tracks in a few hours. It’s a freeing experience, and I’ve embraced solo gigs for their raw sound.
Now, with *Outside Within* (2025), we’ve hit a new high. Recorded live at Hipposonic Studios—once Little Mountain, where legends were made—we tracked 18 songs in just 7 hours on a Saturday, with me adding acoustic overdubs on Sunday. Bill Buckingham mastered the mixes, capturing the band’s electric energy with Rob Blackburn, John Werner, and Mark Gruft. The 12-track album, released on Word Song Records, bursts with raw rock, from the Tom Petty-inspired “Courage Comes”—written spontaneously after a Terry Fox-inspired morning and nailed in two takes—to the gritty “Graveyard Trees” and the soulful “Tell the World.” It’s a return to my roots, blending heartland rock with personal stories of resilience, recorded in one blazing afternoon to keep it real and unpolished.
The response has been incredible, with fans loving “Courage Comes” and the "Discover Me' video racking up over 10K views. We’re gearing up for the Coho Festival on September 7 at Ambleside Beach, where this energy will light up the stage. Check out grahambrownsongs.com for the full album, videos, and merch—download "Courage Comes" for free and join the journey.
The road ahead holds more twists—
—turn on, turn up, tune in. Cheers, GB.
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