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April 4, 2008
Greenfield exposes his soul
Local songwriter finds his passion in live stage performances.
ARASH BEN SHAUL
Vancouver singer and songwriter Barry Greenfield is releasing a new album, Exposed Soul, in April. The CD is Greenfield's fifth since his return to the musical scene as a recording artist in 1999, and British Columbians will be able to hear what he's been up to when he plays in West Vancouver next week.
"I spent almost a year recording this album in Nashville with the best musicians and recording engineers available," said Greenfield. "I wanted to get a smooth, elegant sound for the entire album. Some albums are made by picking songs from here and there and just throwing them all together, but I made sure every song in this album fits."
Greenfield began singing and writing songs when he was a boy growing up in Zimbabwe. "I have been writing songs for 42 years," said Greenfield. "I've been playing and writing songs everyday since I was 15."
When his family eventually moved to Vancouver, Greenfield began to seriously think of songwriting as a career.
"I remember, this was in 1968, watching the Tonight Show on NBC when the Beatles made their American debut," said Greenfield. "I heard Lennon say in his Manchester accent, 'Come to London, come to our studio, bring your music, bring your ideas, come from all over the world.' I was on the plane to England the next day."
Greenfield met with John Lennon and several recording executives in London. He was promptly offered recording contracts by EMI and Apple, the Beatles' own recording label. He turned them both down to return to Canada to continue his studies, but he did leave behind two of his songs at Apple. The studio would find another artist to record them. Thus began Greenfield's career as a songwriter.
Between 1972 and 1974, Greenfield established himself as a successful songwriter and recording artist with three number 1 songs, including his hit "New York is Closed Tonight," which became the most played song on Canadian radio in 1972.
Shortly afterward, Greenfield decided to retire from recording and live performances. He focused on his financial planning business and on raising a family. He continued, however, to write songs for other singers, including more than a dozen popular songs for prominent artists such as Graham Gouldman, Buffy St. Marie and Annette Ducharme.
In 1999, after a 25-year absence, Greenfield re-entered the music scene as a recording and performing artist. Since then, he has released four critically acclaimed albums and performed in more than 40 concerts worldwide. His 1999 album Cold Cure won the A & B Award for the best independent album of that year.
Greenfield's music is marked by robust lyrics. "I am not a very musical guy, let's get that out of the way," said Greenfield. "I am a songwriter. That's what I've always been." His songs are calculated to make the listener think, yet respond to life emotionally at the same time, he said. Many of his songs, such as "Pink Ghetto," "The Road Home" and "Landmines," deal with social, political and other world issues.
His latest recording continues his strong poetic tradition. "I called it Exposed Soul because it's a very personal CD," revealed Greenfield. "One of my favorite songs in the album is 'Lil' Angel.' It's about my daughter, who is the most precious and important thing in my life." Another song, "Summerville," is about the peace and serenity of a small beach in Nova Scotia of which he has many pleasant memories.
The CD contains 10 songs. Greenfield considers it his best work since he started recording again. "But my favorite part now is live performance," he said. "It's funny, 'cause I left singing in 1974 mainly because I didn't want the whole concert and stardom thing."
Having sold out shows in most parts of Canada and in London, England, Greenfield said he has learned to appreciate the performance aspect of singing a lot more. "I really get into it," he said. "Our last show, we had three encores. That's really an honor."
Greenfield is looking forward to his upcoming show, which is titled Yesterday Once More: A Tribute to the Music of the Carpenters, and which will also feature Vancouver artists Monique Creber, Steve Maddock and Grammy-nominated pianist Michael Creber.
"It's an amazing group of performers playing together," said Greenfield. "Monique is outstanding, and Michael, I think, is the best piano player in the city, so it's going to be a great show."
In spite of running a successful financial planning business, actively participating in the Jewish community and handling a successful musical career, Greenfield has bigger plans.
"My daughter's reached the leaving the nest stage," laughed Greenfield, "so I can now really focus on doing other things I want." He continued, "I have my new album, the concert, my official CD release party in June and there's more to come."
Greenfield's songs, including those on the new album, can be heard at myspace.com/barrygreenfield and www.barrygreenfield.com. Tickets for his concert at West Vancouver's Kay Meek Centre on April 4 can be requested at [email protected] or through the Kay Meek box office at 604-913-3634.
Arash Ben Shaul is a Vancouver freelance writer.
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