The Lucky Ones (Willie P. Bennett album)

The Lucky Ones was the fourth album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett and was his only release in the 1980s. Bennett self-released the album on cassette only in 1985 ("Willie P. Bennett Publishing"). It was re-released by Duke Street Records in 1989 (LP: DSR-31059, CD: DSRD 31059, cassette DSRC 31059). The tracks have since been released in MP3 format through the iTunes Store, making it the only album by Willie P. Bennett available digitally.

The album's title track, "The Lucky Ones", was released as a single, rising to #19 on the Canadian Country Music charts. The song "Goodbye, So Long, Hello", co-written with Russell deCarle was later recorded by deCarle's band Prairie Oyster, who released it as a single. It was subsequently named the 1990 Song of the Year by the Canadian Country Music Association.^[1]

The album includes a re-recording of the title song from Bennett's debut album, Tryin' to Start Out Clean.

Track listing

Side one

1. Train Tracks - 4:25
2. The Lucky Ones - 4:10
3. Ain't Got No Notion - 2:46
4. Cryin' the Blues - 3:11
5. Goodbye, So Long, Hello - 2:24

Side two

1. Tryin' to Start Out Clean - 3:34
2. Reckless Baby - 3:45
3. Don't Have Much to Say - 2:27
4. Patience of a Working Man - 3:30
5. Andrew's Waltz - 2:46

All words and music by Willie P. Bennett, except "Goodbye, So Long, Hello" by Wille P. Bennett and Russell deCarle. All song published by Top Side Charlie Music/Willlie P. Bennett Publishing except "Patience of a Working Man" by Top Side Charlie Music/Mendelsongster Publishing & Willie P. Bennett Publishing.

Performers/Credits

• Willie P. Bennett - vocals, harmonica, acoustic guitar, high string guitar ("Cryin' the Blues", "Tryin' to Start Out Clean"), background vocals ("Patience of a Working Man")
• Al Cross - drums
• Tom Griffiths - bass ("Train Tracks", "Lucky Ones", "Ain't Got No Notion", "Trying to Start out Clean", "Reckless Baby")
• Kit Johnson - bass ("Cryin' the Blues, Goodbye, So Long, Hello", "Don't Have Much To Say", "Patience of a Working Man")
• John Sheard - piano, keyboard
• Jack Semple - electric guitar ("Train Tracks", "The Lucky Ones", "Ain't Got No Notion", "Tryin' to Start Out Clean", "Reckless Baby", "Don't Have Much To Say", "Patience of a Working Man"), acoustic guitar ("Andrew's Waltz")
• Colin Linden - lead guitar ("Goodbye, So Long, Hello"), background vocals ("Train Tracks", "Patience of a Working Man")
• Danny Greenspoon - acoustic lead guitar ("The Lucky Ones"), rhythm guitar ("Tryin' to Start Out Clean"), six string bass ("Goodbye, So Long, Hello"), acoustic rhythm and high string guitar ("Reckless Baby"), background vocals ("Patience of a Working Man")
• Mike Holder - pedal steel ("The Lucky Ones", "Ain't Got No Notion", "Tryin' To Start Out Clean", "Reckless Baby"
• Ben Mink - mandolin ("Cryin' the Blues", "Don't Have Much to Say"), electric five string fiddle ("Cryin' the Blues"), acoustic fiddle ("Don't Have Much to Say")
• Colleen Peterson - background/harmony vocals ("The Lucky Ones", "Ain't Got No Notion", "Goodbye, So Long, Hello", "Tryin' to Start Out Clean", "Reckless Baby", "Patience of a Working Man")
• Russell deCarle - background/harmony vocals ("Goodbye, So Long, Hello", "Tryin' to Start Out Clean")
• Horn Section on "Train Tracks", "Patience of a Working Man": Sarah McElcheran - trumpet, Steve Donald - trombone, Jody Golick - tenor saxophone, Wayne Mills - baritone saxophone. Horn arrangements by Sarah McElecheran.
• String Section on "Andrew's Waltz": Roberto Occhipinti - upright bass, Lenny Solomon - violin, Claudio Vera - viola, Jose Shapero - cello. String arrangement by Lawrence Shragge
• Produced by Danny Greenspoon
• Engineered by Jeff Wolpert
• Assistant Engineer David Stinson
• Recorded and mixed at Inception Sound, Downsview, Ontario, Canada

References