Doug Cox and Linda McRae are two veterans of stage and studio who have entertained folk fans around the world for decades. The Canadian singer/songwriters have sixty years of experience between them. Each has enjoyed a successful solo career, writing songs and sharing them on the world stage.
Alberta-born Doug Cox is a skilled and seasoned guitarist with a legacy born of the blues. His love of slide guitar eventually brought him to the dobro (aka resonator guitar). In the years since he has developed an international reputation as a gifted guitar slinger. He has performed around the world with the likes of Indian slide guitarists Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Salil Bhatt, Tex-Mex kings Los Texmaniacs, British Bluesman Long John Baldry, Austin songwriter BettySoo and dozens more.
Linda McRae first shared the stage with Doug Cox a quarter century ago at the inaugural Stan Rogers Folk Festival, in Canso, NS. The multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter splits her time between Canada and Nashville. As both a solo artist and as a member of popular groups like Canadian Celtic band and Spirit of the West, she has spent the past 37 years establishing herself as a staple of the North American folk music scene. An activist, artist and educator, she is a 2016 BC Entertainment Hall of Fame Pioneer Inductee and 2017 Boston Family Folk Chorale Songwriting Competition winner.
Beyond the Great Pause is the brand new album from Doug Cox and Linda McRae, released worldwide via all major streaming services on February 1, 2023. The set was recorded live at various venues along the route of the duo’s recent joint tour. It’s an album that almost never happened. But after three years of COVID delays, personal tragedies and scheduling conflicts they were finally able to capture the magic on tape.
The record opens on the title track, Linda McRae’s hopeful dream for a better post-COVID world. Here and throughout the record, the two singers accompany themselves with a folky acoustic mix of country picking and blues riffing. They pay tribute to a lost friend on “Last Song You Played” and rock legends on “Heroes” (David Bowie) and “Waterloo Sunset” (Ray Davies).
There are themes of both personal and global redemption that run through the record. Doug and Linda reflect on the impact of the choices we make on “Crow on the Cradle”, and on our societal responsibilities with the song “Listen to the Water”. “Ready For The Times to Get Better” is a great country ballad that echoes sentiments of folks around the world in 2023.
Linda and Doug lighten the mood on tracks like “All Vine No Tater”, a fun tongue-in-cheek acoustic blues romp. “Rough Edges and Ragged Hearts” is a great a ‘tear in my beer’ barroom lament from Linda that brings to mind the work of the great country/americana singer, Lucinda Williams. On “Paper Moon” Doug Cox offer his soulful take on a jazz/pop classic about the importance of keeping love in our lives. The album closes with the sugary sweet coffee shop love song, “New Tim Hortons”.
Check out “Beyond the Great Pause” lyric video below, or listen to the album in its entirety on your favorite streaming service. You can also hear the song “Paper Moon” on the Deep Indie Jazz playlist. Follow the links below to connect with Doug Cox and Linda McRae.