Spirit of the West
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | North Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Folk rock music |
Spirit of the West was a Canadian folk rock ensemble originating from North Vancouver, active between 1983 and 2016. Initially gaining recognition within Canada's folk music community during the 1980s, they later incorporated elements of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk, evolving into one of the country's leading alternative rock groups throughout the 1990s.
Early years
The group began as a duo with Geoffrey Kelly and J. Knutson, who were soon joined by John Mann to form the folk trio known as Eavesdropper. Their early gigs included opening slots for musicians such as Art Bergmann and Barney Bentall. Their setlists originally consisted mostly of covers from artists like Bruce Cockburn and Richard Thompson, before gradually introducing original compositions.
After a typographical error led to them being billed as "Eavesdroppings," they adopted the name Spirit of the West and self-released their debut album, Spirit of the West, in 1984. Subsequently, they signed with Edmonton's roots label Stony Plain Records, which issued their 1986 album Tripping Up the Stairs. That same year, bassist Hugh McMillan became a member. Following Knutson's exit in 1987, the band continued as a four-piece.
Their 1988 release Labour Day featured the notable track "Political", which solidified their presence on the folk festival circuit and earned a nomination for Best Roots & Traditional Album at the 1989 Juno Awards. Shortly thereafter, McMillan temporarily departed late in 1988, leading to replacements by Daniel Lapp and Linda McRae. McMillan returned prior to their subsequent recording sessions; Lapp left mid-1989 without participating in any recordings.
Building on the success of "Political," Spirit of the West secured a contract with Warner Bros. Records in 1989. To conclude their relationship with Stony Plain, a compilation titled Old Material 1984–1986 was released. Their major label debut, Save This House (1990), featured "Home for a Rest", which became emblematic for the band and a staple at Canadian university parties despite lacking an official single release; a music video was produced to promote it.
Evolution
While touring in support of Save This House, Spirit of the West toured England alongside The Wonder Stuff, deciding to incorporate a drummer to pursue a more rock-driven sound, particularly after sharing stages with acts like Jane's Addiction. After experimenting with guest drummer Darrell Mayes during demo sessions and various session drummers on tour throughout 1990, they ultimately enlisted Vince Ditrich, who made his debut on their 1991 album Go Figure.
Although folk elements remained present, this album shifted towards a heavier hard rock style compared to earlier work, which provoked some backlash among longtime fans. A rock-infused version of "Political" even sparked a petition demanding restoration of its original arrangement. Nevertheless, this direction attracted new followers within the alternative rock community.
The band received a nomination for Most Promising Group at the Juno Awards of 1991.
Linda McRae contributed to The Wonder Stuff's Never Loved Elvis, and members from both bands collaborated on a rendition of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken". During winter 1992-93, Spirit of the West embarked on an acoustic Hollow Bodies tour.
In 1993, they released Faithlift, their most commercially successful album featuring their biggest hit "And if Venice is Sinking". The follow-up album Two Headed in 1995 received substantial airplay with "Tell Me What I Think" and earned them a Juno nomination for Group of the Year, though it did not match its predecessor’s commercial or critical success.
That summer included touring with The Tragically Hip as part of the Another Roadside Attraction festival.
Beginning in 1995, Spirit of the West collaborated with symphony orchestras across Canada, debuting material intended for an orchestral album alongside the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. After recording two performances in May 1995, they released Open Heart Symphony later that year; this concert was also broadcast on Bravo concurrent with the album’s launch.
At the close of 1996, Linda McRae amicably departed to pursue solo projects, releasing a country album in 1997 before forming alternative country group Cheerful Lonesome.
The remaining members recorded Weights and Measures in 1997 as a quartet at Martin Barre’s studio in Devon, England. Collaborations included Barre himself alongside members from The Wonder Stuff, Capercaillie, and Fairport Convention, while adding Tobin Frank for touring purposes. A studio version of "Kiss & Tell" appeared on The Hanging Garden soundtrack that same year.
However, as mainstream pop gained industry focus, Warner Bros. provided minimal promotional support for the album and subsequently dropped Spirit of the West following their tour.
Hiatus and comeback
Following the release of Weights & Measures, the group paused their recording activities and nationwide tours, although they still performed select live appearances during summer folk festivals and in major cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. Throughout this interval, Mann, Ditrich, and Kelly each launched solo projects; Mann ventured into acting; McMillan contributed as a session musician and producer for The Town Pants; meanwhile, Kelly and Frank collaborated with The Paperboys.
Their first album in seven years, Star Trails, was unveiled on July 6, 2004, under the MapleMusic Recordings label.
In 2008, the band celebrated their 25th anniversary with the release of Spirituality 1983-2008: The Consummate Compendium through Rhino Records. This two-disc collection includes 32 remastered tracks covering their entire career, featuring two new compositions: "Winter's Now the Enemy" and "Another Happy New Year". The group’s official 25th anniversary concert at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom was recorded and aired by CBC Radio 2. Simultaneously, Rhino issued remastered versions of both Faithlift and Open Heart Symphony.
During 2009, Spirit of the West supported Great Big Sea on the "Fortune's Favour" tour, culminating in a final show in Victoria, British Columbia on March 26. The encore segments frequently included joint performances by both bands on tracks such as Spirit of the West’s "Political" and Great Big Sea’s "The Old Black Rum".
In 2010, Kelly, Ditrich, and Frank teamed up with Ashley MacIsaac and Matthew Harder to produce the charity single "Dreams," aimed at benefiting Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, Ghana’s inaugural Winter Olympian. Nkrumah-Acheampong also contributed by playing traditional percussion instruments. Released on iTunes, the single was credited to The Parallel Band. Concurrently, Mann took a leading role in the rock musical Beyond Eden staged in Edmonton. In 2011, Spirit of the West issued another charitable track titled "Bulembu," supporting an orphanage and sustainable development initiative in Swaziland, which featured a children’s choir from Bulembu.
After undergoing surgery in early 2012, Kelly was unable to perform for several weeks; during this time, Harder and Kendel Carson from The Paperboys filled in for live appearances including their annual St. Patrick’s Day event at the Commodore Ballroom. At their St. Patrick’s Day concert in 2014, Spirit of the West was inducted into the British Columbia Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Conclusion
In September 2014, Mann revealed his diagnosis with early-onset Alzheimer's disease, yet intended to continue performing for as long as feasible. To support his condition during shows, an iPad displaying lyrics was positioned near his microphone, while Harder became a permanent member handling lead guitar duties. Shortly thereafter, Mann’s concert featuring both solo works and Spirit of the West songs was broadcast on CBC Television’s Absolutely Canadian in July 2015 under the title "John Mann Here and Now".
Preparations for their 2015 Massey Hall performance were captured in Pete McCormack’s documentary Spirit Unforgettable. In December that year, they announced a three-night farewell engagement at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom scheduled for April 2016, preceded by a brief farewell tour.
Due to Ditrich’s kidney illness, drum responsibilities at these final concerts were shared with Kris MacFarlane and Pat Steward. Guest artists included Kendel Carson, Paul Hyde, Jim Cuddy, Steven Page, Colin James, Andy Maize, and Craig Northey.
The band continued informal activity through private “Johnny Jams,” which served as music therapy sessions for Mann. Kelly expressed optimism about occasional reunion performances if Mann’s health permitted. Following The Tragically Hip’s disclosure of Gord Downie’s brain cancer diagnosis in 2016, Kelly reflected on his own experiences performing under similar health challenges during interviews with CBC Radio One and Maclean's.
Spirit of the West reunited for an Alzheimer’s benefit concert at the Commodore Ballroom on November 19, 2017. The event featured artists such as Odds, Barney Bentall, Dustin Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Kendel Carson, Jim Cuddy, Alan Doyle, Colin James, Sarah McLachlan, Ed Robertson, Shari Ulrich, along with Spirit: The Next Generation—children of band members. Prior to the performance, these musicians recorded a tribute rendition of the band’s signature song "Home for a Rest" honoring Mann.
John Mann passed away on November 20, 2019.
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information | Highest Chart Ranking |
Certifications (sales criteria) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | |||
| Spirit of the West |
|
— | |
| Tripping Up the Stairs |
|
— | |
| Labour Day |
|
64 | |
| Save This House |
|
62 |
|
| Go Figure |
|
45 |
|
| Faithlift |
|
27 |
|
| Two Headed |
|
20 | |
| Open Heart Symphony |
|
36 | |
| Weights and Measures |
|
— | |
| Star Trails |
|
— |
Compilation albums
| Compilation Title | Release Details | Highest Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||
| Old Material 1984–1986 |
|
— |
| Hit Parade |
|
— |
| Spirituality 1983–2008: The Consummate Compendium |
|
— |
Singles
| Year issued | Single Title | Peak Chart Rankings | Certifications (sales levels) |
From Album | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN | CAN AC |
CAN Country |
CAN Content (Cancon) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | "The Crawl" | — | — | — | — | Tripping Up the Stairs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988 | "Political" | — | — | — | 31 |
Labour Day | - |
"Save This House" | 85 | align=center |— | align=center |— | align=center |— | |
- |1991 | "D for Democracy" |
87 | align=center |— | align=center |— | align=center |1 | | Go Figure |
- | "Political (Go Figure version)" |
70 | align=center |— | align=center |— | align=center |4 |
- |1992 | "Spot the Difference" |
— | align=center |— | align=center |— | align=center |9 |
- |1993 | "And if Venice Is Sinking" |
30 | align=center |12 | align=center |93 | align=center |— | |
- |1994|"5 Free Minutes" |
"55" | "29" | "—" | "—" | ""
-|"6th Floor" |
"—" | "—" | "—" | "3" | ""
-|"Sadness Grows" |
"52" | "—" | "—" | "7" | ""
- |1995|"Is This Where I Come In" |
"—" | "28" | "—" | "6" | "" |
Two Headed | - |
"Tell Me What I Think" | "25" | "—" | "—" | "—" |
Two Headed | - |
"Williamson's Garage" | "—" | "53" | "—" | "—" |
Open Heart Symphony | - |
"Soldier's Boy" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" |
Weights and Measures | - |
"July" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" |
Star Trails | - |
"Bulembu" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" |
Non-album single | - |
"Home for a Rest" | "—" | "—" | "—" | "—" |
|
Non-album single | |
Album contributions
- Island of Circles (1991): featured the track "Sunshine Superman"
- Back to the Garden (1992): included the song "Coyote"
- Upfront! Canadians Live from Mountain Stage (1994): presented "Political"
- Due South: The Original Television Soundtrack (1996): contained "Bone of Contention"
- 20 Years of Stony Plain (1996): showcased "Political"
- The Hanging Garden (1997): featured "Kiss and Tell"
- Frosh (1998): included "Home for a Rest"
Reception
- In 1999, CFNY-FM placed "Political" at number 524 and "Home for a Rest" at number 689 in its list of the "Top 1002 New Rock Songs of All Time."
- The song "Home for a Rest" was ranked 22nd among the greatest Canadian songs on CBC Radio One's 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version in 2005.
- By 2007, CFNY ranked "Home for a Rest" eighth on its "Top 102 Canadian New Rock Songs."
- The track "Save This House" was selected as the theme for the Canadian reality television series Save Us from Our House (2007), broadcast on W and HGTV in the United States.
- Spirit of the West was honored with the National Achievement Award at the SOCAN Awards held in Toronto in 2010.
- In 2022, "Home for a Rest" was voted as British Columbia’s favourite song by a local artist during a Twitter poll organized by CBC journalist Justin McElroy, outperforming Carly Rae Jepsen's hit "Call Me Maybe."