Weights and Measures

Weights and Measures is a 1997 album by Spirit of the West. It was their final album of new material for Warner Music Canada. It was the band's first album following the departure of Linda McRae, to whom the final song "The Hammer and the Bell" is dedicated. It was also the band's most directly folk-influenced album in many years, as "Canadian Skye", "Rites of Man", "Circus" and "The Hammer and the Bell" are all arranged partly around traditional... more

Weights and Measures is a 1997 album by Spirit of the West. It was their final album of new material for Warner Music Canada. It was the band's first album following the departure of Linda McRae, to whom the final song "The Hammer and the Bell" is dedicated. It was also the band's most directly folk-influenced album in many years, as "Canadian Skye", "Rites of Man", "Circus" and "The Hammer and the Bell" are all arranged partly around traditional Celtic jigs and reels. This was once one of the band's trademarks, but one they had virtually abandoned on their 1990s albums. The album was recorded in England at the studios of Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Barre appears on the album as a guest musician, along with Ric Sanders of Fairport Convention, Donald Shaw and Karen Matheson of Capercaillie, and Martin Bell from The Wonder Stuff. For the album's supporting tour, Tobin Frank joined the band as a "special guest". He retained that billing for several years, but is now officially a... less