Joel Plaskett’s latest project, 44, has proven to be the album that just keeps on giving. The massive celebration of his life’s work, not to mention a reflection on the corresponding number of years he’s spent on the planet, has provided no shortage of material, resulting in a Polaris Prize long-listed 11-song quadruple album.
Naturally, he didn’t go it alone. At times, he brought in an absolutely unfathomable number of musicians to perform on the album, including his recently released live-off-the-floor video for the album’s final song, “A Benefit 4 Dreamland.”
According to Plaskett, it was just over a year ago – during the before times – that he was putting the finishing touches on the album’s recording process. On that day, Sunday, November 17, 2019, he crammed no less than a dozen musicians into his studio at New Scotland Yard in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to record the album’s closing track, “A Benefit 4 Dreamland.”
The video filmed that day shows a smorgasbord of Halifax talent joining in on the song, with contributions being made by Rose Cousins, Ana Egge, Mo Kenney, Erin Costelo, Reeny Smith, Mahalia Smith, Micah Smith, Asa Brosius, Benn Ross, Chris Pennell, Ian McGettgan & Bob Hoag. Even a stalwart Thomas Stajcer, New Scotland Yard’s resident engineer and cowboy, can be seen lingering in the back, near the controls.
“It was an amazing experience recording this song live off the floor into a single microphone (Bob Hoag’s old RCA 44 that he brought up from Arizona for the occasion),” recalls Plaskett. “So many great musicians and friends in the room as you’ll see when you watch.”
Plaskett has recently been performing his other similarly massive JUNO award-winning triple-album, Three online. Fan have just one opportunity left to catch the live-streamed performance, with the final show set for December 27 @ 8 pm EST. Tickets can be purchased online, here.