Barry Muir: Better Together
Better Together is the third single/video off Barry Muir's recently released album, "Gentle". The song, written by Barry Muir, Devra Epstein and Paul Tobin has an uplifting message right from the opening lines, "The power of two, I ponder the strength we acrue, it's not to be underestimated how much we love to love. The beauty and grace, to see, feel, touch and taste, we create a stronger vibration when we're a pair. Life is better together".
The newly released album “Gentle” comes on the coattails of Barry’s previous album, “The Wild and Beautiful” which featured the single Bending the Strings garnering radio play in a number of countries worldwide. The songs were written and recorded over the past 8 months after Barry relocated from Vancouver to Toronto. Most of the songs are co-writes between Barry, Joanne Stacey and Lucy LeBlanc whose collaborative efforts have resulted in several songs over the years being published and recorded. Barry has three songs on the album he wrote himself. Like "The Wild and Beautiful", "Gentle" was mostly recorded in Nashville, TN. Produced by Chip Hardy and Rod Lewis.
Nothing like a breakup to spur so many emotions as a songwriter. “Gentle” is filled with songs about breaking up, knocking the walls down, starting over and even finding yourself alone. It’s not all sad though, the song Better Together is an uplifting tune about exactly that, life is better together. Church at the Hollywood is finding yourself on the street, seeking shelter and having new friends in the same situation. The first video was for Weathered the Storm, a song Barry wrote about giving a relationship time to heal. "She’s A Little Wildflower, written by Lucy LeBlanc, Joanne Stacey and myself is about a mysterious girl that comes in and out of your life. " explains Barry. "The title song Gentle, is another I wrote asking to go easy knowing the end of a relationship is inevitable.
Barry got his musical start playing the bar scene in Western Canada. At barely 20, he moved to Vancouver where he soon found his way into the original music scene playing bass guitar on several recording projects. He eventually joined the Payola$, led by Bob Rock-producer of Bon Jovi, Metallica, Motley Cru to name a few. That year, the Payola$ went on to have a tremendous single with "Eyes Of A Stranger" and win two Juno awards. Barry was nominated for bass player of the year for the 1983 Juno all star band alongside Geddy Lee and Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve who not long ago where his musical idols. During Barry's tenure with the band they toured with The Go Go's, Rush, Cheap Trick and head lined their own shows in 130 US and Canadian cities.
In Bob Rock's early days as a producer, he would use Barry to play bass. One of those recording artists Bob worked with was Barney Bentall. Barry immediately bonded with Barney and his band. They became the Legendary Hearts and the demos they recorded led to a multi album deal with Epic/Columbia. Their debut, self-titled album garnered a hit single with "Something To Live For" that to this day is a staple on classic rock stations. 1989 was a very productive year for the band and it was the second time Barry played an integral part in winning a Juno award for Most Promising Group of the Year.
You couldn't talk about Barry Muir's musical journey without mentioning the years he spent playing in the critically acclaimed band, "The Blue Shadows". Macleans magazine rated them as one of the top 20 bands in the world. The late, great Billy Cowsill could sing like a bird as Jeffery Hatcher's voice would effortlessly intertwine in a manner reminiscent of The Everly Brothers or The Beatles. Since then, Barry has worked in finance and has become a producer in his own right at his home studio in Toronto.
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