Products
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song A Night To Remember. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →Written as she entered her 60th year, Blue Roses, was her 20th release and perhaps her most complete body of work to date.
Blue Roses offers an honest and forthright collection of songs penned from experience. The gentle piano based ‘Floating’ takes us to summers spent on the porch of her beloved home in Cape Breton sharing the heady feelings of first love while ‘Time and Again’ reminds us that dreams really do come true. There’s the New Orleans blue’s style intro of ‘Memphis’, lamenting the hopelessness of lost love; two songs ‘You Can’t Go Home Again’ and ‘Knowing When to Go’- that were written in the late 80’s at the beginning of Rita’s career, and the country tinged title track, and the finality of goodbyes - Blue Roses is a diverse journey through life.“Music is timeless and ageless,” noted the legendary singer, ‘the passion I feel for what I do can’t be put aside with a number and a year. It is a big part of my life – the concerts, the touring, the letters and the joy the audience gives back to me when the music touches a chord with them.”In many ways it was this realization that brought about ‘Please Believe Me’, a signature song on the album. Life is full of second chances and when you finally find your purpose there is a wonderful peace that envelops you and stays with you through the inevitable ups and downs.Blue Roses was recorded off the studio floor with Rita’s road family, making it a unique and very intimate experience. It’s the turn of a phrase, the warmth of a melody and the heartfelt passion in the voice. Blue Roses marks a personal and professional milestone– it’s a celebration of love, life and experience. -
Visit product page →Rita's first album, released in 1975, offers us a window from a different time: these songs are part of Rita's initial journey into songwriting, that was began when her friend persuaded her to attend a meeting of a Toronto women's liberation group in 1971. She soon became the unofficial minstrel of the women's movement, singing at rallies, meetings, and conferences.
Many of the songs are expressions of a powerful political conscious, but they are always sensitive and finely crafted. Rita's unique gift, is that she was able to write about the struggle for peace or the equality of women without ever sounding heavy handed. She does so by making songs so personal; offering us the best of the memories in a series of songs that are lyrical and hauntingly melodic. -
Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Bright Light. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Christmas At Home. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Christmas Has Meaning. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →With the release of her 18th album, COMMON DREAM, Rita MacNeil turns a spiritual corner. It’s an eclectic blend of Gospel that sways from the simple acoustic opening of the title cut to the reverent country and bluegrass strains of ‘Peace In The Valley’ and then onto the celebratory sounds of revival in ‘Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody’ (a song which was also sung recently by MacNeil as a duet with the legendary Patti LaBelle).“It’s not about religion” notes Rita, “it’s about the common dream people have of love, joy and peace. I think most people believe in a greater power. In times of sadness and celebration we search for meaning and understanding and for me, that comfort is found through music.”Indeed the album speaks to the two extremes of human emotion. ‘Take Comfort’ speaks of the fragility of the world following September 11th while ‘When We Overcome’ speaks of the healing that now needs to take place:“It’s hard to imagine a world where there’s peaceAnd gentle persuasions can settle our deedsWe live in the promise when that day will comeSweet rejoicing when we live as one”Those who have seen Rita in concert will be familiar with favorites ‘Higher Power’ and from her recent recording, MINING THE SOUL, the Ben Harper spiritual ‘I Shall Not Walk Alone’.Featuring 11 songs penned by MacNeil herself, COMMON DREAM resonates passionately with a voice that holds you in sorrow and celebrates with you in joy. Joining Rita on several of the tracks is the amazing Dutch Robinson. A former lead singer of the Ohio Players, Dutch has performed on stage with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, and the great B.B. King.Rounding out the ‘choir’ of voices are Yvonne ‘Muzzy’ Marshall (one of the most powerful performers on the East Coast), the renowned harmonies of Lucy and Stewart MacNeil of The Barra MacNeil’s, and Jamie Foulds. Also featured on most of the tracks is Rita’s current touring band – Kim Dunn, Bruce Dixon, Geoff Arsenault, Chris Corrigan, and Ray Legere lending his bluegrass touch with fiddle and mandolin. Doug Riley guests on piano for the jubilant ‘ You Never Know’ and Ed Woodsworth performs acoustic bass on select numbers.The result is a unique 15-track collection weaving threads of faith, comfort and the spiritual in a way that, as Rita describes, ‘speaks to the soul’. It’s a celebration, a walk with faith, and above all else, a COMMON DREAM from an extraordinary artist. -
18 two-bite Gluten-Friendly Oat Cakes from Rita's Tea Room. Delicious!!Visit product page → -
Visit product page →Rita's third album, released in 1983, soon after Part of the Mystery, was a personal exploration in her songwriting. Deeply touching and honest, it is what Rita has become so known and loved for.
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Visit product page →With the release of Late December Rita MacNeil brings back the warmth and innocence of the Christmas season.
The recording is a departure for the award-winning artist who chose to go with a more natural, organic sound. The majority of the album was in fact put to tape in Rita’s living room! Musicians and background singers gathered in the heat of summer, recording what is essentially a live album. The result is a CD featuring 9 original and one classic song that expertly capture the sentiments and tradition of Rita’s favourite time of the year.
Writing new Christmas classics can be a daunting task but for the Cape Breton songstress it was a labour of love. Surrounded by her youthful memories it was easy to recall the emotions that define the season. From the country tinged title track of missing loved ones who have come and gone to the bells that ring on Christmas morning in “As Seasons Come” Late December is a charming collection of personal reflections.
“For Mary, For Joseph” is a lovely ballad that evokes the beauty of winter with the snow laden evergreen branches, nights that linger forever and candles that burn brightly in frosted windows.
“All Around the World Tonight” reminds us that our wish for peace, hope and a safe place to raise our children is a sentiment shared by families ‘around the world’. In “Making Merry”, Rita picks up the musical style reminiscent of the 50’s while in “Especially for Christmas” she laments that families can’t always be together over the holidays. The rhythmic sound of “Hope Deliverer” segues beautifully into the gentle lilt of “Ring The Bells”.
“Late December” brings the internationally renowned songwriter’s generosity, warmth and inspiration for the season to life. The Christmas spirit is alive on every track ….a treasured memory for years to come. -
Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Mary Mary. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →From Cape Breton Island comes the magic of two internationally acclaimed performers; multi-award winning singer-songwriter Rita MacNeil and The Men of the Deeps, North America’s only coal miners’ chorus for a heart-felt performance of MINING THE SOUL. Far beneath the surface of the earth, some say, the heart and soul of Cape Breton beats. A Tumultuous industry has given character to this part of the country, character that is reflected in its people and their music. The island speaks of working class values, strong friendships, unfailing courage and unwavering faith. These emotions have found their voice in MINING THE SOUL.The choir, worked with her in 1989 on the song Working Man. MacNeil caught a glimpse of what life underground was like when, just for fun, she toured the Princess mine. “I was thinking it would be a fun thing to do – duh.” Going down the mine shaft did something to her. It was as if the spirit of the workers spoke to her through the pitch blackness. The song Working Man came to her, practically writing itself she says. Indeed, Working Man is one of MacNeils’ most acclaimed recordings, and paved the way for the future appearances with The Men.“When I wrote the song, I was not thinking of The Men of The Deeps at that time – I was thinking of the experience I was having down underground. But someone had suggested ‘If you get a chance in some concert, you and The Men of The Deeps should do this song together.’ And that happened, and it sort of clicked, and they were on the Junos doing that song…”They recorded the album in 2000, to that brings the pride, strength and resilience to life. The project was recorded entirely in Cape Breton over a one-week period; all band tracks were recorded in a studio in Irish Cove, while vocals were recorded on the stage of the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay. Guest musicians include Lucy and Stewart MacNeil of The Barra MacNeils, and multi-instrumentalist virtuoso J.P. Cormier. Along with the popular MacNeil anthems Home I’ll Be and Working Man – featuring Men of The Deeps soloist ‘Nipper’ MacLeod – MINING THE SOUL includes Leon Dubinsky’s now classic We Rise Again, and the poignant Emigrants Eyes (Stannah and Clark) – a tribute to the emigrants everywhere who came to this country looking for a better life. The song recounts the humble beginnings of many of our ancestors and the priceless gift they gave the generations to come. In contrast is the upbeat whimsy of the Lee Dorsey cover, Working In A Coal Mine and Plain OleMiner Boy, with Rita trading-off vocals with the choir member ‘Yogi’ Muise. The album also delves into the spiritual, with MacNeil’s Sweet Jesus, and the closing track, Ben Harper’s I Shall Not Walk Alone; a song of faith and inspiration that pairs Rita with fellow Maritimer Kim Dunn for this haunting ballad. For MacNeil, this is a career milestone. She has long wanted to record an album and go on tour with The Men of The Deeps. Now she is doing exactly that, MacNeil is pleased to announce that the collaboration “clicks, primarily through mutual respect.”“I’m just learning the total history of The Men of The Deeps. They’ve been together now, with members coming and going, for 35 or more years. And their dedication to what they do – the music – is an inspiration to anybody in the business. They love it, and they take it very seriously. A lot of them rest retired. It is amazing – quite unique.”MINING THE SOUL is an emotionally uplifting marriage of two of Canada’s most unique and distinctive artists, a celebration of home, heritage and song – a celebration of all. -
Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Mother Mary. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Sold outVisit product page →One of her most popular releases, Now the Bells Ring, was released in 1988. Between the closing of the Tea Room and related moves, we found some and are pleased to offer this beloved release back in time for the Holidays!!
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Now The Bells Ring. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →After years of being out of print, Rita's autobiography is finally available once again in paperback. The best-selling life story of internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Rita MacNeil is a heartwarming account of hard times and remarkable achievements that will appeal not only to her devoted audiences but also to anyone touched by triumphs of the human heart. On these pages, golden memories shine through. But those memories take their place among other, darker images of her childhood. In this book, for the first time, Rita MacNeil talks about both. Hers is an inspirational story, leavened by her unique sense of humour, and buoyed by her indomitable attitude toward life. On A Personal Note is a story written by a woman who has, over the years, always reached out to people and shared the stories of her life through her songs. This book is one more way for Rita MacNeil to reach out and attempt to bring people closer together.
Written by Rita MacNeil, with Anne Simpson.
Paperback.
270 pages
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Once Upon A Christmas. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →It’s charming, it’s whimsical – fanciful and sentimental – it is Rita’s own labour of love – her only children’s album, Pocket Full of Dreams.With three of the tracks dating back to the late 70’s, and the majority written in 1999, 12 of the 15 tracks sat untouched and roughly demoed until this year. Now brought to life, this very unique offering has something for the whole family.Rita seamlessly segues between the happy and bouncy lyrics of “Billy Goat Loose in My Soup”, “Cardboard Box” and “Ducky Boots”, to the very hip, catchy and child friendly rap styled “Halloween”. There’s the swinging jive of “Several Cats”, the soft lullaby “One by One”, the Celtic flavoured “Rain” featuring bagpipes by Rita’s nephew and the award winning singer’s signature styled lament, “Pocket Full of Dreams”.Cleverly interspersed on a number of tracks are melody lines from classic children’s songs and bringing it all together are the delicate and endearing voices of the Children’s Choir from Sydney River Elementary School.There are three covers on the 15 track CD – Eileen Burton’s #1 hit “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked A Cake”, “Land of a Thousand Dances” written by R&B artist Chris Kenner, but made famous by Wilson Picket in 1966, and Roger Miller’s 1967 hit, “Walking in the Sunshine”.All told it is a truly delightful collection of songs for a child, a parent or a grandparent. As a mother and now a grandmother, Rita MacNeil’s “Pocket Full of Dreams” is a treasure chest of songs that has finally been opened and shared. The production is brilliant, the instrumentation playful and Rita’s warm delivery in keeping with the sound that has endeared her to countless over the course of her 33 year-plus career. -
Visit product page →Released in 1988, Reason To Believe, was hugely successful with many beloved. It was the first album to also feature The Men of The Deeps Miners choir in the song, Working Man. -
Visit product page →Cape Breton songstress Rita MacNeil’s warmth and humility shine through in this live in concert DVD - filmed on location at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada. Featuring some of her most popular songs, and interspersed with charming stories from the stage, MacNeil’s earthy blend of folk, country, Celtic, Gospel and pop is honest, heartfelt and inspiring. Includes a special guest appearance by North America’s only coal miners’ choir, The Men of the Deeps. NTSC and PAL Versions available.
Track Listing:
1) STEAL ME AWAY
2) FAST TRAIN TO TOKYO
3) FLYING ON YOUR OWN
4) I'LL ACCEPT THE ROSE TONIGHT
5) HE'S LEADING ME ON
6) SHE'S CALLED NOVA SCOTIA
7) COMMON DREAM
8) REASON TO BELIEVE
9) HOME I'LL BE
10) IMMIGRANT EYES
11) WHEN WE OVERCOME
12) GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME
13) WORKING MAN -
Visit product page →Rita MacNeil's world famous Rita's Tea Room Blend tea (as served at Rita's Tea Room). This Tea Tin contains 20 high-quality two-cup bags of orange pekoe blend.
75 g
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Visit product page →24 bite-size mini Cape Breton Oat Cake Cookies; what are Cape Breton Oatcakes?
The original recipe for oatcakes likely arrived with Scottish settlers in Cape Breton. Fine oatmeal ground in the pioneer's gristmills, a little fat worked with the fingertips, and perhaps a touch of sugar, made a crispy baked "cake" to eat with cheese or jam.Over the years, Cape Bretoner's (and eventually all cooks across Canada) used rolled oats and more sugar to make the cookie-like oatcake of today. So sit back and dig into this traditional sweet snack with a good cup of hot tea. Delicious!
Ingredients: Rolled Oats, Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Salt, Butter, Water.
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Rocking The Cradle. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →Rita's last album released prior to her passing. Saving Grace, is the iconic Canadian singer-songwriter's 24th release with all original material. Backed by a young group of musicians. Produced by long-time touring guitarist Chris Corrigan, except the last track, which was produced by Douglas September. Saving Grace paints an intimate portrait of one person's journey through life.
"Over the last number of years I have found myself living a reality of certain difficulties that have caused me many changes in my life as well as the way I see things now. Some of us experience these things as part of life and we move on in spite of it all. I feel this album has my journey in it and maybe yours as well.” - Rita MacNeil
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song She's Called Nova Scotia. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
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Visit product page →Downloadable sheet music for the song Shining Strong. Includes piano, vocal, and chords.
PDF Format
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Visit product page →"While growing up in Cape Breton, my mother was a great encouragement when it came to my singing. Both mom and dad had favourite songs that they really enjoyed and many times after school they would ask me to sing these songs. Being shy I was often reluctant, but with a little coaxing I would oblige. I had to sing out of their view, so the hallway was a good place to go where I didn’t feel so scared.
This CD is a collection of some of those songs and while recording it, I had lots of flashbacks. My father particularly liked "A Rusty Old Halo" and it always brought a smile to his face. My mother’s tastes were very eclectic. The first time she heard "From a Jack to a King" on the radio, she waited for me to come home from school and together we listened until they finally played it again - oh my, her eyes were dancing.Mom died of cancer in 1972 and when she was in hospital, I sang her the "Green Green Grass of Home", one of her favourites. Dad died years later, but memories of them both I relived again while recording this CD.Music has been a big part of my life and they were the inspiration. I hope when you listen to this CD, my friends some fond memories will return hearing these great old tunes once again." - Rita MacNeil -
Visit product page →A matching tea cup and saucer set made of Fine Bone China from England. White with gold rim, and featuring the Rita hat logo in red. The same cup and saucer used at Rita's Tea Room!
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