Save This House

Save This House
Studio album by Spirit of the West
Released 1990
Recorded 1989
Genre Folk
Length 57:42
Label Warner Music Canada
Producer Danny Greenspoon
Spirit of the West chronology

Old Material 1984-1986
(1989)
Save This House
(1990)
Go Figure
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]

Save This House is a 1990 album by Spirit of the West.

It was the band's first album for Warner Music Canada, and their first with Linda McRae. Although still a relatively traditional folk album, its release on a major label meant that it was the band's first album to expand their fan base significantly beyond the folk music scene. The title track, an energetically percussive environmental anthem, was a notable hit for the band on campus radio. However, the album was not a mainstream commercial breakthrough; the band would achieve that with its next album, 1991's Go Figure.

The album's best-known song, however, is "Home for a Rest". While never a mainstream chart hit for the band, it has become by far their most famous song. Its joyous Pogues-like rhythm and lyrics about a drinking spree have made it an enduring frosh week anthem at Canadian colleges and universities. In 2005, "Home for a Rest" was also named the 22nd greatest Canadian song of all time on CBC Radio One's 50 Tracks: The Canadian Version.

The band toured Canada and Great Britain in support of this album. Their British tour was as a supporting act for The Wonder Stuff. Members of Spirit of the West appeared on that band's 1991 album Never Loved Elvis and on the Welcome to the Cheap Seats EP.

CD track listing

  1. "Save This House" – 2:53
  2. "Home for a Rest" – 4:33
  3. "Last to Know" – 6:24
  4. "Roadside Attraction" – 3:03
  5. "Dirty Pool" – 3:30
  6. "Not Just a Train" – 4:18
  7. "(Putting Up With) The Joneses" – 4:25
  8. "Turned Out Lies" – 3:43
  9. "Sentimental Side" – 4:06
  10. "Water in the Well" – 4:03
  11. "Wrecking Ball" – 3:39
  12. "Loaded Minds" – 4:51
  13. "Swingin' Single" – 4:55
  14. "The Old Sod" – 3:19

LP track listing

Side one

  1. "Save This House" – 2:53
  2. "Home for a Rest" – 4:33
  3. "Last to Know" – 6:24
  4. "Roadside Attraction" – 3:03
  5. "Dirty Pool" – 3:30

Side two

  1. "Not Just a Train" – 4:18
  2. "(Putting Up With) The Joneses" – 4:25
  3. "Wrecking Ball" – 3:39
  4. "Swingin' Single" – 4:55
  5. "The Old Sod" – 3:19

References