Damsel in Distress

Karen Gold

Karen Gold and I have been friends for many years. In the 70s and early 80s we formed a number of musical groups that performed in Toronto and New York City, in clubs, on radio and television. Interestingly enough, at one point we were called RAINBOW, then later, KADABRA.

When I moved to New York City in 1986, we stopped our musical collaboration mostly due to the distance challenge. I moved to Montreal in 1994 and it was still a bit far to see each other regularly but we maintained contact. Then a couple of years ago, I received an email from Karen telling me that she was working on a solo CD. She asked if I would be willing to create a French lyric for one of the songs on the CD for which the music had already been written. Over a period of a few weeks I completed the lyric. Though Karen doesn't speak French, I was able to coach her pronunciation such that she succeeded in singing in French very convincingly.

Receiving her finished CD a few months ago was exciting, and listening to our collaboration song, Nos rendez-vous caches (Our Hidden Rendez-Vous), was especially so. Actually the whole CD is rather magical. There are palpable influences of torchy divas like Laura Nyro and Linda Ronstadt.  Some of the songs are poignant, as is the title track, Damsel in Distress, as well as my favorite, the hauntingly unforgettable, In Love's Favour. Other songs are witty and "fun poking" such as the blues influenced, Love by Numbers, which is set in a nightclub and done with audience participation. To me, the marvel is that Karen Gold composed and performed all these songs and arrangements, playing all the instruments herself. She sings all the lead vocals and harmony backups too. Her lyrics are sensitive, insightful and always so clearly crafted. The entire Damsel in Distress album was recorded and engineered by Karen, at her own home studio in Toronto and only the final mixing was done elsewhere. All of this yields to the listener, a relentless authenticity, that is worth so much to those of us who yearn for it, in the output of artists.  

If you're curious and would like to listen to samples of the songs on Karen Gold's CD, Damsel in Distress, just go to the website below. And finally, permit me to conclude, as an aside, because I've seen it so many times, that one gay man and one straight woman can oftentimes forge, the most incredible of friendships.

www.refrainrecords.com