On April 12th, renowned fiddler, singer, step dancer, and songwriter April Verch released her new album entitled Once A Day via Slabtown Records. On Once A Day, the Ottawa Valley native pays a heartfelt homage to 1950s and 60s classic country—a sound that may be surprising to some fans, but is integral to her musicality. Verch herself handpicked the record’s fifteen tracks, breathing life back into some of the most treasured tunes in traditional North Americana. April’s charmingly honeyed vocals pair flawlessly with the illustrious Southern grit of a masterful cast of some of Country Music’s most esteemed veterans. The album’s diversity can be felt both sonically and emotionally, ranging from moments of reflection and introspection to soul-baring honesty, all the while painting a comprehensive portrait of the musical landscape of the time.
Recorded in Nashville by Bil VornDick and produced by Doug Cox, Once A Day features the talents of country veterans including steel guitarist Al Perkins (Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris), guitarist Redd Volkaert (Merle Haggard) and fiddler Kenny Sears (Mel Tillis, Grand Ole Opry). From the title track penned by Bill Anderson and recorded by Connie Smith, to Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” and Webb Pierce’s “You’re Not Mine Anymore,” the album is a dynamic crash course in one of Country Music’s most influential time periods. Verch taps on all eras of country’s golden great era, with alluring nods to Emmylou, Loretta and Dolly, yet keeping her own virtuoso flavor.
“In many ways, making this album was not a choice. It was something I felt I had to do. It has been more daunting than any other project I’ve embarked on, because these songs, these artists, the history of this music matters to me on the deepest level. It is a love letter and a thank you letter in one, to the artists, songwriters, musicians, and industry professionals who created, perhaps in some cases without even realizing it, an era of music that speaks to me in a way that no other music does. If someone hears a song on this album and that prompts them to look up and love the original that will be the highest compliment I could receive,” explains Verch
Verch recently had the chance to share a bit of the history and inspiration behind all 15 tracks of Once a Day – check out the juicy details below…
1. “Once A Day” – Bill Anderson / Johnny Blenstock Music, LLC
This country classic, penned by Bill Anderson, was recorded by Connie Smith for her debut album released in 1964. This single became the first-ever debut single by a female country artist to reach number one. I’ve always adored this song and Connie Smith’s version of it. Everyone in the studio had a fabulous time bringing this one to life and it was unanimous by the end of tracking that we make it the title track.
2. “YOU AIN’T WOMAN ENOUGH” – Loretta Lynn / Sure-Fire Music Company
In the late ‘80s my family was making the trip to a fiddle and step dance competition in Northern Ontario. It wasn’t uncommon for us to do this, we did it nearly every weekend in the summer. However, this contest was an extra long drive and it untraditionally included a country vocal category. My parents decided to make the trip worthwhile, we might as well enter everything we could. They picked this song out for me and I practiced with our Loretta Lynn cassette tape blasting, imitating Loretta the best I could, with little “hand on the hip, waggling finger” dance moves to make the lyrics come to life. I don’t remember if I won anything at that event, but I do know that through that experience I gained a treasure in my lifelong appreciation of Loretta Lynn.
3. “YOU MUST UNLOAD” – Alfred Reed / Peer International Corp.
This is one of four songs that Blind Alfred Reed of Floyd County, Virginia recorded at the Bristol Sessions in 1927. His thoughtful, poignant message from 1927 resonates strongly with me today and is a stellar example of “timeless.” Thanks and acknowledgment to Ry Cooder for his lyrical modification to the third verse we chose to include.
4. “LAUREL LEE” – Robert King / Star Quality Music, a division of Unidisc Music Inc.
Bob King is an iconic figure in the Ottawa Valley country music scene. After finding success in the valley and across Canada, he became a regular on the Wheeling Jamboree on WWVA out of Wheeling, West Virginia. I have so much empathy for him, knowing that he left his gig in Wheeling due to homesickness and I always think of that when I sing this one about “being so lonesome.”
5. “YOU’RE NOT MINE ANYMORE” – Michael Webb Pierce, Thurman Wilburn and Virgil Wilburn / Universal – Songs of Polygram International Inc.
I’ve always loved Webb Pierce, and with more number one hits than any other country artist during the 1950s, he was clearly one of the most popular and recognizable country voices of the decade. Listening to Kenny Sears tell personal stories about Webb after a show they were on together while we were recording the triple fiddle parts for this song will remain a gem in my memory forever.
6. “DURHAM’S BULL” – Traditional
A fiddler first, I’ve always adored the country stars who turned it over to the band for a rippin’ instrumental halfway through the show. Paul Warren used to play a version of this tune at the end of some of the Flatt & Scruggs TV shows. Buddy Durham, played it regularly on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree from 1955-1966. My sources for this assortment of parts also include Uncle Dick Hutchison (who contributed the crooked B part, via my good friend Jerry Correll of Elk Creek, Virginia,) Paul Holley (the only version I found that had a C part at all,) along with Benton Flippen and Paul Brown.
7. “LET’S MAKE A FAIR TRADE” – Jack Swanson / San-Lyn Music Publications
While it’s not a Bob King original, “Let’s Make a Fair Trade” was the other side of one of Bob’s RCA Canada releases (before he left the label for Rodeo Records in Halifax, Nova Scotia.) It was an honour to record this song with my Dad, Ralph. My Dad’s passion for classic country music was one of the strongest and earliest influences I can recall. Dad taught himself to sing and play guitar in the Ottawa Valley by listening to the WWVA’s Wheeling Jamboree over an old radio. His country band played for dances around the Pembroke area almost every weekend until my sister and I came along, and he’s especially fond of a song with a “good dance beat.”
8. “I FEEL BETTER NOW” – Charles Louvin and Ira Louvin / Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music
I’ve garnered much inspiration from Ira and Charlie Louvin over the years, in particular, many of their gospel songs. On a personal level, this project would not have felt complete without a thank you and tribute to them.
9. “THE FRENCH SONG” – Lucille Cunningham / Starr Rise Music
This song has been in the peripherals of my life for as long as I can remember. From before I could even talk my parents would take us camping each year to the Lake Dore Country & Western Jamboree. If Lucille Starr wasn’t on the bill singing this hit herself, then some other artist was. Lucille was born in Manitoba and raised in a Francophone community in British Columbia. Lucille recorded “The French Song” in 1964 for A&M Records (Los Angeles, California) and its international success made her the first Canadian artist to have a record sell over a million copies. I was thrilled when we went to record this song to hear Redd Volkaert exclaim from his guitar booth, ‘“The French Song” by Lucille Starr? That was my first touring road gig!” Shivers.
10. “FIDDLING UNDER THE MISTLETOE” – April Verch / April Verch Music
I grew up surrounded by amazing Ottawa Valley country music artists. A lot of times I was performing alongside them as a little girl step dancer (with my teachers Buster & Pauline Brown) at fairs or conventions. I soaked up their music, stage shows and encouragement. I am positive they would have no idea how strong their influence has been on me. Each year at Christmas time, one of those musicians, Pete Lajoie, would host a party at his house for his friends and valley musicians, and even as a kid he would be kind enough to invite me. It would be a chance to get up on the stage to play back up fiddle WITH those country bands, and it was a dream come true. This tune is in memory of those parties, the people who were there, the hope and encouragement they gave me to follow my dreams, and most of all, the passion they shared for this music. Pete passed away March 29, 2019 before I could get him a copy of this album.
11. “LAKE DORE WALTZ” – Mac Beattie / Jaspar Music
No one has written more songs about the Ottawa Valley, its history and people, than our own Mac Beattie. In addition to his contribution of countless compositions to our repertoire, Mac Beattie and his Melodiers performed in local dance halls and on radio for over five decades. This song is about Sunnydale Acres, a dance hall erected by Frank Martin of Lake Dore where Mac and his Melodiers played countless dances. My parents who will be married 50 years this year courted and danced to their music in that very hall. Mac and Sunnydale Acres are gone now, but this song means the world to many valley people, and it was amazing to have Dad in the studio to sing it for this record.
12. “SECOND FIDDLE” –Buck Owens / Beechwood Music Corp.
I’ve always loved this song. It’s got fiddle in the title! And I got to record it with Joe Spivey and Kenny Sears of The Time Jumpers, taking it to the next level for me. I really wanted to include a Buck Owens song on this project, not just because I’m a huge admirer of his, but I’ve spent some time studying his career and contributions to country music and it wouldn’t have felt right to me to have this project without my best nod to him.
13. “A FOOL SUCH AS I” – William Marvin Trader / Universal Music Corp.
Many renowned artists have covered this song, but Hank Snow’s version will always be my favourite. I grew up listening to Hank on Dad’s record player. Dad always remarked on how he not only sang the songs but picked his own guitar solos like a master! Hank was born in Nova Scotia, endured very difficult physical and psychological challenges as a youngster during the Depression, and overcame it all, becoming an inspiration to many of us, as well as a member of three Halls of Fame, including the Country Music Hall of Fame.
14. “WHY NOT CONFESS” – Ralph Hamrick / Rialto Music Publishing
My version of this classic was inspired by Rose Maddox from an early recording from The Maddox Brothers and Rose, before the days of her successful solo career. While I liked the song, it wasn’t until I found the third verse you hear here on another recording, that I was sold on including it on this project. That third verse provides the perfect closure on this one (in my humble opinion!)
15. “THE LORD KNOWS I’M DRINKING” – Bill Anderson / Sony/ATV Tree Publishing
It astonishes me that I missed out on this song all of my years until 2017. At Christmas time that year, Dad and I were jamming before I left home again, and he got some of his old song books out so we could think of some he hadn’t done in a long time. When he lit into this one I thought it was genius. This project was just in the works, and I emailed Cal Smith’s original version of it to my producer, Doug Cox that same night. We agreed immediately that this song would definitely be on the album. I love how I’m still discovering classics that I haven’t heard that are this strong, and I hope that will be true for a long time to come. Maybe someone somewhere will hear a song on this record that prompts them to look up the original and feel that same way
