The Trouble with Normal is a 1983 studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. The album contains nine songs (eleven in the 2002 remastered release). It marks a continuing shift from Cockburn's early folk-influenced and "mystic" acoustic works, featuring electric guitar and synthesizers, but the lyrical themes build on earlier albums. True North released a remastered deluxe version on November 19, 2002, which includes two extra tracks recorded during the same sessions.
The song "Hoop Dancer" was written a few years prior to the release of The Trouble with Normal. In an interview with Canadian Musician magazine published in August 1981, Cockburn mentioned that "Hoop Dancer" had been considered for a jazz-oriented album for ECM Records. He described "Hoop Dancer" as a "mixture between poetry and song and jazzy instrumental stuff" that was roughly 20 minutes in length, although he had yet to record it at the time the interview was conducted.
A spring tour beginning on March 24, 1983 was arranged to promote the album. Accompanying Cockburn on the tour were Bob DiSalle on drums and vocals, Dennis Pendrith on bass and vocals, John Goldsmith on keyboards, and Hugh Marsh on violin. The title track was also released as a single around the same time, with "Cala Luna" being included as the B-side.
Critical reception
RPM discussed some the sociopolitical underpinnings of Cockburn's work on The Trouble of Normal. They highlighting the title track and "Put Your Hearts Together" as examples of the pointed commentary found on the album. The publication identified lyrical themes centered around "some of the miseries of the world" and believed that they could be construed as "negative or downers" by listeners. They concluded their review by saying that Cockburn's "songwriting and performance talents go without question. The pitch is professional with a cool edge of highly entertaining sarcasm."
In a retrospective review, AllMusic critic Brett Hartenbach wrote, "Like his two previous efforts in the '80s, The Trouble with Normal places Bruce Cockburn yet another step further from his days as Canada's resident mystic folky. And while he had touched on similar musical themes on earlier recordings, the eclectic blend of folk, rock, and world music here is much more defined and realized... There is the tendency to get heavy-handed at times, but still, The Trouble With Normal contains some of Cockburn's most beautifully imagistic writing to date and is another strong effort."
Track listing
"Cala Luna" was originally released as a bonus track on the cassette, at the end of side 1, after "Waiting for the Moon".
Personnel Bruce Cockburn – vocals, guitar, dulcimer Jon Goldsmith – keyboards Hugh Marsh – mandolin, violin Dennis Pendrith – bass, Chapman Stick Bob DiSalle – drums Dick Smith – percussion Shaun Jackson – backing vocals Colina Phillips – backing vocals
Production Gene Martynec – producer Gary Gray – engineer George Marino – mastering Vladimir Meller – remastering Sharon Williams – backing vocals George Whiteside – photography Michael Wurstin – art direction
Chart performance Weekly charts Chart (1983) Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (1983)PositionCanada Top Albums (RPM) 86
Certifications
References