The Speckless Sky is an album by Jane Siberry. It was Siberry's highest-charting album on the Canadian charts and contains her biggest Top 40 hit, "One More Colour". The album's second single, "Map of the World (Part II)", was also a hit on Canada's adult contemporary charts.
Rheostatics recorded a cover of "One More Colour", with additional lyrics by Martin Tielli, on their 1995 album Introducing Happiness; Siberry and Tielli recorded a duet, "A Long Time Love Song", on the 1991 Bruce Cockburn tribute album Kick at the Darkness. Sarah Polley also performed a cover of "One More Colour" in the film The Sweet Hereafter.
After this album, Siberry's work was distributed outside of Canada by Reprise Records.
Shawn Colvin based lyrics for her song "Kill The Messenger" on the cover art for this album after seeing Siberry perform live.
The Speckless Sky is no longer available on CD, but can be obtained via her store site on Bandcamp.
Reception Keyboard compared Jane Siberry's sound to "Petula Clark trying to sound like Kate Bush", but praised the album for the "startling electronic orchestrations" featured in several tracks in the album.
The album won the jury vote for the Polaris Heritage Prize at the 2025 Polaris Music Prize.Natalie Harmsen, "Yves Jarvis wins the 2025 Polaris Music Prize". CBC Music, September 16, 2025.
Track listing All songs by Jane Siberry. "One More Colour" – 4:38 "Seven Steps to the Wall" – 5:11 "The Very Large Hat" – 5:35 "Vladimir • Vladimir" – 7:08 "Mein Bitte" – 4:20 "The Empty City" – 6:40 "Map of the World (Part II)" – 5:07 "The Taxi Ride" – 5:39
Personnel Jane Siberry – vocals, keyboards, guitar Al Cross – drums Anne Bourne – keyboards John Switzer – bass Ken Myhr – guitar, guitar synth Rob Yale – Fairlight CMI programming, keyboards Additional personnel Teddy Borowiecki – accordion on 4 7 Sarah McElcheran – trumpet on 7
Charts Album YearChartPeak positionWeeks on the chart1986Billboard 2001491985RPM Top 100 Albums17Top Albums/CDs - Volume 43, No. 12, November 30 198532
Singles SongYearChartPosition"One More Colour"1985RPM Top 100 Singles27Top Singles - Volume 43, No. 11, November 23 1985"Map of the World (Part II)"1986RPM Adult Contemporary17Adult Contemporary - Volume 44, No. 4, April 19 1986
Certifications OrganizationLevelDateCRIA – CanadaGoldMarch 21, 1986
Cover Versions
The Art of Time Ensemble featuring (former Barenaked Ladies singer) Steven Page recorded The Taxi Ride for their 2010 album A Singer Must Die.
References