Bruce Cockburn Unveils Career-Spanning 'Greatest Hits' Collection

The 30-song, double-disc compilation was compiled by the songwriter himself

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Oct 19, 2021

Bruce Cockburn has already celebrated 50 years of music-making with a vinyl box set and recently rescheduled anniversary tour, and the commemoration will continue with the announcement of a new greatest hits compilation.

The double-disc Greatest Hits (1970-2020) arrives December 3 via True North Records, featuring 30 songs handpicked by Cockburn from across his career of half a century along with new liner notes.

As you'll find below, the lengthy tracklist includes undeniable hits like "Wondering Where the Lions Are," "Lovers In a Dangerous Time" and "If I Had a Rocket Launcher," in addition to more recent favourites like "Pacing the Cage" and "Anything Anytime Anywhere."

"In 1969, when I was feeling the need to record an album of the songs I'd been writing, I had no concept of what that might lead to," Cockburn reflects. "Not unusual for a young person, I guess… In some organic way, it felt like it was 'time.' The future wasn't really an issue. It still isn't. For each of us, there's a future or there isn't. 
 
"But looking back over the arc of fifty years of recording, performing, and travel — not to mention, relationships and personal challenges — I can only shake my head and mutter a word of thanks for all of it. Even if I'd been a planner by nature, I doubt I could have predicted how things have gone. And they're still going!"

Cockburn's rescheduled North American tour features four dates in Ontario to close out the run, with the songwriter slated to stop in Peterborough, Kitchener, Toronto and Ottawa. You can find his complete itinerary below.

Cockburn's most recent album remains 2019 instrumental collection Crowing Ignites. Earlier this year, he spoke to Exclaim! about some fellow Canadians covering "Lovers In a Dangerous Time."

Greatest Hits (1970-2020):

Disc 1

1. Going To The Country
2. Musical Friends
3. One Day I Walk
4. Mama Just Wants To Barrelhouse All Night Long
5. All The Diamonds in the World
6. Silver Wheels
7. Wondering Where The Lions Are
8. Tokyo
9. Rumours of Glory
10. The Coldest Night Of The Year 
11. Wanna Go Walking
12. The Trouble With Normal
13. Lovers In A Dangerous Time
14. If I Had A Rocket Launcher
15. Call It Democracy
16. People See Through You

Disc 2

1. Waiting For A Miracle
2. Stolen Land
3. If a Tree Falls
4. A Dream Like Mine
5. Listen For a Laugh
6. Night Train
7. Pacing the Cage
8. Last Night of the World
9. Anything Anytime Anywhere
10. Open
11. Put it In Your Heart
12. Different When It Comes To You
13. Call Me Rose
14. States I'm In

Bruce Cockburn 2021/2022 Tour Dates:

12/07 Grass Valley, CA - Center for the Arts
12/08 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theater
12/09 Berkeley, CA - Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
12/10 Berkeley, CA - Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
12/12 Eugene, OR - Soreng Theater
12/13 Bend, OR - Tower Theater
12/14 Grants Pass, OR - Rogue Theater
12/16 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
12/17 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
12/18 Spokane, WA - Bing Crosby Theater
12/19 Seattle, WA - Neptune Theater
02/24 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
02/25 Albany, NY - The Egg
02/26 Northampton, MA - Academy Theatre
02/27 Boston, MA - The Wilbur
03/01 Waterville, ME - Opera House
03/02 Fall River, MA - Centre for the Arts
03/04 Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
03/05 Newton, NJ - Newton Theater
03/06 New York, NY - Peter Jay Sharp Theater
03/08 Ann Arbour, MI - The Ark
03/10 Chicago, IL - Old Town School Of Folk
03/11 Chicago, IL - Old Town School Of Folk
03/12 Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater
03/13 Iowa City, IA - Englert Theater
04/19 Peterborough, ON - Showplace Theatre
04/21 Kitchener, ON - Centre In The Square
04/22 Toronto, ON - Massey Hall
04/23 Ottawa, ON - National Arts Centre

Tour Dates

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