As an ex-Winnipegger, I'm always proud of Randy's references to the city. And I see that Neil has never forgotten his Canadian roots either. This song is a good as it gets for rock music.
Heard a recent interview with Randy Bachman. He said that after he wrote this tune, he faxed it over to Neil. After reading the lyrics, Neil faxed him back and asked if he could play on the recording. How cool is that!??
Only heard of this song a week ago! And i thought i was a Neil Young fan!! its awesome! Only a Manitoban, or winnipeger can understand "Portage and Main, 50 below"
No I was there on business in January and like a complete asshole I forgot to pack a jacket (I'm from Arizona). I stayed at the Lombard right there downtown. I absolutely can confirm as an outside what Portage and Main, 50 Below means. At least the Winnipegers were amused.
Neil Young, Randy Bachman, Harlequin, Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO), Burton Cummings, all are proud to have been born or live in Winnipeg. Minus 30 (- 30) is considered a typical winter evening in January. North End, tough streets where Young, Bachman and Cummings grew up. In the 70's you could walk down Portage and Main, now it's all underground. If you can live in Winnipeg and smile, you can live anywhere and be happy.
Just found this. I went to high school in Minnedosa (grad in '78). I am told that we had precursors to Harlequin and one of the other less famous prairie bands play at our high school dances!
awesome tune... reminds me of living in Nordmaling Sweden as a foreign exchange student in 1979... OMG for a California boy growing up it was just unreal... the best time of my 57v yrs... rock on Randy and Neil...
If anyone wants to learn about Winnipeg, they just need to listen to this song. Freezing cold and rock and roll. :) Born and raised though I don't live there now but it sticks with you.
I was there doing exactly what this song did. Started my first band with Ken Johnson (The Esquires) with Garry Reid and Neil Young there. Never thought about the Beatles as they weren't known in 59/60, but we played a lot of The Ventures and Fireballs. Randy was playing with the Mickey Brown and the Velvetones then, before he joined Al and The Silvertones. Great memories!
Neil didn't move to Winnipeg until August 1960 and his first band was The Jades in early 1961 formed at Earl Grey school in Grade 9. You've been telling this story so much you've fabricated the true details.
I lived in Winnipeg , but I was a bit too young , sorry i missed that rich time in Winnipegs musical history , would have loved to have been able to say I saw Neil Young , when he was playing a community in Winnipeg, back in the day .
just an awesome tune ... reminds me of being young and living in Nordmaling Sweden as a forgien exchange student...I can listen to this over and over...I had to do that just to learn the 4th verse about being in a band
The heading should read "Randy Bachman featuring Neil Young - Prairie Town. The song was written by Randy Bachman, it's taken from Bachman's album "Any Road" and it's Bachman's band who are playing, Neil Young is a guest artist here. You've probable done it the way you have to attract Neil Young's fans. There is also a slower version on the "Any Road" album which also features Neil Young on accustic guitar and vocals.
If you didn't grow up in Winnipeg you'll never understand how important music is to the community. Best part of Winnipeg for me as a kid was the West End Cultural Center, The King's Head Pub and the Albert. Playing 3 30 minute sets for a 6 pack of beer for your whole band and walking home piss drunk with your friends freezing your ass off because someone stole your jacket and you where broke seems kind of fun when I look back.
Neil young has mastered the art of being sloppy and soulful simultaneously. He plays like he MEANS it, but is in a rush to catch a bus or dodge someone he owes money to or something...
I went to Grant Park, not Kelvin, but half of who I knew from the neighbourhood ended up at Kelvin for a few years. It was the nicer of the 2 schools, bit of a rivalry, but GP partied harder and played great football. Both south end, as opposed to north end, which Randy seems to shout out.
Sh*t. I have never seen this. Awesome! I have seen a more gentle version with these two and Margo Timmons recorded later in Randy's studio in BC, which I love, but this is great!!
@@UndercoverRat I think it starts Portage and Main 15 below but they slide in a Portage n Main 50 below. I've lived them both, 15 more than 50 thankfully
***** Actually I think the line is 50 below. Portage and Main is a corner in Winnipeg and is said by Winnipeggers to be the coldest corner in all of Canada. Winnipeg is NOTORIOUSLY cold in the winter, and sometimes, with the windchill, Portage and Main does indeed reach 50 below!
Hmm..well, I looked it up on a lyrics wiki, and it says 50 below. lyrics.wikia.com/Randy_Bachman:Prairie_Town - now I wish I could get the official sheet music just to be absolutely sure! Then again, it is a 20 year old song that we never hear (nor ever will) on radio! Anyway - great song and discussion! #Peace!
On one of the choruses it sounds like 15 and on others it sounds like 50! :) I do not think you were "being mean" at all! One of the things I've always loved about music, in my 55 years of listening, is how others perceive the music and lyrics, too. One song might mean one thing to one person and quite something else to another one, so it's all good in my book! I am glad nobody here said anything mean back to you, because I am sure you didn't post that with any anger whatsoever! Have a great day and #Peace to you and yours!
