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Phyllis wrote the song “The Izzy Doll”, included on the CD, about the project. The song’s lyrics read, in part: “A gift of small proportions, cannot be bought or sold, keepers of the peace, given hope around the world.”
“What I found in the Isfeld family I found see in other soldiers’ families, a belief instilled by the parents and grandparents and the loving support of the soldiers’ families,” she said. “I was half finished another CD when I had the urge to shift into a different project about our soldiers. ‘In Harms Way’ was the result”
A concert held by Phyllis and her band at the Kensington Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on Peacekeepers Day on Aug. 10, 2007, spurred others songs to be included in the project, she said.
The week after the August concert, Carol Isfeld, Mark’s mother, died unexpectedly.
“It was then I thought I knew why I had the urge to redirect my CD focus towards one of soldiers’ songs,” she said.
A photo taken by Mark Isfeld in Croatia graces the front of the CD and the accompanying booklet. The lyrics of the song “My Son, Our Sons” were written by Carol Isfeld, with music by Jan Randall.
Phyllis explained that she composed the CDs’ title track, In Harm’s Way, shortly before Peacekeepers Day concert.
“I wrote the words first because there was clearly a story that came out of the information from the research – there’s always research that goes into making sure that the facts are right. I wrote that in two days and then put the music to it. It was actually about 10 days before the concert (in August),” she said.
The song’s chorus reads: “In harm’s way, citizens of plant earth, our hands can reach with acts of peace, to neighbourhoods where need is great, and ethnic hatred fuels the heat, where chaos reigns by nature or manmade, we’ll stand in harm’s way.”
Working as a volunteer at the Museum of the Regiments, archiving a First World War soldier David Argo’s letters, also gave her insight into the soldiers’ lives, she said.
A few of the songs on the new disc, including “There Was No Battle Here”, were from her earlier recordings and reissued on the new CD.
Phyllis sings lead on all the songs on the CD. The musicians who played with her were Al Nawata, Tom Poole, David O’Toole, Mario Siciliano, Jeff Muller, Judd Threinen, Mike Beattie, Jim Munro, Rob Oswin, Denise Hill. Renowned broadcaster Darrel Janz recited a poem by Mark Isfeld’s grandfather, Arilius, written in 1947 along with Phyllis’ version 1940s classic “White Cliffs”.
This CD is available at www.amazon.ca
Visit Phyllis’ website at www.phylliswheaton.com
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