James Keelaghan is one of Canada's greatest songwriters, but his rich baritone is also used to great effect on his 2006 release A Few Simple Verses.

Despite having written oft-covered songs in his lengthy career, Keelaghan goes back to his roots on this album, choosing some of his favourite songs; traditional songs from his childhood and others chosen purely for subjective, emotional reasons.

His writing partner Jez Lowe is one of the musicians who collaborates on A Few Simple Verses along with the Irish band Danu, James Fagan and Nancy Kerr, Jordan McConnell from The Duhks, Stephen Fearing and Ruth Moody from the Wailin' Jennys.

• Jackson and Jane
  (Traditional)
• Farewell to the Gold
  (Paul Metsers)
• Harvest Train
  (Dan Somers)
• Bonnie Light Horseman
  (Traditional)
• Jack Haggerty
  (Traditional)
• Le Tourment
  (JP Loyer)
• Sweet Thames Flow Softly
  (Ewan MacColl)
• Boston Burgler
  (Traditional)
• Galway Races
  (Traditional)
• Constant Lovers
  (Traditional)
• My Blood
  (Keelaghan/lowe)