All albums are now available as CDs and digital downloads on Bandcamp.
To order books, please make a list, click on CONTACT and email the list to me. I’ll send you an invoice for payment via eTransfer, PayPal, or cheque.
Mazel
Shelley’s first Jewish-themed album in 15 years: 11 new songs about Jewish holidays, food, and history. No one writes Jewish songs like this anymore—and maybe never did.
Among the tracks:
- a song about Chanukah and Christmas celebrated in the same family;
- Finest Kind’s first performance of a Chanukah song ever, in 4-part harmony (a neat trick for a trio);
- 2 (two!) songs about the Jewish High Holidays (requested by Folk Radio DJs who annually receive an avalanche of Chanukah recordings but barely a trickle of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur offerings);
- a tour de force journey in song through the entire year of Jewish feasts, fasts, and festivals—inspired by the Coppers’ “A Song for Every Season”;
- a tribute to a Greco-Roman rabbi who rebelled not against the Greeks, not against the Romans, but against Judaism itself.
MAZEL features Shelley’s vocals, accompanied by Steve Briggs, Al Cross, Ann Downey, Michael Emenau, Mark Ferguson, Jeff McClintock, Arnie Naiman, Dennis Pendrith, Jaime Posen, Mika Posen, Ian Robb, John Sheard, and James Stephens.
Old Loves
- The songs—a dozen witty, original, literate, impeccably crafted Posens: great, singable melodies and honest, perfect rhymes—except maybe one.
- The moods—hilarious to hopeful to heartbroken.
- The sex—hardcore and explicit (the word “sex” is heard in one song—twice!).
- The inspiration—hats off to Tom Lehrer, Stephen Foster, Damon Runyan, Willie Nelson, Fats Waller, Artie Shaw, Johann Sebastian Bach, and the Great American Songbook.
- The performers—Shelley on vocals, with Michael Ball, Steve Briggs, Al Cross, Mark Ferguson, Erik Frandsen, Julia MacLaine, Brian Ostrom, Dennis Pendrith, John Sheard, James Stephens, Mike Tremblay, Martin van de Ven.
Among the tracks:
- a song written for Tom Lehrer who famously said, “Writing funny topical songs nowadays would be like the Pompeiians writing funny songs about Mt. Vesuvius;”
- two, count ‘em two, songs about bars—one, city, one, country;
- two rousers inspired by the pandemic that will lift the spirit and still be around when COVID isn’t;
- a number that reveals this songwriter’s fondest wish.
Ontario Moon
A dozen Shelley originals about the basics: love, laughter, heartbreak, death, and (of course) food. Plus you get The Best Song Ever Written — a bargain!
Accompanied by master jazz, blues, classical, country, and folk musicians Dan Artuso, Michael Jerome Browne, Mark Ferguson, Beatrice Ferreira, Christian Flores, Bill Garrett, John Geggie, Kendra Grittani, Corina Kennedy, Scott Latham, Sue Lothrop, Rob MacDonald, Mike Mopas, Linda Morrison, One More Last Chance (Michael Ball, Pete Beaudoin, Randy Demmon, Ken Kanwisher, Frank Koller, Brian Ostrom), Mika Posen, Julia Reddy, Andrew Tesolin, Martin van de Ven, Bailey Wantuch.
What Folks Are Saying About Ontario Moon
“Have just listened to it for the first time. I am completely blown away. It is so wonderful. Made me laugh, and cry. Congratulations on creating something so very special. I am going to tell everyone!”
“I love your album! It’s so well done and enjoyable. The musicians are stellar, the songs too. Bravo!”
“This record is such a blithe step through the deepest, hardest experiences with such a strange combination of the deepest and lightest touch at the same time. I LOVE ‘Night Nurse’ and ‘Fade to Black’ for the deep lows and oh good heavens ‘Credo,’ and then ‘Ontario Moon’ and ‘So Love Goodbye’ for the why isn’t this a movie sound track feel because it has such a rocking timeless vibe to it, lyrically and musically. You have the most immensely talented friends playing on this record. It is just so right.”
Roseberry Road
Sixteen songs covering the waterfront: canoeing, butter tarts, baskets, lost love, singing together, more food (natch!), goodbyes, and a spoken word piece about life itself.
WITH: Mary Bennet, Bob Birnie, Russ Boswell, William Carn, Burke Carroll, Al Cross, Bob DeAngelis, Debbie Fleming, Chris Howells, Tom Leighton, Anne Lindsay, Taivi Lobu, Trevor Mills, Bev Mills, Paul Mills, Jayne Mitchell, Ross Murray, Dennis Pendrith, Mika Posen, Don Reed. Steven J. Schonwald, John Sheard, Wendy Solomon, Rick Speyer, Rick Whitelaw, David Woodhead.
Menorah—Songs from a Jewish Life
Songs from a Jewish Life. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll put on your dancing shoes.
WITH: Bob Ashley, Art Avalos, Brian Barlow, Al Cross, Stephen Donald, James Freeman, Bob Hewus, Aviva Kolet, Tom Leighton, Paul Mills, Wendy Moore, Dennis Pendrith, Mika Posen, James Stephens, Greg Weeks, Rick Whitelaw, Beyond the Pale‹Bret Higgins, Milos Popovic, Eric Stein, Martin van de Ven, Aleksandar Gajic; Cadence‹Dylan Bell, Carl Berger, Kevin Fox, Ross Lynde; Musica Ebraica Chamber Choir‹Marsha Black, Martin Damus, David Malecki, Sylvie Royer, Minda Wershof.
Manna
A tsimmes of Shelley originals, funny and sad, about Jewish food, family and festivals. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll run to the fridge.
WITH: Bob Ashley, Guido Basso, William Carn, Sharon Hampson, Bob Hewus, George Koller, Anne Lindsay, Lois Lilienstein, Paul Mills, Bram Morrison, Martin Posen, Wendy Solomon, Chris Whiteley, AND Beyond the Pale (Bret Higgins, Milos Popovic, Eric Stein, Martin van de Ven).
The Old Song’s Home
A treasure trove of Shelley originals, plus traditional gems learned in the Ottawa Valley, and a Buddy Holly oldie–how could you not?
WITH: James Stephens and Danny Artuso, Ian Babb, Michael Ball, Jody Benjamin, Phil Bova, Jr., Greg T. Brown, Ian Clark, Ann Downey, Duncan Gillis, Vince Halfhide, Denis Lanctôt, Pierre-Yves Martel, Ian Robb, and Joey Wright.