A Truly "Hard Won" Battle For John Cody

On August, 31rst, 2017 a number of people were gathered at an office in downtown Toronto for an invitation only CD release party,  The intimate celebration was for John Cody's album Hard Won The Final Recordings. 
The evening rewarded guests with performances by Damnhait Doyle, Andy Maize, Tom Wilson, Jennifer Warnes, & Perla Batalla​.  By far the main attraction was John Cody.  Throughout the concert he was seated center stage often strumming along on his guitar.  

The Hard Won title isn't a misnomer.  To record an album on deadline when you are 100% healthy is a challenge.  To complete it when you are less than, is difficult.  Under a ​six week deadline before surgery to have your cancerous larynx removed, damn near impossible. 
​John Cody acknowledged that his success with this battle was in large part due to family and friends, as well as, the Unison Benevolent Fund (a non profit, registered charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to the Canadian music industry).  
Unbeknownst to all John Cody had written a personal note that was handed out in a gift package to each person who attended his little soiree.  He quoted Wordsworth "A deep distress hath humanized my soul."
It seems fitting that the songs on Hard Won The Final Recordings sound a little on the somber side (Prince's "Little Red Corvette" has been slowed to the pace of a hearse.)  Not everything in this life is all "happy, happy, joy, joy."   This album honours those times.  ​