2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize winning albums revealed

On Monday, the Polaris Prize revealed the winning albums for 2016’s Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize, which honours Canadian albums of the past from four distinct time periods: 1960-75, 1976-85, 1986-95 and 1996-05.

The winning albums were revealed in a Facebook Live stream featuring Steve Jordan (Founder/Executive Director), Michael Barclay (Journalist), and Chris Murphy of 2015 winners Sloan. The award, which began in 2015, is described by Jordan as “our version of the Hall of Fame for some of the classic Canadian albums since 1960.”

Two winners for each era were chosen — one by public vote and one by the juries. Voting opened at the Polaris Music Prize Gala on September 19, 2016 and ended on October 17.

The 2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize winning albums are:

1960-1975

Public: Neil Young – After The Gold Rush

Jury: Leonard Cohen – Songs Of Leonard Cohen

1976 – 1985

Public: Rush – Moving Pictures

Jury: Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Kate & Anna McGarrigle

1986-1995

Public: Blue Rodeo – Five Days In July

Jury: Mary Margaret O’Hara – Miss America

1996-2005

Public: Arcade Fire – Funeral

Jury: Lhasa – La Llorona

In 2015, four albums were chosen through public voting, which included Joni Mitchell’s Blue, Cowboy Junkies’ The Trinity Sessions, Sloan’s Twice Removed, and Peaches‘ The Teaches Of Peaches. As was done with the 2015 winners, Polaris will pay tribute to the 2016 winning albums by selecting eight artists to create a commemorative art print inspired by the albums.