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.
Music Canada