New York indie label SpinART Records will release Ron Sexsmith's fourth album, Blue Boy, on June 5th. Steve Earle and Ray Kennedy produced the set -- the acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter's first since 1999's Whereabouts -- at Earle's Nashville studio.

"Mitchell Froom and I felt that we had gone as far as we could go with the three previous records," says Sexsmith of the production change. "When I heard Steve was interested in working with me, I went to meet him in his studio in Nashville and it just felt like I could make a record there."

After three albums for Interscope, Sexsmith says he was ready for a label shift. "During the making of my new album, we heard rumors that my A&R man was leaving, which made me a little uncomfortable," he says. "When we handed in the record and confirmed the news, we all felt it was in my best interest to take it elsewhere. So to make a long story short, last fall was spent trying to find a good home for this new batch of songs while sorting out the legal issues."

Of the set, Sexsmith discloses, "All the songs are mine, except for 'Thumbelina Farewell,' a cover of a Kyp Harness tune. He's one of my favorite unsung heroes from Canada. The record is a lot rougher than the Froom albums, a bit earthier and more up-tempo."

The track listing for Blue Boy:

1. This Song
2. Cheap Hotel
3. Don't Ask Why
4. Foolproof
5. Tell Me Again
6. Just My Heart Talkin'
7. Not Too Big
8. Miracle in Itself
9. Thirsty Love
10. Never Been Done
11. Thumbelina Farewell
12. Parable
13. Keep It In Mind
14. Fallen

JOHN D. LUERSSEN
(April 18, 2001)