Twenty-five years ago, Jimmy Rankin released his first solo album “Song Dog” after performing for 10 years with The Rankin Family. When he first went solo, Rankin said he was terrified but also excited at the same time. “I love entertaining people. That’s what I grew up doing, I’ve been doing it all of my life and I really enjoy it,” he told CTV Your Morning Atlantic’s Crystal Garrett. To celebrate the anniversary Rankin is releasing the “Song Dog” album on vinyl. “I grew up listening to vinyl and when I started making recording with The Rankins, we were in between cassettes and CDs and vinyl kind of left the picture,” he said. “I never released a recording on vinyl until my last couple of records I made. So to celebrate the anniversary I wanted to see what the album was like on vinyl.” Rankin is also currently on an anniversary tour with shows throughout the Maritimes. “For the show I am doing the whole ‘Song Dog’ record from top to bottom in order. Then I play a second set with some Rankin Family songs and songs from my solo catalogue,” he said. “It’s exciting, I’m taking a band out with me. I don’t really get to take a band with me anymore except when I’m doing festivals.” The tour includes these upcoming Maritime stops: Oct. 25 - Imperial Theatre - Saint John, N.B. Oct. 30 - Light House Arts Centre - Halifax, N.S. Nov. 5 - Glasgow Square Theatre - New Glasgow, N.S. Nov 6 - Savoy Theatre - Glace Bay, N.S. Nov 7 - Doryman Pub - Cheticamp, N.S.
