Sarah adds four more to hardware collection

The Province, Nov 9 1998

Tom Harrison, Music Reporter, The Province

It's gone through two name changes already, so perhaps for the third year, the West Coast Music Awards should be called the Sarah McLachlan Sweepstakes.

McLachlan won a glistening prize in all four of the categories in which she was nominated at the West Coast Music Awards, held last night at the Enterprise Hall of the Plaza Of Nations.

The popular singer-writer and creator of Lilith Fair added to her achievements of the past three years with awards for best pop/rock album (major label distribution) for Surfacing, single of the year (Building a Mystery), songwriter (Sweet Surrender)  and female vocalist.

In addition, Terry McBride, McLachlan's co-manager and a founding partner in the successful independent Nettwerk Records label, was given an industry builder award by the Pacific Music Industry Association, organizers of the event.

The thank you speeches made a welcome change for her and McBride from the past week's hearings in their well-publicized court case with Darryl Neudorf, the musician-producer who is suing the two for proper recognition and remuneration for his work on McLachlan's rookie album, Touch.

Matthew Good and his band were the only other multiple winners with awards for male vocalist and live performer of the year.

Awards show host Colin James was named musician of the year, while Ray Condo, who with some justification has been complaining of the lack of local recognition for his fabulous brand of country swing and roots-rock, found some measure of satisfaction in snagging the best country album trophy for his band's Door To Door Maniac.

Jeff Bateman, veteran music writer and west coast editor of the music industry trade magazine The Record was named most supportive journalist of the year by the PMIA's board of directors, who also presented local spark plug (and musician)  Kate Polsky the VanCity award for volunteer spirit.

The West Coast Music Awards were created by the non-profit Pacific Music Industry Association to recognize the work of people who write and record music in B.C. and launched last year as the Pacific Music Industry Awards.

This year, the ceremony was taped by CBC TV, which suggested the change of name to West Coast Music Awards. It will air Nov. 22.

OTHER WCMA WINNERS . . .

• Damn the Diva (best rock/pop album, independent distribution,   Flow and Steer)
• The Paperboys (folk/roots/ traditional album, Molinos)
• Long John Baldry (blues/R&B album, Right To Sing The Blues)
• Metalwood (jazz album, Metalwood)
• CBC Vancouver Orchestra conducted by James Sommerville   (classical album, Mozart Horn Concertos)
• Rascalz (dance/hip hop/rap release, Cash Crop)
• Silk Road Music (world music album, Endless)
• Bing Jensen (children's album, Big Fat Hug)
• Dale Penner (producer of the year for Holly McNarland's Stuff)
• Randy Staub (engineer, Veruca Salt's Eight Arms to Hold You)
• Adam Sliwinski (video director or the year for Inclemency by   Farmer's Daughter)