Sing in the shower? Most everyone does it. 

Now… Record a track in the men’s room with nearly 50 of Canada’s most celebrated musicians? That is definitely one for the history books. 

And history they made as this special recording of Spirit of the West’s “Home for a Rest” in honour and support of frontman John Mann and his battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. "Home For A Rest" performers include Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, Sarah McLachlan, Alan Doyle, Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies, Spirit Kids Barney and Dustin Bentall, Colin James, Craig Northey and The Odds, Shari Ulrich, Jim Byrnes, Kendel Carson, Daniel Lapp, Spirit of the West with Cory Tetford, Shehab Illyas and Kris MacFarlane. 

"This song is a testament to the love that lives in the community of the Canadian Music Business,” shares Alan Doyle, who spearheaded the recording. “I encourage everyone to enjoy and share this song that was made by so many people offering a hand to a friend who needs it. 

“This is for John." 

Doyle and audio engineer Peter Green created a makeshift sound studio in the Commodore’s second-floor men’s washroom, shuttling musicians in to record. 

“We did drape it nicely,” Doyle told CBC. “We found a bunch of black drapes to put over the urinals and the like. We had Sarah McLachlan coming in there. I couldn’t ask Sarah to go to just any old men’s can to sing a song. 

“We got it in the can in the can.” 

Performing and recording as part of a benefit in John’s honour at the Commodore Ballroom in November 2017, the resulting video and song sit at the helm of a GoFundMe campaign to assist the 55-year-old singer in his extensive care for the devastating degenerative disease. 100% of the proceeds from the sales and streaming (and myself, Eric doing the PR pro bono AND Mediabase offering up the sending of this song at no cost, too) of the new release will go to the John Mann Trust Fund. 

Having raised more than $33,000 so far, the response has been a heartfelt, impassioned tribute to the Canadian musical icon wth 5 dozen stories in 24 hours since launching the single on iTunes and Spotify 3 days ago on Friday. 

Anyone who was fortunate enough to see John Mann and Spirit Of The West perform will have realized they were something special. Every single spin you can give, every mention, every blog post, anything you can do, let's do it, for John and Alzheimer’s.

"Home For A Rest" Spirit of Canada a Benefit for John Mann 

Help us help John Mann by kindly contributing to his Go Fund Me campaign here

This special recording of "Home For A Rest" was performed by: 

Jim Cuddy 
Sarah McLachlan 
Alan Doyle 
Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies 
Spirit Kids 
Barney & Dustin Bentall 
Colin James 
Craig Northey and The Odds 
Shari Ulrich 
Jim Byrnes 
Kendel Carson 
Daniel Lapp 
Spirit of the West with Cory Tetford, Shehab Illyas & Kris MacFarlane

 ''The Waiting Room'' Arts Club Theatre Company presents The Waiting Room by Morris Panych and John Mann

A moving story about family, healing, and hope, The Waiting Room is the highly anticipated collaboration between Spirit of the West’s John Mann and acclaimed Canadian playwright Morris Panych. Drawn from Mann’s own experience and his solo album of the same name, this musical

For more information, click here