A Nice Pair: Kate & Anna McGarrigle

It’s Sunday which means it’s time for A Nice Pair: book and record pairings that go together like the first snowfall of the season and getting as cozy as possible. Today we’re pairing the book Mountain City Girls: The McGarrigle Family Album by Kate and Anna McGarrigle with their self-titled album.

A family memoir, Mountain City Girls, recounts the sisters’ childhood in Montreal and the Laurentian Mountains. It traces the singer/songwriters’ roots and brings us through the vibrant folk music circuit of the 1960s and to the formation of the eponymous folk music duo. It also serves as a tribute to Kate who passed away in 2010 and emphasizes the role of sisterhood and the importance of family. Interspersed with lyrics and photos, it’s a snapshot of their lives, their upbringing and their many influences.

Kate & Anna McGarrigle is their debut album, released in 1976. It has a gentle folk sound with graceful harmonies. It was named as the jury winner of the Polaris Heritage Prize in the 1976-1985 division in 2016 and contains songs such as Heart Like a Wheel and Complainte pour Ste-Catherine.