Playing the Changes

A poignant, humourous and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir from one of Canada’s most beloved musicians.

From the prairies of Saskatchewan to sharing the stage with arguably the most influential guitarists of all time, Colin James is one of Canada’s greatest musical talents. His career spans over 30 years, with a track record that includes 20 studio albums, eight Juno Awards, 30 Maple Blues Awards and multi-platinum record sales. 

In Playing the Changes, Colin James invites readers to look back at the formative years that would see him emerge as a full-formed musical talent at such a young age. We see the young Colin James Munn growing up in Saskatchewan, the son of social worker parents, always surrounded by music—from the records played at home, to the folk clubs in Regina and the Quaker gatherings his family attends throughout the province. At a very young age, he picks up his older brother’s guitar and teaches himself to play along to some of the vintage blues records he adores so much. He ultimately masters the mandolin and penny whistle as well; before long he’s sitting in with folk bands before he’s even a teenager.

Next, readers are introduced to young adult Colin, an endearing young man who is trying to navigate and understand the world around him. There is Colin the hypochondriac, who is convinced that any malady he has may be fatal; Colin the romantic; Colin the compulsive cleaner, whose efforts to keep a tidy house by vaccuming floors and polishing furniture is an attempt to prevent the impending separation and divorce of his parents.

Readers go on the road with teenage Colin as he plays with veteran musicians much older than him, in venues throughout Saskatchewan and Winnipeg where he’s under the legal age to enter, let alone perform. The years of road work lead to the pivotal moment of Colin’s life: at the age of eighteen, with a day’s notice, he’s asked to put together a band and open for legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan in Saskatoon. That performance leads to a remarkable friendship between Colin and Vaughan, who goes on to become an incredible mentor and momentously christens Colin James (it sounds more rock’n’roll than Colin Munn).

Finally, Colin brings the reader to 1988, just before the release of his debut album, Colin James. By turns entertaining and open-hearted, Playing the Changes is a celebration of music and the joy of playing it, and of one of the most remarkable childhoods in Canadian music history.