The Trouble with Normal (album)

The Trouble with Normal is a 1983 studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. The album contains nine songs (eleven in the 2002 remastered release). It marks a continuing shift from Cockburn's early folk-influenced and "mystic" acoustic works, featuring electric guitar and synthesizers, but the lyrical themes build on earlier albums.

True North released a remastered deluxe version on November 19, 2002 which includes two extra tracks recorded during the same sessions.

Reception
In a retrospective review, AllMusic critic Brett Hartenbach wrote, "Like his two previous efforts in the '80s, The Trouble With Normal places Bruce Cockburn yet another step further from his days as Canada's resident mystic folky. And while he had touched on similar musical themes on earlier recordings, the eclectic blend of folk, rock, and world music here is much more defined and realized... There is the tendency to get heavy-handed at times, but still, The Trouble With Normal contains some of Cockburn's most beautifully imagistic writing to date and is another strong effort."

Track listing
"Cala Luna" was originally released as a bonus track on the cassette, at the end of side 1, after "Waiting for the Moon".

Personnel

 * Bruce Cockburn – vocals, guitar, dulcimer
 * Jon Goldsmith – keyboards
 * Hugh Marsh – mandolin, violin
 * Dennis Pendrith – bass, Chapman Stick
 * Bob Disalle – drums
 * Dick Smith – percussion
 * Shaun Jackson – backing vocals
 * Colina Phillips – backing vocals

Production
 * Gene Martynec – producer
 * Gary Gray – engineer
 * George Marino – mastering
 * Vladimir Meller – remastering
 * Sharon Williams – backing vocals
 * George Whiteside – photography
 * Michael Wurstin – art direction