Top 10 Sass Jordan Songs

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Our Top 10 Sass Jordan Songs list digs deep into the music of a Juno Award-winning singer who made an important contribution to Canadian rock beginning in the late 1980s. Born in Britain and raised in Montreal, Jordan developed her love of music while singing with friends as a teenager. Her early experience eventually led her to join the local band the Pinups as a vocalist.

Jordan’s powerful voice soon opened doors to session work with established Canadian artists, including the Box. Her abilities extended beyond singing, as she also developed her songwriting skills and had material recorded by other performers. Michael Breen, for example, recorded her composition “Rain,” which became a Canadian chart hit in 1987.

Jordan subsequently signed with Atlantic Records and began a solo career that would last for decades. Although she initially worked within a hard rock sound, her recordings also explored pop rock, blues rock, and soul. Her combination of a gritty voice and strong songwriting made her one of Canada’s most recognizable female rock performers.

In 1988, Sass Jordan released her debut studio album, Tell Somebody, through Atlantic Records, with Pierre Bazinet producing. Bazinet also worked with artists including Celine Dion, Luba, Boulevard, and Jean LeClerc. Although the album did not make Jordan an international superstar, it introduced Canadian listeners to the songs “Tell Somebody,” “So Hard,” and “Stranger Than Paradise.”

Four years later, Jordan returned with Racine in 1992, bringing a tougher, barroom-style rock sound that invited comparisons with The Black Crowes. The album reached number two on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart and number 174 on the Billboard 200. Its American release came through MCA Records, while Aquarius Records handled the album in Canada.

Rick Neigher produced Racine and brought experience from his work with performers including Joe Cocker and John Mellencamp. The songs “Make You a Believer,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” and “You Don’t Have to Remind Me” helped establish Jordan’s reputation beyond Canada. The album’s classic-rock influences fit her voice particularly well.

Released in 1994, Rats became Sass Jordan’s third studio album and gave her music an even harder edge. Producer Nick DiDia also worked with an impressive range of rock acts, including Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Audioslave, Billy Talent, Aldo Nova, Rage Against the Machine, and The Gaslight Anthem. The album reached number five on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart and number 158 on the Billboard 200, her highest position on that chart.

Among the highlights from Rats were “High Road Easy,” “Ugly,” “Sun’s Gonna Rise,” “Damaged,” and “Pissin’ Down.” Both “High Road Easy” and “Sun’s Gonna Rise” found success in Canada, while “Sun’s Gonna Rise” also reached the American Billboard Hot 100. These songs showcased Jordan’s ability to deliver hard-hitting music without sacrificing melody.

Jordan issued her fourth studio album, Present, in 1997, returning to work with Rick Neigher. Although the record did not duplicate the chart success of her previous two releases, it included memorable songs such as “Desire” and “Do What I Can.” The album deserves attention for the strength of its vocals and its more personal songwriting.

Her fifth studio album, Hot Gossip, followed in 2000, produced by Richard Chycki. The producer later worked with rock acts including Def Leppard, Dream Theater, Rush, Needtobreathe, and Simple Plan. “People Talk” and “Monday Morning” are among the notable songs on the album, which continued Jordan’s exploration of melodic, guitar-driven rock.

The 2006 album Get What You Give marked Jordan’s sixth studio release and was produced by Canadian musician Colin Linden. Linden’s other credits include recordings with Bruce Cockburn, Lucinda Williams, Keb’ Mo’, and Emmylou Harris. “Have You Ever Seen the Rain,” “What You Gonna Do,” and “The Feeling’s Gone” stand out as examples of the record’s roots-oriented sound.

Jordan’s seventh album, From Dusk ’til Dawn, was released in 2009 and produced by Derek Sharp. “Home Again,” “What I Need,” and “Why Did You?” were among its memorable recordings. She revisited an important part of her past with Racine Revisited in 2017, recording new interpretations of material from her successful 1992 album.

Jordan took an even stronger turn toward the blues with Rebel Moon Blues in 2020 and Bitches Blues in 2022. Both were released through Stony Plain Records, a label associated with musicians including Ronnie Earl, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Steve Earle. The albums reached numbers five and fifteen, respectively, on Billboard’s Blues Albums chart.

Rebel Moon Blues featured her versions of “Still Got the Blues,” “Leaving Trunk,” and “Am I Wrong,” while Bitches Blues included “Still Alive and Well,” “Even,” and “Still the World Goes Round.” Her later work demonstrated how naturally blues music suited her unmistakable voice. Sass Jordan died on October 2, 2026, leaving a catalog that ranged from Canadian radio hits to deeply felt blues recordings.

Her music also reached audiences through television, including her work as a judge on Canadian Idol. The following countdown celebrates ten of our favorite songs from a career that gave rock fans so many memorable performances.

# 10 – Have You Ever Seen the Rain

While Sass Jordan recorded plenty of impressive original songs, we cannot overlook the effort she put into her cover of “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” The song was written by John Fogerty and originally appeared on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1970 album Pendulum. Jordan included her own version on her sixth studio album, Get What You Give, in 2006.

Unlike the roots rock and country-rock approach of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jordan gave “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” a bluesier feel that suited her powerful voice. Her rendition was not a major mainstream hit, but it remains an impressive interpretation of a familiar classic. Other artists who have recorded the song include Rod Stewart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Spin Doctors, and The Lumineers.

# 9 – Desire

“Desire” is one of those Sass Jordan recordings that has left a lasting impression on her fans. It appeared on her fourth studio album, Present, released in 1997, and Tony Reyes was among its songwriters. Reyes also worked with artists including Gwen Stefani, Janet Jackson, Sugababes, Joan Jones, and Ciara.

Jordan recalled that she had recently welcomed her daughter when the music video for “Desire” was filmed. In that performance, the demands of motherhood and life as a rock singer seemed to meet in a particularly personal way. The song became a Canadian hit, reaching number twelve on the RPM singles chart.

# 8 – Am I Wrong

“Am I Wrong” was recorded by Keb’ Mo’ for his self-titled 1994 album and became an excellent choice for Jordan’s 2020 release Rebel Moon Blues. It is remarkable to hear the singer sounding so committed to this music more than three decades after she began her solo recording career. Her interpretation carries the grit and blues feeling that always ran through her vocals.

Jordan’s later albums found her revisiting songs associated with some of the great blues and roots-rock performers. Another memorable example was “Still Alive and Well,” which she recorded for Bitches Blues in 2022. Written by Rick Derringer, the song appeared on the 1972 Roadwork album by Edgar Winter’s White Trash and was also popularized by Johnny Winter.

# 7 – I’m Not

When Jordan was asked in an interview to name one of her most underrated songs, she chose “I’m Not.” But was the recording really underrated? In her opinion, it certainly was, and we can understand why. It is an alluring pick that deserves its place on any list celebrating her finest material.

“I’m Not” appeared on her third studio album, Rats, released in 1994. We love the way the lyrics lead into that powerful chorus, creating one of the album’s standout moments. The song also made the Canadian RPM singles chart, where it reached number forty-seven.

# 6 – So Hard

Coming in at number six is the alluring “So Hard,” one of the standout tracks on Jordan’s 1988 debut, Tell Somebody. She worked with Bill Beaudoin in writing the song, which strikes a fine balance between her hard rock and pop-rock influences. It is easy to hear why the recording helped attract attention to her early solo career.

Jordan’s vocals on “So Hard” are simply magical, giving the melody both power and emotion. The single reached number forty-one on the Canadian RPM chart and also had a memorable music video. Both the performance and the recording capture the excitement of her early years.

# 5 – Sun’s Gonna Rise

“Sun’s Gonna Rise” is among the most tempestuous tracks Sass Jordan ever recorded. Featured on her third studio album, Rats, the song finds her singing about moving on from a relationship damaged by deception. Jordan wrote it with guitarist Stevie Salas, whose energetic playing helped give the recording its strong rock sound.

Despite the pain of being hurt, Jordan expressed the need to rise above the experience, heal, and move on with life. “Sun’s Gonna Rise” was a substantial Canadian hit, reaching number seven on the RPM chart. It also became her only single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, peaking at number eighty-six.

# 4 – You Don’t Have to Remind Me

There are plenty of songs on Racine that can make any Sass Jordan fan jump for joy. One that has retained its appeal over the years is “You Don’t Have to Remind Me,” a poignant track that allows Jordan to express the emptiness and pain behind its lyrics. Her voice brings real weight to the recording, making it one of the album’s most memorable songs.

The song became a mainstream success in Canada, reaching number fifteen on the RPM singles chart. It also received American rock-radio attention, peaking at number twelve on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. Those results helped show how successfully Jordan could combine emotional songwriting with a muscular rock arrangement.

# 3 – High Road Easy

Our third choice is the remarkable “High Road Easy,” one of the strongest songs on Jordan’s 1994 album Rats. She drew inspiration from a real situation in her life involving someone close to her who was struggling with drug addiction. That personal connection helped give the song its urgency and emotional force.

“High Road Easy” became one of her biggest rock-radio successes, reaching number nine on the Canadian RPM chart. It also rose to number six on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, making it her highest-charting single on that American rock survey. The song remains an essential example of Jordan’s powerful 1990s sound.

# 2 – Tell Somebody

“Tell Somebody” became Sass Jordan’s breakthrough song following its release in 1988. The title track from her debut album introduced Canadian audiences to the strength of her voice and her talent for memorable rock songwriting. Its video, directed by Erik Canuel, received substantial play on MuchMusic and helped bring her widespread recognition.

Canuel also directed music videos for performers including Paul Piché, Sylvain Cossette, Norman Iceberg, and Vilain Pingouin. “Tell Somebody” reached number eleven on the Canadian RPM chart, and Jordan’s early success helped earn her the Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist in 1989. Other nominees for the award included Patti Jannetta, Candi, Lisa Lougheed, and Michelle Wright.

# 1 – Make You a Believer

Our number one Sass Jordan song is the outstanding “Make You a Believer,” from her second studio album, Racine, released in 1992. Jordan wrote the song with producer Rick Neigher, and its message is straightforward: believing in yourself and having the courage to move forward. Her vocals and the forceful arrangement make it an unforgettable rock recording.

“Make You a Believer” reached number twelve on the Canadian RPM singles chart and number eleven on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. Its popularity helped introduce Jordan to a much wider international audience, and Dutch singer Lana Wolf later recorded a version of the song. For us, it remains the finest example of everything that made Sass Jordan such an extraordinary rock vocalist.