Winners of the 2016 Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Music Prize

The Polaris Music Prize has been around for eleven years now. But here’s a thought experiment: if Polaris had started in the 60s, who might have won in the intervening years?

This is the thinking being the Slaight Family Heritage Polaris Music Prize. Earlier this year, albums representing the eras 1960-1975, 1976-1985, 1986-1995 and 1996-2005 were nominated. Two winners from each era were chosen–one by a public vote and the other by a selected jury. Here are your winners.

1960-1975

Public: Neil Young – After The Gold Rush

Jury: Leonard Cohen – Songs Of Leonard Cohen

1976 – 1985

Public: Rush – Moving Pictures

Jury: Kate & Anna McGarrigle – Kate & Anna McGarrigle

1986-1995

Public: Blue Rodeo – Five Days In July

Jury: Mary Margaret O’Hara – Miss America

1996-2005

Public: Arcade Fire – Funeral

Jury: Lhasa – La Llorona