Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.
CKCU can be heard live at 93.1 FM in Ottawa and https://www.ckcufm.com/ on the web.
This episode of Stranger Songs was prerecorded at home and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/56730.html
Theme: The Folkways Legacy of Sam Gesser.
In 1951, Samuel Gesser of Montreal – who died in 2008 at age 78 – became the Canadian distributor for Folkways Records. Early on, Sam pointed out to Moses Asch, the owner of Folkways, that there wasn’t any Canadian music in its catalog. “What are you going to do about that?” Asch asked him. Sam responded by finding Canadian folk music and folk music performers to record.
Between 1952 and 1964, Folkways released more than 100 LPs of Canadian folk music (and at least a couple of albums of Canadian poetry) produced or commissioned by Sam – all of which remain available through Smithsonian Folkways. The songs, tunes and poem on this show are drawn from just a few of those LPs.
I met Sam in the 1970s. By then, he was Montreal’s preeminent concert producer. Sam became a good friend and mentor and we’d get together over lunch a couple of times per year for decades. We also worked together on several projects over the years. I learned much from my many conversations with Sam. A tribute to Sam on the Smithsonian Folkways website is available at this link.
Alan Mills- The Squid-Jiggin’ Ground
Folk Songs of Newfoundland (Folkways)
Alan Mills- The Boys of the Island
Songs of the Maritimes: Lumberman Songs and Songs of the Sea (Folkways)
Wade Hemsworth- Peter Rambley (Peter Amberley)
Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods (Folkways)
Ken Peacock- Lots of Fish in Bonavist’ Harbour
Songs and Ballads of Newfoundland (Folkways)
Mrs. Edward Gallagher- I’m Going to Get Married
Folk Music from Nova Scotia (Folkways)
William Paul, Martin Sack & John Knockwood- Micmac Indian War Song
Folk Music from Nova Scotia (Folkways)
Jean Carignan with Pete Seeger- Reel du Pendu/The Hangman’s Reel
Old Time Fiddle Tunes Played by Jean Carignan (Folkways)
Karen James- Le Papier D’Éping
Through Streets Broad and Narrow (Folkways)
Jacques Labrecque- Monsieur Le Curé
Folk Songs of France and French Canada (Folkways)
Hélène Baillargeon & Alan Mills- J’ai Tant Dansé
Songs of French Canada (Folkways)
Madame Beavan- Pis Ôte-Toé Donc
Songs of French Canada (Folkways)
Leonard Cohen- Les Vieux
Six Montreal Poets (Folkways)
Jean Carignan- Reel du Bon Vieux Temps
Songs and Dances of Quebec (Folkways)
O.J. Abbott- Hogan’s Lake
Lumbering Songs from the Ontario Shanties (Folkways)
Joe Kelly- Johnny Doyle
Lumbering Songs from the Ontario Shanties (Folkways)
Geraldine Sullivan- Maggie Howie
Folk Songs of Ontario (Folkways)
Lamont Tilden- The Murder of F.C. Benwell
Folk Songs of Ontario (Folkways)
William Peaychew- Cree Greeting Song (Shaking Hands Song)
Indian Music of the Canadian Plains (Folkways)
The Loewen Orchestra- The Northern Trappers Rendezvous
Songs and Ballads of Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba (Folkways)
Herbert Sills- O Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
Folksongs of Saskatchewan (Folkways)
Anne Halderman- A Poor Lone Girl in Saskatchewan
Folksongs of Saskatchewan (Folkways)
Stanley G. Triggs- The Oda G.
Bunkhouse and Forecastle Songs of the Northwest (Folkways)
Barry Hall- Pretty Peggy O
The Virtuoso 5-String Banjo played by Barry Hall (Folkways)
Alan Mills- The Klondike Gold Rush
Canada’s Story in Song (Folkways)
Angutnak & Matee- Girl’s Game
The Eskimos of Hudson Bay (Folkways)
Paul Konoplenko-Zaporozetz- Our Ukraine
The Kozba (Folkways)
Raasche- Gey Ich Mir Shpatzirin
Jewish Folk Songs of Europe (Folkways)
Karen James- Mary-Anne
Through Streets Broad and Narrow (Folkways)
Alan Mills- Brave Wolfe
Canada’s Story in Song (Folkways)
Karen James- The Ghost Lover
Karen James (Folkways)
Wade Hemsworth- V’la l’Bon Vent
Folk Songs of the Canadian North Woods (Folkways)
Alan Mills- Un Canadien Errant
Canada’s Story in Song (Folkways)
Karen James- Captain Wedderburn’s Courtship
Karen James (Folkways)
Next week: Just Who Was It Who Wrote That Song?
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--Mike Regenstreif
