Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU, 93.1 FM, in Ottawa on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 5 pm (Eastern time) and is also available 24/7 for on-demand streaming.
This episode of Stranger Songs was recorded and can be streamed on-demand, now or anytime, by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/72570.html
Theme: Remembering Bob Franke (1947-2025) and Danny Thompson (1939-2025).
This is the first of two editions of Stranger Songs during CKCU’s annual funding drive for 2025, a funding drive falling just before CKCU celebrates 50 years of broadcasting on air – an incredible milestone for independent, listener-supported media in a day and age when independent, community-oriented media with programming curated, produced and hosted by a dedicated corps of volunteers, often experts in our fields, is harder and harder to come by. Please visit this link to support CKCU and Stranger Songs. https://www.canadahelps.org/me/6rUTtTVJ
Bob Franke was a great singer-songwriter who I knew as a friend for well over 50 years. When I took over running The Golem, a folk club in Montreal, in 1974, Bob was the third performer to play there and the first American. A few months ago, Bob and his wife, Joan Sherman, decided to leave Donald Trump’s America to make a new home for themselves in Guatemala. On October 13, Bob was crossing the street in Antigua, Guatemala when he was hit by a speeding motorcycle and suffered a broken pelvis. Bob had successful surgery to repair his pelvis but suffered two heart attacks while recovering in the ICU and died on October 16 at age 78.
The next 11 songs were written by Bob Franke.
Bob Franke- For Real
The Other Evening in Chicago (Waterbug)
Claudia Schmidt- Hard Love
Reimagining (Claudia Schmidt)
Stan Rogers- Love Can’t Be Bitter All the Time
Songs of a Lifetime: Discoveries – Rare Live Recordings (Fogarty’s Cove/Borealis)
Bob Franke- Love Bravely, Elizabeth
The Other Evening in Chicago (Waterbug)
Susie Burke & David Surette- A Healing In This Night
Sometimes In the Evening (Madrina Music)
Kim & Reggie Harris- Walkin’ in the Wilderness
Rock of Ages (Appleseed)
Short Sisters- Straw Against the Chill
A Planet Dancing Slow (Black Socks Press)
Bob Franke & Noel Paul Stookey- Turn Back, O Man
The Heart of the Flower (Daring)
Garnet Rogers- Hallelujah! The Great Storm is Over
Speaking Softly in the Dark (Snow Goose Songs)
Bill Garrett- Thanksgiving Eve
Seems to Me (Borealis)
Bob Franke- The Roads are Long in Canada
Long Roads, Short Visits (Daring)
Danny Thompson – who died on September 23 at age 86 – was probably the definitive bass player of the British folk revival, first as a member of the group Pentangle, and then as bassist for countless concert and recording artists. The rest of the show features Danny’s superb musicianship.
Pentangle- Let No Man Steal Your Thyme
Finale: An Evening with Pentangle (Topic)
Marianne Faithfull- Sally Free and Easy
North Country Maid (Decca)
Maddy Prior & June Tabor- The Grey Funnel Line
Silly Sisters (Shanachie)
Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson- Sweetheart on the Barricade
Industry (Hannibal)
Savourna Stevenson, June Tabor & Danny Thompson- Broom of Cowdenknowes
Singing the Storm (Cooking Vinyl/True North)
Eric Bibb & North Country Fair with Danny Thompson- Tell Ol’ Bill
The Happiest Man in the World (Stony Plain)
Darrell Scott- Urge for Going
Modern Hymns (Appleseed)
Pentangle- Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Finale: An Evening with Pentangle (Topic)
Next week: Conversation and Songs with Connie Kaldor.
--Mike Regenstreif
