Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – July 30, 2024: Remembering Happy Traum

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/595/66189.html

Theme: Remembering Happy Traum (1938-2024).

Happy Traum – born Harry Peter Traum but known all his life as Happy – died on July 17 of cancer at age 86. 

Happy was a great guitarist, folksinger and songwriter known both for his solo work and for his partnership with his younger brother, the late Artie Traum. He was an important figure in the folk revival, from the early-1960s until his passing, as a performer, as editor for three years of Sing Out magazine, as a catalyst for many projects, and as a teacher. Homespun Music, the company run by Happy and Jane Traum, offers lessons in guitar and many other instruments in many styles taught by Happy and by many other great musicians.

Happy Traum- There’s a Bright Side Somewhere

There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

The New World Singers- Bizzness Ain’t Dead

The Best of Broadside 1962-1988 (Smithsonian Folkways)

The New World Singers- Blowin’ in the Wind

The Best of Broadside 1962-1988 (Smithsonian Folkways)

Happy Traum with Bob Dylan- Let Me Die in My Footsteps

The Best of Broadside 1962-1988 (Smithsonian Folkways)

Happy & Artie Traum- Mama, It’s Such a Long Ride Home

Happy and Artie Traum (Capitol)

Happy & Artie Traum- Misty Dreams

Happy and Artie Traum (Capitol)

Happy & Artie Traum- Trials of Jonathan

Happy and Artie Traum (Capitol)

Happy Traum- Boat’s Up the River

Relax Your Mind (Kicking Mule)

Happy & Artie Traum- The Ferryman

Double-Back (Capitol)

Happy & Artie Traum- Brother Thomas

Double-Back (Capitol)

Happy & Artie Traum- Sam’s Song

Hard Times in the Country (Rounder)

Happy & Artie Traum- Mississippi John

Hard Times in the Country (Rounder)

Bob Dylan with Happy Traum- Only a Hobo

Another Self Portrait 1969-1971: The Bootleg Series Vol. 10 (Columbia/Legacy)

Happy Traum with Artie Traum & Bill Keith- Off to Sea Once More

Mud Acres: Music Among Friends (Rounder)

Happy Traum with Artie Traum, Eric Kaz & Bill Keith- Titanic

Mud Acres: Music Among Friends (Rounder)

Eric Andersen with Happy Traum- Golden Bird

Waves (Appleseed)

Happy Traum- Mary, I’m Coming Back Home

Tribute to a Songpoet: Songs of Eric Andersen (Y&T Music) or There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

Happy Traum- Love Song to a Girl in an Old Photograph

There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

Happy Traum- Farewell

There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

Happy Traum- Living with the Blues

There’s a Bright Side Somewhere (Lark’s Nest Music)

Happy Traum- Hills of Isle au Haut

Bright Morning Stars (Lark’s Nest Music)

Happy Traum- Friends and Neighbours

I Walk the Road Again (Roaring Stream)

Next week: Remembering Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942-2024).

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – May 28, 2024: 50 years ago, I took over The Golem, Part 1

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/595/65341.html

Theme: 50 years ago, I took over The Golem, Part 1.

Mike Regenstreif at The Golem (1975)

It was 50 years ago, on May 24, 1974, that I took over running The Golem, Montreal folk club. 

The Golem had been established in 1973 in the McGill Hillel building at 3460 Stanley Street by Saul Markowicz. I had done my basic training in folk club management with Chuck Baker at the Yellow Door, and had been producing concerts in Montreal at Dawson College and McGill University for about two years when Saul approached me in the spring of 1974 and asked if I’d be interested in taking over The Golem.

I actually ran The Golem twice – from 1974 until 1976 and from 1981 until 1987. The Golem was also run for about a year after my first tenure by Marc Nerenberg (who, by the way, is responsible for keeping the Yellow Door going still). The Golem was closed between 1977 and when I returned and re-opened it in 1981. And, after my second tenure, a committee including Helen Fortin and Dave Clarke of Steel Rail fame kept the Golem going until 1991.

All of the songs on this show were played back in the day by artists who performed during my two tenures running the Golem. As I was preparing this show, I found there was no way I could play all of the artists I’d like to include, so I’ll be doing a part 2 to this theme on the June 18 edition of Stranger Songs.

Bruce Murdoch- Fool Like Me

Bruce Murdoch (Radio Canada International)

Mike Regenstreif, Bruce Murdoch & Sneezy Waters (2014)

Sneezy Waters- (You’ve Got) Sawdust on the Floor of Your Heart

Live in the CKCU studio during Stranger Songs – July 4, 2023

Jim Ringer- Going Away

Waitin’ for the Hard Times to Go (Folk-Legacy)

Tom Mitchell, Mike Regenstreif & Mary McCaslin (199)

Mary McCaslin- Down the Road

Way Out West (Philo)

Chris Rawlings & Mike Regenstreif (2007)

Chris Rawlings- Pearl River Turnaround

Pearl Soupe (Cooking Fat Music)

Mike Regenstreif & Jesse Winchester (2006)

Jesse Winchester- Tell Me Why You Like Roosevelt

Learn to Love It (Stony Plain)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle & Mike Regenstreif (1976) photo: Felicity Fanjoy

Kate & Anna McGarrigle & Roma Baran- Willie Moore

Tell My Sister (Nonesuch)

Ronney Abramson & Mike Regenstreif (2016)

Ronney Abramson- Three O’Clock Ride

Three O’Clock Ride – single (Ronney Abramson)

Artie Traum & Mike Regenstreif (2006)

Artie Traum- Montreal

The Test of Time (Roaring Stream)

Ferron- Ain’t Life a Brook

Not a Still Life (Cherrywood Station)

Mike Regenstreif & Bill Staines (1993)

Bill Staines- Tulsa

Miles (Mineral River)

Mike Regenstreif & Priscilla Herdman (1978) photo: Ron Petronko

Priscilla Herdman- Andy’s Gone with Cattle

The Water Lily (Philo)

Eric Bogle- Now I’m Easy

Scraps of Paper (Flying Fish)

Utah Phillips & Mike Regenstreif (1976) photo: Felicity Fanjoy

Utah Phillips- Larimer Street

The Telling Takes Me Home (Philo)

Rosalie Sorrels & Mike Regenstreif (1993)

Rosalie Sorrels- Postcard from India

Travelin’ Lady (Sire)

Tom Mitchell- Eastern Beer

1976 live recording – used with permission

Mimi Fariña- Defying Gravity
Live in Germany: To Benefit Bread & Roses (Dogfish Music)

Mike Regenstreif & Tom Paxton (2001) photo: Janice Hanson

Tom Paxton- Outward Bound

The Compleat Tom Paxton (Even Compleater) (Rhino Handmade)

Odetta- Hold On

Odetta at Carnegie Hall (Vanguard)

Dave Van Ronk- Green, Green Rocky Road

…and the tin pan bended, and the story ended… (Smithsonian Folkways)

John Hartford- Steamboat Whistle Blues

Aereo-Plain (Rounder)

Skyline with Tony Trischka- Ticket Back

Ticket Back: A Retrospective (Flying Fish)

Nanci Griffith- There’s a Light Beyond These Woods

There’s a Light Beyond These Woods (Philo)

Stan Rogers- The Mary Ellen Carter

Between the Breaks…Live! (Fogarty’s Cove/Borealis)

Next week: Part 1: Remembering Spider John Koerner / Part 2: The Legacy of Reverend Gary Davis

--Mike Regenstreif

This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history (October 6-12)

Folk Roots/Folk Branches with Mike Regenstreif was a Thursday tradition on CKUT in Montreal for nearly 14 years from February 3, 1994 until August 30, 2007. Folk Roots/Folk Branches continued as occasional features on CKUT and is now also a blog. Here’s the sixth instalment of “This week in Folk Roots/Folk Branches,” a weekly look back continuing through next August at some of the most notable guests, features and moments in Folk Roots/Folk Branches history.

October 6, 1994: Show theme- A retrospective of 21 years of recordings on the Philo label.
October 12, 1995: Show theme- The Greatest Folk Concert Ever – All Live Recordings.
October 8, 1998: Guests- Oscar Lopez; David Essig.
October 7, 1999: Guest- Lucy Kaplansky.
October11, 2001: Guest- Mark Viator of Rue La-La.
October 7, 2004: Guests- Mose Scarlett; Dave Clarke & Ellen Shizgal of Steel Rail.
October 6, 2005: Guests- Susie Arioli & Jordan Officer.
October 12, 2006: Guest- Artie Traum.
October 11, 2007 (Folk Roots/Folk Branches feature): Songs of Paul Siebel.

Pictured: The late Artie Traum and me after his Folk Roots/Folk Branches visit on October 12, 2006.

--Mike Regenstreif