Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – March 31, 2026: A Tribute to Buddy Holly

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/595/74747.html

Theme: A Tribute to Buddy Holly (1936-1959).

Buddy Holly, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas, was one of the great artists of early rock ‘n’ roll. Tragically, he lost his life at the tender age of 22 on February 3, 1959 in a small plane crash that also claimed Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, an event that Don McLean referred to as “the day the music died,” in his song, American Pie.

Buddy Holly- Peggy Sue

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Serena Ryder- It Doesn’t Matter Anymore

If Your Memory Serves You Well (EMI)

The Beatles- Words of Love

Beatles for Sale (Parlophone)

Buddy Holly- Fool’s Paradise

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Natalie Merchant- Learning the Game

Rarities 1998-2017 (Nonesuch)

The Rolling Stones- Not Fade Away

GRRR! (ABKCO)

Buddy Holly- Rock Around with Ollie Vee

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Linda Ronstadt- It’s So Easy

Simple Dreams: 40th Anniversary Edition (Elektra/Rhino)

David Olney with Daniel Seymour- Everyday

Nevermore: The Final Live in Holland Sessions II (Strictly Country)

Buddy Holly- Look at Me

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Nanci Griffith & The Crickets- Well… All Right

Not Fade Away (remembering Buddy Holly) (MCA)

Nanci Griffith & The Crickets- Heartbeat

The Crickets & Their Buddies (Sovereign Artists)

Buddy Holly- Rock Me My Baby

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Elvis Presley- (You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care

Elvis Presley Sings Leiber & Stoller (RCA/Legacy)

Jenny Whiteley- Raining in My Heart

Forgive or Forget (Black Hen Music)

Buddy Holly- Modern Don Juan

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

The Crickets- The Real Buddy Holly Story

The Crickets & Their Buddies (Sovereign Artists)

Jim Wurster- Rave On

Transcendental Inclinations (Y&T Music)

Buddy Holly- I’m Lookin’ for Someone to Love

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

John Prine & The Crickets- Oh Boy

The Crickets & Their Buddies (Sovereign Artists)

Carolyn Hester- Lonesome Tears

From These Hills (Road Goes On Forever)

Buddy Holly- Listen to Me

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Linda Ronstadt- That’ll Be the Day

Hasten Down the Wind (Elektra)

Nanci Griffith with The London Symphony Orchestra- Tell Me How

The Dust Bowl Symphony (Elektra)

Buddy Holly & The Hollies- Peggy Sue Got Married

Not Fade Away (remembering Buddy Holly) (MCA)

Mary Chapin Carpenter & Kevin Montgomery- Wishing

Not Fade Away (remembering Buddy Holly) (MCA)

Los Lobos- Midnight Shift

Not Fade Away (remembering Buddy Holly) (MCA)

Buddy Holly- I’m Gonna Love You Too

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Chuck WIllis- It’s Too Late

Stroll On: The Chuck Willis Collection (Razor & Tie)

Madeleine Peyroux- Changing All Those Changes

The Blue Room (Decca)

Buddy Holly- Reminiscing 

The Buddy Holly Collection (MCA)

Next week: Songs of Phil Ochs.

--Mike Regenstreif

Corin Raymond – Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams

CORIN RAYMOND

Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams

Local Rascal

corinraymond.com

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Corin Raymond arrived on my radar about seven years ago thanks to a brilliant song called “There will Always be a Small Time,” a piece I described at the time as “a near-perfect piece of songwriting.” But, just as there is so much more to Ian Tyson than “Four Strong Winds,” or to Gordon Lightfoot than “The Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” or to Leonard Cohen than “Suzanne,” or to so many other examples, there is more to Corin Raymond than “There will Always be a Small Time.”

That is more than evident on Corin’s new album, “Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams,” a set of nine fine songs he either wrote or co-wrote, and one cover.

Corin is a singer-songwriter whose work engages the listener, the words and melodies combining to draw listeners into the stories he’s telling – and whether the stories are autobiographical or about other people, real or fictional, it’s the story that matters with the lyrics, music, arrangement and delivery all in service to the story.

The album opens strongly with “Hard on Things,” co-written with Rob Vaarmeyer, in which he conversationally describes all those things he’s hard on – from his body to many material things and, by implication (“I’ve worn out two gold wedding rings”), his relationships.

Among the other highlights are “Under the Belly of the Night,” co-written with Jonathan Byrd, which pays tribute to fallen early rock ‘n’ roll and R&B heroes Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson and to how their music endures so many decades after their deaths; “Two Miles of Trains,” co-written with Raghu Lokanathan, an upbeat, infectious celebration of hobo culture (the album’s title comes from this song); and “Morning Glories,” a piano-based tribute to some of the characters – flawed but good-hearted folks – that one might encounter walking around a rundown Toronto neighbourhood.

Corin Raymond makes you care about the people in these songs.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Jenny Whiteley -- Forgive or Forget

JENNY WHITELEY
Forgive or Forget
Black Hen
jennywhiteley.com

Forgive or Forget, Jenny Whiteley’s fourth solo album – she started her career as one of the lead singers in Heartbreak Hill, a bluegrass band – is a quiet, subtle record filled with songs that examine love and relationships from a variety of angles.

Jenny opens the album with a melancholy, but sweet, version of “Raining In My Heart,” a Felice and Boudleaux Bryant song first recorded more than half a century ago by Buddy Holly. It’s the album’s only cover tune, the rest of the songs were either written or co-written by Jenny.

Among my favourite tracks are “Cold, Cold Kisses,” which almost seems like it could be a Hank Williams song; “Truth and the Eyes of the Dead,” featuring some truly haunting guitar playing by producer Steve Dawson, in which the narrator advises someone to “get out while you can” because it just ain’t gonna happen; and “Ripple Effect,” one of the few upbeat songs in the set and one of a couple that features harmonies from Tim O’Brien, one of my favourite singers for many years.

Jenny’s first two albums won Juno Awards for Solo Roots/Traditional Album of the Year. Those awards set high expectations for her subsequent recordings, expectations that Forgive or Forget meets or exceeds.

Among Jenny’s upcoming concert dates are shows at Divan Orange in Montreal on March 27 (Rob Lutes shares the bill) and the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, QC near Ottawa on March 28.

--Mike Regenstreif