Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – February 4, 2025: Remembering Jane McGarrigle and Garth Hudson

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/595/68828.html

Themes: Remembering Jane McGarrigle (1941-2025) and Garth Hudson (1937-2025).

Remembering Jane McGarrigle

Jane McGarrigle, the older sister and frequent collaborator of Kate & Anna McGarrigle, died on January 24 at age 83. Jane was an old friend that I’d known since I started producing concerts with Kate & Anna in 1974.

The next four songs are among Kate & Anna’s recordings that Jane sang and/or played on.

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Heart Like a Wheel

Tell My Sister: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Blanche Comme La Neige

Tell My Sister: Dancer with Bruised Knees (Nonesuch)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Perrine Etait Servante

Tell My Sister: Dancer with Bruised Knees (Nonesuch)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Move Over Moon

Love Over and Over (Polygram)

Jane McGarrigle sang the lead vocal on “Bon Voyage.”

Jane, Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Bon Voyage

The McGarrigle Hour (Hannibal)

“Love Is” was co-written by Kate, Anna & Jane McGarrigle.

Kate & Anna McGarrigle - Love Is

Heartbeats Accelerating (Private)

The What Four included Jack Nissenson & Peter Weldon of the original Mountain City Four with Jane McGarrigle, Kathleen Weldon, Lily Lanken, John Knowles, Marvin Segal, Andrew Cowan & Stephen Barry.

The What Four- Shenandoah

Mountain City Four (Omnivore)

Remembering Garth Hudson

Garth Hudson – who died on January 21 at age 87 – was the last surviving original member of The Band. Garth played organ, accordion, electric keyboards and saxophone with The Band and was their principal arranger.

After Garth died, Bob Dylan released a statement that said Garth Hudson “was a beautiful guy and the real driving force behind The Band. Just listen to the original recording of ‘The Weight’ and you’ll see.”

The Band- The Weight

Music from Big Pink (Capitol)

The Band- Stage Fright

Stage Fright (Capitol)

The Band- Acadian Driftwood

Northern Lights-Southern Cross (Capitol)

Chantel Kreviazuk with Garth Hudson- Tears of Rage

Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band: 10th Anniversary Edition (Curve Music)

Bruce Cockburn & Blue Rodeo with Garth Hudson- Sleeping

Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band: 10th Anniversary Edition (Curve Music)

Great Big Sea with Garth Hudson- Knockin’ Lost John

Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band: 10th Anniversary Edition (Curve Music)

Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle with Garth Hudson- You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere

Garth Hudson Presents a Canadian Celebration of The Band: 10th Anniversary Edition (Curve Music)

Garth Hudson also played on many albums as a session musician. The next four songs are some examples.

Leonard Cohen- Our Lady of Solitude

Recent Songs (Columbia)

Eric Andersen- Violets of Dawn

Woodstock Under the Stars (Y&T Music)

Karla Bonoff- The Water is Wide

All My Life: The Best of Karla Bonoff (Columbia/Legacy)

Colin Linden with Rick Danko & Garth Hudson- When the Spirit Comes

When the Spirit Comes (True North)

Garth & Maud Hudson- No Depression in Heaven

The Harry Smith Project: Anthology of American Folk Music Revisited (Shout! Factory)

Next week: Four Strong Winds.

--Mike Regenstreif 

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday September 12, 2023: Part 1 – Conversation and Songs with author David Eisenstadt; Part 2 – Songs of Dave Carter

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/595/61910.html

Themes: Part 1 – Conversation and Songs with author David Eisenstadt; Part 2 – Songs of Dave Carter.

Part 1: Conversation and Songs with David Eisenstadt. My conversation with David was recorded on August 14 via Zoom. The songs heard before and during the interview are by artists featured in David’s new book, Musicians Under the Radar: 36 Notable Canadian Jewish Performers. Visit https://undertheradarbook.com/ for more information about David and his books. 

Theresa Tova- Der Saksofon Shpiler (The Saxophone Player)

You Ask Me Why: Tova Sings Beyle (Tova Entertainment)

Colin Linden- Angel Next to Me

bLOW (Highway 20)

Nikki Yanofsky- Comes Love

Nikki By Starlight (MNRK Music Group)

David Buchbinder- Freylekhs Tumbao

Odessa/Havana (Tzadik)

Socalled (Josh Dolgin) with The Kaiser Quartett- Roumanishe Kretchme

Di Frosh and other Yiddish Songs (Membran)

Part 2 – Songs of Dave Carter (1952-2002)

Dave Carter was a very fine singer and songwriter who died suddenly of a massive heart attack on July 19, 2002, less than a month before he would have turned 50. Dave was in his mid-40s when he teamed up with fiddler and singer Tracy Grammer to form a duo that took the folk music world by storm.

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer- Annie’s Lover

When I Go (Dave Carter)

Ronny Cox- When I Go

Ronny Cox Live (Ronny Cox)

Priscilla Herdman- Gentle Arms of Eden

The Road Home (Redwing Music)

Tracy Grammer- Mother, I Climbed

Flower of Avalon (Signature Sounds)

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer- Tanglewood Tree

Tanglewood Tree (Signature Sounds)

Lucy Kaplansky- Cowboy Singer

The Red Thread (Red House)

Diane Zeigler- Gentle Soldier of My Soul

Paintbrush (Diane Zeigler)

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer- I Go Like the Raven

Drum Hat Buddha (Signature Sounds)

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer- Seven is the Number

Seven is the Number (Tracy Grammer Music)

Full Frontal Folk- Cat-Eye Willie Claims His Lover

Sweet Mystery of Life (Full Frontal Folk)

The Kennedys- Gypsy Rose

Songs of the OPEN ROAD (Appleseed)

Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer- Farewell to Saint Delores

Tanglewood Tree (Signature Sounds)

Next week: September Songs – That’s How the Summer Slips Away.

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday August 22, 2023: Remembering Robbie Robertson

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/595/61634.html

Theme: Remembering Robbie Robertson (1943-2023).

Robbie Robertson (photo: Don Dixon/The Band website)

Robbie Robertson, the great guitarist and principal songwriter of The Band, died on Aguust 9, at age 80, following what his family said was a long illness.

The Band- Caledonia Mission

Music from Big Pink (Capitol)

The Staple Singers- The Weight

Stax Profiles (Stax)

Colin Linden (with Rick Danko)- Chest Fever

When the Spirit Comes (True North)

The Band- To Kingdom Come

Music from Big Pink (Capitol)

Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks- Come Love

Testimony (Universal)

The Band & Ronnie Hawkins- Who Do You Love

The Last Waltz (Rhino)

Happy & Artie Traum- Going Down to See Bessie (Bessie Smith)

Double-Back (Capitol)

Bob Dylan & The Band- Highway 61 Revisited

Before the Flood (Columbia/Legacy)

The Band- Up on Cripple Creek

Before the Flood (Columbia/Legacy)

Jack Williams- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down

Four Good Days (Wind River)

Rosanne Cash- The Unfaithful Servant

Endless Highway: The Music of The Band (429)

The Band- Rockin’ Chair

The Band (Capitol)

The Band- The Shape I’m In

Stage Fright (Capitol)

Barrence Whitfield & Tom Russell- Daniel and the Sacred Harp

Cowboy Mambo (Stony Plain)

Colleen Rennison- Stage Fright

See the Sky About to Rain (Black Hen)

Robbie Robertson- Somewhere Down the Crazy River

Testimony (Universal)

David Clayton-Thomas- Ophelia

Canadiana (Antoinette/ILS)

The Roches- Acadian Driftwood

Endless Highway: The Music of The Band (429)

The Band- The Saga of Pepote Rouge

Islands Cross (Capitol)

The Band- The Weight

Music from Big Pink (Capitol)

Next week: Songs of Bruce Springsteen.

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday June 27, 2023: Songs of Bruce Cockburn

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 recorded and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/60977.html

Theme: Songs of Bruce Cockburn.

The show features songs from Bruce Cockburn’s new album, O Sun O Moon, and versions of some of his songs by other artists.

Mike Regenstreif & Bruce Cockburn (2017)

Bruce Cockburn- On a Roll

O Sun O Moon (True North)

3's a Crowd- Bird Without Wings

Christopher’s Movie Matinee (Dunhill)

Tom Rush- One Day I Walk

Ladies Love Outlaws (Columbia)

Teresa Ennis- Going to the Country

Space (BeaverBank Empire)

Claire Lynch- All the Diamonds in the World

North By South (Compass)

Claudia Schmidt combines Bruce Cockburn’s song, “For the Birds,” with her poem, “Replenish.”

Claudia Schmidt- For the Birds/Replenish

Reimagining (Claudia Schmidt)

Bruce Cockburn- When You Arrive

O Sun O Moon (True North)

Canadian Brass- 13th Mountain

Canadiana (Linus/Canadian Brass)

Bruce Cockburn- To Keep the World We Know

O Sun O Moon (True North)

ES:MO (Elizabeth Shepherd & Michael Occhipinti)- Lovers is a Dangerous Time

The Weight of Hope (ES:MO)

David Wiffen- Up on the Hillside

Coast to Coast Fever (EMI)

Colin Linden- Anything, Anytime, Anywhere

Raised By Wolves (True North)

Bruce Cockburn- Colin Went Down to the Water

O Sun O Moon (True North)

Grace Griffith- Wondering Where the Lions Are

Minstrel Song (Blix Street)

Salamander Crossing- Child of the Wind

Henry Street – A Retrospective (Signature Sounds)

Special Consensus- Mighty Trucks of Midnight

Great Blue North (Compass)

The Squirrel Hillbillies Mama Just Wants to Barrelhouse All Night Long

Rhizomes (The Squirrel Hillbillies)

Bruce Cockburn- Into the Now

O Sun O Moon (True North)

Judy Collins- Pacing the Cage

Portrait of an American Girl (Wildflower)

Maria Muldaur- Southland of the Heart

Southland of the Heart (Telarc)

Christine Collister- The Whole Night Sky

The Dark Gift of Time (Koch)

Bruce Cockburn- O Sun By Day O Moon By Night

O Sun O Moon (True North)

Bruce Cockburn- Haiku

O Sun O Moon (True North)

Next week: Songs and Conversation with Sneezy Waters.

--Mike Regenstreif

Bruce Cockburn – Bone On Bone

BRUCE COCKBURN

Bone On Bone

True North Records

brucecockburn.com

truenorthrecords.com

I’ve known Bruce Cockburn for a long time. I first met him and heard him perform, circa 1970 or ’71, at the short-lived Back Door Coffee House in Montreal around the time his first LP was released. Over the decades, I’ve seen Bruce many times in venues large and small, I’ve listened to every album he’s ever made, and I’ve interviewed him for newspaper and magazine articles and on the radio.

Bone On Bone, Bruce’s new album (which will be released September 15), his first in more than six years, is a compelling set of personal, often spiritual, songs that touches folk, rock, blues, jazz and gospel bases.

The album begins with the unmistakable sound of Bruce’s acoustic guitar on the intro to “States I’m In.” Within seconds the other musicians kick in and Bruce launches into poetic, intense verses that seem like metaphors for contemporary America. “Oo-ee all the sights I’ve seen in the depth of the world and the heart of a dream/Oo-ee all the places I’ve been each one reflected in the states I’m in,” he sings in the chorus. Like most of the songs on the album, it was written in San Francisco, where Bruce has been living for the past several years.

As mentioned, several of these songs reflect Bruce’s deeply rooted spirituality. “Stab at Matter,” which seems like it could be interpreted as an end-times song, has an infectious gospel feel to it with the San Francisco Lighthouse Chorus responding to Bruce’s calls. The Chorus sings on about half of the songs on Bone On Bone.

Other spiritually-based songs include the lovely “Forty Years in the Wilderness” and “Looking and Waiting,” which I interpret as a search for signs of God. The most obvious signs of Bruce’s religiosity come near the end of the album in the declarative “Jesus Train” and in a version of the traditional “Twelve Gates to the City” with additional verses by Bruce that leave little doubt that his religious vision is broad and inclusive. (Bruce and I had an interesting discussion on the evolution of his religious thinking for “Bruce Cockburn: On Spirituality, Activism and Music,” the cover story of the Summer 2002 edition of Sing Out! magazine.)

Other highlights on Bone On Bone include “3 Al Purdys,” in which Bruce sets words by the late Canadian poet Al Purdy to music; “Café Society,” an observational blues about the comings and goings at local coffee shops everywhere; and “Bone On Bone,” yet another of Bruce’s gripping acoustic guitar explorations.

Mike Regenstreif & Bruce Cockburn (2017)

The album was produced by Colin Linden, who has, by now, worked on many of Bruce’s recordings and has a deep understanding of Bruce’s music, and features such fine musicians as Colin on guitar, bassist John Dymond, drummer Gary Craig, Ron Miles on cornet, and John Aaron Cockburn on accordion.

Bruce will be supporting Bone On Bone with an extensive tour that brings him to the National Arts Centre here in Ottawa on September 22. Visit Bruce’s website for a complete list of concertdates.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Michael Jerome Browne – Sliding Delta

MICHAEL JEROME BROWNE
Sliding Delta
Borealis 
michaeljeromebrowne.com

About 40 or so years ago, Marc Nerenberg excitedly told me about Michael Browne, a 14-year-old blues prodigy in Montreal. Soon, at a Sunday night hoot at the Yellow Door in Montreal, I heard him play and was suitably impressed by his obvious technique in playing traditional blues. But, as a much more mature 20- or 21-year-old, I wasn’t quite ready to take such a young kid seriously as a bluesman. I remember a similar reaction when I first met Colin Linden when he was 12 or 13.

Over the next years, I saw Michael play from time to time in coffee houses and, more often, busking on Prince Arthur Street or in the metro. It was obvious that both his technique and his understanding of the traditions were continuing to grow quickly. About 30 years ago, he began playing guitar and singing with the Stephen Barry Band – Montreal’s finest electric blues outfit. By then there was absolutely no question about taking Michael seriously.

With Michael continuing to develop as a solo performer on the street and with his lead vocals a highlight of several Stephen Barry Band albums, it was probably inevitable that he’d eventually get around to recording under his own name and in 1998 – by then known as Michael Jerome Browne – he released his self-titled debut. As I wrote in my Sing Out! magazine review, it was “an eclectic tour de force of various shades of the blues with some equally accomplished side excursions into Cajun and Appalachian music. Browne's soulful singing is matched by the depth of his instrumental powers on various guitars, banjos and fiddles.”

Since that debut, Michael has released a series of fine albums masterfully exploring a variety of traditional roots styles including various blues styles, Appalachian folk songs, Cajun music, and much more.

On Sliding Delta, Michael returns to the kind of early blues that first inspired him and it's a stunning selection of songs drawn from African American blues legends who were all gone by the time he got started four decades ago. Except for the final track, this is a purely solo album featuring Michael’s vocals and instrumental virtuosity – mostly on guitar but occasionally on banjo or mandolin or with added racked harp.

Without exception, I savored each of the 14 sublime performances, but a few of my very favorites include Mississippi John Hurt’s “Sliding Delta,” performed on the 12-string with a natural ease that is so reminiscent of Hurt himself; Memphis Minnie’s “Frisco Town,” a bouncy blues on which Michael shows how terrific the blues can be when played on the banjo; and Charley Patton’s “When Your Way Gets Dark,” on which he demonstrates how beautiful the interplay between voice and slide guitar can be on early Delta blues.

A couple of my other favorites – Henry Thomas’ infectious “Bull Doze Blues,” again played on the banjo (and it’s nice to hear someone playing a Thomas song other than “Fishing Blues”) and Crying Sam Collins’ “My Road is Rough and Rocky,” a variant of the better-known “Railroad Bill” – are drawn from the songster tradition that knew no boundaries between blues, folk songs, even early pop and jazz tunes.

Michael Jerome Browne, Mike Regenstreif & Eric Bibb (2005)

After playing solo on the first 13 tracks, Michael ends the album with a fine duet with the great Eric Bibb on “Choose Your Seat and Sit Down,” a spiritual originally recorded in the 1930s by Dock Reed and Vera Ward Hall.

Michael launches Sliding Delta with concerts here in Ottawa on Wednesday, January21, at Irene’s; and in Montreal on Saturday, January 24 at Petit Campus; and in Toronto on Sunday, January 25 at the Rivoli.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif