Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – January 13, 2026: Lightfoot! Revisited and Kate & Anna McGarrigle Revisited

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/595/73656.html

Theme: Lightfoot! Revisited and Kate & Anna McGarrigle Revisited.

Lightfoot! Revisited

Gordon Lightfoot’s debut album – Lightfoot! – was released 60 years ago in January 1966. It was reissued as part of a 3-CD set called The Original Lightfoot.

Gordon Lightfoot- Rich Man’s Spiritual 

The Original Lightfoot – The United Artists Years: Lightfoot! (EMI)

J.P. Cormier- Long River

The Long River: A Personal Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot (Flash Publishing)

Julie Felix- The Way I Feel

Changes (Fontana)

Ian & Sylvia- For Lovin’ Me

Early Morning Rain (Vanguard)

Bonnie Dobson- The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Philadelphia Folk Festival – 40th Anniversary (Sliced Bread)

Phil Ochs- Changes

Phil Ochs In Concert (Elektra/Rhino)

Rodney Brown- Early Morning Rain

The Gales of November: Songs of Gordon Lightfoot (Rodney Brown)

Spanky & Our Gang- Steel Rail Blues 

Live (Mercury)

Bill Hearne- Sixteen Miles 

Always Trust Your Cape (Howlin’ Dog)

Tony Rice- I’m Not Sayin’

Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot (Rounder) 

Hamilton Camp- Pride of Man

Paths of Victory (Collectors’ Choice Music)

Bruce Cockburn- Ribbon of Darkness

Rarities (True North)

Gordon Lightfoot- Oh, Linda

The Original Lightfoot – The United Artists Years: Lightfoot! (EMI)

Gordon Lightfoot- Peaceful Waters

The Original Lightfoot – The United Artists Years: Lightfoot! (EMI)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle Revisited

Kate & Anna McGarrigle’s self-titled debut album was released 50 years ago in January 1976. It was reissued as part of a 3-CD set called Tell My Sister.

Rufus Wainwright, Anna McGarrigle & Martha Wainwright- Kiss and Say Goodbye

Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- My Town 

Tell My Sister: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Kate McGarrigle- Blues in D 

Tell My Sister: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

June Tabor- Heart Like a Wheel

At the Wood’s Heart (Topic)

Wade Hemsworth- Foolish You

The Songs of Wade Hemsworth (Blackfly Music)

Priscilla Herdman- Talk to Me of Mendocino

Forgotten Dreams (Flying Fish)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Complainte pour Ste-Catherine

Tell My Sister: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Peggy Seeger- Tell My Sister

Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Loudon Wainwright III- The Swimming Song 

Attempted Moustache (Columbia/Legacy)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Jigsaw Puzzle of Life

Tell My Sister: Kate & Anna McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Linda Thompson & Richard Thompson- Go Leave 

Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Chaim Tannenbaum- Travelling On for Jesus

Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

Next week: Duets.

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – October 28, 2025: Remembering Bob Franke and Danny Thompson

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

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday August 1, 2023: Art & Artists

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/595/61330.html

Theme: Art & Artists.

Bob Dylan- When I Paint My Masterpiece

Shadow Kingdom (Columbia/Legacy)

Joni Mitchell- The Gallery

Clouds (Reprise)

Mike Regenstreif & Murray McLauchlan on Zoom (2021)

Murray McLauchlan- A Thomson Day (For Tom Thomson)

Hourglass (True North)

Ian Tamblyn- A.Y.

Walking in the Footsteps: Celebrating the Group of Seven (Art Gallery of Sudbury)

David Mallett- Phil Brown

Inches & Miles 1977-1980 (Flying Fish)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Hommage à Grungie

Tell My Sister – Dancer with Bruised Knees (Nonesuch)

Nikki Parrott- Mona Lisa

Unforgettable: The Nat King Cole Songbook (Venus)

Jay Linden- Salvador Dali

Ordinary Sunrise (Americana North)

Rain Perry- René and Georgette Magritte with Their Dog After the War

Internal Combustion (Precipitous)

John McCutcheon- Monet Refuses the Operation

Cabin Fever: Songs from the Quarantine (Appalsongs)

Michael Johnathon- The Painter

The Painter (PoetMan)

Mike Regenstreif & Anne Hills (2001)

Anne Hills- My Daughter and Vincent Van Gogh

Points of View (Appleseed)

Priscilla Herdman- Vincent

Into the Stars (Stardreamer Music)

Gretchen Peters- Picasso and Me

Gretchen Peters (Valley Entertainment)

Guy Clark- Picasso’s Mandolin

Boats to Build (Asylum)

Jamie O'Reilly- Waving to Picasso

Swimming Deeper (Bird Avenue Publishing)

June Tabor- Paint Me, Redouté

Rosa Mudi (Green Linnet)

Judy Collins- Gauguin

Paradise (Wildflower)

Doug McArthur- The Painter’s Song

Letters from the Coast/Sisteron (Snow Goose Songs)

Ian Tyson- The Gift

All the Good’Uns (Stony Plain)

R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders- Fine Artiste

R. Crumb’s Music Sampler (MQ Publications)

Next week: He was a Friend of Mine: Thinking of Dave Van Ronk.

--Mike Regenstreif

Canadian Spaces – CKCU – Saturday August 27, 2022

Canadian Spaces on CKCU in Ottawa is Canada’s longest-running folk music radio program. It is heard Saturday mornings from 10:00 am until noon (Eastern time). 

It was hosted for more than 33 years by the late Chopper McKinnon and is now hosted by Chris White and a rotating cast of co-hosts. 

This week’s show was hosted by Mike Regenstreif.

CKCU can be heard at 93.1 FM in Ottawa and http://www.ckcufm.com/ on the web. 

This particular show is now available for on-demand listening. https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/129/57395.html

Jesse Winchester- How Far to the Horizon

Learn to Love It (Stony Plain)

Willie Dunn- The Dreamer

Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology (Light in the Attic)

Dennis O’Toole- Willie on the Wind

Lone Gunman at the Assassin’s Hotel (Dennis O’Toole)

Sylvia Tyson- Donegal Tavern

River Road & Other Songs (Outside Music)

Brendan Nolan- Connemara Morn

Where Do I Go From Here (Ould Sagosha)

Doug McArthur- Hills of Connemara

The Horses of the Sea: A Personal Exploration of Ireland (dougimac.com)

Maria Dunn- Love Carries Me

Joyful Banner Blazing (Distant Whisper)

OXLIP- All My Trials

Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies (World Peach)

Bob Stark- Some Little Sign

Sculpted Pieces of Love (Bob Stark)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle- Matapedia

Matapedia (Hannibal)

Caitlin Hanford- Red Clay Halo

Bluer Skies (Denon)

Noah Zacharin- One Time in 20

A Startle of Wings (Noah Zacharin)

Susie Arioli Swing Band featuring Jordan Officer- Trying to Get to You

It’s Wonderful (SASB)

Lynn Miles with Keith Glass- Fearless Heart

Road (Lynn Miles)

Jay Linden- August Night

Satchel (Jay Linden)

Dave Clarke- Lucinda

The Healing Garden (Crossties)

The rest of the show features songs written by Canadian songwriters but performed by non-Canadian artists.

Bill Staines- Rompin’ Rovin’ Days (Bruce Murdoch)

Journey Home (Red House)

Nanci Griffith- Ten Degrees and Colder (Gordon Lightfoot)

Other Voices/Other Rooms (Elektra)

Norah Jones- (Talk to Me of) Mendocino (Kate McGarrigle)

Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle (Nonesuch)

June Tabor- Heart Like a Wheel (Anna McGarrigle)

At the Wood’s Heart (Topic)

Judy Collins- The Dealer (Down and Losin’) (Bob Ruzicka)

True Stories and Other Dreams (Elektra)

Tom Russell- Sam Bonnifield’s Saloon (Ian Tyson)

Play One More: The Songs of Ian & Sylvia (True North)

Rosalie Sorrels- Trucker’s Café (Sylvia Tyson)

Travelin’ Lady Rides Again (Green Linnet)

John Gorka- Lock-keeper (Stan Rogers)

Writing in the Margins (Red House)

Joe Jencks- Can You Blame the Poor Miner (Maria Dunn)

The Coming of the Years (Turtle Bear Music)

Grace Griffith- Wondering Where the Lions Are (Bruce Cockburn)

Minstrel Song (Blix Street)

Claudia Schmidt- Having a Drink with Jane (Shelley Posen)

Live at the Dakota (Pragmavision Publishing)

Dave Van Ronk- Urge for Going (Joni Mitchell)

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

William Bell- All of Your Stories (Jesse Winchester)

This is Where I Live (Stax)

SONiA disappear fear- Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

By My Silence (Disappear)

Priscilla Herdman- Wood River (Connie Kaldor)

Darkness Into Light (Flying Fish)

I’ll be hosting Canadian Spaces next on September 17. I also host Stranger Songs every Tuesday from 3:30 to 5 pm; and the Saturday Morning show from 7 to 10 am, once every 4 weeks with my next slot on September 10.

Find me on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif