Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – June 3, 2025: Busking

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/595/70492.html

Theme: Busking

All the songs have something or other to do with busking – playing music on the street or in places like bus or train stations for whatever passersby might want to throw in the hat or basket or instrument case.

Joni Mitchell- For Free

Ladies of the Canyon (Reprise)

Daniel Kahn with Vanya Zhuk- Busking Vagabond

Bulat Blues (Oriente Musik)

Ron Hynes- Boy from Old Perlican

Ron Hynes (Borealis)

Sue & Dwight- For a Moment (Subway Busker Song)

For a Moment (Sue & Dwight)

Connie Kaldor- Singer of the Sacred Heart

Out of the Blue (Coyote Entertainment)

Jerry Jeff Walker- Gypsy Songman

Mr. Bojangles (Rhino)

Michael ‘Earnie’ Taylor- I Just Fiddle All Day (The Busking Song)

Folk ‘n’ Western (Laughing Cactus)

Ray Bonneville- Street Singer

Rough Luck (Prime CD)

Eric Andersen- Singin’ Man

Dance of Love and Death (EARecords)

Kate Wolf- The Old Street Singer

Looking Back at You (Rhino)

Guy Clark- A Nickel for the Fiddler

Old No. 1 (Sugar Hill)

Steve Forbert- Grand Central Station, March 18, 1977

Alive on Arrival (Nemperor)

Sylvia Tyson- No Crowd, No Show

At the End of the Day (Stony Plain)

Ronny Cox- Cortelia Clark

How I Love Them Old Songs: Ronny Cox Sings Mickey Newbury (Bay Sound)

Andrew Calhoun- Buskers

Grapevine (Waterbug)

Marc Nerenberg- On the Street Again, Revisited

Lies, Butterflies, and Tyrants (Marc Nerenberg)

Bodie Wagner- Wooly Bum Man

Vintage (Bodie Wagner)

Tom Lewis- The Busker

Tinker Tailor Soldier Singer (Self Propelled Music)

Orit Shimoni- Playing Chelsea Hotel

Soft Like Snow (MW Music)

The Irish Rovers- Whiskey on a Sunday

Years May Come, Years May Go (MCA)

Bill Staines- The Streets of Old Quebec

Tracks and Trails (Philo)

Creedence Clearwater Revival- Down on the Corner

Willy and the Poor Boys (Fantasy)

The Bill Hilly Band (The Bills)- The Berlin Busker’s Polka

All Day Every Day (Borealis)

Next week: Dreams.

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – June 11, 2024: Songs for Fathers

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/595/65476.html

Theme: Songs for Fathers

Al Regenstreif 1926-2016 (father) & Mike Regenstreif (son)

Judy Collins- My Father

Forever: An Anthology (Elektra)

Amy Speace- Father’s Day

There Used to Be Horses Here (Windbone)

Michael ‘Earnie’ Taylor- What My Father Taught Me

Folk ‘n’ Western (Laughing Cactus Music)

Ben Sures- Father’s Shoes

The Story That Lived Here (Ben Sures)

Boreal- Warm Hands

Recorded for a future album release

Michael Smith- I Brought My Father With Me

Songs of a Catholic Childhood (J. O’Reilly Productions)

Nanci Griffith- Daddy Said

Once In a Very Blue Moon (Philo)

Steve Howell, Dan Sumner & Jason Weinheimer- Song for My Father

Long Ago (Out of the Past)

Guy Clark- Randall Knife

Craftsman (Philo)

The Smith Sisters- My Father was a Quiet Man

A Canary’s Song (Flying Fish)

Tom Russell- Throwing Horseshoes at the Moon

Old Songs Yet to Sing (Frontera)

Chaim Tannenbaum- My Old Man

Joy of Living: A Tribute to Ewan MacColl (Compass)

Rosanne Cash- My Old Man

Rhythm & Romance (Columbia)

Ron Hynes- My Old Man

Get Back Change (Borealis)

Steve Goodman- My Old Man

No Big Surprise: The Steve Goodman Anthology (Red Pajamas)

Jamie Anderson- My Dad Loves to Sing

Better Than Chocolate (Tsunami)

Heather Anne Lomax- Bits and Pieces

The Doman Tracks (Blackbird)

Brian Lemco- For EL

Seasons (Brian Lemco Music)

Loudon Wainwright III- Older Than My Old Man Now

Older Than My Old Man Now (StorySound)

Ruby Lovett- A Father’s Love

It’s a Hard Life (Puff Bunny)

Tim Grimm- Reverend Mr. Black

Names (Wind River).

James Talley- The Dreamer (A Song for My Father)

Bandits, Ballads and Blues (Cimarron)

Next week: 50 years ago, I took over The Golem, part 2.

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday May 17, 2022: These Songs are for the Birds

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU in Ottawa on Tuesday afternoons 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 prerecorded at home and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/56250.html

Theme: These Songs are for the Birds.

Some of these songs are literal in their avian imagery. Some are metaphorical.

Bruce Cockburn- For the Birds
Sunwheel Dance: Deluxe Edition (True North)

Mike Regenstreif & Marc Nerenberg (2009)

Mike Stevens & Polly Harris- Like a Little Bird
Breathe In the World Breathe Out Music (Stony Plain)
Don Armstrong- Hey Little Bird
Mother Don’t Give Up on Me Now (Ronstadt Record Co.)
Marc Nerenberg- Little Birdie: A Reimagined Traditional Song
Little Birdie: Birds, Beasts & Banjo Blues (Marc Nerenberg)
Happy & Artie Traum- Golden Bird
Happy and Artie Traum (Capitol)
Judy Henske- High Flying Bird
The Elektra Albums (Ace)

Lynn Miles- All the Birds
Black Flowers Vol. 4 (Lynn Miles)
Michael ‘Earnie’ Taylor- Swans Upon the Avon
Folk ‘n’ Western (Laughing Cactus Music)
Finest Kind- I Heard the Bluebird Sing
Lost in a Song (Fallen Angle)

Bill Staines- This Song is for the Birds
Third Time Around (Catfish)

Kim Wallach- Settle In (Chatter of the Finches)
Chatter of the Finches (Black Socks Press)
Vanessa Lively- I am a Skylark
Truth Is (Animada)
Martha Seyler & Robert Resnik- Skylark
Martha Sings & Robert Plays (Martha Seyler & Robert Resnik)
Perla Batalla- Cucurrucucu Paloma
Discoteca Batalla (Mechuda Music)

Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer- Redwinged Blackbird
Get Up and Do Right (Community Music)
Ian Tamblyn- The Birds
Voice in the Wilderness (North Track)
Julie Felix- The Heron
Rock Me Goddess (Remarkable)
Sneezy Waters- Bird of Paradise
A Letter Home (Sneezy Waters)

Mike Regenstreif & Michael Smith (2014)

Brian QTN- To Be Done
OsculEARiosophy (Brian QTN)
Anya Hinkle- My Faithful Sparrow
Eden and Her Borderlands (Organic)
Michael Smith- We Become Birds
Love Letter on a Fish (Tales from the Tavern)

Diana Jones- Love Song to a Bird
Song to a Refugee (Goldmine)
Tom Russell- Wild Geese
Play One More: The Songs of Ian & Sylvia (True North)
Last Forever- The Nightingale’s Song
No Place Like Home/Last Forever (2nd Story Sound)

Natalie MacMaster- The Golden Eagle
Sketches (Linus)

Next week: More Songs of Bob Dylan.

Find me on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday February 22, 2022: A Tribute to Fats Waller

Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif finds connections and develops themes in various genres. The show is broadcast on CKCU in Ottawa on Tuesday afternoons 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 prerecorded at home and can already be streamed on-demand by clicking on “Listen Now” at … https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/595/55286.html

Theme: A Tribute to Fats Waller

Thomas Wright Waller, better known as Fats Waller, died in 1943 at age 39 after an all-too-brief career as an influential pianist, singer, and composer and as one of the most popular performers of his era. Some of the songs and instrumentals I played on this show were written by Waller, some were not, but all of them were performed and recorded by him at some point or another.

Fats Waller- Ain’t Misbehavin’
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)

Jackie Washington & Mike Regenstreif (2008)

Jackie Washington- The Joint is Jumpin’
The World of Jackie Washington (Borealis)
Jeff Healey- I Wish I Were Twins
Among Friends (Stony Plain)
The Hot Sardines- Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now
Welcome Home, Bon Voyage (Eleven)
Fats Waller- The Minor Drag
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley- Sweet Sue
Sitting on a Rainbow (Borealis)
Martin, Bogan & Armstrong- If You’se a Viper
That Old Gang of Mine/Martin, Bogan & Armstrong (Flying Fish)

Allen Toussaint- Viper’s Drag
American Tunes (Nonesuch)

Fats Waller- When You and I Were Young Maggie
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Roberta Donnay & The Prohibition Mob Band- I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling
A Little Sugar (Motema)
Michael 'Earnie' Taylor- You’re Not the Only Oyster in the Stew
Folk ‘n’ Western (Laughing Cactus Music)
Maria Muldaur- Squeeze Me
Waitress in a Donut Shop (Reprise)
Leon Redbone- I’m Crazy ‘Bout My Baby
Whistling in the Wind (Rounder)

Dinah Washington- (What Did I Do To Be So) Black and Blue
Dinah Washington Sings Fats Waller (EmArcy)
Louis Armstrong & Velma Middleton- All That Meat and No Potatoes
Satch Plays Fats (Columbia)
Susie Arioli Swing Band featuring Jordan Officer- Honeysuckle Rose
Pennies from Heaven (Justin Time)
Fats Waller- Blues
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Catherine Russell & Mike Regenstreif (2007)

Mose Scarlett- Lulu’s Back in Town
Precious Seconds (Borealis)
Catherine Russell- Everybody Loves My Baby
Strictly Romancin’ (World Village)
Dave Van Ronk- Your Feet’s Too Big
Sweet & Lowdown (Justin Time)
Fats Waller- After You’ve Gone
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Time Sparks- The Alligator Crawl
Sidewalk Blues (ToneWood)

Jack Radcliffe & Al Oliveira- S’posin’
Two Hot to Handle (Wepecket Island)
Fats Waller- You’re Slightly Less Than Wonderful
Happy Birthday Fats (True North)
Loudon Wainwright III with Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks- Ain’t Misbehavin’
I’d Rather Lead a Band (Search Party)

Fats Waller- Yacht Club Swing
The Joint is Jumpin’ (Bluebird)

Next week: A musical visit to New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day, Volume 2.

Find me on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Michael Earnie Taylor Orchestra – $3 Pants

MICHAEL EARNIE TAYLOR ORCHESTRA

$3 Pants

Laughing Cactus Music

Michael Earnie Taylor Orchestra on Facebook

Once upon a time – or, more accurately, the 1970s – my favorite Canadian band was a folk-bluegrass-country-jug band from Saskatoon called Humphrey & the Dumptrucks. I met the Dumptrucks – guitarists and lead singers Michael “Earnie” Taylor and Graeme Card, banjo and Dobro maestro Gary “Humphrey” Walsh and acoustic bassist Michael “Bear” Millar – for the first time, circa 1972, when I was helping to run the Yellow Door Coffee House in Montreal and they came to play a weekend gig.

The band was tight, they wrote great original material, and their shows and LPs were always a guaranteed good time. Graeme left the band in 1973 and Humphrey & the Dumptrucks carried on as a trio that was just as good and just as entertaining. I brought them back to Montreal to play at the concert series I was running at Dawson College in ‘73 – which I recall being one of the best attended shows ever during that two-year series – and they played at the Golem, the folk club I was running in Montreal in 1976 when they came to town for an extended run at Centaur Theatre of “Cruel Tears,” the country-and-western opera they co-wrote with playwright Ken Mitchell, as part of the cultural programming for the Summer Olympic Games. “Cruel Tears” was one of the most memorable Canadian theatrical productions of that era.

While none of the terrific LPs recorded by Humphrey & the Dumptrucks has ever been reissued on CD, you can hear some of them on YouTube.

The Dumptrucks broke up in the early-1980s and Michael “Earnie” Taylor settled in Stratford, Ontario where he worked for the Stratford Festival for many years and continued playing music. He formed a band called Me & My Uncle (with Humphrey on banjo) which released a terrific self-titled CD in 1996. He followed that with an equally terrific CD called Folk ‘n’ Western released under his own name in 2002.

Now, 15 years since the last CD, comes $3 Pants by the Michael Earnie Taylor Orchestra (METO). In addition to Michael on guitar, kazoo and most lead vocals, METO includes Jeff Laughton – who was in Me & My Uncle and also played on Folk ‘n’ Western – on acoustic bass and harmony vocals; Ross Mulligan on electric and nylon-string guitars; and Terri Dans and Carol Miller on kazoo and vocals. Terri and Carol each take the lead vocal on one song.

The album opens with a fun version of “Ring of Fire,” a Johnny Cash hit from 1964. Cash’s version of the song featured an instantly recognizable intro and fills played by a mariachi horn section while METO’s kazoo trio plays those parts here. You can tell that METO’s arrangement is both tongue-in-cheek and respectful.

Then comes a new version of “Calgary Song,” one of Michael’s original songs from Six Days of Paper Ladies, the first Humphrey & the Dumptrucks LP. Hearing it again after all these years reminded me of great times listening to the Dumptrucks and of the time Michael showed me the guitar chords for “Calgary Song” about 45 years ago. $3 Pants also includes a new version “Clyde Beattie,” also first recorded on Six Days of Paper Ladies, Michael’s memory of the lion tamer in a circus that came through Saskatoon when he was 10.

There are also new versions of “Lady of the Prairie” and “One More for the Women,” two of the songs from “Cruel Tears.” Although it’s been more than 40 years since I’ve seen the show, hearing them on this CD brought back visual memories of the scenes in “Cruel Tears” in which they were sung.

Among the other highlights on $3 Pants are Michael’s “Tourist Town,” an infectious boogie modeled on Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee’s “Spread the News Around” that spoofs Stratford (the opening line is taken from William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”) and a deeply-felt version of Bruce “Utah” Phillips’ emotional “Rock Salt and Nails”with countrypolitan harmonies by Terri and Carol.

This album will certainly be appreciated by anyone who remembers Humphrey & the Dumptrucks – and should also win lots of new fans for the Michael Earnie Taylor Orchestra.

Pictured: The Michael Earnie Taylor Orchestra – (from left) Ross Mulligan, Michael “Earnie” Taylor, Terri Dans, Carol Miller and Jeff Laughton.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif