Stranger Songs with Mike Regenstreif – CKCU – Tuesday June 20, 2023: The Philosophy of Modern Song, Part 2

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/595/60948.html

Theme: The Philosophy of Modern Song, Part 2.

Bob Dylan wrote about each of the songs on this show in his book, The Philosophy of Modern Song. Except where noted, these tracks are the versions of the songs that Dylan cites.

Dylan cites the 1956 version of “Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man?” by The Osborne Brothers.

Carolina Chocolate Drops- Ruby, Are You Mad at Your Man?

Leaving Eden (Nonesuch)

Dylan cites the 1958 version of “Volare” by Domenico Modugno.

The Gipsy Kings- Volare

The Best of The Gipsy Kings (Nonesuch/Elektra)

The Clash- London Calling

London Calling (Epic)

Hank Williams- Your Cheatin’ Heart

40 Greatest Hits (Polydor)

Roy Orbison- Blue Bayou

In Dreams (Monument)

Dylan cites the 1970 version of “Midnight Rider” by The Allman Brothers.

Greg Allman- Midnight Rider

T-Bone Burnett presents The Speaking Clock Revue: Live from The Beacon Theatre (Shout! Factory)

Carl Perkins- Blue Suede Shoes

The Rockin’ Guitar Man: The Singles 1955-1962 (Jasmine)

Little Richard- Long Tall Sally

18 Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Warren Zevon- Dirty Life and Times

The Wind (Artemis)

Mose Allison- Everybody Cryin’ Mercy

I’ve Been Doin’ Some Thinkin’ (Atlantic)

Johnny Cash- Big River

The Legend of Johnny Cash (American Recordings)

Ernie K-Doe- A Certain Girl

Finger Poppin’ and Stompin’ Feet: 20 Classic Allen Toussaint Productions for Minit Records 1960-1962 (Crescent City Soul)

Dylan cites the 1964 version of “Blue Moon” by Dean Martin.

Ian Tyson- Blue Moon

Live at Longview (Stony Plain)

Waylon Jennings- I’ve Always Been Crazy

Nashville Rebel (RCA/Legacy)

Judy Garland- Come Rain or Come Shine

Judy (Capitol)

Jimmy Reed- Big Boss Man

Found Love (Vee-Jay)

Dylan cites the 1928 version of “Old and Only in the Way” by Charlie Poole.

Loudon Wainwright III- Old and Only in the Way

High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (2nd Story Sound)

Nina Simone- Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood

Broadway-Blues-Ballads (Philips)

Pete Seeger- Waist Deep in the Big Muddy

Waist Deep in the Big Muddy and Other Love Songs (Columbia)

Elvis Presley- Viva Las Vegas

Viva Las Vegas (RCA)

Dylan cites the 1996 version of “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” by Jimmy Webb.

Susie Arioli Band featuring Jordan Officer- By the Time I Get to Phoenix

Learn to Smile Again (Justin Time)

Frank Sinatra- Strangers in the Night

Greatest Love Songs (Reprise)

Santana- Black Magic Woman

Abraxis (Columbia)

Next week: Songs of Bruce Cockburn.

--Mike Regenstreif

Montreal Gazette's Album of the Week

Although my weekly CD reviews are gone from the Montreal Gazette (I promise to start posting reviews here soon), I still occasionally write the Gazette's Album of the Week feature. This week's is my review of Jesse Winchester's new album, Love Filling Station (Appleseed).

Jesse Winchester

Love Filling Station

Appleseed

****1/2 out of five

MIKE REGENSTREIF

SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

For a little over a decade, beginning with his self-titled debut classic in 1970, longtime Montrealer Jesse Winchester released albums of new material at a relatively prolific rate; seven albums in 11 years, each chock filled with great songs. In the ‘80s, though, the pace slowed to a trickle. There was a new album in 1989, then a decade’s wait until 1999.

Another decade has passed. In the years since, Winchester has remarried and left Quebec – where he lived for almost four decades since arriving at Dorval Airport as a Vietnam War-era draft resistor – for small town Virginia. And, at last, we have a new Jesse Winchester studio album; nine finely-crafted original gems and three excellent covers.

Winchester grew up in Memphis and his music has often blended Memphis R ‘n’ B traditions with country and folk influences. This album also has a very strong influence of early rock ‘n’ roll, particularly the ballad tradition of singers like Roy Orbison, a bit of jazz, and, perhaps in a nod to the sounds that waft through the Virginia countryside where he now lives, a hefty dose of bluegrass. Several of the core backup musicians, including guitarist Russ Barenberg, steel guitarist Jerry Douglas, fiddler Andy Leftwich and singer Claire Lynch have deep roots in bluegrass.

A couple of the songs, Bless Your Foolish Heart and Eulalie, both in country veins, first surfaced on Live from Mountain Stage, a live album put together from Winchester’s appearances on that American public radio program. Both seem fresh and new in these arrangements fleshed out by the fine studio band.

Another previously-heard tune is O What A Thrill, a ‘90s Winchester tune covered by the Mavericks. Winchester reclaims the song for himself with a gently rocking arrangement that highlights his haunting, liquid-like tenor voice. Others in that vein include Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding and a version of Stand By Me, the old Ben E. King hit that Winchester convincingly makes his own with his so-very-soulful singing and an arrangement highlighting Leftwich’s fiddling.

Other standouts include It’s A Shame About Him, an infectious country-swing tune that would have done Roger Miller proud, and the simply gorgeous I Turn To My Guitar which captures the feelings that have led to the creation of so much music by so many people over so many years.

The album ends with a terrific honky tonk duet that has Winchester trading lines with Lynch on Loose Talk, Carl Smith’s huge country hit from 1955.