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Always know where your towel is

2012-05-25T11:04:18Z

Happy birthday today to a wonderful songwriter and human being, Carrie Newcomer.

Brian in Penticton had a request for Linda Ronstadt, from her appearance in The Pirates of Penzance.

Yes today is Towel Day, held every 2 weeks after the death of Douglas Adams... AND it's also the 35th anniversary of the first Star Wars movie, I have a novelty record you're not likely to hear anyone else today...and thanks to Tom in Victoria for this:

A whole lot of rainbows

2012-05-24T11:10:21Z

Two birthdays to mark today, one for Rosanne Cash and thanks to Don in Nakusp, who requested one of his fave tunes by birthday boy Bob Dylan (oh and also Queen Victoria's birthday too).

Also, an obscure tune from the Addrisi Brothers and have you seen the list of tunes entered into the National Library of Congress? Everything from Edison to Prince... and I've chosen a couple of instrumentals from the list by Sol Ho'opi'i and his Novelty Five, and also Booker T. And the MG's.

Interestingly, one of the entries is a live recording of the Grateful Dead from May 8, 1977. And guess what? You can listen to the whole show in streaming mp3 (yes, it runs about 3 hours).

If that isn't enough for you, and you've got a lot of time on your hands, check out the National Jukebox: Historial recordings from the National Library of Congress in streaming audio.

The In Sound From Way Out

2012-05-23T11:12:41Z

Paul McCartney released his deluxe version of one of his best albums Ram yesterday, and I have a track from the bonus disc of previously unreleased material.

A request from Penny Sue of Vernon for Patti Page, and birthday today for Rosemary Clooney.

It's World Turtle Day, and Pink Turtle drop by for an ABBA cover, and also if you've been to Google today, you'll know it's Robert Moog's birthday.

Fly Robin

2012-05-22T11:08:53Z

It wasn't really a surprise that Robin Gibb passed away over the weekend, having only awoke from a coma a few weeks ago. But still, not only a great singer but we lost an influential songwriter.

And that's the focus of the show today: songs written by Robin with his brothers Maurice and Barry performed by Lori Cullen, Rev. Al Green, Dionne Warwick and the Bee Gee's version of a very popular duet... featuring Robin.

Someone left the cake out in the rain

2012-05-18T11:00:14Z

40 years ago this year, Dan Fogelberg released his first album Home Free and we start with the first song on the album.

It's International Museum Day - the theme is Museums in A Changing World, and Chumbawamba wrote a song that ties in nicely, about what would happen if we didn't preserve our museums.

And as reported yesterday, Donna Summer died of cancer at the age of 63. Although most known for her disco hits, I've chosen a track from her self-titled 'turning-point' about from 1982, covering Jon and Vangelis, produced by Quincy Jones.

In addition to that, I always thought "The Wanderer" should've been a bigger hit. Here she is live on the Tom Snyder show:

Enjoy the long weekend!

Furniture music

2012-05-17T11:04:24Z

We begin with a lovely interpretation of Satie's Gymnopedie No.1 by Canadian pianist Francine Kay, as it is Satie's birthday today.

A Girl Called Eddy released one album back in 2004, and I'm *still* waiting for the follow-up.

And before the program yesterday, I was blasting "Rhinestone Cowboy" in the studio - I decided to tweet it, and I got a reply from Larry Weiss, the man who wrote the song.

And Jennifer in Vancouver was introduced to the Wonderful World of Mrs. Miller last week, and wanted to hear more! In the words of Pauline Collins... no, honestly!

Pet Sounds turns 46 today

2012-05-16T16:48:40Z

Living in twilight

2012-05-16T11:10:29Z

A very nice piano piece from Carly Paradis - going out to Bev in Vancouver, who I met yesterday, hopefully this is the piece she mentioned liking.

New Shawn Colvin album next month (as well as a new Mary Chapin Carpenter the week after!), so going back into her catalog this morning ... as well as something from The Weepies first album.

It's the late Ray Condo's birthday today, still greatly missed... and Little Feat's Sailing Shoes was released 40 years ago, May 1972.

Exotica!

2012-05-15T11:05:55Z

-------------------> In S T E R E O! <-------------------

Based on a suggestion from a co-worker, I'm playing all tiki-lounge-hi-fi-exotica this morning by the likes of Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Yma Sumac, Dean Elliot and his Swinging Big, Band, Les Baxter and Esquivel!

..and check out this neat film made by Ernie Kovacs set to Esquivel's music:

Time is tight

2012-05-14T11:09:38Z

Something from Red Sky July's latest disc to start off the show..that free covers EP is still available for download.

And speaking of that, local artist Jonathan Anderson has released a covers EP (pay what you want) under his band name Jonathan Inc. which includes a very nice Magnetic Fields song.

We give away the final copy of Arthur Black's Looking Blackward, and play a song he requested from Monty Python... and it's Dance Like A Chicken Day - I'm really hoping someone will come up with an actual dance for the Chicken Neck Boogie.

And sad news for Stax fans this weekend as bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, famous for playing with Booker T and the MG's (and a ton of others) died this weekend at the age of 70.

Tangle with the ghost

2012-05-11T11:10:33Z

Starting with an early release from the catalog of Toronto's Jory Nash, who is looking for the support of his fans to help with the recording of his next album..

And Maureen in Chilliwack sent in this picture of a baby robin in her backyard...

...and wanted to hear a particular song about robins trying to make their way to Missouri..

...and then Connie Francis with my favourite version of a classic song for Mother's Day on Sunday.

Since we're celebrating things early, tomorrow marks the 45th anniversary of the debut album by Jimi Hendrix.

And also a fave of my Mum's... Herb Alpert!

Peaceful

2012-05-10T11:04:57Z

Revisiting an early release for Canadian songwriter Jory Nash...

..and also music from a guy that *sounds* like he should be from Canada, Kenny Rankin. And I've also got some gorgeous sunshine pop from an obscure band called The Collage.

And happy birthday to Gary Owens - the man with a great voice and bizarre sense of humour, known for his appearances on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in, not to mention introducing the world to Mrs Miller!

Changes to audio streaming

2012-05-09T12:42:25Z

Hello all,

I am aware that many visitors to this site come to re-listen (or listen later in the day) to the program, but starting today the audio will only be available to those in Canada due to current agreements the CBC has with outside performance organizations.

I play music from around the world, not just Canada, and this change means those artists can't let their fans outside Canada listen again and possibly hear music by other artists (including Canadian ones).

Unfortunately, I have no control over this decision. You can still listen "live" via the online stream when the program is actually on the air, but audio posted after the show will only be available in Canada and I do apologize for the inconvenience.

Chicken soup with rice

2012-05-09T10:46:38Z

We begin with a track from the new album by Eric Whitacre (the Virtual Choir guy), who released an album of his choral and orchestra works recently called Water Night.

And happy birthday of the songstress of the Prairie Skies... Connie Kaldor, and I have a song she played on the last episode of Morningside.

And sad news of the death of Maurice Sendak yesterday - my introduction to him was not the same as everyone else's... it was his collaboration with Carole King in Really Rosie!

Just you wait and see

2012-05-08T11:06:54Z

Brand new music from another side-project of Teenage Fanclub, this time from Gerard Love's band Lightships.

Then a couple of covers: a recently discovered 45 rpm single from 1972 of a Neil Young cover by Jackie DeShannon, and a brand new cover from The Primitives of a 45-year old song I never heard before.

And V-E Day today: the #1 song 67 years ago was by Les Brown and his Orchestra (with Doris Day on vocals) and we wrap will the great Dame Vera Lynn.