I like music. I don't sing or play an instrument. I like listening to a wide variety of music. It would be easier to say what I don't like than what I do like. I don't like rap or modern country.
Several bloggers have had some very good pieces on music lately.
I have (had) two main sources of music that I go to.
I have a favorite radio station that plays a wide variety of music and provides commentary on everything they play. All of their DJs have a tremendous amount of knowledge about the music they play. I love it. Check out CKUA.com
Now there used to be a very fine radio program called the Vinyl Cafe hosted by Stuart Mclean. Unfortunately Stuart passed away.
Stuart had a one hour radio show every Sunday at noon. He had music , stories, interviews and games.
Stuart had his Dave and Morley stories .Dave was a bumbling idiot and Morley kept things together. A favorite Canadian Christmas story is Dave Cooks a Turkey.
Stuart always tried to find music from performers who were not well known. So some of the music I like comes from the Vinyl Cafe
Three singers stand out for me: Sarah Harmer, little Miss Higgins and Connie Caldor.
Sarah Harmer is a singer songwriter. Many of her songs are about the country. Give a listen to Oleander. She sings a song to this tough little plant. Little Miss Higgins is more comedy. She's forceful and lively. One of her songs is about buying underwear in a thrift shop. Connie Caldor sings heavier stuff about women's rights but has a haunting strong voice.
Now since I've discovered you tube I can find these performers and listen to them. So if you're interested take a look for these performers and give a listen.
...thanks for the reminder of the Vinyl Cafe. On my trips to the Adirondack Mountains I often am able to catch some CBC from Kingston Ontario and would listen to the Vinyl Cafe. There are many things that I enjoy about our Public Radio in the US, but CBC has a special ring for me that I'm not sure how to put into words. Civility perhaps is a term to use. I wish that I were a steady listener, but when I'm able, it's a treat to savor. Thanks Red for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteThere's a great variety of material on the CBC.
DeleteI like music too. It's so nice to have beautiful music in our world. I have heard of Sarah Harmer and Connie Caldor but not Little Miss Higgins. I'll have a listen. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteLittle Miss Higgins is very different and funny.
DeleteStuart Maclean was a Canadian institution. i remember him way back when he made regular appearances with Peter Gzowski on Morningside. Dave and Morley are akin to Canadian folklore. Having said that, I confess to never having been a big fan of the music he chose at the end of the show. I echo the comment above. Thank goodness for the CBC.
ReplyDeleteA wide variety of material is still not going to be to everyone's liking.
DeleteStuart was great. We had the privilege of attending two of his Christmas concerts, one in Sarnia, and one in Ottawa. The classic, of course, is Dave's Turkey, but Polly Anderson's Party was pretty fine too.
ReplyDeleteStuart told great stories. I have a couple of his books.
DeleteNever say never Red. With a few lessons and a little more confidence you could be a performing star. Up there in the spotlight singing songs by Gordon Lightfoot and maybe one of your own compositions - "Oh Baby, Got Them Micro Manager Blues".
ReplyDeleteI hope I never get those lessons and that the world will be spared my performance!
DeleteHello, I am not familiar with these musicians. I have various genres loaded into playlists on my phone, I listen to music more while I am driving. I was listening to some Christmas songs on Youtube, it is a great way to listen to music. Have a happy day and a good week ahead,
ReplyDeleteI guess you could get pretty well everything on you tube. I haven't tried any classical yet.
DeleteYes, I miss Stuart, too. He has a rich legacy. I used to play his DVDs for my big, tough gr. 8 students. They loved the turkey story.
ReplyDeleteStuart had a gift to tell great stories.
DeleteYeah for CKUA. Saturday morning (OK, late Sat morning) chores are made better with Wide Cut Country followed by Dirty Windshield on CKUA. I host Home Routes concerts and often hear those very same performers on CKUA.
ReplyDeleteCKUA also surprises us sometimes. I like Baba!
DeleteI remember the Vinyl Cafe also. I don't listen to music much, but I appreciate it anyway. Thanks for the tips of music to listen to on YouTube. It was like a present to be given these old names to look up. :-)
ReplyDeleteStuart used to visit Seattle with his Christmas show.
DeleteI can't imagine a world without music. It's a universal language. And one of the best forms of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteMusic does many things for us.
DeleteI love the name "Vinyl Cafe." I am going to google around to find out more about this show. I'll also check out the artists you mention. I love learning about about new music.
ReplyDeleteWhile you're at it check out Lionel's Vinyls on CKUA . He plays 2 hours of rock from the vinyl age.
DeleteI'm quite familiar with Connie Kaldor and Sarah Harmer.
ReplyDeleteI stopped listening to commercial radio a long while back- I had no patience for the fake banter between DJs and incessant commercials.
I stopped listening to commercial stations the same as you. There's nothing there.
DeleteMusic is something that plays 24 hours a day in our apt. My husband switches the type depending on the time of day, selecting the more lively types for daytime and soothing pieces during bedtime and overnight. I enjoy listening to mid 1950s-1960s rock & roll, but also like the classic crooners of the 1930s-1940s and big bands.
ReplyDeleteYou picked all the good stuff!
DeleteI with you Red. I don't like rap or country music. Rap, in my opinion isn't music. I'll be checking out the artists you suggested plus I bookmarked the radio station to listen too ths weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link.
Check out Lionel's Vinyls on Sat evening. Lots of great old rock with interesting commentary.
DeleteLike you I have very catholic music tastes. We're fortunate in having many music radio programmes without any commercial content.
ReplyDeleteWithout commercials makes for a great station.
DeleteWhat would our world be like without music? The thing that amazes me is that all the music in the world is based on the same limited number of notes and yet such endless variety of tunes and genres have been created.
ReplyDeleteThere are some great artists using those 8 notes.
DeleteI listen to the music I have on my iPod. Right now it's Christmas music, about 250 holiday songs altogether, form old and classic to new and modern. But no rap!
ReplyDeleteI know, you can find almost anything on youtube. Thanks for the tips ... I'll be looking around.
ReplyDeleteI will definitely have a look for those musicians -- but I'm not about to buy underwear in a thrift shop!
ReplyDeleteOh music stir the soul dear Red and i think i was lucky to have privilege to listen all beautiful music available 30 years back
ReplyDeleteStuart sounds great host ,your words about him reminded me Ahsan uncle who used to host program with almost same agenda you shared here his voice and words were mesmerizing and his music selection was Best!
bringing new and less famous singers at front is great job and radio did it well here too
i don't like new music ,sounds noise than melody for ears