We had a very special 3-hour version of Royal City Rag on CFRU93.3fm on February 13 to celebrate St Valentine’s Day.
We started out the show with a new single from Johnny Cash (really), “Ain’t No Grave”, the title song from American Recordings 6 to be released on February 23. I’m not sure how I feel about another posthumous Johnny Cash album. I’m a big fan, but he sounds very frail on this release. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the album sounds like. We followed that with Peter Gabriel and his version of Bon Iver’s Flume from the very interesting “Scratch My Back” covers album featuring songs by Radiohead, Randy Newman and Elbow alongside Bon Iver and others. A soon to be released companion album will have the ‘covered’ artists interpreting Gabriel’s work. You have to admit its a nice idea. The early reviews are very favourable so I guess I’ll be picking up this one too.
And finally, to round out the first set we listened to a gorgeous song by Garnet Rogers, “Summer Lightning” from the live set, Get A Wtiness. Garnet is in Guelph on February 19 for a show at Dublin St United. Should be a great gig. All the details are here, if you need them.
Later in the hour, we dipped into the Valentine’s theme again, with one of my favourite love songs, Joan Armatrading’s “Willow” and followed that with the beautiful but sad “If love were the cure” from Guelph’s Detour. Detour are 16 year old Elivia Cazzola and her 14 year old sister, Anita. Detour were on last year’s yuletide Royal City Rag playing some traditional songs. We’re hoping to have them back on Royal City Rag fairly shortly, this time focusing on their own material. Stay tuned.
To wrap up the first hour Simon Irving, Artistic Director of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra joined us to chat about the GSO’s Valentine’s Day concert at the River Run Centre, Music Of Love and Romance. The performance features some of the most romantic music ever written including Mozart’s Elvira Madigan Concerto and the Warsaw Concerto, as well as favourite tunes from South Pacific, and songs by Sigmund Romberg. Interpretive dance to Prokoviev’s Romeo and Juliet featuring Clayton Scott makes this a concert not to be missed. Tickets are selling out fast, so if you still want to go, and, remember, it is Valentine’s… Call the River Run Box Office at 519-763-3000 or go Online to secure a Valentine’s Day to remember.
Listen to Hour 1:
In the second hour, we celebrated Valentine’s weekend in spokenword and music with storytellers Sya Van Geest and Brad Woods and singer-songwriter Sam Turton. We had planned to be on location in Niagara Falls, but after it turned out that, according to the Guelph Mercury, Guelph is the most romantic city in Ontario, we hastily recast our plans and headed down to the Farmers Market. Unfortunately no one told Brad so he ended up in Niagara Falls! Fortunately hs still managed to deliver his story. Good fun was had by all even if it was a bit on the chilly side in the Farmers market car park.
Listen to Hour 2:
And finally, to finish a bumper edition of Royal City Rag, we welcomed Sheila O’Reilly (host of CFRU’s A Dog’s Breakfast) and writer and educator Susan Wheeler into the studio for a Valentine’s Weekend song share. An opportunity to hear some great tunes, we very democratically shared some of our favourite love songs, some sad, some happy and some I’d not thought of playing to celebrate the holiday.
We finished up the hour with the Korgis (Stackridge’s Andy Davis and James Warren) beautiful “Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime” followed by George Adams and Don Pullen’s “God Has Smiled At Me”.
A gorgeous way to finish the show, and, well worth listening to… just for that! I hope you enjoy it.
Listen to Hour 3:
All in all, a great show… and almost too much to have to tell you about! I’d suggest that you just take a listen yourselves. You’ll not be disappointed.
Music:
Johnny Cash, Ain’t No Grave from American 6: Ain’t No Grave
Peter Gabriel, Flume from Scratch My Back
Garnet Rogers, Summer Lightning from Get A Witness
Joan Armatrading, Willow from Gold
Detour, If Love Were The Cure from Detour E.P. (Demo)
Sam Turton, What’s So Funny About Peace, Love And Understanding (Live)
Sam Turton, I’d Rather Be With You (Live)
Sam Turton, Right Here (Live)
Sam Turton, Without Love (Live)
Sam Turton, I’ve Just Seen a Face (Live)
Sam Turton, Oh Susanna (Live)
Rosanne Cash, Long Black Veil from The List
KD Lang, Hallelujah from Recollection
Tomas McEoin & The Waterboys, Down By The Sally Gardens from Room To Roam (Collectors Edition)
Corries, Peggy Gordon from Traditions
Eddi Reader, The Shepherd’s Song from Peacetime
Ralph McTell, Streets Of London from Streets Of London And Other Stories
Beau Dommage, La complainte du phoque en Alaska from Beau Dommage (30 Anniversary Edition)
Martha Wainright, Dis quand reviendras tu? from I Will Internalize EP
Korgis. Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime from Don’t Look Back, The Best Of The Korgis
Don Pullen and George Adams, God Has Smiled On Me from Melodic Excursions
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