Playlist: Episode #843, June 28, 2020 – Essential Canadiana

This is another in our collection of timeless Standby episodes, which you may hear again sometime when I’m not able to put together a new episode for whatever reason. I’m pretty sure you won’t mind because this is a pretty good one.

Playing great Canadian music is a main mission and joy on this show because I really believe that the best music in the world comes from right here. Every week I try to stack the show with a lot of great homegrown music, but this week, in honour of Canada Day, we’re 100% all Canadian and proud of it.

This episode is kind of like a beginner’s guide to the best of Canadian music, or a Canadian Greatest Hits, if you will. It aims to pull together some of the most essential Canadian music ever made in an attempt to show the strength and breadth of our music. We look at some of the early giants whose shoulders today’s artists stand on, and a few contemporary artists who are making timeless music bound to be looked back on in years to come.

I can’t pretend to put together a comprehensive list in just 2 hours, but I think this one covers a lot of the most important bases. Please let me know what would be on your list of essential Canadian music!

Artist – Song Title – Album Title – CDN=Canadian – MB=Manitoba Artist – WPG=Winnipeg artist

Rheostatics – Seven (Northern Wish) – Music Inspired By The Group Of 7 – CDN
The Guess Who – These Eyes – Wheatfield Soul – CDN
Anne Murray – Snowbird – This Way Is My Way – CDN
Ian & Sylvia – Four Strong Winds – Four Strong Winds – CDN
Gordon Lightfoot – Early Mornin’ Rain – Lightfoot! – CDN
The Band – The Weight (Remastered) – Music From Big Pink – CDN

Neil Young with Crazy Horse – Cinnamon Girl – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere – CDN
Joni Mitchell – You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio – For The Roses – CDN
Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire – Songs From A Room – CDN
Stan Rogers – Barrett’s Privateers – Fogarty’s Cove – CDN

Willie P Bennett – White Line – Tryin’ To Start Out Clean – CDN
Fred Eaglesmith & The Flying Squirrels – Summerlea – Things Is Changin’ – CDN
Lynn Miles – Black Flowers – Unravel – CDN
Ron Hynes – Sonny’s Dream – Face to the Gale – CDN

Blue Rodeo – Hasn’t Hit Me Yet – Five Days In July – CDN
Spirit of the West – Home For A Rest – Save This House – CDN
Skydiggers – Slow Burning Fire – Restless – CDN
Blackie and The Rodeo Kings – Lean On Your Peers – Kings of Love – CDN
Michel Pagliaro – Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy – Rainshowers – CDN

The Lowest of The Low – Rosy and Grey – Shakespeare My Butt… – CDN
The Weakerthans – Left & Leaving – Left & Leaving – CDN – WPG
Sarah Harmer – Don’t Get Your Back Up – You Were Here – CDN
Oh Susanna – Home Soon (The Cherry Song) – Johnstown – CDN
Kathleen Edwards – 12 Bellevue – Failer – CDN

David Francey – Wind In The Wires – Torn Screen Door – CDN
Mike Plume Band – Wind At My Back – Song & Dance, Man – CDN
Jim Bryson – February – The Occasionals – CDN
Nathan – Lampshade – Stranger – CDN – WPG


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