Every week, CKUA’s hosts submit their songs for our weekly House Blend playlist: an exciting new release, a beloved classic or just an old personal favourite. We mix it all together to create a sonic concoction that’ll help kick off your week. Check out what’s on this week’s playlist.
The Playlist
The Picks
David Ward: Tami Neilson, “Stay Outta My Business”
Lots going on in this sassy, upbeat, ’60s girl-group-sounding song about keeping your opinions to yourself. “The only business you got is your own.”
Baba: Rae Spoon, “Do Whatever The Heck You Want”
Rae Spoon states it for the sake of clarity, “Do Whatever The Heck You Want”, not meaning to do whatever the heck you want to others, just make your own choices for yourself. Simply stated and straight forward. Look forward to more from them!
Orest Soltykevych: Trevor Mowry & Ken Watson, Tessa Vinson, Chris McFarlane, “George Gershwin: Three Preludes”
George Gershwin wrote three preludes for solo piano in 1926. This is an arrangement for a double-reed quartet, consisting of two oboes, an English horn and a bassoon.
Lionel Rault: Danny Michel, “Born In The Wild”
A new album from Danny Michel which he’ll be releasing track by track. This is the first of them. A great song in support of marchforourlives & #neveragain. Eventually a six-track album will be released as a CD and on 10-inch vinyl.
Cathy Ennis: Ibibio Sound Machine, “Give Me A Reason”
There are hints of Prince and Talking Heads, African funk, and disco — all of which I love — in this energetic ‘dancer’ from Obibio Sound Machine’s second album, Uyai, which is “Beauty” in the Ibibio language of Nigeria.
Amy van Keeken: Peter Elkas, “Jackie”
Peter Elkas is one of the best singer-songwriters to come out of Canada, ever. He’s got a lovely, lovely voice that singers swoon about — so smooth and soulful, but not afraid to rock. His songwriting is catchy but also includes unexpected twists of chords and melody that seem to appear out of nowhere but take the song higher, deeper. Jackie is from his brand new EP, Lion.
Grant Stovel: Mbira Renaissance, “Famba”
African-inspired, Edmonton band, Mbira Renaissance, have a brand-new album on the brew, and here’s the first advance taste! “Famba”, a word meaning “walk” or “proceed”, is a joyful song of gratitude from a child to a mother, expressing thanks for encouragement and support. It features local luminary Brett Miles on sax, plus backing vocals from Munya Mataruse, a protegee of the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi. Look for the full album in August!
Lark Clark: Iskwé, “Healers”
Iskwé, singing from the heart, sharing the struggle.
Dianne Donovan: The Guess Who, “Sour Suite”
One of the great vocalists of all time, Burton Cummings with the Guess Who. I remember hearing this as a little kid, not really understanding it all but understanding “the mood”. I saw Burton Cummings in the early ’90s, sadly not with The Guess Who, putting on a great show with great chops. About this song, he said, “This is one I actually MEANT”.
Roy Forbes: Neil Young, “Albuquerque”
I recently had a chance to listen to the Neil Young Roxy:Tonight’s The Night Live album and it’s a dandy. Nice to finally have this legendary 1973 live set available. It might be better than the original 1975 Tonight’s The Night release.
“Albuquerque”, has long been one of my fave Neil tunes. Give this stellar live version a spin.