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
Meg Wilcox: Rich Aucoin, “P:U:S:H”
The sun is back out and so is your resolve to update your running playlist! May I so humbly suggest this tune from Rich Aucoin? From the pulsing beat to the *very* literal lyrics telling you to push harder, it’s perfect when you need a boost of energy for that final stretch.
*This song is not available on Spotify. Listen to it here.
Terry David Mulligan: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Breakdown” from Pack up the Plantation: Live
The slow groove lends itself to the subject line. The guy is slowing falling apart when his relationship sinks. First, the audience lovingly sings the opening verses and the chorus. Tom shouts, “You’re going to put me out of a job.” Several minutes later, as the song is wrapping up, Tom’s character tries to convince himself that he’s okay until he just loses it completely. A complete classic from front to back. God bless Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Baba: Aki Kumar, “Back To Bombay”
It is the Ganges Blues coming from San Jose, CA: jazz, funk, blues and Bollywood coming together in a delightful way. Aki, aka Akarsha Kumar, is a harmonica master and a sweet entertainer. He’s playing The Yardbird Suite with our own Grant Stovel and friends on May 18 and 19. Fans of Harry Manx, please take note.
*This song is not available on Spotify. Listen to it here.
Orest Soltykevych: Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, “Champagne Galop” by Hans Christian Lumbye
Hans Christian Lumbye was a Danish composer who decided to choose a career in composing after hearing the music of Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss Senior in 1839. Two years later, Lumbye already had his own orchestra.
Lumbye became the director of concerts at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. He held that post from 1843, the year the gardens opened, until 1872.
Grant Stovel: Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics, “State of All Things”
This Atlanta band’s front-woman is possessed of a glorious voice for classic southern soul, but she’s also got plenty of surprising wrinkles to her musicality. Originally from Toronto, she’s the daughter of Indian immigrants, and grew up steeped in everything from Joni Mitchell to Paul Simon to old Bollywood tunes. She’s also counted Marvin Gaye, Ani DiFranco and Portishead as having inspired her songwriting. If you listen carefully, I think you can hear a bit of all that on the beautifully dynamic title track to Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics’ new record, State of All Things.
Kodi Hutchinson: Holly Cole, “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head”
Holly Cole is the headliner for the upcoming Lethbridge Jazz Festival on June 16th. She has a great new album worth checking out!