Records & Rockstars – Details, episodes & analysis

Another special session in the recurring “Performances” series featuring past guests, and a condensed versions of the original sessions, with song set-ups and stories, and live acoustic performances from Wild Woods Blue. This time not only a musician's musician, but a total people's choice player. Ottawa raised, Toronto based, Steve Marriner has been a blues harmonica player since the age of 11, and was just 13 and playing clubs, and only 14 when he won the Ottawa Blues Harp Blow-Off! In short, he's a monster player, but not just blues harp, but also guitar, bass, organ, and and he's a helluva singer and songwriter, and record producer/mixer too. We get into that a bit, in this performance focused cut of Steve's original album special session with Jeff, celebrating the release of his 2021 album Hope Dies Last. Steve delivers 3 live performances and talks about his evolving tastes and growth through listening and learning. Enjoy this 29 minute version of the original session.

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Another special session in the recurring “Performances” series featuring past guests, and a condensed version of the original episode, with song set-ups and stories, and live acoustic performances from Wild Woods Blue. This time, from Toronto, powerful performances and conversation with the principle members of Joan Smith & The Jane Does, Joan Smith and Tom Juhas, including a scorching cover of In the Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night). Runs: 24 minutes.

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It's another special episode in the recurring “Performances” series featuring past guests chatting with Jeff and delivering song set-ups and stories, and live acoustic performances from Wild Woods Blue. This time, pulled from the original Feb 2022 full 51 minute episode #123, from Toronto, it's the incomparable Eamon McGrath, sharing songs from the accliamed album “Bells of Hope”, and more. Eamon, on his Martin guitar, gives you two exceptional renditions of original songs, and tells of playing in a band backing Daniel Johnston (RIP), and covering his poignant and everlasting “True Love Will Find You in the End”, which is also included! Episode run time: 29 minutes.  

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This episode has no upside down flags on pickup trucks. Just music and music history and stories about songs about freedom.

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50 years since! Let me take you back to 1972 when spring fever had a pretty cool soundtrack to go with.

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More Sax and drugs and rock 'n' roll, as it were. Think Morphine. And think more sexy sax licks and solos in rock songs, in this, the finale of a 2 parter starring some legends of the saxophone.

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War, what is it good for? The Saxophone apparently. Beyond the triumphant marches of the militaristic minded, the saxophone became well known in big band music, blues and jazz and soul and rhythm and blues which gave way to good ol' rock and roll music. IN fact before the guitar took over, it was the sax that got all the solos. With their smooth and brassy tones and their unique blend of power, finesse and versatility - what an instrument to create a mood and convey emotional context and help tell a story within a song.

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The Marx Brothers of Rock, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (R.I.P.) joined me two times in the early 2000s to talk about new albums. This was the second time, before which to the surprise of many, they'd won the Grammy. They tell that hilarious story and reflect on songs from their colourful past too.

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He was one of the most prolific and influential artists to emerge from the golden age of the 60s, from his tiny studio at Dunhill Records, PF Sloan was a songwriter, a collaborator, a facilitator, an innovator and a bonafide hit-machine who was everywhere. And then he disappeared. And when he reappeared and set about to release his memoirs. That's when he called me to talk about his life, and why he disappeared. This is that. 

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Without music, life would be a mistake. We have philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche to thank for that truth. Music has long been our solace and security, as important in times of trouble as it has been in moments of triumph. And still, thankfully, much of the connection to music continues to come through the speakers of the radio.

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