Hidden Track

k.d. lang's discography has explored everything from cowpunk, to smooth pop, to jazz. Their new album 'Makeover' may be the most delightful surprise of all! It's a stunning collection of dance remixes dating from 1992 to 2000. On this episode, we'll explore this fascinating "hidden zone" in their career. k.d. talks to us about the roots of their love for dance music. Plus, Tegan Quin of Tegan & Sara shares her appreciation for k.d.'s work, trailblazing influence, and the power of the dance floor.

When he quit the band Fairport Convention at 21, Richard Thompson had already revolutionized folk rock, and become a roots music icon. That was just the beginning of his astounding half-century-long career! It's a journey he traces in his new book, Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice (1967-1975). On this episode, Richard Thompson joins us to reflect on his influential and fascinating career in music.

He was a celebrated singer-songwriter, activist, award-winning documentarian, and a true trailblazer. As a musician, Willie Dunn was compared to Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Pete Seeger. He's credited for creating Canada's first music video. Yet, too few Canadians are familiar with his work.

On this episode, we celebrate the release of Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology with guests Lawrence Dunn, Kevin Howes, Bob Robb, Alanis Obomsawin, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.

In honour of her 80th birthday in February, 2021, CKUA's Hidden Track podcast explores Buffy Sainte-Marie's remarkable artistic journey, featuring fresh insights from Buffy herself. Biographer Andrea Warner walks us through some major milestones in the story of one of music's most under-appreciated geniuses. Along the way, we'll hear from a new generation of JUNO Award-winning Indigenous artists influenced by Buffy's work, including Bear Witness from A Tribe Called Red, Celeigh Cardinal, and Jeremy Dutcher. We'll also get perspectives from Polaris Music Prize winner Owen Pallett, and Buffy collaborator, Dallas Good of the Sadies. Most exciting, we'll hear Buffy's personal reflections, in conversation with CKUA's Terry David Mulligan. The Hidden Track podcast is presented by Bent Stick Brewing.

When he died on December 12th, 2020, at the age of 86, Charley Pride left behind a truly mind-blowing legacy. He was flat-out one of the biggest country stars in history. He rather famously was the 2nd-best-selling RCA records artist of the '70s, second only to Elvis Presley. The road to that staggering success, though, required incredible struggle and strife. Charley Pride was a giant star, but he was also a truly transcendent one, who managed to overcome huge barriers of many different kinds. We'll be telling the story of the astonishing journey that Charley took. And as it turns out, you really can't tell that story without also getting into the much-misunderstood history of Black country music. Our guests include Peter Cooper with the Country Music Hall of Fame, the brilliant musician Valerie June, the ascendent Alberta artist D'orjay the Singing Shaman, and acclaimed music writer Garth Cartwright.

He's one of the most beloved composers of all time. This month, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's birth. Author and New York Times music writer Patricia Morrisroe has written extensively about Beethoven, who is also the focus of her debut novel "The Woman in the Moonlight." She'll join us to provide new insights into his life and music. Plus, we'll hear from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra's Alex Prior, and the Calgary Philharmonic's Jennifer MacDonald. You'll also hear the story of an Edmonton's family's connection to one of the greatest composers of all time. This episode features public domain recordings provided by musopen.org.

On November 12, 2020, Canadian music icon Neil Young celebrated his 75th birthday. He wasn't alone, as fans around the world celebrated right with him! On the latest episode of CKUA's Hidden Track podcast, presented by Bent Stick Brewing, we explore six decades of Neil's career with the help of family, friends, and fans. You'll hear from music journalist Jason Schneider, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, Travis Good of The Sadies, nêhiyawak's Marek Tyler, Chad VanGaalen and Neil's older brother, Bob Young.

Imagine what it would be like to be alone in the studio with one of the greatest geniuses in pop music history, day after day, for years. On this month's Hidden Track podcast, engineer Susan Rogers talks about working closely with Prince in creating his glorious mid-1980s run of all-time classic albums. On this episode of Hidden Track, Susan gives us outstanding insight into the creative process of a prolific musical icon.

When Leonard Cohen was readying his 1984 album Various Positions, his label refused to put it out because of one song: "Hallelujah". The track didn't make waves until a cover by John Cale in 1991. That version gave new life to the song, and Leonard Cohen's career. On the debut of Season 2 of Hidden Track podcast, we explore the fascinating story behind one of Leonard Cohen's best-known songs with author Ray Padgett, and producer John Lissauer.

It's rare to perform your first gig to a few thousand people at a celebration for a musical icon. That's the pulse-pounding experience that ushered Anoushka Shankar into the public sphere. Anoushka has been making records since she was a teen, under the tutelage of sitar master Ravi Shankar. She fuses her training in Indian classical sitar with everything from flamenco, electronica, Latin music to folk-pop. She talks to us about growing up in a musical royal family, and how she's carving out a legacy of her own.