Hidden Track
84 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 6 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsWe all remember the moment we discovered that secret song on one of our favourite albums. Often, those hidden gems provide a revealing peek behind-the-curtain, leading us to new insights about the artists and recordings we thought we knew.
CKUA’s Hidden Track podcast aims to do the same, by bringing you stories that change the way you experience music. Any given week, we’ll get to the heart of the song with the musician who wrote it, reflect on a landmark recording with the producer and engineer who helped shape it, or examine the legacy of a musical icon with the critic, biographer or industry player who knows them best. Whoever the guest may be, each episode will provide a moment of discovery you won’t soon forget.
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Episodes
Cadence Weapon | Edmonton Forever
February 04, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 107 MB"The Prairies got something to say." When he was awarded the 2021 Polaris Music Prize, Cadence Weapon spoke from the heart; giving a long, loving shout-out to his home town and province: Edmonton, Alberta. Rollie Pemberton a/k/a/ Cadence Weapon always been passionately proud of his roots. His family, his community, his hometown helped make him the renowned, respected creator he is today. And Cadence Weapon, in turn, has always kept where he comes from at the very heart of what he does. ...
David Bowie | Starman
January 08, 2022 11:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBAs the world celebrates David Robert Haywood Jones’ 75th birthday, and marks the 6th anniversary of his passing, the musical legacy and cultural impact of David Bowie only continues to grow. We’ll explore his groundbreaking career and enduring influence with pre-eminent Bowie biographer Dylan Jones. We’ll hear from Mark Plati, Bowie’s co-producer and musical director on the fabled “lost” album Toy. We’ll visit with a pair of musical collaborators of Bowie’s, well-loved Canadian artist...
Amos Garrett | Amosbehavin'
December 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 87.3 MBAmos Garrett's solo on Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis" has often been cited as the greatest solo of all time. By the time he played on that 1973 hit, he'd already performed with Ian & Sylvia and Anne Murray. That's just the beginning of a legendary career of the most revered guitar stylists in all of roots music. He's recorded with everyone from Paul Butterfield to Emmylou Harris to Stevie Wonder; guitar gods like Vernon Reid and Jimmy Page have pointed to Amos as an influence. On th...
Jr. Gone Wild | Too Dumb To Quit
November 01, 2021 10:00 - 57 minutes - 80.4 MBThey were alt-country before alt-country. By the time that became a buzz term in the mid-‘90s, Jr. Gone Wild had a legendary career, and called it a day. Over 25 years later, the Alberta music scene remains imprinted by the band's work. The cow-punk trailblazers are back with their first album in 25 years, ‘Still Got The Jacket’. On this episode, Grant Stovel talks with Corb Lund, Stony Plain founder Holger Petersen, and Jr. Gone Wild’s Mike McDonald about the band’s incredible legacy and ex...
ABBA | Take a Chance On Me
October 01, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.2 MBThey were an iconic band that re-wrote the rules of pop music. This November, ABBA will release their first studio album in 40 years, Voyage. And what a voyage it's been! The band has racked up an astounding 28 UK Top 40 singles since their breakout moment on Eurovision back in 1974. Two of those chart-toppers are 2021 singles from their forthcoming album. According to Billboard, they've sold a half a billion albums during their ‘70s and ‘80s heyday. If you came of age in the ‘70s, ‘80s, or...
William Bell Remembers Otis Redding (Bonus Episode)
September 09, 2021 10:00 - 23 minutes - 33.9 MBMemphis soul legend William Bell was there for Otis Redding's meteoric rise as a trailblazing force in 1960s popular music. William was supposed to be on the fateful flight that claimed Otis' life on December 10th, 1967. He would go on to write and record a 1968 hit song dedicated to Otis called "A Tribute to a King". As we celebrate Otis Redding's remarkable life and career on what would have been his 80th birthday this month, William Bell joins us to reflect on the musical legacy of his fr...
Otis Redding | Try A Little Tenderness
September 01, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 85.6 MBIf Otis Redding were alive, he'd be turning eighty this month. Instead, the world lost him at the age of 26. Redding revolutionized popular music, created a lasting legacy, and was the personification of soul. This episode of Hidden Track traces his journey, from modest roots to chart-topping hits, and we wonder what might have been. On this episode, Jonathan Gould, author of Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life joins host Grant Stovel to explore the fascinating story of Otis Redding's life and ...
Otis Redding | Try A Little Tenderness
September 01, 2021 10:00If Otis Redding were alive, he'd be turning eighty this month. Instead, the world lost him at the age of 26. Redding revolutionized popular music, created a lasting legacy, and was the personification of soul. This episode of Hidden Track traces his journey, from modest roots to chart-topping hits, and we wonder what might have been. On this episode, Jonathan Gould, author of Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life joins host Grant Stovel to explore the fascinating story of Otis Redding's life and ...
The Replacements | Takin' a Ride
August 01, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 97.7 MBIt’s often been said that they became legends without ever becoming stars. The Replacements' last album was released in 1990, but their visionary work profoundly informed the artists who would roar into the mainstream that decade. August 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the Replacements' ferocious, strident, snarly debut album Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash, and so, we delve into the band's wild history, take stock of the fearless, inspired way they created music together, and appr...
Remembering Ellen McIlwaine
June 30, 2021 21:09 - 1 hour - 83.2 MBShe was a musical visionary, a champion of women’s voices in the male-dominated industry, a builder of connections between musical worlds, and a true Alberta treasure. Ellen McIlwaine's abilities as a vocalist and guitarist were seemingly endless in scope. She moved effortlessly between genres, styles, settings, and traditions. Her career is dotted with guest appearances by greats like Jimi Hendrix and Jack Bruce. On this episode, we remember Ellen with the help of Taj Mahal, Sue Foley, Cass...
k.d. lang | Just Keep Me Moving
May 28, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 115 MBk.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 f...
Richard Thompson | One Door Opens
April 30, 2021 21:49 - 1 hour - 91 MBWhen 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.
Willie Dunn | Music is a Forever Thing
April 01, 2021 06:10 - 1 hour - 93.4 MBHe 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 Betas...
It's My Way | Buffy Sainte-Marie at 80
March 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 96 MBIn 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...
Charley Pride and the Black Roots of Country
February 01, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 88.2 MBWhen 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 kin...
Beethoven at 250
January 01, 2021 11:00 - 54 minutes - 76.3 MBHe’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...
Neil Young at 75
December 01, 2020 16:23 - 47 minutes - 66.8 MBOn 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 ...
Prince Collaborator Susan Rogers on Sign o’ The Times
November 02, 2020 11:00 - 54 minutes - 76.2 MBImagine 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.
Secret Chord | The History of Hallelujah
October 01, 2020 06:25 - 58 minutes - 81.3 MBWhen 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.
Anoushka Shankar
June 08, 2019 18:57 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBIt’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...
Ep 13 | Anoushka Shankar
June 08, 2019 18:57 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MBIt’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...
Kat Danser
May 31, 2019 23:05 - 57 minutes - 79 MBKat Danser's chance encounter with Al Green in a parking lot in Memphis was part of an experience that put her on a path to a place in her life that she could never even have dreamt of when she was growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan. It’s a voyage of discovery that’s involved travelling thousands of miles, while making an inward journey that led her to become Canada’s Queen of the Swamp Blues. On the eve of her induction into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame, Grant Stovel talks to the...
Ep 12 | Kat Danser
May 31, 2019 23:05 - 57 minutes - 79 MBKat Danser's chance encounter with Al Green in a parking lot in Memphis was part of an experience that put her on a path to a place in her life that she could never even have dreamt of when she was growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan. It’s a voyage of discovery that’s involved travelling thousands of miles, while making an inward journey that led her to become Canada’s Queen of the Swamp Blues. On the eve of her induction into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame, Grant Stovel talks to the...
Ep 11 | Shawn Everett
May 24, 2019 00:59 - 51 minutes - 70.7 MBShawn Everett is one of the most in-demand and hardest-working production minds in music today. His skills as a recording engineer, producer, and mix engineer have been put to use on records by The War on Drugs, Weezer, Lucius, Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Kurt Vile, and Vampire Weekend to name just a handful. Along the way, he’s garnered a boatload of Billboard Number One Albums, Juno Awards, and Grammys. He’ll tell us the story of the life journey that ha...
Ep 10 | The Who's 'Tommy' at 50
May 17, 2019 00:52 - 44 minutes - 61 MBIt was a ground-breaking, game-changing, mold-shattering album, and it was released 50 years ago this month. Popular music has never been the same since. The Who's 'Tommy' was one of the best-selling rock albums of its day; hailed universally as a creative breakthrough. What led to 'Tommy' is a remarkable story. What happened following it is even more fascinating. On this episode, we examine a pace-setting period in the history of one of rock music’s most storied, and most ambitious bands:...
Ep 9 | Stewart Copeland
May 09, 2019 23:34 - 33 minutes - 31 MBThe legendary drummer and composer talks to Grant about his latest project, Stewart Copeland’s Orchestral Ben-Hur, which comes to Edmonton’s Winspear Centre this month. Stewart shares the story behind his rich cultural upbringing, growing up the child of a C.I.A agent stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He also reflects on founding The Police alongside Sting, an epic jam session with Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson of Rush that had an unfortunate ending, and his score for Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Rumble F...
Ep 8 | Neko Case
May 02, 2019 23:35 - 25 minutes - 34.9 MBGrant talks to Neko Case about her latest record 'Hell-On', co-produced by Bjorn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) and recorded in Stockholm. That’s where Neko was when she found out her home in Vermont had burned down. We'll hear her surprisingly zen outlook on the fire. Plus, Neko tells us about finally claiming the title of "producer" after 20 years in the music business. We'll also hear about how her collaboration with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs changed her approached to her 7th studio album.
Ep 7 | The Pixies' Doolittle at 30
April 26, 2019 01:10 - 26 minutes - 36.8 MBThe Pixies’ album Doolittle was released thirty years ago this month. It’s an album that’s bursting with arresting-yet-mysterious imagery, captivating-yet-cryptic lyrics, and breathtakingly unexpected musical dynamics and departures. It’s an almost unbelievably dense, compact artistic statement that fascinates at first blush, and heavily rewards repeated listening. There’s a whole world in there. A world we’ll explore with Ben Sisario, who’s the author the book Doolittle, part of the 33 1/3 ...
Ep 6 | Kobo Town
April 18, 2019 23:14 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MBDrew Gonsalves talks calypso with Lark Clark on this week's Hidden Track podcast. The Trinidadian Canadian is the founding member of the JUNO-winning outfit Kobo Town. The Toronto group blends calypso with myriad influences, including ska, reggae, dub and hip-hop. A genre that originated in Trinidad and Tobago, calypso is what Drew describes as "the folk music of urban Trinidad." Whether you've only ever heard calypso from the Harry Belafonte tunes in the movie Beetlejuice, or you're deep...
Ep 5 | Judy Collins
April 13, 2019 00:58 - 23 minutes - 32.2 MBIt's not everyday you get to chat with a music legend, cultural force, and intergenerational icon. This week on Hidden Track, Grant Stovel talks to folk music giant Judy Collins. Her inspired work as a song stylist helped launch to fame songwriters like Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and Ian Tyson. We'll hear about those relationships, as well as the struggles and demons that have clawed at her along the way. Sixty years into her career, Collins has emerged as a truly self-a...
Ep 4 | Shakey Graves
April 05, 2019 15:42 - 32 minutes - 44.4 MBAlejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, burst onto the Americana scene in 2011 with his debut album 'Roll the Bones.' Armed with a suitcase outfitted with a kick pedal, and his acoustic guitar, the Austin born musician was soon mesmerizing audiences with his spectacular one-man-band performances. His 2014 follow up 'And the War Came,' yield the smash single “Dearly Departed," and earned him slots on the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and Austin City Limits. Alejandro talks to Gr...
Ep 3 | Ode to Bobbie Gentry
March 29, 2019 00:58 - 41 minutes - 37.6 MBShe skyrocketed to fame with a song that didn't sound like anything anyone had ever heard before. It was gentle yet tense, lurid yet mysterious. "Ode to Billie Joe" was driven by Bobbie Gentry's trademark acoustic guitar groove, and that low Mississippi drawl that seemed like it was murmuring secrets in your ear. On this episode, Grant Stovel explores the captivating legacy of an artist who has one of most sensational success stories in all of popular music, and also one of its most fascinat...
Ep 2 | Feist
March 21, 2019 23:22 - 24 minutes - 23.3 MBThis week, Leslie Feist talks to Grant Stovel about how a conscious shift in perspective guided the approach to her latest album, Pleasure. She’ll tell us about the “dark nights of the soul” that led her to finding a better work-life balance. Plus, Leslie reflects on her tributes to Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie, and the milestone anniversary of her appearance on Sesame Street.
Ep 1 | Jeremy Dutcher
March 14, 2019 22:24 - 53 minutes - 75.8 MBOn our debut episode, Grant Stovel welcomes musician Jeremy Dutcher. The classically trained operatic tenor and composer spent most of his 20's quietly crafting his stunning debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. The album blends his training in opera, and his contemporary musical sensibility, and features post-classical rearrangements of Wolastoq First Nation traditional music. The work recently took home Canada's top musical honour, the Polaris Music Prize, this past September. In this...