Should I Be Sook Yin Lee?

Concept: Produce a 5 minute broadcast segment, to include a “Hometown” playlist, appropriate for the CBC Radio One program, DNTO. Submitted March 15, 2004

Additional Project Scope: Maggie Turns Three*, Logue’s unadulterated live song performances were a one take, first timer effort to include 3 original lyrics (known as Why Jerome, counterpoint, and Riley’s Art), with sparse acoustic self-accompaniment.

The Interviews:
Who are you? How well do you know the CBC? How well do you know the music industry? How well do you know me? What should I be concentrating on career-wise right now (progressing as a rock star, or seeking a day job like being the host of DNTO?)

The Interviewees:
Teri Hart, On-Air Host The Movie News; Pedro Mendes, CBC, GrooveShinny/Chase/GO; Ian Cauthery, CBC, Arts Canada; Michael Williams, Making Faces; Gordon Shawcross, Acoustic Traditions; Phone interviews recorded with Blair Langley at Dunn Studios.

Post Project Rants from The Interviewer:
“I was proud of the project actually, but I broke up with my room mate over it. We fought over computer time because of our deadlines. And it turned out hers wasn't even due til Tuesday! Worse, in the very end I had to carry the *&^% computer to the repair shop with my own bare hands… I know my rendered 5 min. of audio was not professional or mesmerizing, but I did courier it into the CBC contest for the Monday. And, blessings or alas, now all I have to show for this effort, is Alice’s rendered A+ reel, for the Ryerson Broadcast program. She left it behind on cd, before both projects were deleted from the Media Library. To hear the track I sent to DNTO, track down Alice, since she also burned a copy of my "feature" and my three songs, to take with her when she finally moved out."

A GET TO KNOW KIM LOGUE-LIKE-VOGUE HOMETOWN PLAYLIST

1. Four Strong Winds, the Band with Neil Young (Track 6, Disc 2 The Last Waltz)
The focus of a recent Groove Shinny taping was artists overcoming obstacles. I never got to say that both Neil Young and Joni Mitchell were affected in their left hand by the same 1952 prarie outbreak of polio. They are both intense and unique guitar players as a result. Isn’t that interesting? This is a distinctly Canadian, thus hometown, song performed by Young, and Mitchell joins in on vocals on this Last Waltz concert record.

2. A Case of You, Joni Mitchell (Track 9, Blue)
Georgia O’Keefe told Joni Mitchell that if she had been blessed with a voice, she would not have painted. I love how Joni does both in this beautiful hometown song.

3. Bitter Beauty, Jason Collett (Track 1, Motel Motor Love Songs)
Another song that speaks to the magic in overcoming adversity is by Collett, an old friend of a friend that tours extensively as a member of Broken Social Scene. “The calibre of Toronto’s music scene is unmatched anywhere” he said, “it’s inspirational, if intimidating, to come home.”

4. Country Home, Raising the Fawn (Track 5, Self Titled EP)
Another Broken Social Scene side project, this one (the press kit says) to embody the fact that relationships and bands don’t work. But this music sure does. Personally, I love the banjo.

5. Sign, Gordon Shawcross (Track 1, Egypt, Mississippi)
Speaking of broken social scenes, this song, by my dear friend and former-husband, is about the hard drinkers in the front room of Clinton’s tavern in Toronto. And employs some of Calgary’s finest musicians, where we collaborated on the concept album of travel songs, recorded to represent our North American Road Trip.

6. Punchdrunk Lover, Amer Diab (Track 1, The Year of the Apology)
This song about an intense knock-out-punch of a chick inspired me to seek Diab out for a guitar/singing lesson, and thus the rafters of my coach house were immersed in the magical notes of this talented artist and his resonator guitar.

7. Shadow of Doubt, Cash Brothers (Track 1, Brand New Night)
Thanks to the Cash Brother’s appearance on CBC’s PLAY, I finally heard the rocking new live sounds of my all time favourite Skydigger, Peter Cash and his punky older brother. You can read my review of Brand New Night at http://www.spillmagazine.com.

8. Monday Morning Blues, Skydiggers (Track 1, Skydiggers)
What better way to sign off than an old fashioned Skydiggers song? I recently had a surreal Spadina streetcar experience with Andy Maize, lead singer of the Skydiggers. His insightful and forthright responses to a spontaneous interview, as the A/R guru for Maple Music, convinced me you can’t be a rockstar without a day job. So I wanna be Sook Yin Lee, and I’m starting with this playlist. Bring on the Monday Morning Blues!