Want to hear some incredible rock and roll stories from a guy who was right there, collaborating with The Pogues, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, and others? My guest this week is that guy, three-time Grammy winner and five-time Juno winner, mister Chris Birkett.

Chris was the chap responsible for producing Sinead O’Connor’s smash hit “Nothing Compares 2 U”, after having worked with Steve Earle, Alison Moyet, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and David Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti. The stories he tells during his visit are incredible – jamming with Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin, the hilarious way he met Peter Gabriel, the recording technique Sinead absolutely hates, and so much more. Oh, and his band Love Affair is responsible for that megahit “Everlasting Love”. You DON’T want to miss this.  

Birkett’s playlist:

Love Affair – Everlasting Love

Omaha Sheriff – Clothes Horse

Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U

Steve Earle – Johnny Come Lately

Buffy Sainte Marie – Starwalker

Chris Birkett – Be Creative (2019 remix)          

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I was thrilled to host the great Kevin Breit this week on NSTS. Kevin has played guitar alongside the likes of Celine Dion, Norah Jones, Marc Jordan, and so many others. 

I was particularly happy to have Kevin in because he grew up in the same Northern Ontario small town I did a few years before, and after he left he was mythologized up there during my teen years. I really enjoyed the chat we had about his incredible and tasteful playlist. His musical acumen is staggering, his stories are fascinating, and his new record Stella Bella Strata is unbelievably good.   

Breit’s playlist: 

Bob Dylan – Brownsville Girl

King Curtis – Whiter Shade of Pale

Randy Newman – Wandering Boy

Rosetta Thorpe – Didn’t It Rain

Mary Gauthier – I Drink

Hawksley Workman – We’re Not Broken Yet

Joni Mitchell – Sunny Sunday

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Indie singer songwriter Jordan Paul is an exciting young talent with an awesome voice and smart songs, and he drops by the NSTS studios this week with his guitar.       

In between performances of two of his songs, we chat about Indian classical music, Radiohead’s lesser-known records, skateboard videos, his favourite musical moment, Mazzy Star, and what awaited him at a mysterious Starbucks meetup.    

Paul’s playlist:

David Bowie – Five Years

Bob Dylan – It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)

Sharon Van Etten – We’re Fine

Elliott Smith – Everything Means Nothing To Me

Radiohead – Paranoid Android 

Death in Vegas – Help Yourself

Nat Bhairav – Hindustani Raag

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Singer songwriter Laura Repo drops by the NSTS studios this week with a vinyl copy of her new record This Is My Room. She also brought her guitar, and she treats us to a song from the album, “Too Soon To Miss You”.  Check it out.

Repo’s playlist:

Billie Holliday – I Thought About You

Koko Taylor – Honky Tonky

Liz Phair – Stratford on Guy

Murray McLachlan – Down By The Henry Moore

John Holt – Treasure of Love

Joan Armatrading – Get in Touch With Jesus

Dolores Keane and John Faulkner – Johnny Lovely Johnny   

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Welcome back to my chat with storied drummer David Quinton Steinberg. Last week we didn’t get to his songs, and so this week we get right into his playlist. 

The insights and stories continue as David recounts his fondness for his favourite Beatles track, Stiv Bators’ personal conspiracy theories, his first encounter with Frank Zappa, who the last real rock star is in his opinion, his chat with Gene Simmons, the grim details behind Rush’s “Nobody’s Hero”, Bowie’s connection to punk, and David’s “Karmic Boomerang” theory.         

Steinberg’s playlist:

The Beatles – Penny Lane

Badfinger – Baby Blue

Frank Zappa – Peaches En Regalia

David Bowie – Life On Mars

Dead Boys – Sonic Reducer

Rush – Nobody’s Hero

Blair Packham – Proof     

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