This week on NSTS I welcome Chris Sisam, formerly an executive with Corus Radio and The Edge and manager of 90s pop band Wild Strawberries, who’s now doing some very interesting things in the music publishing and royalties space. 

Chris offers some interesting insights into how the financial aspect of the music business works, and touches on Clarence Clemons’ sax solo in Jungleland, Springsteen’s rehearsal requirements, Don Henley’s acerbic comment to the crowd at an Eagles Toronto show, and one of his favourite lyrical lines of all time.   

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This may be the first time a live banjo performance is heard on No Sleep ’til Sudbury. Former Stompin’ Tom bandleader and banjo player Duncan Fremlin returns to the show this week, and he brings along his Doogie and Dun partner, Juno-nominated singer songwriter Douglas John Cameron.

In addition to sharing the albums that were formative in their musical lives, the two perform a medley of songs from their shows, including a take on Stompin’ Tom’s “Sudbury Saturday Night” that you have to hear to believe.  Talented chaps and great people.

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Most of us like the trivia and the behind-the-scenes stuff. So this week on No Sleep ’til Sudbury, we feature some little-known facts related to some of your favourite musical artists. For example:

The unusual recording request Axl Rose made during the Appetite for Destruction sessions. The hilarious misunderstanding that led to a lyric change for The Cars. Why Aerosmith whipped themselves with an actual bullwhip in the studio. Scorpions singer Klaus Meine’s confusion over American female fans who flash the band during shows. Metallica’s sly nod to David Bowie in “Master of Puppets”. And so much more. 

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Whiskey Jack frontman, former Stompin’ Tom Connors bandleader, and author Duncan Fremlin drops by this week to chat about his new book entitled My Good Times With Stompin’ Tom. 

Duncan’s a Soo boy, and he ignites the Sault Ste. Marie – Sudbury rivalry right out of the gate. We do manage to have a civilized conversation about his years spent touring with Stompin’ Tom Connors however, and about the songs that make his skin vibrate. He even got invited back for another episode – maybe Soo guys aren’t so bad after all. 

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Last week, we were stunned by the news that guitar legend Jeff Beck had died. This week, No Sleep ’til Sudbury returns to pay tribute to a man who was considered by many to be one of the greatest guitar players ever. 

Our tribute reflects on the highs and lows of Beck’s haphazard musical journey – being fired from the Yardbirds, the brief triumphs of two different Jeff Beck Groups, throwing guitars off stage, his love/hate relationship with Rod Stewart, being temporarily deafened during a GN’R soundcheck, his collaborations with everyone from Seal to Ozzy Osbourne, and much more. Through it all, he’ll always be recognized as one of the very best there ever has been. 

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As the year comes to a close, I wanted to share a fun and personal Christmas music playlist that gets a lot of airtime at the Jensen house around this time every year. Last year’s holiday playlist contained more familiar Christmas tunes – this one, less so. But I do hope there’s something on it you like. Here’s the playlist link on Spotify. 

Merry Christmas and the happiest of holidays to each and every No Sleep ’til Sudbury listener. It fills me with joy that I can share things like this with you, and I appreciate your support very sincerely. Cheers everyone!       

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A few weeks back my pal former Brighton Rock and current Storm Force guitarist Greg Fraser and I sat down to chat about his new single, a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”. 

As is usually the case when the conversation is good, the show ran long and we didn’t get to Fraze’s skin vibrating songs. So, here they are – welcome to part two of our chat.

Fraze’s playlist:

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – Man On The Silver Mountain

Boston – More Than A Feeling 

Van Halen – Eruption/You Really Got Me 

Vandenberg – Burning Heart 

Alcatrazz – Island In The Sun

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An old friend of the show drops in this week to talk about his band’s haunting new single – a cover of Alanis Morissette’s “Uninvited”.  

Former Brighton Rock and current Storm Force guitarist Greg Fraser talks about how the band came up with the unorthodox choice, how former Honeymoon Suite keys player Ray Coburn helped develop the idea, and all the events that led up to the single’s release. 

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I love discovering new music, and I also love sharing those discoveries with others. This week’s guest on NSTS is indie singer songwriter Annabelle Chvostek, and her music is definitely worth sharing.

Annabelle’s latest record is called String of Pearls, recorded in both Canada and Uruguay, and features jazz, tango, and classical musicians from both countries. We chat about how the record was made, her relationship with Bruce Cockburn, 90s art rock, Joni Mitchell, and the influence of The Beatles’ Abbey Road record.

Chvostek’s playlist:

The Beatles – Come Together

Joni Mitchell – Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire

Sarah Vaughn – Honeysuckle Rose

PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love

Bruce Coburn – Night Train  

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Former Spoons and Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Rob Preuss and I are working on a special and very exciting new project together, one that we originally started talking about five years ago. It’s in full production now, and this week he calls in to NSTS to talk about it. 

Specific details won’t be divulged until the project is in its later stages, but in keeping with the No Sleep ’til Sudbury theme, Rob brought in a handful of instrumental songs that may or may not be part of it. Enjoy!

Preuss’ playlist (available on Spotify):

Spoons – Trade Winds

Split Enz – Wail

Gary Clark – A Jackson in your Kitchen

Andrew Lloyd Webber – Entr’Acte 

Gary Numan – Trois Gymnopedies (First Movement)

Elton John – Song For Guy – Elton John

Walter Murphy – A Fifth of Beethoven

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