As a solo artist and in bands including Thrush Hermit and Joel Plaskett Emergency, Joel has had a stellar Canadian music career going back to the early ’90s. He’s still going strong too, as evidenced by the Sept. 13 release of his new album One Real Reveal. The cross-Canada tour hits Regina Friday, Oct. 4 with a Regina Folk Festival-presented show at The Artesian. To celebrate, here are six of Joel’s favourite songs.
“Fool Me”
Joe South, Single (1971)
I listen to Joe South on repeat when I’m cleaning the studio. When the bass line drops down into the drum beat and Joe starts with “ain’t it kinda funny now…”, I’m on the highway. Such a great songwriter and soulful singer. YouTube
“The Twelfth of Never”
Nina Simone, Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall (1963)
A sublime live performance of a beautiful and romantic song. I return to this recording again and again, and it never ceases to stop me in my tracks. Nina’s guttural delivery the third time she sings “I love you” pretty much completes the world. YouTube
“Telegram”
Those Bastard Souls, Debt & Departure (1999)
Alchemical and mysterious. I love Dave Shouse’s voice, and the words to this tune paint such a picture. The arrangement is impeccable and unique. The whole album, Debt and Departure, is one of my desert-island discs. YouTube
“Howdy Howdy”
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Woodland (2024)
I don’t tune-in to much new music, but Welch and Rawlings’ latest is incredible. The singing back and forth where you can barely tell who’s-who is captivating, and then when they split into harmony the sky opens up. True artists making timeless music — and my God, the banjo sounds great on this recording. YouTube
“I Loved and I Lost”
The Impressions, We’re A Winner (1968)
The Emergency used to cover this back in the day. Incredible harmony singing, a dramatic musical arrangement and one of Curtis Mayfield’s finest, most direct lines ever: “I loved and I lost, it happens to the best…”. YouTube
“Backstreets Thread”
Dave Marsh, True Love Rules (2008)
I’ve had the good fortune of playing music with Dave behind the kit in the Emergency since 1998. He’s a great songwriter. This rock & roll love letter to the old Halifax arcade Backstreets and the folks who used to hang around there rocks! YouTube
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