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FYI

A Podcast Conversation With ... Murray McLauchlan

On July 9, the much decorated veteran folk songsmith releases his 20th album, Hourglass. Learn more about it in this FYI podcast.

A Podcast Conversation With ...  Murray McLauchlan

By Bill King

Tomorrow (July 9), Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Order of Canada recipient and 11-time Juno Award-winning artist Murray McLauchlan releases his milestone 20th album, Hourglass, through his long-time record label partnership with True North Records.


Expect more folk and country flavoured songs of a personal, philosophical and topical nature. “I tried to make the compositions simple and accessible, like children’s songs for adults,” says McLauchlan. “I’ve never tried that before. I’m pushing 73 now and I still feel I’m getting better at what I do.” He adds: “Every album is a little different journey. You go where the muse leads you.”

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Much of Hourglass was written in the past year, during anxious Covid times of mask-wearing, social distancing and seemingly endless lockdowns. “I’d hesitate to call it a pandemic album, though,” he says, “because the album reflects a view of the world and global events that have been evolving for some time.” In particular, McLauchlan sets his sights on chronic issues like systemic racism, economic disparity and rampant consumerism, what he calls in one song the “global greed machine.”

Although he’s now in his sixth decade as a singer-songwriter, Murray McLauchlan is not one to rest on his laurels. Learn more about his new record and much more in this FYI podcast.

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Kesha
Brendan Walter

Kesha

Chart Beat

Kesha Brings 'Holiday Road' to The Billboard Canadian Hot 100

The newly independent pop singer's cover of Lindsay Buckingham's 1983 song from National Lampoon's Vacation was first released as a Spotify exclusive for the holidays. Michael Bublé's Christmas, meanwhile, remains at No. 1 on the Canadian Albums chart.

Kesha has brought an under-appreciated holiday gem back to the charts. Her version of "Holiday Road" debuts on this week's Billboard Canadian Hot 100 (dated Dec. 28, 2024) at No. 83.

"Holiday Road" was originally released in 1983 by Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham and serves as the propulsive opening theme to the Chevy Chase-starting classic comedy road trip film National Lampoon's Vacation.

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