Anna McGarrigle delivers an early Christmas present for fans of the legendary sister duo from Quebec. For her spot, as guest host of this week's My Playlist she has dug into her personal vault of recordings and come up with some real gems, many of them a broadcast first. 

And through it all, younger sister Kate, who died almost three years ago of a rare form of cancer, is never far away.

 

One of the most poignant moments in the hour comes with a recording Kate made in 2007, performed as a present for friends attending her 60th birthday party. It's called "I just want it to last."

Then there's an 1963 recording of the sisters from their days with the Montreal folk group, Mountain City Four. Anna explains that they were pretty young and the two other members of the band (Jack Nissenson and Peter Weldon) "knew more songs" so the sisters mostly sang harmonies, but on this occasion, at least, they were front and center with a fabulous arrangement of "Motherless Children."

The McGarrigle magic is all there. 

In keeping with what we've come to expect from a McGarrigle concert, the next generation of McGarrigles (Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Lily and Sylvan Lanken) are represented with early and current recordings. Plus there's a fascinating mix of friends and fellow Montreal musicians, including the Mountain City Four, Galt MacDermott, Tom Mennier and Joel Zifkin.

This is a remarkable show.

 

 http://music.cbc.ca/play/Inside-the-Music/My-Playlist-with-Anna-McGarrigle

Listen to Inside the Music by clicking the play button and via Radio   on Sunday 3 p.m. (3:30 NT) and Radio One on Sunday  at  9   p.m. (9:30 NT)

 Below find Anna McGarrigle's My Playlist picks with links to iTunes:



"Sisters McGarrigle"     Derek Lamb (unreleased)

"Home"    Galt MacDermot (Fergus MacRoy)

"Motherless Children"  Kate and Anna McGarrigle (unreleased)

"Come All ye Fair and Tender Ladies  (Tannenbaum, Weldon, Nissenson)(unreleased)

"Bring back my heart:  Martha Wainwright (unreleased)

"Denial"    Tom Mennier

"Neil Young"   The Mittenstrings

"Waitress Song" Joel Zifkin

"I just want it to last"   Kate McGarrigle (unreleased)

"Sweet Repose" by Schubert  Rufus Wainwright (unreleased)

"Proserpina"   Martha Wainwright

"California Blues"  Johnny Knowles/ Chaim Tannenbaum (unreleased)

 

Related links:

McGarrigle-Wainwright family reunion

Kate and Anna McGarrigle: musical sisters

A tribute to Kate McGarrigle

 

posted by Carole Warren on Dec 06, 2012