Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Toronto Mike Kicks Out the Jams: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1500

Episode Date: May 30, 2024

In this 1500th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike kicks out the jams. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes, We Are Open podcast from Moneris, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

And I'm getting old What up, Mike? Toronto! VK on the beat, uh, check I'm in Toronto where you wanna get the city love I'm from Toronto where you wanna get the city love I'm in Toronto like we wanna get the city love My city love me back for my city love Welcome to episode 1500 of Toronto Miked!

Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. The best baseball in the city outside the dome, with eight championships since 1967. RecycleMyElectronics.ca, committing to our planet's future, means properly recycling our electronics of the past.

Season 6 of Yes We Are Open, an award-winning Monaris podcast hosted by FOTM Al Gregor, an award-winning Meneris podcast hosted by FOTM Al Greggo, and Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Episode 1000 almost killed me. It was 5 hours, 40 minutes, and 31 seconds long, and it included over 200 unique voices. This episode 1500 will be significantly shorter and will include but one speaking voice, mine. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down. It may be we shall touch the happy isles, and see the great Achilles, whom we knew. Though much is taken, much abides, and though we are not

now that strength in which old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are. One equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will. To strive. To seek. To find. And not to yield. That's from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson. I've been thinking about that poem a lot lately and I think what it says is that while it's tempting to play it safe, the more we're willing to risk, the more alive we are. In the end what we regret most are the chances we never took. And I hope that explains a little this journey that's led us to episode 1500 of Toronto Miked. I've loved every minute with my FOTM family.

For 14 years you have heard me say, And that! And for that I am eternally grateful. These are the jams that made me. Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young came out in 1976. All these years later, and it's this Raffi jam, Robin in the Rain, that still sticks out to me. Later in the decade the hit laden corner grocery store would enter the home but it all starts

with Robin in the Rain. Robin in the Rain what a saucy fellow Robin in the rain mind your socks of yellow running in the garden on your nimble feet digging for your dinner with your long strong beak robin in the rain you don't mind the weather showers always make you gay but the worms are wishing you would stay at home Robbin' on a rainy day Robbin' in the rain, what a saucy fellow Robin in the rain, mind your socks of yellow Running in the garden on your nimble feet Digging for your dinner with your long strong beak Robin in the rain, you don't mind the weather, showers always make you gay But the worms are wishing you would stay at home Robin on a rainy day

Robin on a rainy day, don't get your feet wet Robin on a rainy day I'd like to shout out a few other albums in the late 70s that got me rockin'. Sesame Street Fever, There's a Hippo in My Bathtub, and Marlo Thomas' Free to Be, You and Me. Here are the lyrics that helped indoctrinate me young. There's a land that I see where the children are free, and I say it ain't far to this land from where we are. Take my hand, come with me, where the children are free.

Come with me, take my hand, and we'll live in a land where the river runs free, in a land through the green country, in a land to a shining sea, and you and me are free to be you and me." When Kenny Rogers passed away, I called my mom to talk about it and I recorded that phone conversation. I regret that that episode, if we can call it that, never received a number. I can't tell you to go to episode number whatever, but I can tell you that episode remains in the Toronto Mic'd feed. Find the episode entitled For Kenny. I called my mom because I have these memories of my mom playing Kenny

Rogers greatest hits on vinyl over and over again. It is literally the only album I can remember my mom putting on. It was 1980s greatest hits, the one with Lady on it. And I heard it so often I knew every song by heart, I still do. And my favorite song back then was Coward of the County. And you know what? I still love Coward of the county he had never stood one single time to prove the county wrong his mama named him Tommy folks just called him yellow something always told me they were reading Tommy wrong He was only ten years old when his daddy died in prison

I looked after Tommy, cause he was my brother's son I still recall the final words my brother said to Tommy Son, my life is over, but yours has just begun Promise me son, not to do the things I've done Walk away from trouble if you can It won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek I hope you're old enough to understand Son, you don't have to fight to be a man There's someone for everyone and Tommy's love was Becky

in her arms he didn't have to prove he was a man one day while he was working the Gatlin boys came calling they took turns at Becky and there was three of them. Tommy opened up the door and saw his Becky crying. The torn dress, the shattered look, was more than he could stand. He reached above the fireplace and took down his daddy's picture. As his tears fell on his daddy's face He heard these words again

Promise me son not to do the things I've done Walk away from trouble if you can Now it won't mean you're weak if you turn the other cheek I hope you're old enough to understand Son, you don't have to fight to be a man The Gatlin boys just laughed at him when he walked into the bar room One of them got up and met him halfway across the floor When Tommy turned around they said, Hey look old Yella's leaving

But you could have heard a pin drop when Tommy stopped and locked the door Twenty years of crawling Was bottled up inside him He wasn't holding nothing back He let them have it all When Tommy left the bar room Not a captain boy was standing He set the swans for Becky as he watched the last one fall

And I heard him say, I promised your dad not to do the things you've done I'll walk away from trouble when I can Now please don't think I'm weak, I didn't turn the other cheek And Papa, I sure hope you understand Sometimes you gotta fight when you're a man Everyone considered him the coward of the county Don't fuck with Tommy I love the county Don't fuck with Tommy.

When I was still a wee lad, I got my mitts on a Golden Oldies cassette tape. This tape had hits from the 1950s. I still remember The Great Pretender, Great Balls of Fire, Blueberry Hill. I loved 50s music. I think that was my first favorite genre. 50s, golden oldies. My favorite of the bunch though was Chantilly Lace from The Big Bopper. Hello, baby! Hello baby! Yeah, this is the Big Bopper speaking. Oh, you sweet man! Do I want?

Will I want? Oh baby, you know what I like Chantilly lace and a pretty face and a pony tail hanging down A wiggle in the walk and a giggle in the talk Make the world go round, there ain't nothing in the world like a big eyed girl That make me act so funny, make me spend my money Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose Like a girl, oh baby that's the one I like

What's that baby? But, but, but, oh honey But, oh honey, but, oh baby you know what I like Shantilly lace and a pretty face and a funny tale I'm hanging down, a wiggle in the wall pan, a giggle in the dogloss Make the world go round, round, round Ain't nothing in the world like a big eyed girl Make me act so funny, make me spend my money Make me feel real loose like a long necked goose

Like a girl, oh baby that's what I like What's that honey? Pick you up at eight And don't be late But baby, I ain't got no money, honey Oh, all right, honey, you know what I like Chattin' till it lays at a pretty face Ponytail hangin' down

A wiggle and a walk and a giggle and a talk Oh baby, that's what I like! Woo! Everybody's mourning the loss of Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, and there I am all by myself mourning the loss of the big bopper who gave me Chantilly Lace. So I mentioned I really loved the sound of 50s rock and roll, the Golden Oldies. In the early 80s, I kept hearing this song on 680s CFTR. It was by the Stray Cats, and it was called Rock This Town. Prior to this period in my life when I discovered top 40 music, my musical diet had primarily

consisted of Golden Oldies music from the 50s, found on these compilation cassettes that would be collected from here and there and everywhere, and maybe even gas stations if my memory serves correctly. I think this fascination with 50s rock and roll primed me for rockabilly, and the stray cats scratched the itch. I bought Built for Speed on cassette and played that side one like crazy. I remember these six songs best of all. Rock This Town, Built for Speed, Rev It Up and Go, Stray Cat Strut, Little Miss Prissy, and Rumble and Brighton. I loved them all. But the catalyst, pun intended, was Rock This Town.

["Rock This Town"] Baby, it's me, whining out of bed Saturday night I had my hair piled up, but baby, this looks alright Well, you can't pick it up at ten, gotta have it over two Mom and I don't know why I got you stuck either, but that's alright Cause we're looking as cool as we've been Well, we're bound in a place that really didn't look that bad I have a whiskey on the rocks, a ginger, but I'm gonna roll the tube far I put the cord around into that can, but all that bleed was a miscompete Come on, baby, let's get out of here right away We're gonna rock this town, rock it inside out

We're gonna rock this town, make them scream and shout Let's rock, rock, rock and rock We're gonna rock till we pop, we're gonna rock till we drop We're gonna rock this town, rock it inside out Rock it inside out Well, we're having a ball just above another big dance floor Well, here's a real square of candy looks like 1974 Well, hey, look at me once, you look at me twice Look at me again and this is gonna be a fight We're gonna rock this town, we're gonna rip this place apart

We're gonna rock this town, rock it inside out We're gonna rock this town, make all the screaming chant out It's a rock, rock, rock me rock We're gonna rock, rock, rock me rock We're gonna rock this we're gonna rock, day we pop, we're gonna rock Day we drop, we're gonna rock this town, rock it inside out We're gonna rock this town, think of the scream and shout I'm pretty sure I bought that Stray Cats cassette in 1982. That was the first calendar year in which I purchased music for myself. I doubt I was paying for the music by myself, but I was choosing the album and I was going

to the store to select it. Prior to that year, the only music in the house that didn't spill out of the radio belonged to my parents. In 1982, I purchased one album on vinyl, and that was Duran Duran's Rio. Hungry Like the Wolf was the single that sold me. At the time, I thought it was the coolest track ever. Then I heard Save a Prayer in Rio, and I loved that album. Do do do do do do do do do do do do Woman you want me, give me a sign And catch my breathing even closer behind Do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do In touch with the ground I'm on a hunt, I'm after you

Smell like a sound I'm lost in a crowd And I'm hungry like the wolf Straddle the line In discord and rhyme I'm on a hunt, I'm after you Mouth is alive, juice is like wine And I'm hungry like the wolf Stuck through the forest, too close to hide I'll be upon hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life

I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life

I'm on the hunt for the love of my life I'm on the hunt for the love of my life Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo doo In touch with the ground I'm on the hunt, I'm after you Center the sound I'm lost and I'm found And I'm hungry like the wolf Start on the line It's just gone awry I howl and I whine, I'm after you

Love is alive, I'm running inside And I'm hungry act the wolf, I'm gonna act the wolf, I'm after you I smell like a sound, I'm lost and bound And I'm hungry like the wolf It's dry and alive, it's discordant rhyme I'm on my hunt, I'm after you Mouth is alive, juices like wine And I'm hungry like the wolf Burning around, I'm free from the crowd I'm on my hunt, I'm after you Scent and a sound, I'm lost and abound So far, we have a song about birds.

With Robin and the Reign, we got a song about, well, bi, cats, stray cats to be specific, and now we have a song about a wolf. I should have become a zoologist. So here I am in primary school, kind of over the golden oldies, moving on, listening to Top 40 like Duran Duran. I'm still digging my stray cats. I'm listening to what I hear on 680 CFTR, and a small group of boys in my room are madly in love with Billy Idol. They're always talking about Billy Idol, they're playing Billy Idol, these are some big Billy Idol heads. And I'm like, what's this all about?

I want to hear some Billy Idol, and they let me hear some Billy Idol, and next thing you know, I too am a big Billy Idol head. Last night a little dancer came dancing to my door Last night a little angel came pumping on my floor She said, come baby, you've got a license for love And if it expires, pray help from above Because in the midnight hour, she's my mom, mom, mom With a rebel yell, she's my mom, mom, mom, mom I know, in the midnight hour, babe, mom, mom, mom, mom I know in the midnight hobby

Mom, mom, mom With a rebel yell Mom, mom, mom Mom, mom, mom She does not stay with me She won't sit and beg with me, she won't sit and beg Ruin, tired and lonely, she sees me to bed What set you free, brought you to me babe?

What set you free, I leave you here by me Because in the midnight hour She cried mo mo mo With a rebel yell She cried mo mo mo Wow! In the midnight hour babe Mo mo mo With a rebel yell

Mo mo mo With a rebel yell, more, more, more Hey listen to his old heaven The last that you go from is seven eleven Well, he's out all night to collect amens Well, as I'm all night to collect game-men Just along, just along the corners of his head I'm gonna be the man that you are I'm gonna be the man that you are I'm gonna be the man that you are I'm gonna be the walk for you, baby A thousand miles for you I dried your tears of pain

A million times for you I'd sell my soul, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, burn, oh, with a rebel, yeah She's trying more, more, more, more In the midnight star, baby More, more, more With a rebel, yeah She's trying more, more, more More, more, more Oh, yeah, little baby She want more This This period of time when I'm in primary school begins with Billy Idol, but then it very quickly

escalates. During this period of time, I'm introduced to Sex Pistols and The Clash, and I'm loving it. I stuck London Calling in my Sony Walkman and didn't remove it for a month. Speaking of albums I didn't take out of my Walkman for a very, very long time, let's get me to high school here. So we get to high school, I'm listening to your typical stuff. The cult, Depeche Mode. I still like my rock and roll, maybe some poison, I don't know, Cinderella. I loved Guns N' Fuckin'

Roses. I could play some Guns N' Roses right now. I'm listening to a lot of Q107. I'm still dabbling with Top 40, but losing interest. I'm now sampling this new station I've discovered called CFNY, because I heard it's what the cool kids listen to, and I watch a lot of much music. And because I watch a lot of much music, and I still tune in 680 CFTR, I'm hearing a lot of what I call hip-hop. I mean rap, hip-hop, that's like top 40. A lot of Young MC, Cool Mo D, Big Daddy Kane, some Beastie Boys, some Run DMC, LL Cool J, Tone Locke, Raw Bass and DJ Easy Rock. You get the idea. Soon Maestro Fresh Wes and the Dream Warriors and Mishimi, I'm essentially discovering that I love hip hop, but one night I'm watching Rapp

City on MuchMusic, and they play the video for Public Enemy's Night of the Living bass heads, and it stopped me in my tracks. I went out and bought It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, and just fell head over heels in love with the production, the lyrics lyrics the rhyme style from future FOTM Chuck D public enemy Immediately became one of my favorite groups of all time and they still are and sisters I don't know what this world is coming to It's time to play the lyrics Some say no to the album, the show But what's the sound? I made it a year ago I guess you know

You guess I'm just a radical Not on sabbatical Yes, to make it critical The only party your body should be partying to There's a power on the hour from the rebel of you Hey yo Chuck man, I don't understand this man Yo, you got this one out man, you losing on Radio

Suckers never play me On the mix They just okay me now, know when they grow When, when the clock in my zone is known, sneakin' and takin' everything that a brother owes. My quarter card, recorded and ordered, supporter of Chess and Mart, loud and proud of suckers who claim I do crime. They are my time, dig it! Ay yo Chuck, I think we taking shots, yo this is Colman Dina man, c'mon kick it! Terminator X! Terminator X! Terminator X! Terminator X Terminator Yo Chuck, you're getting them nervous They can't handle this, they're gonna break

down From a rebel it's vinyl, a black vinyl Soul rock and roll, coming like a rhino Tables turn, suckers burn to learn They can't disable the power of my label Deaf Jam tells you who I am The enemy's public, they really give a damn Stro of my label Def Jam, tells you who I am, the enemy's public They really give a damn, strong island, where I got a wiling That's the reason they claiming that I'm violent, never silent No don't getting dumb, no claiming where we get our rhythm from Number one, we hit you and we give you some

No gun, and still never on the run You wanna be an F1, grip or tell you when And then you come again, you know what time it is If he's the president, pullin' out my ray gun Zap the next one, I can be your Shogun Suckers! Don't last a minute, sauce is smooth I ain't with it

Hardcore! Raw bone like a razor, I'm like a laser I just won't phase ya, old enough to raise ya So this will phase ya, get it right boy Maybe I will play ya, playin' the role I got soul to Force my opinion with volume, smooth, not what I am Cause I'm a man, no matter what the name, we're all the same Pieces in one big chess game, yeah! The force of power is in the house Go take a shower, boy

P-E-R-Q-R-Q, not singular We wear black Wranglers We're rap stranglers You can't angle us I know you're listening I caught you pissing your pants You're scared of missing us The crowd is missing us

We're on a mission, y'all Yo, chop, yo, yeah, man Yo, you gotta run and skim, man Terminator X! Terminator X! Terminator X! Kill the Terminator! Come on!

Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on! Come on! Attitude, when I'm on fire Shoes on a loose electric wire Simple and plain, give me the lane

I'll throw it down your throat like Barclay You see my car keys? You'll never get these They belong to the 98 Posse You want some more, son? You wanna get some? Firm rush the door up the store, pick up the album You know the rhythm, the rhyme

Plus the beat is designed so I can enter your mind, boys Bring the noise, my time Step aside for the flex, Terminator X Yeah, that's right This jam is made of Coal Medina, boy That's right, Terminator X Yeah that's right, this jam is made to come and be the break That's right, come and be the, that's right We showin' up in EFF, FECT, y'all know the known as effect You understand what I'm sayin'?

Yeah, yeah boy! Bring that back one more time, bring that beat back man Bring that beat back, bring that beat back Y'all wanna hear that beat right? Bring that beat back Bring that shit back One, two, three, four, hit it This shit ain't over, come on y'all I want to hear that beat right bring that beat back We are still pre-grunge here. I'm in high school. I'm listening to a lot of rock and roll, but I'm also listening to a lot of hip hop. I'm listening to CFNY. I'm listening to 680 CFTR. I'm listening to 640,

which became the hog. And I'm listening to Q107. I try not to miss the top 10 at 10. Shout out to FOTM Shirley McQueen. And I'm listening one night and I hear a song by a Kingston band. The song was called Blow It High Doe and I'm digging it. And then I'm off to Sam the Record Man downtown to buy Up to Here by The Tragically Hip. And I love every song on that CD But I especially love this song New Orleans is sinking the tragically hip would become my favorite band of all time And I miss them dearly The blue on the street, loose and complete, under skies of smoky blue green.

I can't foresee a dixie dead sheep, so we dance the sidewalk thing My memory is muddled, what's this river that I'm in? New Orleans is sinking, man, and I don't wanna swim And I told her what's wrong, what's going on Can't tie yourself up for a deal He said I know what this sounds Shut your big mouth, you gotta do what you feel is real Ain't got no big shit, both cards, ain't got no souvenirs My baby, she don't know me when I'm thinking be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man

I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man, I'm gonna be a man I'm gonna be a man,b, hanging on a wire Sucking up to someone just to stoke the fire Picking up the highlights of the scenery Saw a little clown and looked a little like

me I had my hands in the river, my feet back up on the banks, looked up to the Lord of Power and said, Hey man, banks, sometimes I feel so good I gotta scream. She said, God, baby, I know exactly what you mean. She said, she said, I swear to God you said My memory of money, what's this river that I've been New Orleans is sinking man and I don't wanna swim Swim! I'm gonna be hey man, thanks. Now let's talk about grunge and what happens next.

There are literally a hundred songs I could drop in right now. There's Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit. There's Jesus Christ Pose by Soundgarden. Fucking love that song. I could drop in something from Alice in Chains, Dirt. Discuss amongst yourselves where grunge starts and where it ends, but I'm going to tag on a genre I refer to as 90s Cancon alt rock. These are the Cancon alt rock bands I would hear on 102.1 The Edge, or Edge 102 if you

prefer. We're talking about Rusty, Killjoys, Sloan, Our Lady Peace, I'm Mother Earth, Change of Heart, Hayden, See You Wednesday Hayden, The odds, sure, we can throw in some bare naked ladies. Treble Charger, the Tea Party, of course, the Watchmen, By Divine Right, Doughboys, the Gandharvas, Headstones, Head, so many great alt rock bands coming out of this country in the 1990s and I listened to them all. And there's one band in particular, a Toronto based band that I'm going to shout out at the very end because I'm going to close this episode with a song from their big album.

When I was 16 years old, and if you listen to Toronto Miked, you've heard it before, but I digress. What song will I play that will capture this grunge explosion that I was all in on and then this 90s alt rock movement I was lucky enough to absorb not only on much music, but on CFNY, my primary source for all of the above. Keep in mind that when the 90s begins, I'm 15 years old, and when the 90s ends, I'm 25 years old. That period of your life between 15 years old and 25 years old is likely the most important

decade for your musical admiration and obsession. Music was everything when sports wasn't. I'm 17 years old when Nevermind and Tenor released, and I'm 18 years old when the Toronto Blue Jays win their first World Series. I'm embarrassed to tell you what percentage of my daily listening in 2024 was released in the 1990s. I mentioned the Tragically Hip was my favorite band of all time. Well neck and neck with the Tragically Hip was an American band and their debut album,

Ten, blew my mind. And as difficult as it is to pick my favorite song on 10, because it really does depend on my mood, you can't go wrong with black. I know someday you'll have a beautiful life. I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky. But why, why, why can't it be? Oh, can't it be mine? FOTMs, we belong together.

She's a empty canvas Under the sheets of clay Early spread out before me As her body stood Oh, five horizons revolved around the sun I see a different sun Now the gear I tasted and breathed has taken a turn Oh, and all I thought her was everything

Oh, I know she gave me all that she wore And now my bitter hands shake beneath the clouds Oh, what was everything? All the pictures had all all men wash the flag, tattooed everyday I take a walk outside, I'm surrounded by some kids at bed Some kids have been I can feel their laughter So why do I sit? All the twisted thoughts I'vened round my head

I've been in, oh, I've been in I've witnessed, sun can't drive away Now my bitter hands Real broken glass of what was everything All the pictures said, all been washed in black Tattooed everything All the love, all the bad, turn my world to black Tattooed all I see, all that I a beautiful life I know you'll be a star in somebody else's sky But why, why, why can't it be, can't it be more? Oh, yeah Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, When FOTM's return to Toronto Mike to kick out the jams, I make them pick 10 songs.

10 jams. I make them pick 10 songs. 10 jams. Tell me why you love this music. I learn more about a guest by them kicking out the jams than I do from a 90-minute to 120-minute deep dive. Typically, at least. I love hearing people tell me why they love the music they love. And my 10th jam, although you'll learn soon, I was able to cheat in an 11th jam, but you'll understand why when we get there. But my 10th jam is from an artist who's always been there. I don't remember popular music without him. I've been listening to him for seemingly ever.

I bought the double disc Decade, which was essentially a greatest hits of Neil Young. And it, and I realize I've used this expression several times in this episode 1500, but the whole point of this episode is these are songs that blew my mind. But when I heard decade from Neil Young, it blew my mind. I don't think there's an artist I listen to more often these days than Neil Young. I have tickets to see Neil in early July. I've seen him before, but I can't wait to see him again. But what song from his vast catalog of excellence do I choose as my tenth jam? Well, that's easy. In 2023, I was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder. They don't know which one, but I have something that clots my blood and they put me on

blood thinners indefinitely. And I take this pill twice a day, but I need to take it at the same time every day. This is rather important. So I've set alarms on my smartphone that I will hear Neil Young's Heart of Gold at 9.30am and 9.30pm every single day. And when I hear Neil Young, I pop a pill. But why Heart of Gold? Not because it's his biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit. I could care less about that. I chose Heart of Gold because recently, as I approach my 50th birthday, those lyrics

have resonated with me and are hitting me in a different way. I want to live. I want to give. I've been a miner for a heart of gold. It's these expressions I never give that keep me searching for a heart of gold. And I'm getting old. I've been a miner for a heart of gold It's these expressions I never give That keep me searching for a heart of gold

And I'm getting old Keep me searching for a heart of gold I've been in my mind, it's such a fine line That keeps me searching for a heart of gold And I'm getting old And I'm getting old Keep me searching for a heart of gold And I'm growing old I've been a miner for a heart of gold. I mentioned I'm turning 50.

I'd like to give all of you a gift for my 50th birthday. Join me at Great Lakes Brewery will buy you your first glass of fresh craft beer and Palma Pasta will feed you. It cost you nothing to attend. Just find me and give me a big hug on my 50th birthday. See you then at TMLX 15. Speaking of TMLX events, that's Toronto Mic'd Listener Experiences, I'm now remembering TMLX 3, which also took place on a June 27th at Great Lakes Brewery and the band, well at least Ron Hawkins and Lawrence Nichols of Lowest of the Low played live. I remember hearing

Bleed a little while tonight and they closed with a modified version of this wonderful song from Shakespeare, My Butt, one of my favorite albums of all time. I was 17 years old when this came out and CFNY played many, many singles from this album. And I loved it. It was not only great music, but it was so Toronto. I love feedback and comments and well wishes, so you can write me at mike at torontomic.com. I read every single email I receive and I try to reply to every single email I receive. So don't be shy, send me a note if you have something to share. And that brings us to the end of our 1500th show. 1500 episodes of Toronto Miked.

I can't believe it. You can follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky and all over the place, I'm Toronto Mike. Much love to all who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, RecycleMyElectronics.ca, the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, Monaris, and Ridley Funeral Home. See you all next week. Cause my UI check has just come in, ah where you been? Because everything is coming out rosy and gray Yeah the wind is cold but the snow is warm, it's here today And your smile is fine and it's just mine, and it won't go away Cause everything is rosy and green