Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

Toronto has long been the beneficiary of a pipeline that brought top-notch musicians from Kingston to Canada. This handsome compilation, the first in a series, digs up the best soul, funk and reggae recorded in the T-Dot from 1967-74. Standout numbers include Jackie Mittoo’s funky keyboard nugget “Grand Funk,” Noel Ellis’ sweet reggae “Memories” and the Mighty Pope’s soulful workout “Mr. Fortune.” But tracks by Lloyd Delpratt, The Cougars and Jo-Jo & the Fugitives are equally crucial, rediscovered gems. July 11

Peaches (a.k.a. Toronto’s Merrill Nisker) is Feist’s potty-mouthed counterpart. Where Feist moved to Paris to become an ultra-cool chanteuse, her former roommate relocated to Berlin and spawned an x-rated brand of electroclash. Here, Peaches gets help from Joan Jett on the pumping “You Love It” and from Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and Feist on the hoser anthem “Give ’er.” Like Carole Pope crossed with Madonna—only dirtier, Peaches leaves the listener in desperate need of a shower. July 11

This has all the ingredients of another Cockburn classic: political tunes (“Slow Down Fast”) and spiritual numbers (“To Fit in My Head”) mixed with travelogue (“This is Baghdad”), love songs (“Different When it Comes to You”) and instrumentals (“Peace March”). But the addition of horns (jazz trumpeter Kevin Turcotte), a 23-piece string section and vocal assists from Ani DiFranco, Ron Sexsmith, Hawksley Workman and Damhnait Doyle give the veteran Canuck folk legend’s 29th album a refreshing new spin. July 11