If there’s such a thing as Canadian roots royalty, then Sylvia Tyson would be Queen.
And her song "You Were On My Mind" would be a shining diamond in her crown.
She'd probably laugh at that. After all, it was the first thing she ever wrote back in the '60s when she was one half of the folk and country super duo Ian and Sylvia. Her skill as a songwriter has only grown in the years that have followed. ("River Road" is a personal favourite.)
Nevertheless, "You Were On My Mind" was a number one hit for the American pop band We Five and has been recorded by many artists around the world. For this week's My Playlist show Tyson include's Canadian Serena Ryder's recent rootsy rendition.
Tyson's long career as a songwriter aside, have a look and listen to this very elegant and stylish version of a traditonal folk song performed by Ian and Sylvia in the mid-sixties.
Mezmerizing.
For more great songwriting, check out Tyson's playlist.
http://music.cbc.ca/play/Inside-the-Music/My-Playlist-with-Syliva-TysonListen to Inside the Music by clicking the play button, and on Radio 2 on Sunday 3 p.m. (3:30 NT) and Radio One on Sunday 9 p.m. (9:30 NT)
Below are today's My Playlist tracks with links to iTunes:
"You are my sunshine" Gene Autry
"When you and I were young Maggie" Edith Wiens
"Chopin's Waltz No. 2" Janina Fialkowski
"Beyond the blue horizon" Jeanette MacDonald
"Heartbreak hotel" Elvis Presley
"All I have to do is dream" Everly Brothers
"Tomorrow is a long time" Bob Dillon
"You were on my mind" Serena Ryder
"The Circle Game" Joni Mitchell
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