Politicos’ picks Our locally elected leaders single out their top listens By: David Sanderson Posted: 12:53 PM CDT Friday, Apr. 17, 2026 Last Modified: 3:17 PM CDT Friday, Apr. 17, 2026 Updates

The votes are in.

In 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney sat down with Nardwuar the Human Serviette, a Vancouver-based radio host known for his often absurd and eccentric interview style. During a 15-minute chat that revolved largely around music, the PM cited London Calling, a 1979 double album by British punk rockers the Clash, as one of his favourite records of all time.

London Calling, ranked No. 16 in the 2020 edition of Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, is a worthy selection — and it got us thinking.

With April 18 being Record Store Day — a semi-annual event that celebrates independent record stores across the globe — we polled Winnipeg and Manitoba elected officials, asking what album or albums they hold in high esteem. Here’s what they had to say.

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Councillor Brian Mayes (St. Vital)

I have been waiting years for this question. I’d go with Frampton Comes Alive! (1976) by Peter Frampton.

I don’t have a vinyl copy of the album — CD, yes; cassette, yes, but long gone — as my sister bought this at the height of Frampton popularity in 1976.

I never liked the single Baby, I Love Your Way but the opening song, Something’s Happening, and Side 3’s Shine On are brilliant. And the closer and tour de force (a term from the liner notes) of Do You Feel Like We Do.

My second choice is anything by Scottish rock band Big Country.

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Mayor Scott Gillingham, City of Winnipeg

(MAYOR Gillingham had a busy week, but Caitlin MacGregor, communications officer for the Mayor’s Office, was able to track him down, and pose the question on our behalf.)

Mayor Gillingham’s favourite album of all time is The Joshua Tree (1987) by U2. He answered without hesitation. He had a copy on cassette but doesn’t remember where he purchased it from.

I asked if he’s seen them live and he did — at the old stadium in 2011, as part of the U2 360° Tour.

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Liberal MP Ginette Lavack (St. Boniface- St. Vital)

The story of a favourite album for me begins with a flight with my dad when I was about eight years old. He had purchased a sports car from Toronto — a little MG. We were going to drive it home together, so we had to fly to Toronto to pick it up. While there, we visited with my aunt, uncle and cousins.

I remember my cousin Keith loving Lionel Richie. One day, he showed me Richie’s album Can’t Slow Down (1983) and played it for me. We were singing along to the songs, he was teaching me all the music and I just loved it.

Before we left, Keith gifted me the album. This was a very special moment for me — my cousin gifting me his favorite Lionel Richie album after he and I shared some time together listening to it.

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Mayor Sharilyn Knox, City of Portage la Prairie

Easy answer. Elton John’s Greatest Hits (1974), the first volume.

When I was 20, I moved to Vancouver. A friend and I packed up my Ford Tempo and hit the road from Brandon. Somewhere along the way, I realized I’d forgotten my CD case, but by then, we were too far to turn around.

We stopped searching for radio stations and played the one album we had — Elton John’s Greatest Hits — over and over, the entire drive.

To this day, I know every word without even thinking. And every time those songs come on, I’m instantly taken back to that feeling of adventure, freedom and the kind of friendship that just sticks with you.

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Mayor Larry Johannson, City of Selkirk

I have a pretty good collection of albums and after looking through them and thinking about it, I have the Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup (1973) and Meat Loaf’s Bat Out of Hell (1977) at the top of the list.

I was in business administration in high school and worked at the high-school store at Lord Selkirk Regional (Comprehensive Secondary School), so that is where I would have bought them.

I love listening to music from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, however I have to admit lately I have the radio tuned to 97.5 (Power 97 Iconic Alternative) and I like it.

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PC MLA Kathleen Cook (Roblin)

The album I go back to over and over again is Babel by Mumford & Sons. No skips.

The songwriting is top-notch and there’s a song on that album for every mood.

It’s a relatively recent release (2012) so I’ve only ever had a digital version.

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Liberal MP Ben Carr (Winnipeg-South Centre)

My favourite album is Graceland (1986) by Paul Simon. In fact, I have the album cover tattooed on my back.

I was raised on ’60s folk rock like Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, etc.… I fell in love with Simon’s music at an early age. I have seen him live in concert over 20 times. I have a little guitar studio in my basement and the walls are adorned with Graceland memorabilia.

The political story behind the making and origins of the album are also fascinating. Tied for first would be Simon and Garfunkel’s The Concert in Central Park from 1982.

Dookie (1994) by Green Day places second. Yes, a bit of a divergence.

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Conservative MP Colin Reynolds (Elmwood- Transcona)

According to the MP’s office, Reynolds’ favourite album is …And Justice for All (1988) by Metallica.

He currently owns the cassette tape, they tell us. He believes he purchased it from a long-shuttered HMV outlet at Kildonan Place, in what is presently his home riding.

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Councillor Ross Eadie (Mynarski)

Wow, only one specific album. Over the years, I have had several albums and CDs I listened to quite extensively.

Wish You Were Here (1975) and Dark Side Of the Moon (1973), both by Pink Floyd and both bought from Eaton’s.

Tea For the Tillerman (1970) by Cat Stevens.

Also, Winds Of Change (1967) by Eric Burdon and the Animals. I listened to that album at Nordic Billiards on Main Street, hanging out with the owner when we were teenagers.

I only have around 350 albums left. My mom threw out a bunch when I moved out before I was 18.

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Mayor Jeff Fawcett, City of Brandon

When push comes to shove and the time calls for it, since my high school days I would probably put on Bruce Spingsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town (1978).

I would have had the LP, the cassette and eventually the CD — likely all from K-Mart — and now in digital form.

It always spoke to my working-class roots: get up, put your boots on and get to work. From when I was young to today, it may have transitioned from freedom-seeking young man to ideas of hope and redemption.

I can still feel myself in its heartbeat.

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Councillor Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan)

It’s a tough call, but I’d say my favourite is Graceland by Paul Simon. I first loved it as a kid listening to my parents’ LP.

It’s hard to say why I love it without sounding like a wannabe music reviewer, but it’s a combination of personal nostalgia — lying on my stomach with headphones on, listening to the record in our living room, reading the liner notes over and over — the playful, clever and poignant lyrics with their vivid imagery and the African and zydeco musical elements.

It’s just a perfect album. There isn’t one track I’d go out of my way to skip.

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NDP MLA Mike Moyes (Riel)

My favourite album is The Black Market (2014) by Chicago punk-rock band Rise Against.

My daughter replicated the album’s cover, and her artwork sits in my office at the legislature. I have a number of CDs from Rise Against’s early days, likely bought from HMV.

The Black Market is great because it combines hard-hitting songs with softer ones. I appreciate that the band isn’t afraid to be bold in their music and their message.

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Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North)

I do not believe I have ever purchased a record. Having said that, I have purchased a few used CDs.

I enjoy ABBA and music similar to that when I am driving my Ford Mustang. And Anne Murray, when I want to relax at home.

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PC MLA Richard Perchotte (Selkirk)

My favourite song is Dreams from Rumours (1977) by Fleetwood Mac, which I purchased back in the day at Sam the Record Man. No particular memories, just really like the music.

I lost the original album in a flood in the mid-’90s. I replaced it shortly thereafter with a CD but nothing sounds better than vinyl. After a decade, I located an original used copy and listen to it often.

Another band I hold in high regard is Slade. I bought the tape of Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984), which I played so often it got stretched and destroyed. I purchased three additional copies over the next two years.

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PC MP Raquel Dancho (Kildonan-St. Paul)

Dancho’s office let us know she appreciated the “fun question,” and that her answer is Shania Twain’s Come on Over (1997). With classics such as Man! I Feel Like a Woman!, it’s a “can’t-miss,” she declared.

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NDP MLA Jellyn Dela Cruz (Radisson)

At the moment it would be Anti (2016) by Rihanna, the deluxe edition. It’s feminine and gutsy. Gets me in the right head space to show up for those around me.

It’s multidimensional and is able to do many things all at once — good familiar dance tunes, heart-wrenching ballads and the right songs to hype up the girls for anything.

I downloaded it to my iPod Touch on Apple Music when it first came out. I would have been 16 years old.

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Minister Renée Cable (NDP MLA – Southdale)

I’ve thought long and hard about this and I am truly a mixtape person. I have a different album for different moments in time and various transitions and life events. Here are my picks for my mixed tape.

• Legend – Bob Marley (1984)
• Rumours – Fleetwood Mac (1977)
• Violator – Depeche Mode (1990)
• 21 – Adele (2011)
• MTV Unplugged in New York – Nirvana (1994)
• Ten – Pearl Jam (1991)
• Folklore – Taylor Swift (2020)
• Fully Completely – The Tragically Hip (1992)
• Lemonade – Beyoncé (2016)
• With Heaven on Top (acoustic version) – Zach Bryan (2026)

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NDP MLA David Pankratz (Waverley)

Family road trips created some of my fondest childhood memories. I still have vivid memories of cruising through the Prairies, seeing the Rockies appear on the horizon and eventually jumping into the ocean. And all of those memories are accompanied with mixtapes in our family car.

One of the albums that was played over and over was Graceland by Paul Simon. I definitely don’t have the original copy we played on those trips, but I have it on vinyl to play for my kids now. It immediately makes me feel warm and happy.

Honourable mention: Nirvana’s Nevermind (1991) has always been in my top three and my 14-year-old recently told me that it’s his favourite at the moment. The reason I started playing in bands as a teenager was (Nirvana drummer) Dave Grohl.

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NDP MP Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre)

If I had to choose a favourite album, I’d pick Harvest Moon (1992) by Neil Young. I can still remember my parents dancing to its title track in the living room of our home, a memory I cherish and will never forget.

It’s not surprising that Winnipeg helped produce someone so iconic and talented as Neil Young, a testament to the rich culture nourished by our communities throughout our local history.

And it’s so inspiring that this local legend has taken such strong, principled stances on human rights, environmental justice and anti-war causes, something fans can take pride in while listening to the many classics he’s produced over the years.

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Have a favourite album of your own? Share it with us at david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca and we’ll enter your name in a draw for a $25 gift certificate to Argy’s Records, 1604 St. Mary’s Rd. Deadline is April 20 at noon.

winnipegfreepress.com/davidsanderson