The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates

by Stuart McLean

NATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom Canada's much-missed, nationally bestselling storyteller, a must-have collection featuring ten never-before-published stories and ten classic favourites, perfect for old fans and Vinyl Cafe newcomers alike.From the unforgettable Christmas classic "Dave Cooks the Turkey" to the tender tribute to ice-cream-loving, potato-sitting Arthur the dog in "Morte d'Arthur"; from the joys and challenges of marriage in "The Canoe Trip" to the celebration of childhood adventure in "The Waterslide."From the beginning of life (the hilarious "Labour Pains") to the end (the touching "Love Never Ends") and all the moments--big and small--in between, these stories remind us that there are occasions to celebrate every day.For more than two decades, Stuart McLean entered the hearts and homes of Canadians via The Vinyl Cafe radio show, his many tours across the country, and multiple nationally bestselling books. His charming, humane, and side-splitting stories brought the trials and triumphs of Dave, Morley, Sam, and Stephanie to life, and made their memorable circle of friends, family, and neighbours as real as our own.This collection is both timely and timeless, a rich celebration of Stuart McLean's inimitable voice, and of the importance of love, community, kindness, and the healing power of laughter.

Genres: Canada, Short Stories, Fiction, Humor, Adult, Anthologies

344 pages, Hardcover

Published October 12, 2021

About the author

Librarian Note: There was more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

From the Vinyl Cafe web site: Stuart McLean was a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and humorist, and host of CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe.

Stuart began his broadcasting career making radio documentaries for CBC Radio's Sunday Morning. In 1979 he won an ACTRA award for Best Radio Documentary for his contribution to the program's coverage of the Jonestown massacre.

Following Sunday Morning, Stuart spent seven years as a regular columnist and guest host on CBC's Morningside. His book, The Morningside World of Stuart McLean, was a Canadian bestseller and a finalist in the 1990 City of Toronto Book Awards.

Stuart has also written Welcome Home: Travels in Small Town Canada, and edited the collection When We Were Young. Welcome Home was chosen by the Canadian Authors' Association as the best non-fiction book of 1993.

Stuart's books Stories from the Vinyl Cafe, Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged, Vinyl Cafe Diaries, Dave Cooks the Turkey, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe and Extreme Vinyl Cafe have all been Canadian bestsellers. Vinyl Cafe Diaries was awarded the Canadian Authors' Association Jubilee Award in 2004. Stuart was also a three-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for Home from the Vinyl Cafe, Vinyl Cafe Unplugged and, most recently, Secrets from the Vinyl Cafe.

Vinyl Cafe books have also been published in the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.

Stuart was a professor emeritus at Ryerson University in Toronto and former director of the broadcast division of the School of Journalism. In 1993 Trent University named him the first Rooke Fellow for Teaching, Writing and Research. He has also been honored by: Nipissing University (EdD(H)); University of Windsor (Lld) and Trent University (DLH). Stuart served as Honorary Colonel of the 8th Air Maintenance Squadron at 8 Wing, Trenton from 2005 to 2008.

Since 1998 Stuart has taken The Vinyl Cafe to theatres across Canada, playing in both large and small towns from St. John's, Newfoundland to Whitehorse in the Yukon.

Close to one million people listen to The Vinyl Cafe every weekend on CBC Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio and on a growing number of Public Radio stations in the United States. The program is also broadcast on an occasional basis on the BBC.

Reviews

[Ian M. Pyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-warming, tear-jerking, laugh-out-loud funny and some that might resemble events that happened in your own lives.

I can remember listening to his stories on The Vinyl Cafe on CBC for many years, read a couple books my parents had and seeing him in concert many years ago. He has such a "down-home folksy" voice that makes you feel as if you're sitting around the coffee table or fire-pit with him as he tell his tales of Morley and Dave.

For those who need a bit of humour and in their lives today, go get this book.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've never heard Stuart McLean i highly recommend listening to his audio books. He was a master at the art of telling stories I laughed until i cried at hearing him live many times. Its a shame he passed away so young and these gems were never recorded. Miss Vinyl Cafe Sunday radio show

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is a posthumous Vinyl Cafe publication, with 10 never published stories mixed in with 10 classics. A couple of the "new" stories felt a little rougher around the edges but there were a couple I really loved, like the Christmas Collision. Overall it was a gentle, feel good read for Christmas break.

That said I don't know how I feel about continuing to publish new Vinyl Cafe collections going forward. I thought the Christmas collection was necessary and with this one it is nice to have the new stories, but I hope this is it. My mom WILL keep buying me anything Stuart's estate continues to publish, and I would rather revisit the old stories in their original collections going forward (other than Vinyl Cafe Christmas of course which is of course the most important story compilation of all time).

[❀ Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you follow my reviews, you will know that I have a soft spot for the stories of the late Stuart McLean. I will always regret that I did not attend his show when he visited our local theatre and have now lost that chance forever.

The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates is a combination of newly released stories and some wonderful, previously enjoyed tales. They are all nostalgic, heart warming and funny (as Dave's antics always are). Highlights were the School Lunch, (which all parents can relate to as they struggled to put together lunches that kids which actually eat), The Laundry Chute (think a young boy trying to escape a mining disaster) and one of my favourite holiday stories, Dave Cooks the Turkey.

As always, I read these stories with Stuart's voice in my head and the laugh track of a studio audience echoing.

This book is the perfect book to pick up and read a story before bed or to end/start your day with laughter and a smile!

[Marymary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this whilst travelling home on a GO bus - Ontario's regional transit system. Although I sat at the back it was all I could do not to laugh out loud and possibly lose control of my bladder and my ability to sit upright! (maybe TMI). That being said if you need a pick me up in the spirits get this book. Stuart McLean's story telling will lift you out of the doldrums.

[Lino Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

WE MAY NOT BE BIG…BUT WE’RE SMALL

The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates: Review
Stuart McLean’s The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates: Review

WE MAY NOT BE BIG…BUT WE’RE SMALL
It is easy to celebrate with the Vinyl Cafe. Afterall, who does not like a good story. Especially a story, even if sad, melancholy, or frustrating is sure to make you smile and maybe even laugh out loud. Stuart McLean had that talent. I proved it again and again on his iconic CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe for over 20 years.
His legacy lives on in the 15 or so books that Stuart graced us with. And we are still smiling. Still laughing. Still reminiscing. Still missing him, and others. What others? The others that Stuart’s stories remind us about. People we knew; events we saw; regrets we have; chances we took. Stuart’s stories touch on all of these things. Stuart understood that, “the tapestry of our lives is made up of little bits of faded cloth – each worn piece stitched to another on the frame of memory.” Stuart brings color, smiles, and dare it be said, joy, to those memories. Obstacles don’t seem as big; problems don’t seem as fraught; when we approach them the Stuart way.
WE MAY NOT BE BIG…BUT WE’RE SMALL
The smallness that the stories exhibited were part of their charm. You did not have to climb Mount Everest to be part of a tale. Perhaps “Jim’s Toboggan” run proves that. Your adventure, my adventure, their adventures – they are all tales that can resonate with others. They can help us connect. They can help us smile. As Stuart’s main guy, Dave, explained: Dave “had told them (the story) before. He knew what he was doing. You have to tell stories over and over. It is the creation of myth. The only road to immortality.”
Perhaps it is not the only road to immortality. Perhaps leaving a legacy, which Stuart has done is another path. The truth is that Stuart’s Legacy is built on his stories. His stories and our smiles. The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates has 20 stories. 20 stories that you may have heard, read, or lived before. And in their retelling, in hearing them over and over, they become part of us. More than myth. They become legend.
This month will be six years that Stuart departed the earthly plane. It is likely that he is sitting in a circle, regaling others with tales of the continuing adventures of Dave, Morley, Stephanie and the rest of the gang from the Vinyl Cafe. I hope that is so.

Lino Matteo ©™
Twitter @Lino_Matteo
https://linomatteo.wordpress.com/2023...

[Ashley M · Rating 5 out of 5]

We may not be big, but we’re small.

The Vinyl Café Celebrates really is just a celebration of stories from the late Stuart McLean. Featuring fan favourites like Odd Jobs, The Waterslide and Dave Cooks the Turkey, it’s the perfect mix of stories for new and old fans.

The stories mostly centre around Dave, an average guy who owns a second hand record store in Toronto. He has a wife named Morley and two kids, Sam and Stephanie. While he may be just an average guy, he gets into the most ridiculous situations! And they’re ridiculous because they’re all kinda plausible! The shenanigans Dave gets up to could (and probably did) happen to anyone. (But actually probably happened to Stuart, as he alluded to in a podcast at one point!) Which is the magic of the stories. I enjoyed reading and listening to Dave and his crazy happenings. I also enjoyed when other characters like Kenny Wong or Mary Turlington were involved.

My favourite story of the bunch is actually not centred on Dave! It’s called Mary Turlington and Polly Anderson’s Christmas Collision and it is hilarious. The story is about how Mary, who is a bit high maintenance and high strung, finds out the annual neighborhood Christmas party hosted by Polly miiiight not happen this year. And instead of confirming with Polly, Mary just jumps into action. Which causes stress for the neighborhood when they receive invites for BOTH parties. The solution they come up with is hysterical and the end of the story is about humility and compromise and is definitely a lesson everyone can learn.

I grew up listening to the Vinyl Café on CBC radio. I still have a playlist with a vast selection of the stories. I listen to it when I’m cooking or crafting or need comfort. The Vinyl Café is a comfort to me and I still find it funny and touching after all these years.

The Vinyl Café Celebrates is a perfect conclusion to any fans collection. I have enjoyed reading these stories and will continue to enjoy them for many, many years.

[Xander Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming collection of short stories that I bought in Vancouver during a brief summer stopover from Japan.

I wanted to find Canadian authors that I hadn’t heard of before(basically anything not by Atwood) and I was recommended Stuart McLean. Upon first glance, I thought the stories were cute but not too enthralling, and then I read about McLean and how these stories were meant to be read out loud, as a part of his fictional Vinyl Cafe stories on the radio.

It made more sense to me now.

The power of a story spoken out loud can have a lot more power than of a quiet reading alone, and I can see with the style in these stories, that these quaint little slices of life are more than just short stories, but part of an oral history by one of Canada’s most beloved storytellers.

It’s really a heartwarming collection.

[Linda Branton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like going out for your favourite ice cream cone, after a day at the beach is what it feels like to consume a delicious collection of Stuart McLean stories. I read it in two days, and I can't remember the last time I laughed out loud so many times reading a book. It helps that I am familiar with the characters as I have read and listened to some McLean in the past, but oh my goodness! The camping in Algonquin park story was so funny. You've got to know that when you are in a tent, the furry thing at your face is no longer your pet cat.

Well, if you haven't read or listened to Stuart McLean, get to it! I smiled for 2 days. If you can listen to the author read his stories, and there are many audio recordings, its even better.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. While not holiday-themed, this was the perfect book to read over the holidays. Really, it would be the perfect book to read any time of the year; the Vinyl Cafe is just like that. Steeped in emotion, it's packed with so much laughter, and is the type of book that will be read many times over. Nothing beats Stuart's Vinyl Cafe.

[Sidney BR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect exam season read, full of short and sweet stories. The characters were all relatable and loveable. It’s hard to pick a favourite story but I did love the one about tree planting, and also the one about the Christmas parties. Just a sweet picture into people living their lives and trying their best.

[Lisa the Tech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cancer did the literary world a great deal of harm when it took Stuart McLean away. I just finished reading a compilation of his best stories. Sweet, wholesome, poignant, and delicious. Not one bad apple in the bunch. It might seem extreme, but I would be willing to give this book 10 or even 25 stars out of 5.

[Felicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about Stuart McLean's stories is how he can make you laugh your head off and bring tears to your eyes and make your heart warm all in the same story. He was truly a brilliant storyteller and a Canadian treasure.

[Lyle Boylen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly is a celebration of the Vinyl Cafe series. Included are 10 classic stories and 10 brand new ones. This is a fantastic series that should appeal to any reader. I highly recommend them.

[Meagan Jesmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed, I cried and everything in between. This was a lovely mix of new and old and a very sweet read.

Stuart's voice rings true and clear through these pages.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am never disappointed by Stuart McLean's stories! This is a great "curl up and read on a chilly night" book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give it more stars, I would. Just the most wholesome heart lifting collection.

[Pierre C. Arseneault · Rating 5 out of 5]

I miss Stuart McLean. I return to his works often, either in print or audio. He had a delightful way of telling stories like no other. I wish he would have been with us long enough to have Dave and Morley become grandparents. I imagine the shenanigans he would have entertained us with and miss him even more. This book, like all the other Vinyl Café books, was a delight to read.

[Judy Monchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this collection of Stuart McLean stories — 10 classics and 10 new stories — unleashes a flood of memories from hours spent listening to the Vinyl Cafe on CBC radio. I remember taking our children to see Stuart (always the friendly ‘Stuart’ never the formal ‘McLean’) at a Vinyl Cafe taping in Banff. My son, then 12 or 13, asked the master storyteller to sign the story collection we had “from Dave and Morley.” He smiled, raised his eyebrows and happily obliged. 


Stuart McLean and his stories are part of the tapestry of our family life as our children grew up — staples replayed on road trips and as a reward Sunday afternoon for attending mass. Dave’s often-oblivious decisions would lead to comedy gold and we hung on every word coming over the airwaves. How many times as Stuart was telling the story did he stop and say to the laughing crowd who saw where the story was leading: “now don’t get ahead of me!”

Stuart McLean's voice narrates each of these stories in my head: from the timeless Dave Cooks a Turkey to The Waterslide and of course, Christmas parties with Mary Turlington and Polly Anderson. 
As always, I laughed and I cried. But within this collection are also several stories that seem like they were written as the author was battling melanoma skin cancer and facing his final days. There is a sense of looking back over life: cherishing the high points (a perfect toboggan ride, the birth of a child), past the mythical moments we believe hold us back and adding a gentle nudge to try again and seek new joys or triumphs. There are also the farewells — to a beloved pet and the people who influence “the way you travel for the rest of your life.”
Stuart McLean died in 2017, but his stories — and his voice — will live on forever.

[Cathy Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading these stories, I can hear Stuart McClean’s cadences, and all the characters spring vividly to life. Many were familiar, from hearing Stuart tell them, and some were new to me. They carry the sweet and sad reality of time passing; the beautiful slow boredom of a summer afternoon; the joy of neighbours getting together. I loved living with Dave and Morley for a few wonderful and disastrous hours—just what I wanted this week for reading in bed.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest in a series of books transcribing Stuart MacLean's radio stories about Dave and Morley and the Vinyl Cafe, the world's smallest record store. (Motto: We're not big, but we're small!) On the page, the stories do miss something in not being able to hear MacLean's unique delivery, but they are still at times funny, at times heartwarming, and always enjoyable. MacLean has a way of taking the events of everyday life an infusing them with just a touch of exaggeration so that the situations are somewhat outrageous yet still plausible and true to life. I always find myself breezing through a Vinyl cafe book in a matter of days. Highly recommended.

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savoured this collection of short stories slowly this month because they just bring so much joy to my day. Of course, some were familiar but, whether new or old, all of the tales of Dave, Morley, Stephanie, Sam, and their friends make me recognize the beauty in the everyday. Our life is made up of our relationships and slow summers and memories of childhood. It’s made up of how we treat our loved ones and years of holiday celebrations. Some of my favourite stories were the one with the water slide, Dave Cooks the Turkey (of course) and the very last story which had me crying happy tears.

[Lyndsey Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just could not pay me to say a bad work about Stuart McLean which may surprise you if you know me because I can typically find something bad to say about everyone on the planet. Yes, there’s deep sentiment here. My dad introduced me to Stuart and CBC many years ago and I’ll forever be attached. I laughed, I cried. Breezy little tales that offer an adorable escape from all those assholes I can talk shit about.

[Joanne Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been born and raised in Ontario but having been married to a
Bluenoser this book was a joy to read! I have been or know of many of the places the writer talks about and find myself drifting once in awhile into memories of the locations. Some are memories of the East
Coast but others are memories of places in Northern Ontario that are wound into this book. Be prepared to laugh a fair amount and I was at the end of the book before I knew it!!

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t go wrong the the Vinyl Cafe! I had heard most of the stories before, on the audio books. I prefer the audio books, only to be able to hear Stuart’s voice as he reads the stories, and hear the audience reactions. Highly recommend as a light read for those days when you need a combination of funny and touching.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates is a great collection of Stuart McLean's stories, whether you're new to his writing or simply wanting to read him again. He was such a great writer and a unique way of capturing complex emotions in just a few well-chosen words. His stories are so touching and some are laugh out loud funny. We miss him and his gentle humour, compassion and love.

[Spencer Bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I've posted my review of The Vinyl Cafe Celebrates on my blog (link here). It would be great if you checked it out!

[Trish Boese · Rating 5 out of 5]

5* This is a standalone collection of the best Vinyl Cafe stories. Most of the chapters I had read or heard before (but the written version is slightly different from the audio sometimes). This collection is TOP CLASSIC. Stuart Maclean is Canadian storytelling at its finest.

[Kristin Duff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vinyl cafe celebrates

Excellent stories. Little snippets of life that made me laugh out loud and cry like a baby. Loved it. Thank you Stuart

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I miss Stuart, enjoyed reading these stories, some very familiar and some new. I can clearly hear his voice in my head as I read, and that is so lovely.