Kitchener, Ontario singer-songwriter Kevin Westphal, who performs as The Canuck, has released a new single called “The Food Inflation Blues,” a country comedy track about rising grocery prices. According to the announcement, the song was inspired by a supermarket checkout conversation and a subsequent news report on grocery chain profits, and follows a narrative arc in which a fictional store manager blames diesel costs, tariffs, climate change and wages before the song points to record retailer profits as the real culprit.
Westphal wrote and produced the track himself, recording at Fred Smith Studio in Kitchener with a backing band that includes Fred Smith on lead guitar, Doug Dietrich on pedal steel, Don McDougall on drums and Paul Stouffer on keyboards. A companion video, directed by Danny Bailey, features Paul Schultz playing the grocery store manager opposite Westphal.
The single continues a nearly 15-year run of topical novelty songs from Westphal, including “The Gas Song,” “Here’s to Our Farmers,” “A Typical Day on the 401” and “The Marijuana Song,” which the announcement says have drawn Canadian radio, television and online coverage. Westphal’s earlier work reportedly led to a friendship with country artist Stompin’ Tom Connors between 2005 and 2012.
Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Eric Alper, thatericalper.com.