/ Rhythmic Beats
Hour One - The Q Continuum
1. Dale Hawkins: Suzie Q - 1957
2. Suzie Quatro: In The Morning – 1974
3. Queensrÿche: The Needle Lies – 1988
4. Quicksilver Messenger Service: Cowboy On The Run – 1975
5. Michael Quatro Jam Band: In The Court of the Crimson King – 1972
6. Queen: Sheer Heart Attack – 1977
7. Los Quinchamali: Fiesta – 1974 *
8. Roger Quick: Turn On Country – 1977 *
9. Quiet Jungle: Ship Of Dreams – 1967 *
10. Gordon Quinton: Sunbreeze – 1979 *
11. Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band: Grand Basile – 1982
12. John Dickie Band: Mississippi Queen – 1987 *
13. Oscar Peterson Trio: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars – 1965 *
14. The Who: Acid Queen – 1969
15. The Shadows: Quatermaster’s Stores - 1960
Hour Two – Rhythmic Beats
1. Sandy Nelson: Teen Beat ’65 – 1965
2. The Trashmen: Bird Dance Beat – 1964
3. The Beat: Twist & Crawl – 1980
4. Blondie: Eat To The Beat - 1979
5. Jeffrey Hatcher & Big Beat: The King & Me – 1987 *
6. Jude Johnson: Rhythm In My Soul – 1984 *
7. Anvil Chorus: Rhythm Is The Way – 1967 *
8. Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm – 1987
9. Rhythm Sweethearts: Running Wild – 1965 *
10. Rhythm Pals: If I Had A Hammer – 1962 *
11. Rhythm Ramblers: Clover Leaf Reel – 1960s *
12. Wade Walton & R.C. Smith: Barbershop Rhythm – 1960
13. The Esquires: Rhythm Shoes – 1964 *
14. The Dave Clark Five: Doctor Rhythm – 1967
15. Original Sloth Band: Rock It In Rhythm – 1978 *
16. Parachute Club: Walk To The Rhythm of Your Heartbeat – 1986 *
17. Mike Malahini Scott and the Hawaiianaires: Rhythm of the Islands – 1983 *
18. Ken Stanley: Crazy Rhythm – 1962 *
CanCon – 33%
And Now for The Particulars:
Hour One – The Q Continuum
1. Dale Hawkins: Suzie Q
(Stan Lewis / Dale Hawkins / Robert Chaisson)
45 bw Hi Heeled Sneakers by Tommy Tucker: Collectables COL 3429-B
St. Mary Parish LA
Dale Hawkins: vocal
James Burton: guitar
Produced 1957
Recorded 1957 at KWKH Radio, Shreveport, Louisiana
Collectables 45 released 1981
Delmar Allen Hawkins b. St. Mary Parish, Louisiana / d. August 22, 1936 / d. February 13, 2010 (73) Little Rock, Arkansas
He began recording in 1956. In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore, Hawkins blended that with the uniquely heavy blues sound of black Louisiana. Not bad for a white guy for his recording of this swamp-rock classic, "Susie Q.” Fellow Louisiana guitarist and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton provided the signature riff and solo.
2. Suzi Quatro: In The Morning
(Suzi Quatro / Len Tuckey)
45 single bw Devil’s Gate Drive: Rak Records 167
Michigan US
Suzi Quatro: Bass, Lead Vocals
Len Tuckey: Guitar, Slide Guitar, Backing Vocals
Alastair McKenzie: Electric Piano, Grand Piano, Mellotron, Backing Vocals
Dave Neal: Drums, Backing Vocals
Produced by Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn, 1974
Susan Kay Quatro: b. 3 June 1950, Detroit MI
She was the first female bass player to become a major rock star. She actually found greater success in European and Australian territories than in her homeland. She also played the role of Leather Tuscadero on the popular American sitcom Happy Days, and was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame. Quatro has sold over 50 million albums world-wide.
3. Queensrÿche: The Needle Lies
(Geoff Tate / Michael Wilton)
Operation: Mindcrime: EMI-Manhattan Records E4 48640
Bellevue, Washington
Geoff Tate: lead vocals, keyboard, whistles and blurbs
Chris DeGarmo: acoustic guitars, lap steel guitar, guitar synth
Michael Wilton: guitar
Eddie Jackson: bass
Scott Rockenfield: drums, percussion
Produced by Peter Collins, 1988
Recorded at Kajem/Victory Studios, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania & Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec by Paul Northfield
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, New York
The name "Queensrÿche" is written with a metal umlaut over the letter 'Y'. As the band later joked: "The umlaut over the 'y' has haunted us for years. We spent eleven years trying to explain how to pronounce it." The umlaut is used on all of Queensrÿche's releases, except for their 2011 album, Dedicated to Chaos.
4. Quicksilver Messenger Service: Cowboy On The Run
(Dino Valenti)
Solid Silver: Capitol Records SN 66076
San Francisco CA
Gary Duncan: electric and steel, vocals
John Cipollina: electric and Hawaiian steel guitars, vocals
Dino Valenti: guitar, vocals
David Freiberg bass, vocals
Greg Elmore: drums
Nicky Hopkins: piano
Pete Sears: piano
Michael Lewis: piano, organ, Arp synthesizer
Skip Olson: bass
Mario Cipollina: bass
Kathi McDonald: vocals
Produced by Quicksilver & John Palladino, 1975
Recorded by Mike Fusaro, George Engfer, Tom Lubin & Phil Brown at Columbia
Recording Studios, San Franciscop June 30 August 20, 1975
Mastered by Wally Traugott at Capitol Records, Hollywood
Gary Ray Grubb b. San Diego September 4, 1946 / d. June 29, 2019 (72) Woodland, California
Started as the guitar player for the Ratz as an opening act for the Byrds and the Rolling Stones at the War Memorial Auditorium in San Jose in 1965. After that he joined The Brogues where he met drummer Greg Elmore. The two would soon find themselves in Quicksilver Messenger Service. After recording two albums, Duncan left Quicksilver and as he describes it, "I left for a year and rode motorcycles and lived in New York City and Los Angeles and just kind of went crazy for about a year." In 1970 he rejoined Quicksilver Messenger Service along with singer/guitarist Dino Valenti.
5. Michael Quatro Jam Band: In The Court of the Crimson King
(Pete Sinfield / Ian McDonald)
Paintings: Evolution Records 3011
Detroit MI
Mike Quatro: keys, percussion, flutes
Ted Nugent: guitar
Terry Mullen: percussion
John Finley: lead vocal
Pat and Nancy Quatro: vocals
Produced by Mike Quatro, 1972
Michael Quatro (born 12 June 1943, Detroit, Michigan, USA)
Mike Quatro is Suzi Quatro’s older brother. He was very popular in Detroit and released several albums. The son of jazz bandleader Art Quatro, he began playing piano at a young age, and as a teen earned a spot performing on The Lawrence Welk Show during the late '50s. released several albums in the 1970s. These albums became especially unpopular in Detroit, Michigan, where Quatro was often egged onstage. Paintings was his first solo album.
6. Queen: Sheer Heart Attack
(Roger Taylor)
News of the World: Elektra Records: 6E 112
London UK
Freddie Mercury: lead vocals and backing vocals
Brian May: lead guitar
Roger Taylor: lead vocals and backing vocals, drums, rhythm guitar, bass
Produced by Queen with Mike Stone, 1977
Recorded by Mike Stone at Basing Street and Wessex Studios
Interestingly, this song was written for the 1974 album by Queen called Sheer Heart Attack but it didn’t make the final cut because it never got finished. Re-written by Roger Taylor, it came out three years later on their News of the World album.
7. Los Quinchamali: Fiesta
(Trad)
CBC Broadcast Recording: LM 406
Montreal QC
Edmond Badoux
Alain Montblanch
Renato Trujillo
Jose Zawadski
Produced by Mark Goldman, 1974
Recorded by M dePassille & JP Latortune at CBC Montreal Studios
Quinchamali is Qechwa word meaning “Spread to the 4 winds”. A band with this name formed in Montreal in early 70s, and were asked to perform at the Mariposa Folk Fest in 1973, on Toronto’s Centre Island. The group of four men had Chilean, Swiss, Spanish and Russian-Jewish backgrounds. They played Andean music on traditional South American instruments. Quinchamalí is the name of a small village in northern Chile.
8. Roger Quick: Turn On Country
(Roger Quick)
Turn On Country: Thunderbird Records – TBR 1043
Park Hill (London) ON
Roger Quick: guitar, vocal
Al Brisco: steeel
Brian Barron: fiddle
Johnny Burke: bass
Roddy Lee: drums
George Herbert / Mike Francis: lead guitars
Mel Aucoyne / Bob Munro: piano
Keith Mackay: guitar
Debbie Post, Joanne Errington, Keith MacKay: bg vocals
Produced by Roger Quick, 1977
Recorded by Roy Farr and Bob Leth at Springfield Sound Studios, Springfield ON
Roger Quick was born in Warwick Village, Lambton County in 1940
Quick released four albums of country music in the 1970s, one of which features him riding his snowmobile on the front cover. Another album cover featured Quick and his wife seated on the hood of a white Mac Truck. He was from the London Ontario area and billed himself as the Southern Ontario Farmboy.
In 1959 he joined Ross Campbell’s Rainbow Band. They began to play the local dances which included five years of Saturday Night during the summers at the Ipperwash Casino. Roger became known as the leader of the group because he did all the announcing and the lion's share of singing. It wasn’t long that the band was known as Roger Quick and the Rainbows. He performed around the Southwestern part of Ontario for years and even opened for Hank Snow in Chatham Ontario.
9. Quiet Jungle: Ship of Dreams
(Bob Mark)
Yorkville Evolution: Yorkville: YVM 33001
Toronto
Doug Rankine (vocals, guitar)
Bob Mark (guitar)
Mike Woodruff (bass)
Rick Felstead (drums)
Henry S. Thaler [aka Taylor] (electric piano)
Produced by Brian Ahern, 1967
Originally released on 45 rpm single bw Everything, Yorkville YV-45004
Eager to distance themselves further from "Clear the Track, Here Comes the Shack", Doug Rankine and the Secrets adopted the moniker the Quiet Jungle in early 1967. At the tail-end of the band's association with Arc Records, the Quiet Jungle anonymously recorded a cover album devoted to the Monkees' songs called A Little Bit Me, I’m a Believer, She Hangs Out plus 9 other ‘Tail-Hanger’ Favorite. The group released "Ship of Dreams" in February 1967 on Yorkville Records, making the group believe they had finally "turned the corner", and could be considered serious musicians. "Ship of Dreams" reached number 31 on the CHUM Chart. the band could not escape its image as the Secrets, saying "Our bookings increased and we were playing right across Canada. Everyone booking us however, wanted the 'Secrets' to play 'Clear the Track Here Comes Shack' and not the group that just released 'Ship of Dreams. Thereafter, the group slowly began to disband during 1968.
10. Gordon Quinton: Sunbreeze
(G Quinton)
Guitar Songs ¬ Quay 7933
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Gordon Quinton, guitar
Boyd Norman, bass
John Lacey, second guitar
Produced by Neil Bishop and Claude Caines, May 1979
Recorded at Clode Sound, Stephenville
Gordon Quinton was drawn to the acoustic guitar at a very early age after seeing one in a store window and hearing his brother Doug and his friends playing country songs on their guitars. After moving to St. John’s in the mid-1960s, he became a member of the The Krystals and The Mountain Men, playing rock and roll and country music on electric lead guitar. In 1970, Gordon was invited by producer Tom Cahill to be in the house band for a season of CBC television show, All Around the Circle.
Gordon was awarded Instrumental Artist by the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1997. He was honoured again in 2007 as Instrumental Artist/Group of the Year award and nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award that same year for his recording, The Yellow Sky. In 2013, Gordon received the Instrumental Artist/Group of the Year award from MusicNL for A Guitar’s Story.
11. Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zyedeco Band: Grand Basile
(Queen Ida / Al ‘Ripone’ Lewis)
On Tour: GNP Crecendo Records ¬ GNPS 2147
Lake Charles LA
Queen Ida: accordion, vocal
Al Rapone: vocal, lead guitar
Don Nick: bass
Gregory DePew: drums
Wilbert Lewis: percussion
Produced by Al Lewis, 1982
Ida Lewis "Queen Ida" Guillory b. January 15, 1929 Lake Charles, Louisiana
She grew up in Beaumont, Texas and made her way to California when she was just 18. She got married and drove a school bus while playing accordion in her brother’s Zydeco band. She was dubbed "Queen Ida" after being chosen queen of a Mardi Gras and went on to become the first female accordion player to lead a zydeco band. The On Tour album won her a Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1982. She’s currently 91, retired and living in San Francisco.
12. John Dickie: Mississippi Queen
(David Rea / Felix Pappalardi / Leslie West)
Grossmans Live: Spadina Beat Records WRC1-5490
Toronto ON
John Dickie: vocals
Michael McDonald: guitar
Pat Rush: guitar
Mike Sloski: drums
Alec Fraser: bass
Produced by Michael McDonald & Michael Pickett, 1987
Recorded by Michael McDonald w Jim Jones, Bob Read, Pat Rush & Cory Turnbull at Grossmans Tavern, Toronto
Mixed at Comfort Sound, Toronto by Steve Straub and Michael McDonald
Mastered by Pete Norman at McClear Place, Toronto
John Dickie is a versatile Toronto blues singer who’s played with Crowbar, Cameo Blues, Sisters Euclid, John & the Sisters to name some. He’s joined here by guitar master Pat Rush (b. Pittsburgh PA June 27, 1952) who’s credentials include playing with the likes of Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton, The Allman Brothers, Jeff Healey band, etc. Alec Fraser, known for his bass playing, has played with Jeff Healey (on Mess Of Blues), Ron Hynes, and dozens of others. Mike Sloski hit the Toronto music scene in 1971 playing great drums and has backed up Martha & The Muffins, Alannah Myles, Etta James, Ben E King, Long John Baldry and Dusty Springfield.
13. Oscar Peterson Trio: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
(Corcovado)
We Get Requests: Verve MIJ-1-5321
Montreal QC / Toronto ON
Oscar Peterson: piano
Ray Brown: bass
Ed Thigpen: drums
Produced by Jim Davis, 1965
Recorded by Bob Simpson
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson b. August 15, 1925 Montreal – d. December 23, 2007(aged 82) Mississauga ON
His work earned him eight Grammy awards over the years and he was elected to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1978. He also belongs to the Juno Awards Hall of Fame and the Canadian Jazz and Blues Hall of Fame. In 2013, Peterson was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada (the country's highest civilian state order for talent and service) in 1972, and promoted to Companion of the order (the highest degree of merit and humanity), in 1984. Has received 16 Honourary degrees from various Canadian universities.
14. The Who: Acid Queen
(Pete Townsend)
Tommy: Decca Records DSXW 7205
London UK
Pete Townshend: lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric piano
John Entwistle: bass
Keith Moon: drums
Produced by Kit Lambert, 1969
Recorded at IBC Studios, London
From the Rock Opera Tommy, and later sung by Tina Turner who played The Acid Queen in the Tommy movie. To cure him, Tommy is left with a gypsy woman who’s a self-proclaimed "Acid Queen", and feeds Tommy various drugs and tries to lure him into sex in an attempt to free him from isolation. The song has also been covered by Merry Clayton, Patti LaBelle, and Bette Midler. One of the most poignant songs on the album and one of the few featuring Pete Townsend on lead vocals. Bob Dylan's song "Murder Most Foul”, just released this year 2020, references both "The Acid Queen" and "Tommy Can You Hear Me?”
15. Shadows: Quartermaster’s Stores
(Trad arr by Bill Shepherd)
45 Single bw Apache: Columbia (UK) 45-DB 4484 Lorna Music
London UK
Hank Marvin: lead guitar
Bruce Welch: rhythm guitar
Jet Harris: bass
Tony Meehan: drums
Produced by Norrie Paramor, 1960
Recorded 17 June 1960, EMI Studios, London
Thus ends our look into the Q Continuum with The Quartermaster’s Stores, a song that goes a long way back and was sung by British soldiers in WW1. In those World War I armies, the quartermaster's department was responsible for stores and supplies. The song was known in the United States by the 1930s. It’s been recorded by Pete Seegar and Burl Ives and here it’s done as a rocked up instrumental.
Hour Two – The Rhythmic Beats
1. Sandy Nelson: Teen Beat ‘65
(Sandy Nelson / A Egnolan)
Teen Beat 65: Imperial Records LP-12278
Boulder City, NV
Sandy Nelson: drums
Richard Podolor: guitar
Produced by Nick De Caro, 1965
Sander L. Nelson: Born December 1, 1938 (age 82) Santa Monica CA
I always loved Nelson’s drumming. I’ve got 8 of his many albums; he’s released over 30 in all. I got into drumming in 1965 when I started playing on a Stewart drum kit, playing along to Sandy Nelson records. He had great hands and a wonderful sense of rhythm and incorporated rock beats with African rhythms funneled through a jazz twist that got teens dancing. With Richard Polodor supplying a bit of melody on the lead guitar, Nelson could surf to its sounds and add a whole world of life to a song.
He currently lives in Boulder City, Nevada, doing the occasional gig. Not the drummer that he used to be but still has the technique engrained in his hands. A very subtle touch, very easy behind the kit and yet, listen to the sounds that he makes!
2. The Trashmen: Bird Dance Beat
(George Garrett)
45 rpm single bw A-bone: Apex Records (Canada) 76904
Minneapolis MN
Tony Anderson: lead guitar
Dal Winslow: guitar
Bob Reed: bass
Steve Wahrer: drums, lead vocals
Produced by George Garrett, 1964
The Trashmen formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962 as Jim Thaxter & the Travelers. The group's original lineup was Tony Anderson on lead guitar and vocals, Dal Winslow on guitar and vocals, Steve Wahrer (d. 1989 cancer age 47) on drums and lead vocals, and Bob Reed on bass guitar. After a trip to California 1962, the group started playing surf rock which blended well with their raw garage rock sound. The Trashmen's biggest hit was 1963's "Surfin' Bird", which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the latter part of that year. The song was a combination of two R&B hits by The Rivingtons, "The Bird's the Word" and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". The earliest pressings of the single credit the Trashmen as composers, but following a threat from The Rivingtons' legal counsel, that group was subsequently credited as composers. The Bird Dance Beat, credited to their producer, George Garrett, was the follow up hit that did pretty well in the charts. After that The Trashmen faded away.
3. The Beat: Twist & Crawl
(The Beat)
I Just Can’t Stop It: Sire Records XSR 6091
London UK
Dave Wakeling: lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Ranking Roger: toasting, vocals
Andy Cox: lead guitar
David Steele: bass
Everett Morton: drums
Saxa: saxophone
Produced by Bob Sargeant, 1980
Recorded by Mike Hedges
This band got together in the late 1970s and are still alive and well and wanting to play. They were just called The Beat in the UK but had to use English Beat for their American releases due to the fact that there was already a band called The Beat in the US. For Australian releases they were called The British Beat. So let’s not Beat around the bush any longer; from now on, I’m just calling them The Beat.
4. Blondie: Eat To The Beat
(Debbie Harry / Nigel Harrison)
Eat To The Beat: Chrysalis Records ECH 1225
NYC
Deborah Harry: lead vocals
Clem Burke: drums
Nigel Harrison: bass
Frank Infante: guitar
Chris Stein: guitar
Randy Singer (Hennes): harmonica
Produced by Mike Chapman, 1979
Mastered by Steve Hall
Recorded at The Power Station and Electric Ladyland Studios, NYC by Dave Tickle and Peter Coleman April to June 1979
Talking about beats: Eat To The Beat, Blondie’s fourth album, went Platinum in by the US and UK. It was the first Blondie album to reach out beyond their New York punk style while still retaining enough raw energy, bashing out punk with style. One of the few songs out there that talk about peanut butter.
5. Jeffrey Hatcher and The Big Beat: The King And Me
(Jeffrey Hatcher / Dave Briggs)
Cross Our Hearts: Upside Records UP-60011-1
Winnipeg MB
Jeffrey Hatcher: guitars, bass, vocals
Gord Girvan: keys
Paul Hatcher, drums
Gwen Swick: harmony vocal
Don Hatcher: winds, guitar
Produced by Tom Rogers, 1987
Recorded at Kensington Sound, Toronto and Mars Studios, Toronto
Manitoba has always been the land of the big beat. It has helped produce great polka bands as well as Neil Young, Randy Bachmand and Guess Who as well as countless other great rhythmic beat bands. These guys have the Big Beat right in their name!
6. Jude Johnson: Rhythm In My Soul
(Jude Johnson)
Flirtin’: Cole Harbour Music CHM002
Hamilton ON
Jude Johnson: vocals, shakers
D Houghton: percussion, Simmons
Brian Vallee: shakers
Produced by Jude Johnson, 1984
Recorded by George Axon at Axon Music Productions, Toronto
Jude (Judith Marian) Johnson b. Hamilton ON 6 Jan 1954
Johnson has sung on over 50 recordings as back-up to such artists as Raffi and Stan Rogers, and has released eight solo recordings. In 1992 Johnson received the Canada 125 medal and was named Hamilton's Woman of the Year in the Arts; the following year she was honoured with the Hamilton Arts Award. She founded the M.A.D. camp for kids: Music Arts and Drama, and served as executive director until she retired and turned it over to her daughter in 2013.
My copy of the record is second hand with “To Neil: The next mayor. Love and music. Jude. Jan 86.” Unfortunately for Neil, he never became Hamilton’s mayor.
7. Anvil Chorus: Rhythm Is The Way
(J Harmata / Jayson Hoover)
45 single bw Get Together: Pink Elephant Records PE 22.517H
Vancouver BC
Bill Gibson: keys
Jim Harmatta: guitar
Jason Hoover: vocal
Brian Kidd: bass
Dave McPhail: drums
Produced by Studio 3 Productions, 1967
Re-Released in 1970
Formed in 1965 as Jason Hoover And The Epics, this Vancouver band is not to be confused with the San Francisco band of the 1980s with the same name. They soon changed their name to The Trials of Jayson Hoover, put out two singles that barely scraped the Top 100 before becoming The Anvil Chorus and breaking up in 1969. Rhythm Is The Way was actually recorded by The Trials of Jayson Hoover in 1967 but was resurrected by a Dutch Pink Elephant records label and credited to The Anvil Chorus.
8. Ry Cooder: Get Rhythm
(Johnny Cash)
Get Rhythm: Warner Brothers 92-5639
Los Angeles CA
Ry Cooder: guitar, vocal
Van Dyke Parks: keys
Flaco Jimenez: accordion
Steve Douglas: sax
Jorge Calderon: bass
Jim Keltner: drums
Miguel Cruz: percussion
Bobby King, Terry Evans, Arnold McCuller, Willie Greene Jr: bg vocal
Produced by Ry Cooder, 1987
Recorded & Jixed by Ed Cherney at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles
Mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Precision Lacquer, LA
A Johnny Cash song originally released as the B-side to the single release "I Walk the Line" in 1956 on Sun Records out of Memphis. Cash later had another hit after it was re-released in 1969 with a dubbed in audience. Ry Cooder recorded for his eleventh studio album entitled 'Get Rhythm', released in November 1987. Another great example of how country and rock n’ roll came from essentially the same place: Sun Studios in Memphis.
9. The Rhythm Sweethearts: Running Wild
(Fust)
The Rhythm Sweethearts: Arc Records A661
Moncton, NB / Digby, NS / Marmora, ON / Pembroke, ON
Lorrie Gale: rhythm guitar, vocals
Patricia Hennessey: drums
Myrtle Gifford: bass
Bassie Brunette: lead guitar
Produced by Ben Weatherby, 1965
Myrtle Isabel Gifford b. Marmora ON November 27, 1929 / d. May 5, 2015 Toronto (85)
Myrtle spent 25 years of her life as a professional musician leading an all girl country and western band known as The Rhythm Sweethearts, travelling all across Canada, several US states and as far away as Thule, Greenland. She also toured several times with the Wilf Carter Show and worked with the stars such as Hank Snow, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper.
10. The Rhythm Pals: If I Had A Hammer
(Lee Hays / Pete Seeger)
Canadian Talent Library: M 1039
New Westminster, BC
Mike Ferbey: vocal
Jack Jensen: vocal
Marc Wold: vocal
Wally Traugott, fiddle;
Al Harris, guitar
Producer Unlisted, 1963
The song was written in 1949 in support of the progressive peace movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers as ‘The Hammer Song’ in 1950. Peter, Paul and Mary released their version of the song in July 1962 off their debut, self-titled album and won Grammy Awards for Best Folk Recording and Best Performance by a Vocal Group that year. It was also covered by the late Trini Lopez as well as Johnny Cash, Odetta, Jackie de Shannon, Bobby Darin, The Lettermen, the Lemon Sisters, The Carter Family, Johnny Rivers, Aretha Franklin, Mel Torme, The Four Tops, Wanda Jackson, Leonard Nimoy, The Neville Brothers and Canada’s Penny Lang (to name a few!)
11. The Rhythm Ramblers: Clover Leaf Reel
(Gerald Bailey)
Music For Dancing: Hi-Lite Records HI-2202
Sarnia ON
Lloyd Saar: banjo
Bill Muir: accordion
Clyde Elliott: guitar
John Rowe: bass
Ed Cannon: sax
Gerald Bailey: fiddle
Produced by Ray Lawrence, 1963
Recorded at Sound Canada Recording Center by Ray Lawrence
Cover Photo: Wade Jarvis
Lloyd Saar from Coronation AB, moved to Sarnia 1962 and joined the Rhythm Ramblers as their leader. He began playing professionally in 1952 and had a radio program in North Battleford, Saskatchewan before moving east to Sarnia.
Accordionist Bill Muir was born in Sarnia but lived in Scotland since the age of 4. He learned to play the Scottish way and moved back to Sarnia when he was 21.
The front cover is this, probably their only album, the band pose before the smoke stack of an oil refinery wearing matching bulky-knit sweaters with Moose, soldiers and other great designs.
Other artists from Sarnia include Kim Mitchell, harp player Mike Stevens and ex-astronaut Chris Hadfield.
12. Wade Walton & RC Smith: Barbershop Rhythm
(Wade Walton)
I Have To Paint My Face: Arhoolie Records – F 1005
Clarksdale MS
Wade Walton: slapping straight razor, talking
RC Smith: guitar, talking
Produced by Chris Strachwitz, 1969
Recorded by Paul Oliver, Clarksdale, Mississippi July 24, 1960
Wade Walton b. Lombardy, Mississippi October 10, 1919 / d. January 10, 2000 Claksdale MS
In 1988, I toured with my wife and kids through the Mississippi Delta country, home of the blues. At the Blues Museum in Clarksdale we were told to check out Wade Walton, a barber who sang the blues. Living in the same town as Ike Turner, Walton played in the Kings of Rhythm but stayed in Clarksdale working as a barber when Turner took the group on a national tour.
We went into town and literally cross the tracks into an Afro-American world and found that we were the only white folk around. It was easy to find Wade’s barbershop, he welcomed us in and offered the kids a soda. He had a juke joint in the back, one of the last ones to be seen. He would sing songs while cutting hair and shaving customers, keeping a special rhythm slapping a straight-razor on a shiny leather belt strap, captured on this song released on a special Arhoolie old time blues compilation released in 1969. This performance was recorded by blues historian Paul Oliver in Wade’s barbershop in 1960. Walton was a local NAACP leader during the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, resulting in the bombing of his original barbershop.
13. The Esquires: Rhythm Shoes
(Gary Comeau / Don Norman)
Introducing The Esquires: Capitol Records - T-6075
Ottawa ON
Don Norman: vocals
Gary Comeau: lead guitar
Clint Hierlihy: bass
Paul Huot: guitar
Richie Patterson, drums
Produced by Clint Hierlihy, 1964
Recorded at RCA Victor Studios, Montreal
First Published in Canada August, 1964
Ottawa’s ‘Esquires’, the first Canadian rock band to sign and release an album on a major record label, won the Maple Leaf Award (later called The Junos) in 1964. With major changes in personnel, the band lasted several years but never released very much after that. Various members went on to front other great Ottawa bands. Drummer Richie Patterson went to school with Paul Anka and was his drummer in the Bobbysox. He went on to play in The Children with Bruce Cockburn and Three’s A Crowd. Don Norman went on to have success with Don Norman and The Other Four. Other bands to benefit from ex-Esquires were The Staccatos (later reformed as The Five Man Electrical Band), The Townsmen who did the Pineland Stomp, The Modern Rock Quartet, 3's a Crowd, and Canada Goose.
There other Esquire bands located in Indiana, West Virginia, Texas and Winnipeg where Neil Young’s band shortened their name to The Squires.
14. The Dave Clark Five: Doctor Rhythm
(Dave Clark / Mike Smith)
45 Single B Side of You Got What It Takes: Epic Records 5-10144
London UK
Dave Clark: drums
Mike Smith: organ
Lenny Davidson: guitar
Rick Huxley: bass
Dennis Payton: sax
Produced by Dave Clark, 1967
The B Side of their last major hit song You’ve Got What It Takes. The thing that gets overlooked about The Dave Clark 5 is their sense of timing and tightness as a band. They began as a mostly instrumental dance band built around the sax playing of Dennis Payton. While many dismissed the band for their standard hit songs that mostly featured Dave Clarks pounding of the drums, Doctor Rhythm shows off their ability to rock any dance floor.
15. The Original Sloth Band: Rock It In Rhythm
(Hank Whittaker)
1978: Troubadour Records – TR 006
Toronto ON
Bill Bryans: drums
Tom Evans: mandolin, clarinet, saxes, vocals
Mike Gardner: bass, vocals
Chris Whiteley: trumpet, harmonicas, guitar, vocals
Ken Whitlely: guitar, mandolin, washboard, jug, accordian, vocals
John Davis: piano
Produced by The Original Sloth Band, 1978
Recorded by Daniel Lanois at Grant Avenue Studios, Hamilton ON
Mastered at JAMF
Although together for most of the 70s, The Original Sloth Band only released three albums, the last being called 1978 when it was recorded live featuring blue pianist Blind John Davis. Unlike their previous albums, this one rocked a bit differently having employed the services of super drummer / percussionist Billy Bryans (Parachute Club) to add a special sense of rhythmic pizzazz.
16. Parachute Club: Walk To the Rhythm of Your Heartbeat
(Gray/ Segato/ Masi)
Small Victories: RCA KKL1-0573
Toronto ON
Keir Brownstone: bass
Billy Bryans: drums, percussion, programming
Lauri Conger: keys, programming
Margo Davidson: alto Sax, percussion, vocals
Dave Gray: guitar
Julie Masi: support vocals, percussion
Lorraine Segato: lead vocal
Produced by John Oates, Parachute Club & Mike Jones, 1986
Recorded by Mike Jones and Frank Filipetti with Lou Solarkofki, Jeff Lord Alge, Zvonko Vuglak, Ken Steiger, Randy Staub & Garth Richardson
Recorded in Toronto & New York City
Mixed by Mick Jones at McClear Place, Toronto
Mastered by Rob Ludwig at Masterdisk, NYC
Margo Davidson b. September 28, 1957 Simcoe, Ontario / d. May 17, 2008 (50)
William Taylor Bryans b. Montreal Sept 15, 1947 / d. Toronto Apr 23, 2012 (64)
Lorraine Christine Segato (born June 17, 1956 in Hamilton, Ontario)
Segato co-wrote nearly every song the band released, including all their singles. She performed "Rise Up" at the state funeral of Jack Layton on August 27, 2011. Again, the percussive rhythms of Billy Bryans makes this work so well.
17. Mike Malahini Scott & His Hawaiianaires Rhythm of the Islands
(Leon Belasco)
Live At The Waikiki: Maple Records MA 1014
Toronto
Jamie Nolan, guitar
Al Gardner, drums, uk
Paul Butler, keys
Mike Scott, Hawaiian steel
Produced by Mike Scott & Jamie Nolan, 1983
Recorded at Fiesta Studios, Toronto
Mike Scott took to the electric Hawaiian guitar in the late 1940s. He was born in Wiltshire, England and learned to play properly before emigrating to Toronto in 1954. Within days of his arrival he joined the musicians’ union and was out working with local bands. He was given the nickname Malihini ...a Hawaiian word meaning 'a newcomer' to Hawaii. His Hawaiianaires were frequent musical guests at the infamous Bali Hai room in the Ports of Call restaurant where CHUM DJ’s used to hang out.
This album claims that it was recorded before a live audience, but the shoddy production shows how the audience was dubbed in before and after every song.
18. Ken Stanley Orchestra: Crazy Rhythm
(Irving Caesar / Joseph Meyer / Roger Wolfe Kahn)
Ken Stanley at the Piccadilly Club: Everybody Dance! – Arc Records – 524
Toronto ON
Ken Stanley: piano
Jack Bond: trumpet
Danny Stevenson: also sax, clarinet
Gordon Stewart: tenor sax
Bill Pomfret: bass
Roy Edmunds: drums
Produced by Dan Bass, 1962
Kenneth Warriner b. Liverpool UK 1924 / d. Toronto 1993
He emigrated to Canada and was a professional musician (Under the stage name Ken Stanley), record producer and radio personality. After emigrating to Canada in 1955, he led the Ken Stanley Band at the Piccadilly Club in Yorkville, and many other bands/trios until the late 80's. He was musical director of CTV’s 'The Pig and Whistle Show' TV show in the 70's, worked with many British Music Hall artists throughout his career. He wrote forthe Britannia magazine and guest-hosted Ray Sonin's 'Calling All Britons' radio show on CFRB.
(Sonim was the first person to play a Beatles song on the radio in North America – Love Me Do in December 1962, before it was even released here.)
In the 1960s, Warriner, working as a music producer, wanted to record an RCMP band performing O Canada the the country’s centennial but the American Federation of Musicians forbid it since the band were not members of the union. He argued that American military bands recorded their national anthem and the union claimed: “yes, but that was cultural.” They refused to allow this so Warriner did it anyway. This was covered in Billboard Magazine.
Warriner produced albums by Walter Ostanek, The Hart House Glee Club, The Brothers-In-Law, The Metro Stompers, Billy Meek and The Pig & Whistle cast.
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