Side One
1. Rhinoceros: Apricot Brandy – 1969
2. Rhinoceros: That Time Of The Year – 1969
3. Vanilla Fudge: Bang Bang – 1967
4. Shingoose: West Coast Fever – 1979 *
5. Klaatu: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft – 1976 *
6. Howlin’ Wolf: Call Me The Wolf – 1972
7. Ten Years After: Hear Me Calling – 1969
8. Sons of the Saddle: Cattle Call – 1961 *
9. Lenny Breau & Chet Atkins: Cattle Call - 1981
10. Wilf Carter: A Little Old Log Shack I Can Always Call My Home *
11. JJ Cale: Call The Doctor – 1971
Side Two
1. Mothers Of Invention: Call Any Vegetable suite – 1967
2. Gene MacLellan: The Call – 1970 *
3. Brendan Nolan: The Train They Call The Ocean – 1984 *
4. Billy J Kramer & Dakotas: I Call Your Name – 1963
5. Zwol: Call Out My Name – 1979 *
6. Hans Staymer Band: Mama (Don’t Ya Hear Me Call) – 1972 *
7. Bruce Cockburn: Call It Democracy – 1985 *
8. David Gon: The Loon Calling Me – 1988 *
9. Left Banke: She May Call You Up Tonight – 1967
10. The Clash: London Calling – 1979
11. It’s A Beautiful Day: Bombay Calling – 1969
12. The Who: Call Me Lightning – 1968
13. Blondie: Call Me – 1980
14. Mark Haines & The Zippers: Calling Through The Driving Rain / Moira’s Return – 1988 *
15: Ed Bickert & Don Thompson: What Is This Thing Called Love – 1978 *
CanCon = 45%
And Now for The Particulars:Side One
RIP Michael Fonfara (1946-2021)
1. Rhinoceros: Apricot Brandy
(Michael Fonfara / Danny Weis)
2. Rhinoceros: That Time Of The Year
(Alan Gerber)
Rhinoceros: Elektra – EKS-74030
Los Angeles
John Finley: vocals
Alan Gerber: piano
Danny Weis: guitar, piano
Doug Hastings: guitar
Michael Fonfara: organ
Jerry "The Bear" Penrod: bass
Billy Mundi: drums, percussion
Produced by Paul A Rothchild, 1969
Recorded by John Haeny
Michael Fonfara b. August 11, 1946 Stevensville, ON / d. January 8, 2021 (aged 74) Toronto
Fonfara's career as a professional musician commenced in 1963, when he started playing in the Toronto band, Lee Jackson & The Checkmates, which evolved into Jon and Lee & The Checkmates. When John and Lee & The Checkmates broke up in September 1967, Fonfara worked briefly with David Clayton-Thomas and then, during the months of November and December, 1967, toured and recorded with The Electric Flag, featuring Buddy Miles and Michael Bloomfield. Fonfara replaced keyboardist and founding Electric Flag member Barry Goldberg. He was then selected by producer Paul Rothchild as a member of the Elektra Records' hand-picked, "supergroup", Rhinoceros, in December 1967. Fonfara was the co-writer of the band's major hit, "Apricot Brandy", and recorded three albums with the group.
After Rhinoceros, Fonfara joined a band called Blackstone (1972) before becoming an indispensible member of Lou Reed’s band. In 1976, Fonfara was a member of controversial Toronto-based band Rough Trade, acting as keyboard player and arranger on their first album. He left the band at the end of 1977 in a dispute over money. After that he recorded with Foreigner. In the 1980s, Fonfara returned to Toronto, where he became a key member of the Canadian R&B band The Lincolns. He also played regularly with Toronto’s Downchild.
RIP Tim Bogert (1944-2021)
3. Vanilla Fudge: Bang Bang
(Sonny Bono)
Vanilla Fudge: Atco Records SD 33-224
Long Island NY
Tim Bogert: bass, vocals
Mark Stein: lead vocals, keyboards
Vince Martell: guitar, vocals
Carmine Appice: drums, vocals
Produced by Shadow Morton, 1967
Recorded by Joe Veneri & Bill Stahl
John Voorhis Bogert III b. August 27, 1944 New York City / d. January 13, 2021 (76)
Vanilla Fudge recorded five albums during the years 1967–69, before disbanding in 1970. Bogert then helped form Cactus In 1970 with drummer Carmine Appice, guitarist Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels). That lead to the formation of the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice in 1972. In 2010, Bogert "reluctantly" retired from touring due to a motorcycle accident. He died on January 13, 2021, from cancer.
RIP Shingoose (1946–2021)
4. Shingoose: West Coast Fever
(Shingoose)
Ballad of Norval: CBC - LM 467
Roseau River Reserve MB
Shingoose: guitar, vocals
Others not listed
Produced 1979
Curtis Jonnie b Winnipeg 26 Oct 1946, Roseau River First Nation / d. Jan 12, 2021 Winnipeg
An Ojibwa, Shingoose was raised on the Roseau River Reserve before being adopted by a Mennonite missionary family in Steinbach, Man. That was where he began singing, in church choirs. They moved to The States when 15 and toured as a member of the Nebraska-based Boystown Concert Choir. Later he played with a variety of rock bands based in Washington, DC, and New York City.
In 1973 he returned to Canada, residing and beginning his life’s work in Winnipeg. Moved by the confrontation that year at Wounded Knee, South Dakota, he became an activist on behalf of native peoples. Taking the name of his great grandfather, Shingoose, and singing in a country-folk style, he appeared at the Edmonton, Mariposa, Vancouver, and Winnipeg folk festivals, at the Big Valley Jamboree, as well as across Canada playing coffeehouses and university campuses.
He only released an album and a half on vinyl and a cassette. His first album, Native Country, was released in 1975, and featured Bruce Cockburn. According to his daughter, one of her dad’s proudest accomplishments was helping create the Best Music of Aboriginal Canada Category (now the Indigenous Music Album of the Year) at the Juno Awards, alongside Buffy Sainte-Marie and Elaine Bomberry.
In the last decade of his life, Shingoose had a stroke which paralyzed the left side of his body.
Shingoose played the Winnipeg Folk Festival seven times from 1975 to 2016. He died of Covid-19 in a Long Term Care home in Winnipeg.
NOTE: shared LP side 2 by Albert Morton no production info available
5. Klaatu: Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft
(Klaatu)
3:47 E.S.T.: Daffodil Records 9216-10054
Toronto ON
John Woloschuk: Vocals, Bass & Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards
Dee Long: Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals
Terry Draper: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Produced by Terry Brown & Klaatu, 1976
Recorded & engineered by Steve Vaughan & Terry Brown
Released: August 11, 1976
6. Howlin’ Wolf: Call Me The Wolf
(Chester Burnett)
Live And Cookin At Alices Revisited: Chess Records 9033-50015
Chicago Ill
Howlin Wolf, harmonica, vocals
Hubert Sumlin: guitar
Willie Williams: guitar
Eddie Taylor: tenor sax
David Myers: bass
Albert Luandrew: piano
Fred Below: drums
Produced by Rall Bass, 1972
Recorded by Gary Starr & Dave Huston at Alices, Chicago
Chester Arthur Burnett b. White Station Mississippi June 10, 1910 / d. January 10, 1976 (65) Hines, Illinois
7. Ten Years After: Hear Me Calling
(Alvin Lee)
Stonehenge: Derem (London) DES 18021
London UK
Alvin Lee, guitar
Leo Lyons, bass
Chick Churchill, keys
Ric Lee, drums
Produced by Mike Vernon, 1969
Recorded by Martin Smith
The band began as The Jaybirds with Alvin Lee, Leo Lyons & Chick Churchill. They changed their name to The Blues Yard before becoming Ten Years After which lasted until 1976. I loved the first two Ten Years After albums (self titled and Undead). Geddy Lee purchased the very album you just heard, while on vacation in Detroit with his family but didn’t like it! He sold it to me for a couple of bucks.
8. Sons Of The Saddle: Cattle Call
(Tex Owens)
Sons Of The Saddle: Canatal Records - CTLP 4003
Calgary, Medicine Hat AB
Lenny Seibert: bass
Vic Seibert: guitar
Gene Seibert: piano
Johnny Allan: steel
Lucky Ambeault: fiddle
Diana Leah: vocals
Produced by Art Snider, 1961
Recorded by Dave Newberry at Newberry Sound Studio, Toronto
Clifford "Lucky" Ambeault b. March 25, 1929 Bathurst, NB./ d. April 3, 1984
This band was originally formed in Alberta in 1950 but really took off with the addition of New Brunswick Acadian fiddler Lucky Ambo (Clifford Joseph Ambeault) from Bathurst NB, during which time they were based in Ontario. Ambo did a solo fiddle album with the Seiberts around the time they recorded Sons of the Saddle for Canatel Records. It’s a very sought after fiddle LP. Ambo was considered to be the leader of the band. Although Ambo left the band to pursue a solo career, the Seiberts went on to record “Rodeo Action” for the Rodeo Records imprint, Banff Records in 1969.
9. Lenny Breau & Chet Atkins: Cattle Call
(Tex Owens)
Standard Brands: RCA Records AYL1-4191
Bangor, Maine / Nashville TN
Lenny Breau: guitar (left speaker)
Chet Atkins: guitar (right speaker)
Produced by Chet Atkins, 1981
Just a beautiful version of this 1934 Tex Owens classic that was Eddy Arnold’s signature song. Chet starts it off (right) while Lenny adds colour (left) before the start trading off.
10. Wilf Carter: A Little Old Log Shack I Can Always Call My Home
(Wilf Carter)
Wilf Carter / Montrana Slim Vol 1: Bear Family Records 7912
Port Hilford NS
Wilf Carter: guitar, vocals
Produced by Hugh Joseph, RCA Victor in March 20, 1935
11. JJ Cale: Call The Doctor
(JJ Cale)
Naturally: MCA Records – MCA 37104
Oklahoma City, OK
J J Cale: guitars, vocals
Karl Himmel: drums
Chuck Browning: drums
Tim Drummond: bass
Carl Radle: bass
Norman Putnam: bass
Bob Wilson: piano
David Briggs: keys
Jerry Whitehurst: piano
Weldon Myrick: steel guitar
Buddy Spiker: fiddle
Shorty Lavender: fiddle
Walter Haynes: dobro
Mac Gayden: slide guitar
Ed Colis: harmonica
Diane Davidson: bg vocals
Produced by Audie Ashworth, 1971
Recorded by Joe Mills and Jim
Williamson at Bradley’s Barn, Mt Juliet Tenn, and by James Long at Moss Rose Studio Nashville
John Weldon Cale b. Oklahoma City, December 5, 1938 / d. July 26, 2013 La Jolla CA)
JJ Cale was one of the unsung heroes of the guitar. Well respected, his music was usually based on grooves. My only complaint about his earlier albums was that the songs were too short! Like, once into the groove, you don’t want it to end so soon. His songs were covered by Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Phish, Kansas, Bill Wymans Rhythm Kings, George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Lynard Skynayrd, The Band, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare & Captain Beefheart. Just to name a few!
Side Two
1. Mothers Of Invention: Call Any Vegetable
(Includes "Invocation & Ritual Dance of the Young Pumpkin" & “Soft-Sell Conclusion”)
(Frank Zappa)
Absolutely Free: Verve V6-5013
Los Angeles CA
Frank Zappa: guitar, conductor, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black: drums, vocals
Ray Collins: vocals, tambourine
Roy Estrada: bass, vocals
Billy Mundi: drums, percussion
Don Preston: keyboards
Jim Fielder: guitar, piano
Bunk Gardner: woodwinds
Produced by Tom Wilson, 1967
Director of engineering: Val Valentin
Engineer: Ami Hadani
Remixing: David Greene
Mastering Engineer: Doug Sax
Frank Vincent Zappa b. Baltimore MD Dec 21, 1940 / d. Dec 4, 1993 (52) LA
Although Absolutely Free was the first Mothers album I listened to (I bought Freak Out a couple of weeks later), it was a stunner. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! There was nothing else like it! And taking the piss out of The Supremes, The Beach Boys, lizard lounge music, rock-operas and The Beatles on their next album, “We’re Only In It For The Money”, this album “Absolutely Free”, was an archaic road that began with Plastic People and followed into the Duke of Prunes and Call Any Vegetable on side one. Still one of the best albums in my collection; I love it! And I always have.
2. Gene MacLellan: The Call
(Gene MacLellan)
45 single bw Snowbird: Capitol Records Canada 72607
Val d’Or QC / PEI
Gene MacLellan: vocal
Pig Robbins, BG Cruiser: piano
Wally Ackerman: drums
Norbert Putnam: bass
Bobby Thompson: banjo
Lloyd Green: steel
Charley McCoy, Jimmy Riddle: harmonica
Fred Carter Jr, Bill Sanford, Brian Ahern, Tommy Graham, Kelso Herston: guitars
Produced by Brian & Trish Ahern, 1970
Executive Producer: Paul White
Recorded by Les Ladd, Lee Hazen, Rick Horton, Gene Eichelburger and / or
Bill Connor at Woodland Sound Studio, Nashville TN
Like his song Snowbird, this Gene MacLellan song was also a big hit for Anne Murray in 1976. She actually first released it on her 1970 album, Honey, Wheat and Laughter but re-recorded it for her 1975 album Together. MacLellan’s 1970 version was a minor hit on Canadian Country Music charts, reaching #15. Lennie Gallant also did a great version on the 2017 compilation album (on vinyl!) Snowbird: The Songs of Gene MacLellan. Gene’s daughter, Catherine, did an excellent interpretation of it on her CD If It’s Alright With You: Songs of Gene MacLellan, also 2017.
3. Brendan Nolan: The Train They Call The Ocean
(Ken Saunders / Brendan Nolan)
45 single bw Mental Taxation: Primordial Records C 550
Montreal QC / St. Pete Beach FL
Brendan Nolan: guitar, vocals
Produced 1984
Brendan Nolan b. Dublin, IR
A native of Ireland, Nolan moved to Montreal in 1979 where he was the "House Performer" for a 14 year run at the Old Dublin Pub. He moved down to Florida, where he resides, in 1993 and has continued to record and perform Irish based songs.
"Nolan has been blessed with a rich Irish voice and an Irish way with words. In his singing and his musical arrangements he helps his listeners to feel the pain, the joy, the humour, the triumph, the sadness, the longing, as deeply as did the old songs of the tradition."
-- Ron Duffy, Canadian Folk Music Bulletin, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
4. Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas: I Call Your Name
(John Lennon / Paul McCartney)
45 single: Parlophone Records R 5049: Northern Songs
Liverpool UK
Billy J Kramer: vocal
Tony Mansfield: drums
Robin MacDonald: guitar
Ray Jones: bass
Mike Maxfield: lead guitar
Produced by George Martin, 1963
Recorded at Abby Road Studios, July 1963
I’ve always loved Ringo’s playing on The Beatles’ version of I Call Your Name which was the b side of the single “Long Tall Sally”. We Canadians mostly found it on the Capitol Records of Canada release of the 1964 album “Long Tall Sally”. However, the song was originally released by Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas. Both versions were recorded at Abby Road EMI Studios by George Martin.
5. Zwol: Call Out My Name
(Walter Zwol)
45 single bw It’s So Real: EMI America: 8009
Toronto ON
Walter Zwol: vocal
Bernie LaBarge: guitar and vocals
Grant Slater: keyboards and vocals
Sonnie Bernardi: drums
Dennis Pinhorn: bass guitar and vocals.
Produced by Roger Cook, Ralph Murray and Walter Zwol 1979
Recorded Crazy Mama Studios in Nashville and Miami's Criteria Studios
Walter Zwolinski was a founding member and front-man for the Canadian rock band Brutus (1969–1976). After that he went solo. Zwol became the first Canadian artist to sign directly with an American label, EMI. Zwol continued on the circuit and formed The Rage which recorded one record, before taking an office job at Attic Records in the mid '80s.
6. Hans Staymer Band: Mama (Don’t Ya Hear Me Call)
(Michael Hanford)
The Hans Staymer Band: GSF Records 9208-1004
Vancouver BC
Hans Staymer: vocal, harmonica
Robbie King: keys
Eddie Patterson: guitar
Wayne Kozak: sax
Paul Burton: drums
Produced by Don Hamilton and Robbie King, 1972
Recorded by Don Greppert at Aragon Recorders, Vancouver
Mixed by Eirek The Norwegian (Eirek Wangberg)
Mastered at Sound Recorders, LA
Staymer saw Louis Armstrong in the 1950s while still living in his native Germany. He also got into playing the music of Django Reinhardt. He moved to Canada in 1962, settling in Edmonton as a goldsmith. He began performing there, playing songs by blues legends like Leadbelly at local clubs which eventually saw him perform in bands. In 1968 he moved to Vancouver and formed a band called Django which lasted about four years. In 1972 he formed the Hans Staymer Band and recorded an album called “Dig A Hole” on GSF Records. In 1997 he formed a duo with another German ex-pat Andreas Schuld. Their first CD, recorded by Billo Bourne (Bourne & McLeod) received a 1997 Juno Award nomination for Best Blues Album. They still gig off and on.
7. Bruce Cockburn: Call It Democracy
(Bruce Cockburn)
World of Wonders: True North Records TN 66
Ottawa ON
Bruce Cockburn: guitar, vocal
Jon Goldsmith: keys
Fergus Jemison Marsh: bass, stick
Hugh Marsh: violin
Produced by Jon Goldsmith & Kerry Crawford, 1985
Recorded by John Naslen at Manta Sound, Toronto
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisc, NYC
Just in case you’re wondering, Bruce had it right, back in the mid-1980s. And that says it all!
8. David Gon: The Loon Calling Me
(David Gon)
Island Miles Away: CBC Northern Services WRC1 5676
Yellowknife NT
David Gon: guitar, vocal
Eddie Bimm: keys
Ron Prescott: drums
Gary Spicer: guitar
Peter Fredette: bass
Randall Prescott: harmonica
Produced by Les McLaughlin
Recorded at Snowcan Studios, Ottawa by Marc Lajoie January 1988
David Gon b. Yellowknife NT 1953
A member of the Dog Rib First Nation, he had a good career as a singer-songwriter playing across the northern reaches of Canada. He got hired to perform at the Northwest Territories Arctic Show at Expo ’86 in Vancouver as well as the Canada Winter Games in Cape Breton in 1987, all of which lead to the recording of this album in Ottawa the following year.
9. Left Banke: She May Call You Up Tonight
(Mike Brown / Steve Martin)
Walk Away Rene/ Pretty Ballerina: Smash Records SRS 67088
New York City, NY
Mike Brown, harpsichord, piano
Rick Brand, guitar
Tom Finn, bass
George Cameron, drums
Steve Martin, vocals
Produced by Harry Lookofsky, 1966
Recorded at World United Studios & Mercury Studios, New York City between 1965-66
Released February 1967
Strange to think that all of these guys are dead now!
10. The Clash: London Calling
(Joe Strummer / Mick Jones)
London Calling: Columbia Records 88875112701
London UK
Mick Jones: guitar, vocal
Joe Strummer: rhythm guitar, vocal
Paul Simonen: bass, vocal
Topper Headon: drums
Produced by Guy Stevens, 1979
Recorded by Bill Price and Jerry Green at Wessex Studios, London
Remastered by Tim Young and The Clash at Metroplois 2013
London Calling is the third studio album by The Clash. The title alludes to the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling ...", which was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries. Joe Strummer has said: "We felt that we were struggling about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us. The song was used in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. Joe Strummer later became a DJ for the BBC World Service, on a program called "Joe Strummer's London Calling". The song was performed live twice by Bob Dylan during his November 2005 residency at London's Brixton Academy
11. It’s A Beautiful Day: Bombay Calling
(Vince Wallace / David Laflamme)
It’s A Beautiful Day: Columbia Records CS 9768
San Francisco CA
David Laflamme: violin
Hal Wagenet: guitar
Mitchell Hollman: bass
Linda Laflamme: keys
Pattie Santos: percussion
Produced by Matthew Katz & David Laflamme 1969
Recorded by Brian Ross-Myring
David LaFlamme (born Gary Poise May 4, 1941, in New Britain, Connecticut
Active years: 1967-1974
Classically trained violinist Gary Poise changed his name rock n’ roll stage name to David LaFlamme so as to protect his Symphony Orchestra reputation. Symphony Orchestras at that time often did not think much of Rock music. The theme from the song "Bombay Calling" was later used, at a slower tempo, by Deep Purple as the intro to "Child in Time" on its Deep Purple in Rock album
12. The Who: Call Me Lightning
(Pete Townsend)
45 single bw Dr Jeckyll & Mr Hyde: Decca Records 32288
London UK
Pete Townsend: guitar, vocal
Roger Daltry: lead vocal
Keith Moon: drums
John Entwhistle: bass
Produced by Kit Lambert, 1968
Released March 16, 1968
Recorded at Decca Studios, London and Gold Star, Los Angeles
The song was first demoed in 1964 and sat around for four years before it was recorded.
13. Blondie: Call Me (Theme From American Gigolo)
(Giorgio Moroder / Ben Liebrand)
The Best of Blondie: Chrysalis – CHR 1337
NYC
Deborah Harry: lead vocals
Chris Stein: guitar
Clem Burke: drums
Nigel Harrison: bass
Jimmy Destri: keys
Produced by Giorgio Moroder, 1980
Recorded August 1979, New York City
Two Bonus Tracks:
14. Mark Haines & The Zippers: Calling Through The Driving Rain / Moira’s Return
(Mark Haines / Declan O’Doherty)
In The City: Stony Plain Records SPL 1121
Souris PEI
Mark Haines: fiddle, electric guitar, vocals
John Sheard
Matthew Gerrard
Neil Chapman
Barry Keane
Kevin McKenzie
Ashley Mulford
Gerald O’Brien
Brian Lenard
David Blamires
John Rutledge
Jamie Snider
Claude Desjardins
Kirk Elliott
Produced by Declan O’Doherty, 1988
Recorded by Randy Staub, Joe Primeau, Earl Torno & Darren Millar at Phase One Studios, Toronto
15: Ed Bickert & Don Thompson: What Is This Thing Called Love
(Cole Porter)
At The Garden Party: Sackville Recordings SACK 4005
Toronto ON
Ed Bickert: guitar
Don Thompson: double bass
Produced by Don Thompson, 1978
Recorded at Captain Audio, Toronto by Puget Sound Recording Co.
Edward Isaac Bickert b. Hochfeld, Manitoba Nov 29, 1932 / d. Toronto February 28, 2019 (86)
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