Side One - Winter
1. Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Snowmobile Song – 1971 *
2. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Steel Softly Through
Snow - 1969
3. Leonard Cohen: Winter Lady – 1967 *
4. Dixie Flyers: Roses In The Snow – 1978 *
5. Sweet Daddy Siki: Snowflake – 1972 *
6. Simon & Garfunkel: Hazy Shade Of Winter – 1967
7. The Mercey Brothers: The Great Snowman – 1968 *
8. Hank Smith & The Rodgers Bros Band: Snowshoes – 1963
*
9. Jim Dawson - The Dixie Drifter: My Little Red Snowmobile
– 1970s
10. Marcel Meilleur & The Red River Echoes: Snow Shoe Reel – circa 1980
*
11. Glen Koudelka: Wolf Winter – 1975 *
12. Mac Beattie: Snowmobiling – 1970 *
13. Vashti Bunyon: Winter Is Blue - 1970
14. Ivan Hicks & Maritime Express: Snowflake Breakdown – 1985 *
15. Allan Rhody: As Long As There’s Winter – Skidoo – 1975 *
16. Paul Menard: Strawberry Winter – 1983 *
17. Daniel Lanois: Ice – 1989 *
18. The Beatles: The Word – 1965
Side Two – Vermin
1. The Specials: Rat Race – 1980
2. UB40: Rat In Me Kitchen - 1986 *
3. Syd Barrett: Rats – 1970
4. The Pogues: Gartloney Rats - 1989
5. Kinks: Rats – 1970
6. Deep Purple: Flight of the Rat - 1970
7. Mendelson Joe: Cockroach – 1982 *
8. Horn: Roach - 1972 *
9. Shuffle Demons: Out of My House, Roach – 1986 *
10. Voivod: Cockroaches – 1987 *
11. Ten Years After: Three Blind Mice – 1969
Bonus Tracks
12. Lou Monte: Pepino The Italian Mouse - 1962
13. Freddy & The Dreamers: A Windmill in Old Amsterdam - 1965
CanCon = 66%
And Now for The Particulars
Side One – Winter
1. Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Snowmobile Song
(TC Connors)
My Stompin Grounds: Boot Records BOS 7103
Halton Hills ON
Bill Lewis, lead guitar
Glen Reid, rhythm guitar & banjo
John Spence, rhythm guitar, harmonica
Gary Empey, bass
Stompin’ Tom: guitar, vocal, foot
Stompin’ Tom: guitar, vocal & foot stomping
Produced by Dr. Tom Connors, 1971
Recorded by George Semkiw with Cub Richardson at RCA Studio, Toronto
Snowmobile History:
1927 Carl Eliason patented the feature of his motorized toboggan that defined the first workable, single-track, one-passenger snowmobile.
1937 J. Armand Bombardier patented a tracked vehicle for traveling over snow.
1959 J. Armand Bombardier, who had spent decades patenting and perfecting features, launched the Ski-Doo® snowmobile.
2. Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Steel Softly Through Snow
(Don Van Vliet)
Trout Mask Replica: Straight Records STS 1053
Los Angeles CA
Captain Beefheart: saxes
Zoot Rollo Horn: slide guitar, flute
Antennae Jimmy Semens: guitar
The Mascara Snake: bass clarinet, vocal
Rockette Morton: bass
Produced by Frank Zappa, 1969
Recorded by Dick Kunc August 1968 at Sunset Sound Recorders & March 1969 at Whitney Studios, LA
3. Leonard Cohen: Winter Lady
(Leonard Cohen)
Songs of Leonard Cohen: Columbia Records CS 9533
Montreal QC
Leonard Cohen: vocals, acoustic guitar
Jimmy Lovelace: drums
Nancy Priddy: vocals
David Lindley: flute, mandolin, percussion
Chester Crill, Chris Darrow, Solomon Feldthouse
Produced by John Simon, 1967
4. Dixie Flyers: Roses In The Snow
(Tom C Connors)
Cheaper To Lease: Boot Records BBG 6002
London ON
Bert Baumbach: guitar
Ken Palmer: mandolin (d. Oct 2013)
David Zdriluk: bass
Willie P Bennett: harp
Denis LePage: banjo
Produced by Denis LePage, 1978
Recorded by Bob Lanois at Grant Ave Studios, Hamilton ON
5. Sweet Daddy Siki: Snowflake
(Ned Miller)
Squares Off With Country Music: Arc Records 5006
Toronto ON
Sweet Daddy Siki: guitar, vocal
Produced by Ben Weatherby, 1972
Reginald Siki aka Mr. Irresistible (born June 16, 1940 Kingston Jamaica)
Moved to LA when he was 7 where he began wrestling. He wrestled on the Canadian circuit in early 1960s and liked it so much that he moved to Toronto, permanently. He was a huge celebrity about town, rivaling Eddie Shack. He’d be seen about town with his hair died blond and tucked into a French bun at the back while driving a Cadillac convertible down Yonge St. Last I heard he was Dj’ing Karaoke at Duke of York on Queen St E in Toronto on Saturdays
6. Simon & Garfunkel: Hazy Shade Of Winter
(Paul Simon)
Bookends: Columbia Records KCS 9529
New York City
Paul Simon vocals, guitar, production
Art Garfunkel vocals, tapes, production
Hal Blaine drums, percussion
Joe Osborn bass guitar
Larry Knechtel piano, keyboards
Produced by Paul Simon, 1967
Recorded by Roy Halee at Columbia Studio B, NYC
The fourth studio album by Simon & Garfunkel follows a bookends concept, exploring a life journey from childhood to old age. Side one marks successive stages in life, the theme serving as literal bookends to the life cycle. Side two largely consists of unused material for “The Graduate” soundtrack. Bookends was considered a breakthrough for the the duo, placing them on the same artistic level as The Beatles, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.
7. The Mercey Brothers: The Great Snowman
(JD Loudermilk)
The Mercey Brothers: Columbia Records ELS-322
Hanover ON
Larry Mercy: guitar, vocal
Ray Mercey: bass, vocal
Lloyd Mercy: drums, vocal
Produced 1968
Larry and Ray, formed a country musical group in 1957. Their brother Lloyd joined the group in 1966 seven-time Juno Award winners for "The Top Country Group" and were inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 1989. This was their first album
8. Hank Smith & The Rodgers Bros Band: Snowshoes
(T Jackson)
Hank Smith & The Fabulous Rodgers Brothers: Banff 1161
Edmonton AB
Heinz Schmidt: guitar
Frankie Rodgers: fiddle
Hank Rodgers: banjo
Unknown: bass
Producer Unlisted: 1963
Originally from Germany, emigrated to Edmonton in 1957. In 1958 he formed The Rock-A-Tunes and Rock-A-Tune Records in Edmonton. When the rest of the Rock-A-Tunes left in 1962 to be the touring band for The Fendermen, Smith formed a new band called The Maddisons. He changed from rockabilly to country music and began playing with the Rodgers Brothers band. He was president of the Academy of Country Music Entertainment, the organization which preceded the Canadian Country Music Association.
9. Jim Dawson - The Dixie Drifter: My Little Red Snowmobile
(J Dawson)
45 Single be Key To My Heart: Country Fair Records CF-1
Madison Wisconsin
Produced 1970s
Tommy Latham, born in 1924 in Haynesville, LA / d. 1992 Madison WI
Latham legally changed to Jimmy Dawson in 1956, Dawson recorded sporadically in the 1950s on various different small-time labels under various names: Lonely Jeff Latham, Hillbilly Buddy Dave Farley, Jeffrey Parnell and the Dixie Drifter. He moved from his native Louisiana for California in the mid-1950s to further his career, eventually taking a disc jockey job up in Minnesota. Little Red Snowmobile was one of the last recordings he released as The Dixie Drifter, most likely in the mid-1970s.
10. Marcel Meilleur & The Red River Echoes: Snow Shoe Reel
(Trad)
At / Au Festival du Voyageur: Sunshine Records – SSBLP – 417
Fisher Branch, MB
Marcel Meilleur: violin
Irwin Wall: guitar
Ron Halderson: bass
Joe MacKintosh: piano
Roland Dandeneau: drums
Produced by Ness Michaels, circa 1980
Recorded by John Hildebrand at Century 21 Studios, Winnipeg
Marcel Meilleur b. Fisher Branch MB July 8, 1930 / d. September 29, 2007, St. Boniface MB (77)
Better known for having accompanied and toured with Andy DeJarlis for 14 years, Marcel moved to Montreal with Andy and played in clubs and lounges of Quebec for three years. During that time, he frequently contributed to a series of radio and television shows that were broadcasted throughout the province. He made three appearances on the Don Messer Jubilee and played at the 1974 Festival International in France. Since 1976, Marcel formed the Red River Echos and were featured on a CBC series special “Les Echos de la Rivière Rouge”.
11. Glenn Koudelka: Wolf Winter
(Glenn Koudelka)
Painted Lines: CB Productions - BC-101
Lafleche SK
Glenn Koudelka, guitar
Donn Zueff, fiddle, banljo, dobro
Tim Krieser, bass
Gary Arnusch, drums
Mark Rutherford, piano, flutes
Ron Halldorson, steel guitar
Harold Vogt, violin
Cielio Ritagliati, violin
Klara Belkin, cello
Cathy Clark & Julie Opocensky, harmony
Produced by Colin Bennett, 1975
Recorded at Century 21 Studios, Winnipeg
After releasing this album, Koudelka moved to Toronto and played in a short-lived folk duo with Greg Fitzpatrick in the late mid-1970s. Fitzpatrick had previously been a member of Lords Of London and Nucleus. After leaving Nucleus he went solo under the name Fitzpatrick.
“The Saskman” by Glenn Charles Koudelka is a book about a British born Canadian musician who played Irish music in a German restaurant in Mexico.
12. Mac Beattie & The Ottawa Valley Melodiers: Snowmobiling
(Mac Beattie)
Mr. Ottawa Valley: Banff Rodeo Records RBS 5333
Arnprior ON
Mac Beattie, vocal, drums, washboard
Reg Hill, fiddle
Gaetan Fairfield, guitar
Jim Mahew, piano
Gordon Summers, lead guitar
George Courshesne, bass
Produced by Ralph Carlson, 1970
Recorded at Carlsound Studios, Ottawa
http://www.backtothesugarcamp.com/macbeattie.html
John McNab Beattie b. Arnprior ON 1916 / d. Arnprior 1982 (65)
13. Vashti Bunyon: Winter Is Blue
(Vashti Bunyon)
Just Another Diamond Day: Philips records 6308-019
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne UK
Vashti Bunyon: vocals, guitar
Christopher Sykes: keys
John James: dulcitone
Robin Williamson: whistle, celtic harp
Produced by Joe Boyd, 1970
Recorded by Jerry Boys at Sound Techniques, London, Nov-Dec 1969
Jennifer Vashti Bunyan b. 1945 Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
14. Ivan & Vivian Hicks: Snowflake Breakdown
(Wally Traugott)
An Old-Time Christmas With Friends: Maritime Express ME1006
Upper Coverdale, N.B.
Ivan Hicks: fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals
Vivian Hicks: piano
Gary Morris: guitars, bass, keys
Manjo Norden: percussion
Tim MacLaggan: percussion
John Jewett: bass
Bill McCauley: keys
Keith Tyler: keys
Clarence Gallant: steel
Maurice Fleming: sax
Produced by Gary Morris, 1985
Recorded by Gary Morris at Prime Time Studios, Sussex NB
Following in the footsteps of his fiddling father, Curtis Hicks, Ivan has been one of the Canada’s foremost proponents of Canadian fiddle music. He has been a major link between generations of Canadian fiddlers, bridging the gap between east-coast fiddlers like Don Messer, Ned Landry and the modern day. Along with his wife, pianist Vivian Hicks, they have played their way across Canada numerous times. Currently living just outside of Moncton, NB along the shore of the Petitcodiac ‘tidal bore’ river.
15. Allan Rhody: As Long As There’s Winter – Skidoo
(Doug Riley / Paul Muir)
45 single bw Tant qu’il y aura des hivers: Ski-doo Records ST-57515
Nashville TN
Allan Rhody: vocal
Orchestration: Doug Riley
Produced by Trudel Productions for Bombardier, Spitzer, Mills and Bates, 1975
Recorded in Toronto
The first folk song to blow Rhody away was Ian & Sylvia’s “Four Strong Winds.” It brought Canada into his focus; he moved here and was based in Toronto in the mid 70s.
“As Long As There’s Winter…” was used for a 1975 Ski-doo commercial on TV. Alan Rhoddy was recruited to do the lead vocals on it. His song, "I'll Be True to You", was recorded by the Oak Ridge Boys and went to No.1 US Hot Country Chart. He currently lives in Nashville as a serious songwriter. A regular visitor to Canada, he appeared several times on Rick Fielding’s Acoustic Workshop on right here at CIUT.
16. Paul Menard: Strawberry Winter
(Paul Menard)
Home Again: Country Records CS 6027
Kirkland Lake / North Bay ON
Paul Menard: fiddle, other instruments
Pat Menard: guitar, banjo
Produced by Paul Menard for Country Records, 1983
Recorded by Don Cocksedge at tamarack Sound Studios, North Bay ON Feb 23, 1983
Paul Menard b. Kirkland Lake ON March 16, 1932.
Originally from Kirkland Lake, both Paul, and his brother Pat, made dozens of recordings. He first stationed himself in Ottawa and Montreal, playing as a session musician on many peoples’ recordings. He was one of Graham Townsend’s favourite fiddlers. After leaving the south he returned once again to Northern Ontario, settling in North Bay where he did a bluegrass radio show for a few years.
17. Daniel Lanois: Ice
(Daniel Lanois)
Acadie: Opal / WB - 92 59691
Hamilton, ON
Daniel Lanois guitar (steel, electric and acoustic), bass, vocals, omnichord
Malcolm Burn keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
Brian Eno keyboards, vocals
Adam Clayton bass
Larry Mullen, Jr. drums
Produced by Daniel Lanois 1989
Recorded by Malcolm Burn and Mark Howard, New Orleans LA
Additional Recording at Brian Eno’s Wilderness Studio, UK
Mixed by Malcolm Burn & Daniel Lanois w Mark Howard
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
18. The Beatles: The Word
(Lennon / McCartney)
Rubber Soul: Capitol Records Canada T 2442
Liverpool
John Lennon: lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Paul McCartney: harmony vocal, bass, piano
George Harrison: harmony vocal, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums, maracas
George Martin: harmonium solo
Produced by George Martin, 1965
Recorded at EMI Studios, London
Side Two – Vermin
1. The Specials: Rat Race
(Radiation)
More Specials: Chrysalis Records CHR 1303
London UK
Terry Hall: vocal
Neville Staples: percussion, vocal
Lynval Golding: guitar
Roddy Radiation: guitar
Jerry Dammers: organ, piano
Horace Gentleman: bass
John Bradbury: drums
Rico Rodrigues: trombone
Dick Cuthell: flugel horn, coronet
Kix Thompson: sax
Paul Heskatt: sax
Rhoda Dakar: vocals
Belinda Charlotte & Jane: bg vocals
Produced by Jerry Dammers and Dave Jordan, 1980
Recorded by Dave Jordan & Jeremy Allom at Horizon Studios, Coventry
Mixed at Wessex Studios, London
2. UB40: Rat In Me Kitchen
(UB40)
Rat In The Kitchen: DEP International VL 2389
Birmingham UK
James Brown: drums
Ali Campbell: vocals, guitar
Robin Campbell: guitar, vocals
Earl Falconer: bass
Norman Lamont Hassan: percussion, trombone, vocal
Brian Travers: sax, lyrics
Michel Virtue: keys
Astro: vocals, trumpet
Herb Alpert: trumpet
Produced by UB40, 1986
Recorded by John Shaw and Gerry Parchment
3. Syd Barrett: Rats
(Roger Barrett)
Barrett: EMI Harvest SLVP 281
Cambridge UK
Syd Barrett: guitar, vocals
Jerry Shirley: drums
David Gilmour: bass
Richard Wright: keys
Produced by David Gilmour and Richard Wright, 1970
Recorded at Abby Road Studios, London
4. The Pogues: Gartloney Rats
(Terry Woods)
Peace And Love: Pogue Mahone Records UK-WX247
London UK
Shane MacGowan: vocals
Jem Finer: banjo
Spider Stacy: tin whistle
James Fearnley: accordion
Andrew Ranken: drums
Terry Woods: cittern, mandolin
Philip Chevron: guitar
Darryl Hunt: bass guitar
Produced by Steve Lillywhite, 1989
Recorded by Chris Dickie with Nick Lacey at RAK Studios, London
Gartloney Rats were an Irish pickup band that Pogues’ mandolinist, Terry Woods, would play in on weekends at home in Ireland.
5. Kinks: Rats
(Dave Davies)
Lola Versus Powerman and The Moneygoround: Pye Records NSPL 18359
London
Ray Davies: guitar, vocals
Dave Davies: lead guitar, lead vocals
John Dalton: bass guitar, backing vocals
Mick Avory: drums, percussion
John Gosling: keyboards, piano, organ
David Symms: Intro dialogue
Produced by Raymond Douglas Davies, 1970
Recorded by Mike BoGale
6. Deep Purple: Flight of the Rat
(Blackmore / Gillan / Glover / Lord / Paice)
Deep Purple In Rock: Warner Brothers WS 1877
London UK
Ritchie Blackmore guitar
Jon Lord keyboards, organ
Ian Paice drums, percussion
Ian Gillan lead vocals
Roger Glover bass
Produced by Deep Purple June 3, 1970
Recorded by Martin Birch at De Lane Lea Studios October 14, 1969 April 13, 1970
Mastered by Peter Mew
7. Mendelson Joe: Cockroach
(Mendelson Joe)
Not Safe: Ind Cassette
Emsdale ON
Mendelson Joe: guitar, vocal
Colin Linden: electric guitar
Produced by Mendelson Joe, 1982
Recorded by John Oswald at The Music Gallery, Toronto
Mostly sold at Ring Music, Toronto
http://www.mendelsonjoe.com or mailto:info@karenrobinsongallery.com
This is from a cassette that was basically only sold at Ring Music in Toronto signed in gold ink by M Joe. I put Not Safe out on cassette because no record company would touch it because its not too safe. He calls Cockroach My reality.
BTW: In mid-1977, April Wine was booked to play a charity concert at the El Mocambo Club in Toronto. Co-headliner on the bill was a band called "The Cockroaches," who turned out to be The Rolling Stones.
8. Horn: Roach
(Bruce Burron)
On The Peoples Side: Special Records (GRT) 9230-1028
Toronto ON
Les Clackett: vocals
Bruce Burron: guitar
Gary Hynes: guitar
Alan Duffy: bass
David deLaunay: keys
Wayne Jackson: trumpet
Billy Bryans: drums
Produced by Alan Duffy, Billy Bryans and Horn, 1972
Recorded and mixed by Brock Fricker at Thunder Sound Studios, Toronto
9. Shuffle Demons: Out Of My House, Roach
(Dave Parker)
Streetniks: Stubby Records - R-001
Toronto ON
Rich Underhill: alto, baratone sax
Mike Murley: tenor, baratone, alto sax
Dave Parker: tenor sax
Jim Vivian: bass
Stich Wynston: drums
Produced by The Shuffle Demons and Michael Wojewoda, 1986
Recorded by Michael Wojewoda, Paul Edwards & Roman Zak at Grant Avenue Studios, Hamilton ON
Mastered by George Graves at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
10. Voïvod: Cockroaches
(Voïvod)
Spectrum: Voïvod Demo Tape
Jonquière, Quebec
Snake (Denis Bélanger): vocals
Piggy (Denis D'Amour): guitar, assistant engineer
Blacky (Jean-Yves Thériault): bass guitar, assistant engineer
Away (Michel Langevin): drums, artwork
Produced 1987
11. Ten Years After: Three Blind Mice
(Trad arr. Rick Lee)
Stonedhenge: Derem (London) DES 18021
London UK
Ric Lee, drums, percussion
Produced by Mike Vernon, 1969
Recorded by Martin Smith at Decca Studios, West Hampstread UK, September 1968
Richard Lee b. Mansfield Nottinghamshire UK Oct 20, 1945
I always thought that this album was called Stonehendge and after 50 years of thinking this, I just learned it’s true name! It was the third great album released by the band before moving into a more mainstream rock phase. On it, each member of the band wrote a little solo track. This is drummer Ric Lee’s. He played with Ten Years After from 1965 to 1976.
2 Bonus Tracks:
12. Lou Monte: Pepino The Italian Mouse
(Allen / Merrell)
45 Single b/w What Did Washington Say: Reprise – R 20106
New York City, NY
Lou Monte: vocals
Pepino: vocals
Joe Reisman Orchestra
Produced by Don Costa, 1962
Lou Monte b. April 2, 1917 / d. June 12, 1989 (72) Pompano Beach, Fl
Had his first big hit in 1954, with the release of his version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball". In 1962, Monte would release his first million-seller, "Pepino the Italian Mouse",which was awarded a gold disc. Sung in both Calabrese and English.
13. Freddy & The Dreamers: A Windmill In Old Amsterdam
(Ted Dicks / Myles Rudge)
45 Single bw How's About Trying Your Luck With Me: Capitol Records 72296
Manchester UK
Freddie Garrity: vocals
Roy Crewdson: guitar
Derek Quinn: guitar and harmonica
Peter Birrell: bass
Bernie Dwyer: drums.
Produced by John Burgess, 1965
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