And Now for The Particulars:
A Side
1. Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra: Casa Loma Stomp
(Eugene Gifford)
Casa Loma In Hi-Fi!: Capitol Records W 747
NYC
Mannie Klein, trumpet
Shorty Sherock, trumpet
Murry McEachern, alto sax
Babe Russin, tenor sax
Gus Bivona, clarinet, sax
Ray Sherman, piano
Chuck Gentry, Skeets Herfurt, Ted Nash, saxes
Conrad Gozzo, trumpets
Walter Benson, trombone
Mike Rubin, bass
George Van Eps, guitar
Nick Fantool, drums
Produced by Glen Gray, 1956
Recorded June 1956 at Capitol Records Studios, Hollywood
The band was first put together in 1927 as the Orange Blossoms. They
adopted the name "Casa Loma" when they first started recording in 1929, shortly
after it played an eight-month engagement at Casa Loma in Toronto, which
was being operated as a hotel at the time. The funny thing was, band never
played at Casa Loma under that name, still appearing as the Orange Blossoms.
By 1950, the Casa Loma band had ceased touring as its leader Glen Gray retired
to live in Massachusetts. Gray still put out records using the Casa Loma
name, using prominent California session musicians, this tune being one of
them.
Mainline: Canada, Our Home And Native Land, Side 1
2. Blind Girl (Mendelson Joe)
3. Get Down To (Mendelson Joe)
4. Pedalictus Rag (Mendelson Joe)
5. One time Loser (Mendelson Joe)
6. You’re My Heart’s Desire (Zeke Sheppard)
7. Motorcycle (Mendelson Joe)
GRT Records 9230-1011
Toronto Ontario Canada
Zeke sheppard: bass
Tony Nolasco: drums
Mike McKenna: lead guitar
Joe Mendelson: guitar, harmonica, vocal
Produced by Adam Mitchell, 1971
Recorded by Fred Catero at Pacific Recording Studio, San Mateo CA
Recorded April – May, 1971
Cover Art: David Andoff
After their 1969 debut for the ‘Stink’ album (on Liberty Records), the
McKenna Mendelson Mainline broke up with Mike McKenna re-joining Luke And
The Apostles. Several months later they reformed as ‘Mainline’ to record
two more albums: ‘Our Home And Native Land’ and the live ‘Bump n’ Grind Revue’.
Mendelson Joe was a well-known entity in Toronto, driving his big bike down
Ossington Avenue (usually with a guitar hanging off his back).
Canada, Our Home And Native Land, was a great second album but following
the success of ‘Stink’ was rather difficult since that album was essentially
flawless. This one too was another good album but it didn’t have the magic
of the first one.
8. Lumumba: Ahoma Trofo
(Lumumba / Obeng)
Lumumba: A&M Records SP 3610
Ghana
Lumamba: flutes, shakers, percussion
Rim Kwaku Obeng: percussion, keys
Emmanuel Rentzos: keys
Luther Coffee: bass
Kwabena Gyanifi: guitar
David T Walker: electric guitar
Produced by Kwaku Eddie Lynn, 1974
Recorded by Larry Forkner, Kwaku Eddie Lynn, Larry Levine, Steve Mitchell and Milton Calice at A&M Studios, Hollywood CA
Mastered by Frank De Luna
Although the name of the band is Lumumba & that is also the name
of the lead vocalist, this is really the work of Rim Kwaku Obeng. Obeng is
a noted Ghanan drummer who played with Fela Kuti. Lumumba was recorded in
1974 in Los Angeles. Other than bassist Luther Coffey from Trinidad &
guitarist David T. Walker from Los Angeles, all the other main musicians
are from Ghana. The identity of the artist Lumumba is shrouded in mystery.
Best Of the Animals, Side 2
9. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (B Mann / C Weil)
10. Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker)
12. I’m In Love Again (Fats Domino)
13. Roberta (Huey Smith / John Vincent)
14. I’m Crying (Alan Price / Eric Burdon)
15. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (B Benjamin / G Caldwell / S Marcus)
The Best of the Animals: Quality Records Canada V-1786
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne UK
John Steel, drums
Eric Burdon, vocals
Chas Chandler, bass
Alan Price, keys
Hilton Valentine, guitar
Produced by Mickey Most, 1965
Recorded by Val Valentin
The Animals made fame on both sides of the Atlantic with the release
of their mega-hit ‘House of the Rising Sun’ in 1964 as part of the British
Invasion. But the Animals weren’t your average pop group; they used the blues
and rocked their way up the charts several times, making them one of the
busiest rock groups of 1965. They featured the rough and tumble vocals of
Eric Burdon but the magic is what took place behind him. There was a core
of excellent musicians, lead by bass playing Chas Chandler, the man who made
Jimi Hendrix famous. Organist Alan Price would leave for a semi-successful
solo career. Drummer John Steel would run afoul of Burdon and replaced while
this album was being assembled. But while the original group was together,
they were unbeatable.
16. Red Crawford: Hurricane Hazel’s Ghost
(Red Crawford)
Fiddlin’ Favorites: Aragon Records ALP 105
Canada
Produced circa 1962
Calgary Range Riders, Side 1
17. Orange Blossom Special (Trad)
18. Too Old To Be Young Any More (Dix Hilton)
19. Calgary Waltz (Stoltz)
20. Don’t Be Blue, Linda Lou (Dix Hilton)
21. Rocky Mountain Rhythm (Buddy Reynolds)
Calgary Range Riders: Aragon Records ALP 103
Calgary AB
Dixie Bill Hilton, lead singer, guitar
Murray Dunlop, bass
Al Koochin, Spanish guitar
Lucky Ambo, fiddle
Don Thompson, steel guitar
Tiny Stoltz, accordion
Buddy Reynolds: vocal
Produced circa 1962
William Dixon Hilton
Born October 25, 1920 in Bjorkdale, Saskatchewan / Died February 1, 1991 in Calgary, Alberta.
Lucky Ambo.
b. March 25, 1929 in Bathurst, New Brunswick. / d. April 3, 1984
B Side
1. Sultans Of String: Blowin’ In The Wind
(Bob Dylan)
Ten Years Of Music: Fiddlefire Records MKC 2070
Toronto ON
Chris McKhool: violin
Kevin Laliberté: flamenco guitar
Eddie Paton: guitar
Drew Birston: bass
Rosendo León: drums
Anwar Khurshid: sitar
Produced by Chris McKhool, 2017
Edited for Vinyl by John “Beetle” Bailey at The Drive Shed Recording Studios, Toronto
Mastered by Peter Letros at Wreckhouse Mastering and Paul Gold at Salt Masterin
Violinist Chris McKhool was putting out some pretty interesting solo
albums in the early 2000s when he met up with flamenco jazz guitarist Kevin
Laliberté and that’s when everything began to click. Fusing their
wild sounds with world music, they formed the basis of the Sultans of String.
Since then they’ve released several well received albums that have generated
a lot of interest. What a treat to finally hear them on vinyl!! It’s a totally
different experience. Ten Years of Music is a compilation album of earlier
works but it sure works to my liking.
Morley Loon: Northland, My Land, Side 1
2. Agajee Dona Nooch – To Hunt No More? (Morley Loon)
3. Amendo Na Nooch – Friendship / Kinship (Morley Loon)
4. Wee Jee – Is It Over? (Morley Loon)
5. Yoo Indo Deem Awin – Hunter’s Spirit Song (Morley Loon)
6. Nooj Meech – Northland, My Land (Morley Loon)
7. Deb Skum – My Own (Morley Loon)
Northland, My Land: Boot Records / CBC Northern Services – NCB 503
Mistassini QC
J Kelly: percussion
R Daignault: flute
Morley Loon: vocal, guitar
Produced by Les McLaughlin, 1981
Recorded in Ottawa
He began singing and touring in the late 1960s, composing in the Cree
language. He recorded two albums with the CBC’s Northern Service in 1975
as well as a studio album, North Land, My Land, with Boot Records in 1981.
He was the first Cree language performer to see significant radio airplay
in Canada. Loon influenced other First Nations musicians, such as Lloyd Cheechoo
and Kashtin, to sing in their own languages. Though a strict traditionalist
who wore his hair long, Loon was also a seasoned road warrior, performing
across Canada, the United States, and Europe. He approached things with a
special joy, celebrating and promoting his Cree culture to all who would
listen. Loon died at age 38 in 1986 after suffering a lengthy bout with cancer.
After his death in British Columbia, this James Bay native’s guitar stayed
out west while the guitar strap made of smoked moosehide was sent back to
his Cree homeland. The two were finally united again this past month.
8 United Sounds Of Halosphere: Groove Train
(Paul Rodriguez)
EP: Paradigin Journey PT 2: UK 44 EP1
Toronto ON
Produced 1996
Fleetwood Mac: Then Play On, Side 1
10. Coming Your Way (Danny Kirwin)
11. Closing My Eyes (Peter A Green)
12. Fighting For Madge (Mick Fleetwood)
13. When You Say (Danny Kirwin)
14. Show Biz Blues (Peter A Green)
15. Under Way (Peter A Green)
Then Play On: Reprise - RS 6368
London UK
Peter Green: guitar
Danny Kirwan: guitar
Mick Fleetwood: drums
John McVie: bass
Produced by Fleetwood Mac, 1969
Recorded at CBS Studios, London and De Lane Lea Studios, London
Fleetwood Mac formed in 1967 and released some great blues material
but by 1969 they were ready for a major change. It was a coming of age. Then
Play On, their first release for Reprise records, was totally different than
anything the band released before it. I’ve never been able to just listen
to a song; each side of this album is a complete listen. This would be the
last album that Peter Green would record with his band. And another thing
about this record: there were five band members but slide guitar specialist
Jeremy Spencer’s services were not utilized for this record.
16. Bill Connors: Cookies
(Bill Connors)
Step It: Pathfinder Records PTF 8503
Los Angeles
Bill Connors: guitar
Tom Kennedy: bass
Dave Weckl: drums
Produced by Steve Khan and Doug Epstein, 1985
Recorded at Mediasound, NYC by Doug Epstein, October 1984
Mixed by Doug Epstein, Steve Khan, Bill Connors and David Weckl
Mastered by Creg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
Bill Connors b. September 24, 1949, Los Angeles
Played guitar on Chick Corea’s band, Return To Forever.
17. Bill Bruford’s Earthworks: My Heart Declares A Holiday
(Bill Bruford / Iain Bellamy / Django Bates)
Earthworks: EG Records EGED 48
London UK
Bill Bruford: drums
Iain Bellamy: sax
Django Bates: keys, horns
Mick Hutton: bass
Produced by Dave Stewart and Bill Bruford, 1987
Recorded by Martin Rex at Terminal 24 Studios, London, October 1986
Mixed by Owen Morris and Jim Abbiss at Spaceward Studios, Cambridge UK
William Scott Bruford (b. Sevenoaks Kent, May 17, 1949)
Original drummer of Yes (1968 – 72). Better known for his playing
with King Crimson. He’s currently one of four drummers playing with the band.
He also performed with Gong, UK and Earthworks.
