Side A
1. The Astronauts: Surf Party – 1964
2. Expedition to Earth – Expedition To Earth – 1968 *
3. Rolling Stones: 2,000 Light Years From Home – 1967
4. Howard Vokes: The Polka From Outer Space – 1959
5. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Moon-Man Newfie – 1971 *
6. Billy Preston: Outa-Space – 1972
7. Syrinx: Tumblers To The Vault – 1971 *
8. Levon And The Hawks: Further On Up the Road – 1961 *
9. Blackie & Rodeo Kings: Where The River Rolls – 2017 *
10. John Borra: Hambre And Delores – 2020 *
11. The Ramones: It’s A Long Way Back – 1978
12. Moby Grape: Chinese Song – 1971
13. Simply Saucer: I Take It – 2012 *
14. Teenage Heads: Blood Boogie – 1983 *
15. Lee Perry: Finger Mash – 1974
16. Tijuana Brass: South Of The Border – 1964
Vintage Voices Segment w DJ Tina w Laura Gillis
17. Engelbert Humperdinck: Spanish Eyes – 1968
Side Two
1. The Eternals: Hideaway – 1968 *
2. The Platters: If I Didn’t Care – 1961
3. The Beat: Twist and Crawl – 1980
4. Lowell Fulsom: Why Don’t We Do It In The Road – 1968
5. Boney M: Two of Us – 1979
6. The Rhythm Ramblers: Clover Leaf Reel – 1963 *
7. Spencer Davis Group: I’m A Man – 1966
8. BB King: Caledonia – 1971
9. The Kingbees: My Mistake – 1980 *
10. Frank Frost: Cotton Needs Pickin’ – 1986
11. Shox Johnson & His Jive Bombers: 36.22.36 – 1984 *
12. The Esquires: 36.24.36 – 1964 *
13. Les Sultans: A toi que je pense – 1967 *
14. The Searchers: Cherry Stones – 1963
15. The Heart: Treat Me Bad – 1967 *
16. The Paupers: Black Thank You Package – 1967 *
17. Peanut Butter Conspiracy: Big Bummer – 1967
18. Oscar Peterson Trio: Weird Blues – 1986 *
19. Ella Fitzgerald: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye – 1956
*CanCon = 47%
And Now for The Particulars
Side A
1. The Astronauts: Surf Party
(By Dunham / Bobby Beverly)
45 single bw What’d I Say: RCA Victor 45N 1392
Boulder CO
Rich Fifield: guitar
Dennis Lindsey: guitar
Bob Demmon: guitar
Stormy Patterson: bass
Jim Gallagher: drums
Produced 1964
2. Expedition To Earth: Expedition To Earth
(Danny Norton)
45 rpm Single: Franklin Records QC 618
Winnipeg MB
Gail Bowen (whispers at the end)
Bernie "Barnes" Barsky (vocals)
Dave "Wavey" Mitchell (percussion)
Brian "Mother" Levin (bass)
Dan "Boone" Norton (lead guitar)
Produced by Expedition To Earth, 1968
Recorded at radio station CKRC, Winnipeg
The song from a Winnipeg band who blossomed into the
psychedelic scene, playing gigs mostly in an round Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
They did this for a couple of years before calling it quits. They were part
of the special Winnipeg music scene that was bubbling with talent in the
late 1960s thinkin’: If the Guess Who could do it, so could we.
only charted in one market: #3 in New Glasgow, NS
3. The Rolling Stones: 2000 Light Years From Home
(Keith Richards / Mick Jagger)
Their Satanic Majesties Request: London Records NP-2
London UK
Mick Jagger: lead vocals
Keith Richard: guitar
Brian Jones: dulcimer
Bill Wyman: bass
Charlie Watts: drums
Nicky Hopkins: intro/outro piano
Produced by The Rolling Stones, 1967
Recorded by Glyn Johns at Olympic and Bell Sound, London
Jagger reportedly wrote the lyrics in Brixton prison
following his conviction on drug charges in June 1967. The song was recorded
by the band at Olympic Studios, London July 1967.
4. Howard Vokes: The Polka From Outer Space
(H Vokes / W King)
Mountain Guitar and Other Favorites: Mountain Records - ML. 2002
Clairfield, PA USA
Bob Rose: bass
Skeets Martin
Johnny Drolz: steel
Sam Hummel
Tex Belin
George Frohnhoffer: accordion
Produced 1959
Made By Acadia Records Of Canada
Howard Vokes b. June 13, 1931 Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Cowboy Howard Vokes, Pennsylvania's King of Country Music, was
born, June 13,1931 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. At 15 years of age Howard
started singing at a lot of parties and working with different bands in places
he wouldn't think about working in these times. Some of the spots were plenty
tough and living and working around mining towns. Howard was barn-storming
all over the place, singing and playing for anyone that would listen as many
hillbilly singers were doing to make a go of it. He was a great favorite
at most local parties and other events. He was on the verge of forming a
band when tragedy struck. A hunting accident put Howard in the hospital for
6 weeks. He was shot in the right ankle by a high-powered rifle. After he
recovered, Cowboy Howard Vokes dug into his song-writings and formed his
now famous "Country Boys" band.
5. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Moon-Man Newfie
(TC Connors)
Love & Laughter: Boot Records - BOS 7107
Halton Hills, ON
Tom Connors - guitar, foot, vocals
Randy McDonald - bass
Bill Lewis - lead guitar
Glen Reid banjo, rhythm guitar
John Devlin guitar, harmonica
Al Cherny - fiddle
Produced by Dr. Tom Connors, 1971
Recorded at RCA Studio, Toronto by Cub Richardson
6. Billy Preston: Outa-Space
(Billy Preston / Joe Green)
45 single bw I Wrote A Simple Song: A&M Records AM-1320
Houston TX
Billy Preston - vocals, piano, organ, keyboards
David T. Walker - electric guitars
George Harrison - dobro
Manuel Kellough - drums
King Errisson - congas, percussion
Rocky Peoples - tenor saxophone
Carlos Garnette - trumpet
Quincy Jones - string and horn arrangements
Produced by Billy Preston, 1972
William Everett Preston b Sept 2, 1946 Houston, TX / d. June 6, 2006 (59) Scottsdale, Arizona
At the age of 11, Preston appeared on Nat King Cole's national
TV show singing the Fats Domino hit "Blueberry Hill" with Cole. He went on
to play blues founder, WC Handy in a biopic, playing the young WC. In 1962,
Preston joined Little Richard's band as an organist, and it was while performing
in Hamburg that he met the Beatles.
In 1969, when the Beatles were about to break up while recording the last
album they released, Let It Be (they would later record Abbey Road, which
was released prior to Let It Be). George Harrison, a friend of Preston, had
quit, walked out of the studio and gone to a Ray Charles concert in London,
where Preston was playing organ. Harrison brought Preston back to the studio,
where his keen musicianship and gregarious personality temporarily calmed
the tension.
"Outa-Space" also won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of
1972. In the 90's Intel Corporation used the song to promote their MMX-enabled
Pentium processors.
7. Syrinx: Tumblers To The Vault
(John Mills-Cockell / Doug Pringle / Alan Wells)
Long Lost Relative: True North Records TNX 5
Toronto ON
John Mills-Cockell, moog synthesizer, piano, organ
Doug Pringle, sax
Alan Wells, hand drums, percussion
Produced by John Mills-Cockell & Eugene Martynec, 1971
Recorded by Dave Kalunbach, Don Stewart &Bill Roncken at Eastern
Sound Studios, Thunder Sound Studios, Pathe-Humphries Studios & Bay Recording
in Toronto
Mastered by Bob D’Orleans
8. Levon & The Hawks: Further On Up The Road
(Don Robey / Joe Medwick Veasey)
Mojo Man: Roulette Records SR 25390
Toronto
Levon Helm: lead vocal, drums
Robbie Robertson: guitar
Richard Manuel: piano
Rick Danko: bass
Album Produced by Roulette Records, 1964
Taken from a Ronnie Hawkins album, this song featured The Hawks
with Levon Helm on vocals, recorded as the flip side to Suzy Q, on September
18, 1961. As far as I know, Levon Helm sings the lead vocal on "Farther Up
The Road" and "She's Nineteen" that appear on Hawkins’ Mojo Man album, released
in 1964. This recorded three months before Garth Hudson was finally persuaded
to join The Hawks so just a four piece band on this recording.
9. Blackie & The Rodeo Kings: Where The River Rolls
(Colin Linden / Tom Wilson)
Kings and Kings: FU:M (File Under: Music) Records FUM068
Hamilton, Victoria, Nashville
Stephen Fearing: acoustic guitar, vocals
Colin Linden: acoustic guitar, dobro, vocals verse 1
Tom Wilson: acoustic guitar, vocals
Johnny Dymond: bass
Gary Craig: drums
John Whynot: piano, Wurlitzer
Kenneth Pearson: B3 organ
Bryan Owings: shakey things
Sam Palladino: vocals
Chris Carmack: vocals
Charles Esten: vocals
Jonathan Jackson: vocals
Produced by Colin Linden, 2017
Recorded by John Dymond and Colin Linden at Pinhead Recorders, Nashville TN
Mastered by Craig Calbi and Steve Falone at Sterling Sound, NYC
This is a companion album to 2011 album “Kings And Queens”
featuring some of the bands favourite female artists. In 2017 they did it
again with the men. This one features Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Keb Mo,
Buddy Miller and Nick Lowe, amongst others.
10. John Borra: Hambre and Delores
(John Borra (music) / Eva H.D. (words))
Blue Wine: Cousin Jeb Records JEB 007
Toronto
John Borra: guitar, vocal, harmonica
Michael Boguski: keys
Dani Nash: vocals
Glenn Milchem: drums
Sam Ferrera: vocals, tambourine
Produced by John Borra, 2020
Recorded by John Borra at Johnny MacLeod’s Studio, Toronto
Mixed by John Borra
Mastered by Peter J Moore at the E Room, Toronto
There’s something about a John Borra song that resonates
with me. I can’t put my finger on it but it’s got to do with his sense of
delivery, how he makes every song ‘HIS’. This one written with celebrated
poet Eva HD. Released in the midst of the pandemic.
11. The Ramones: It’s A Long Way Back
(Dee Dee, Joey, Johnny, Marky Ramone)
Road To Ruin: Sire Records M5-6063
NYC
Joey Ramone: lead vocals
Johnny Ramone: guitar
Dee Dee Ramone: bass guitar, backing vocals
Marky Ramone: drums
Produced by Ed Stasium and Tommy Ramone, 1978
Recorded by Ed Stasium, Tommy Ramone & Ray Janos at Media Sound, NYC
Mastered by Craig Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
Road to Ruin is the fourth studio album by The Ramones.
12. Moby Grape: Chinese Song
(Skip Spence)
20 Granite Creek: Reprise Records – K-44152 (UK version)
San Francisco CA
Peter Lewis - rhythm guitar, vocals
Jerry Miller - lead guitar, vocals
James R Mosley - bass, vocals
Alex ‘Skip’ Spence - rhythm guitar, koto, vocals
Don Stevenson - drums, guitar, vocals
Andy Narell: steel drums
David Rubinson: electric piano, congas
Produced by David Rubinson & Moby Grape Productions - 1971
Recorded at Moby Grape’s House by Quadra-Centric Sound Systems by Ed Bannon; Pacific Recording Studios,
San Mateo by Ed Bannon, David Rubinson and Jerry Zatkin
Mixed at Pacific Recording Studios by David Rubinson
13. Simply Saucer: I Take It
(Edgar Breau)
Baby Nova: Schizo Phrenic Records SCHIZ #79
Hamilton ON
Edgar Breau: vocals, guitars
Kevin Christoff: bass
Joe Csontos: drums
Steve Foster: guitar
Daniel Wintermans: guitar
McKinley Jackson: piano
Produced by Jeff Maier 2014
Recorded by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders, Detroit
Additional overdubs by Steve Foster at Napier Park Studio, Hamilton
Mixed at The Launch Pad, Detroit by Jeff Meier
Formed in Hamilton, Ontario in 1972, Simply Saucer performed a completely
wacky mixture of Velvet Underground/Syd Barrett/Can/Pink Fairies material.
They gained a quick if somewhat misleading reputation as a punk act and had
a legitimate hit single in England with 1978’s “She’s A Dog.” After that
they packed it in but re-united in 2006 and the response was so overwhelming
that they’ve been together ever since. The only original member of the band,
Edgar Breau is still performing with them today.
14. Teenage Heads: Blood Boogie
(Teenage Heads)
45 single bw (I’m Just) Too True: MCA Records, MCA 52265
Hamilton ON
Gordie Lewis: guitar
Frankie Venom: vocals
Steve Marshall: bass
Nick Stipanitz: drums, vocals
Dave Rave: bg vocal
Produced by David Bendeth, 1983
Mixed by Danny Lanois at Grant Avenue Studios, Hamilton
The band’s name, Teenage Head, came from a Flaming Groovies
album of the same name. They were formed in 1975. Their performance at The
Gary’s Last Tango, at the Horseshoe Tavern, resulted in a riot out on Queen
Street. In 1983 they signed with an American label, MCA, who demanded that
they change their name to Teenage Heads.
15. Lee “Scratch” Perry: Finger Mash
(L Perry)
45 single bw Dub The Music: Big Hit! Records ML-4422
Kingston, Jamaica / UK
Lee Perry: vocals
Produced by Lee Perry, 1974
Recorded at The Black Ark Studio, Kingston, Jamaica
Rainford Hugh Perry b. Kendal, Jamaica March 20, 1936 / d. Aug 21, 2021 (85)
One of the original Dub Masters, Perry is credited with inventing
the genre. He worked with Bob Marley, Beastie Boys, the Heptones, The Clash,
amongst others. He began as an apprentice at Coxsone’s Studio One. By 1968
he founded his own label, Upsetter Records where he developed sampling. After
moving to the UK in the 80s, he helped produce reggae influenced records
which lead to winning a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album in 2003.
16. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass: South Of The Border
(Jimmy Kennedy / Michael Carr)
Greatest Hits: A&M Records SP 69854
Los Angeles
Herb Alpert: trumpet
Tonni Kalash: trumpet
Bob Edmondson: trombone
John Pisano: guitar
Lou Pagani: piano
Pat Senatore: bass
Nick Ceroli: drums
Produced by Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss, 1964
Recorded by Larry Levine
Vintage Voices w DJ Tina w Laura Gillis
17. Engelbert Humperdinck: Spanish Eyes
(B Kempfert / Snyder / Singleton)
A Man Without Love: Parrot – XPAS 71022
London
Produced 1968
Side Two
1. The Eternals: Hideaway
(F King / S Thompson)
45: Quality Records - 1922
Winnipeg MB
Ron Paley: keys
Ted Paley: drums
John Hildebrand: guitar
Harry Hildebrand: bass
Produced by Ron Paley, 1968
Recorded at Century 21 Studios, Winnipeg
The Eternals formed in Winnipeg around 1961.
Hailing from Rosa, Man., the Paley brothers hooked up with Steinbach's Hildebrand
boys in the early '60s. Playing rock 'n' roll in a strict Mennonite community
was pretty arduous for the Hildebrand brothers. Ron Paley recalls John purchasing
a Fender amplifier from a local merchant in Steinbach. "It was his pride
and joy but when the store owner found out John was using it to play rock
'n' roll, he came to his house, retrieved the amp and gave John his money
back."
In 1968, they opened “Century 21 Studios”, the first professional multi-track
recording studio in the region. John Hildebrand became the recording engineer
while Ron Paley supervised the technical installation and operations of the
recording equipment. The band basically called it quits in the early 70s
to get more into the business side of things.
2. The Platters: If I Didn’t Care
(Jack Lawrence)
The Platters Greatest Hits: TeeVee Records TVLP 76016
Los Angeles CA
Tony Williams: vocal
Herb Reed: vocal
Zola Taylor: lead vocal
Alex Hodge: vocal
Produced 1961
Originally sung and recorded by The Ink Spots in 1939. The song
was used in the movie Bladerunner. Once married to singer Frankie Lymon,
Zoletta Lynn Taylor (b. LA 1938 / d. LA 2007 (69) was lead vocalist for the
Platters from 1951 to 1962.
1990: elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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. Lowell Fulsom: Why Don’t We Do It In The Road
(Lennon / McCartney)
In A Heavy Bag: Jewel Records – LPS 5003
Atoka, Oklahoma
Lowell Fulsom: guitar, vocal
Bass: David Hood
Drums: Roger Hawkins
Guitar: Eddie Hinton
Organ, Piano: Barry Beckett
Produced by Gene Kent, 1970
Recorded At Fame Recording Studios
Lowell Fulsom born 31 March 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, died 6 March 1999 in Long Beach, California.
5. Boney M: The Two of Us
(Lennon / McCartney)
Ocean of Fantasy: Atlantic Records – XSD 50610
West Germany
Backing Vocals: Frank Farian, Marcia Barrett
Lead Vocals: Liz Mitchell
Alto Saxophone: Lisa Gordanier
Baritone Saxophone: Lance Burton
Bass: G. Unwin, R. Besser
Drums: K. Forsey
Guitar: M. Björklund, N. Woodland
Keyboards: M. Cretu
Tenor Saxophone: Bobby Stern
Trombone– Geoff Stradling
Trumpet– Jim Polivka, Scot Newton
Produced by Frank Farian, 1979
Recorded at Europasound Studios (Friedrichsdorf) Union Studio, Munich
Mastered at the Lacquer Channel, Toronto
6. 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.
7. Spencer Davis Group: I’m A Man
(Jimmy Miller / Steve Winwood)
The Very Best Of The Spencer Davis Group: United Artists Records (mono) UA-LA433E
London UK
Spencer Davis: guitar, vocal
Steve Winwood: keys, lead vocal
Muff Winwood: bass
Pete York: drums
Produced by Chris Blackwell and Jimmy Miller, 1967
Compilation produced by Paul Burke 1975
The last hit song of The Spencer Davis Group with Steve Winwood on the soulful keys and vocals.
8. BB King: Caledonia
(F Moore)
BB King in London: ABC Records – ABCX-730
Chicago IL
BB King: Lucille, vocal
Jim Price: trumpet
Ollie Mitchell: trumpet
Chuck Findley: trombone
Bobby Keys: tenor sax
Bill Perkins: baritone sax, clarinet
Duster Bennett: harmonica
Gary Wright: organ
Rick Wright: electric piano
Peter Green: guitar
Klaus Voorman: bass
Jim Gordon: drums
Produced by Ed Michel and Joe Zagarino, 1971
Recorded at Olympic & Command Studios, London by Zags June 9 – 16, 1971
Riley Benjamin King b Berclair, Mi September 16, 1925 / d. Las Vegas Nv May 14, 2015
9. The Kingbees: My Mistake
(Jamie James)
The Kingbees: RSO Records RS-1-3075
Toronto / Los Angeles
Jamie James: guitar, lead vocal
Michael Rummans: bass, bg vocal
Rex Roberts: drums, bg vocal
Produced by David J Holman and Rich Fitzgerald, 1980
Recorded by David J Holman and Mark Ettel
Jamie James b. August 4, 1953, Toronto, ON
The Kingbees was formed by Jamie James (vocals, guitar) in 1979.
James started playing guitar at the age of 13. He relocated to London, England
in the '70s and released the single "Hello Little Girl." In 1973, he joined
an R&B group in Detroit. By the late '70s, James had moved to Southern
California and became part of the area's rockabilly scene.
The Kingbees signed with RSO, and their self-titled debut LP appeared in
1980. The album was initially a commercial bust until the track "My Mistake"
hit number one in Detroit. RSO went defunct just when their follow-up, The
Big Rock, came out. That was it for the band.
In 2000 James went on to form the rock and roll band "DQ and The Sharks" featuring actor/musician Dennis Quaid.
10. Frank Frost: Cotton Needs Pickin’
(Frost / Homes / Taylor / Price)
Crossroads Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Warner Brothers 92 53991
Helena Arkansas
Frank Frost: harmonica, lead vocal
John Price: drums
Richard Holmes: bass
Otis Taylor: guitar
Jim Dickinson: organ
Ry Cooder: guitar
Produced by Ry Cooder, 1986
Recorded at Ocean Way Studios, Los Angeles by Mark Ettel
Second engineers: Tony Chiappa & Dave Ahlert
Mixed at Ocean Way and Record One by Judy Last
Mastered by Bernie Grundman
Frank Otis Frost b. April 15, 1936 (or 1938) Auvergne Ark / d. October 12, 1999 (63) Helena, Ark
At the age of 18, Frost became a guitarist and began touring with
drummer Sam Carr and the great Robert Nighthawk. Soon after that he toured
with Rice Miller, (aka Sonny Boy Williamson II) who helped teach him how
to play the blues harp. He recorded sporadically and was re-discovered in
the 1970s by Earwig Records who produced his band as The Jelly Roll Kings.
Ry Cooder coerced Frost into performing in the film Crossroads in 1986.
In later years, Frost's health declined, yet he continued to play. Four days
before his death, he appeared with Carr at the King Biscuit Blues Festival.
He died of cardiac arrest in Helena, Arkansas in 1999, and is buried in Magnolia
Cemetery in Helena.
11. Shox Johnson & His Jive Bombers: 36.22.36
(D Malone)
Return Of The Brocaded Adventurer: C-Note – 801029
Toronto
Shox Johnson: vocals
John Karpenko: trombone
Larry Cramer: trumpet, flugelhorn
Alex Dean: alto, tenor
Del Dako: alto, baritone
Martin Loomer: guitar
Chris Connor: string bass
Curtis Smith: drums
Produced by Shox Johnson with Phil Sheridan, 1980
Recorded live at McClear Place Studios, Toronto by Phil sheridan
Mastered by Michael Burke
Stephen Ross Wilcox b. 1956 / d. Halifax NS 2000
This band got together in Toronto during the punk and disco era,
performing pounding jazz blues and R&B in Toronto’s after hours clubs.
This is from their mini-LP released in 1980. They did make another album
in 1983.
Note that in this song, the measurements mentioned are 36-22-36. In the following song, the waist is a little bigger.
12. The Esquires: 36-24-36
(Welch / Marvin / Harris / Meehan)
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
The Canadian band ‘The Esquires’, were the first rock
band to win the Maple Leaf Award 1964 (since renamed The Junos). There were
other bands called ‘The Esquires’, in Indiana, West Virginia, Texas,
not to mention Neil Young’s Esquires who were also known as The Squires,
in Winnipeg.
The Ottawa based band’s biggest influences were Buddy Holly, The Shadows
& Ventures, and of course The Beatles. Managed by Ottawa journalist and
Beatle fan Sandy Gardiner, they were the first Canadian rock band to sign
with a major record label. In fact, that made them Capitol Records label-mates
with The Beatles and The Dave Clark Five whom they got to open for on their
November, 1964 Canadian tour.
Late drummer Ritchie Patterson had a long career, playing in The Electrons
(1961), The Characters, The Children and 3’s A Crowd among others. He was
the first member of the band to sport a Beatle haircut.
13. Les Sultans: À toi que je pense (I think Of You) Come A Little Bit Closer
(Tommy Boyce / Bruce Huard)
45 single bw Si soudain je t'aimais: DSP Records DSP-8608
St-Hyacinthe QC
Denis Forcier: guitar
Bruce Huard: vocals
Claude Reid: guitar
Pierre Bélanger: drums
Ghylain Dufault: bass
Produced by Denis Pantis, 1967
Recorded by Pete Tessier
Bruce Huard is first of all the singer of the group Majestics
de Sorel. In 1963 he joined the Dots de Saint-Hyacinthe who took the Sultans
as their name in 1964 after the British Invasion. The group had its first
success in 1965 with the song "Va t'en", an original composition. For the
next couple of years they were very successful in Quebec. But despite of
their success, the Sultans gave their farewell show at the Paul-Sauvé
center in Montreal at the end of January 1968, as part of a Starovan which
attracted a record crowd of 8,000 spectators..
14. The Searchers: Cherry Stones
(John Jerome)
Sugar & Spice: Pye Records NPL-30044
Liverpool UK
Tony Jackson: lead vocals, bass
Chris Curtis: drums
Michael Pender: lead guitar
John McNally: rhythm guitar
Produced by Tony Hatch, 1963
The Band formed in 1959 by John McNally & Michael Pender taking
the name from John Ford western The Searchers (1956). Cherry Stones was written
by Australian writer John Jerome and published around 1950. It was quickly
recorded by Charlie Kunz, George Gibbs and The Malcolm Mitchell Trio. The
Searchers have now officially retired, having played their final ever gig
at The Stables Theatre in Wavendon, England on March 31, 2019.
15. The Heart: Treat Me Bad
(John Martin / John Doddridge)
45 single bw Help Me Down: Sir John A Records: SJA2
Almonte ON
John Martin (lead vocals)
David Liberty (lead guitars, vocals)
Hans Schleuter (bass)
John Doddridge (drums)
Gordon "Junior" Dix (guitar)
Peter Jermyn (organ)
Jamie Avis (guitar)
Produced by Ted Gerow, 1967
The band Thee Deuces was originally formed in 1964 in Almonte
south-west of Ottawa as an instrumental group who performed for nearly a
full year at Inter-Provincial Hotel in Hull, Quebec as the house band.
By the summer of 1967, the band decided to update their name - The Heart
- and their sound by adding former Luke & The Apostles keyboardist Peter
Jermyn. But Jermyn would leave again in 1968 to form The Modern Rock Quartet
with former Esquires members Doug Orr and Robert Coulthart. The Heart then
recruited Corbin and Arseneault from The Five D for one more single called
"Yesterday Was a Dream" on RCA at Christmas that year. The act lasted only
until the Spring of 1969.
Sir John A Records - Named after Canada's first Prime Minister, was a label
that existed for less than 2 years. Formed to celebrate Canada's centennial
year in 1967 by local Ottawa personality John Pozer and musician/artist Ron
Greene - the label tapped into some of the Ottawa area's hottest up and coming
bands. The records issued on the label were very limited pressings of 100
- 500 quantities.
16. The Paupers: Black Thank You Package
(Adam Mitchell / Skip Prokop)
Magic People: Verve Forecast - FTS 3026
Toronto, ON
Adam Mitchell, guitar, vocals
Skip Prokop, drums, vocals
Dennis Gerrard, bass
Chuck Beal. guitar
Produced by Rick Shorter, 1967
Recorded by Val Valentin at Columbia Studios, NYC
Released July 1, 1967
The first album by The Paupers, Magic People, was really
like two different albums! Side one is this amazing amalgam of psychedelic
rock where every song is a perfect addition to the set while side two seems
more like a random collection of songs that don’t hold together. This song
is from the first side, 3rd song. After freaking out on drugs at the Monterey
Pop Festival, bassist Denny Gerrard was replaced. He later showed up playing
in the McKenna Mendelson Mainline and is heard on the bootleg McKenna Mendelson
Blues (1969) on Paragon Records by John Irvine, the same guy that Stompin’
Tom claimed screwed him (for his Rebel Records releases).
17. Peanut Butter Conspiracy: Big Bummer
(PBC)
Spreading From the Ashes: Big Beat Records CDWIKD 245
Los Angeles
Barbara Robinson: vocals, percussion
Alan Bracket: bass
Lance Fent: lead guitar
John Merrill: rhythm
Jim Voight: drums
James Burton: guitar
Glen Campbell: guitar
Produced by Gary Usher, 1967
Compilation Produced 2005
Mastered by Nick Robbins
18. Oscar Peterson: Weird Blues
(Miles Davis)
If You Could See Me Now: Pablo Records – 2310-918
Montreal QC
Oscar Peterson: piano
Joe Pass: guitar
Martin Drew: drums
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pederson: bass
Produced by Norman Granz, 1986
Recorded by Phil Edwards at Fantasy Recording Studios, Berkeley CA November 1983
Mastered by George Hom at Fantasy Studios
19. Ella Fitzgerald: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye
(Cole Porter)
Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book: Verve
Beverly Hills CA
Ella Fitzgerald: vocal
Buddy Bregman Orchestra
Produced by Norman Ganz
Recorded Feb to March 1956
Written by Cole Porter in 1944 and first recorded by Ella Fitzgerald
in 1956 on her album of Cole Porter songs. The album was inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000. It was added to the Library of Congress’ National
Recording Registry in 2003. After it was recorded, Norman Ganz took the album
to Porter’s suit at the Waldorf-Astoria and played it for him. Porter’s reaction:
“My, what marvelous diction that girl has.”
