Side One – “Have ya ever bin ta sea, Billy?”
1. Billy Preston: Outa Space – 1972
2. Billy And The Catch 22: Mondays Mondaze – 1988 *
3. Billy Fury: Wondrous Place – 1960
4. Billy Dinn: Buttons In The Wind – 1984 *
5. Billy Meek: Mickey The Martian – 1978 *
6. Billy MacInnis: Duke Neilson Jig – 1983 *
7. Derek Markle: Billy Bayou – 1983 *
8. The Pogues: Billy’s Bones – 1985
9. Billy May Orchestra: Little Brown Jug – 1953
10. Billy Holiday: Can’t Take That Away From Me – 1937
11. Billy Strange: 007 Theme – 1965
12. Billy Budd: Guitar Boogie Breakdown – 1971 *
13. Cornelia & Billy: Cape Breton Miner Man – 1980 *
14. Ahmad Jamal: Billy Boy – 1958
15. The Beau-Marks: Billy Billy Went A Walking – 1959 *
16. Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas: I Call Your Name – 1963
17. Dino, Desi & Billy: Tell Someone You Love Them – 1965
18. Billy Bragg: The World Turned Upside Down – 1984
19. De Danann: Tom Billy’s / Ryan’s Jig / Sandmount Reel / Clogher Reel –
1976
Side Two – The Rhythm Section
1. Sandy Nelson: Let’s Go – 1963
2. James Brown: Cold Sweat – 1966
3. The Jitters: Hard As Nails – 1987 *
4. Rush: New World Man – 1983 *
5. Hal Blaine: Kaleidoscope – 1967
6. The Viletones: Danger Boy – 1977 *
7. Buddy Rich & Max Roach: Figure Eights – 1959
8. Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation: Trouble No More – 1968
9. Adrian Belew: Big Electric Cat – 1991
10. Black Market: Independence – 1981 *
11. Dennis Coffee & Detroit Guitar Band: Scorpio – 1971
12. Bloodwyn Pig: It’s Only Love – 1969
13. Cream: White Room – 1967
14. If: Forgotten Roads – 1971
15. Bill Bruford’s Earthworks: Thud – 1987
16. Black Forest Band: Tedski Polka – 1985 *
CanCon = 37%
Side One – “Have ya ever bin ta sea, Billy?”
And Now for The Particulars:
1. 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, AZ
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" won the Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance of 1972. In the 1990's Intel Corporation used the song to promote their MMX-enabled Pentium processors.
2. Billy And The Catch 22: Monday Mondaze
(Patriquin / Tribe / Konopelski)
Rough Mix: World Records WRC1 5963
Toronto
Billy Patriquin: guitar, lead vocals
Fred Duval: drums, vocals
Joe Power: bass, vocals
Don Patriquin: acoustic guitar
Steve Wingfield: sax
Rob Duval: keys
Produced by Fred Duval at Powerlines Productions, 1988
Recorded by Fred Duval at Powerlines, Toronto
This critically acclaimed album was the only one Billy and the Catch 22 recorded. Only a thousand lps and cassettes were ever made and until last year, none of the songs was available online.
3. Billy Fury: Wondrous Place
(Lewis / Giant)
45 single bw Alright, Goodbye: Decca UK - 45-F 11267
Liverpool UK
Billy Fury: vocals
Arranged by Syd Dale, 1960
Ronald Wycherley b. Liverpool UK 17 April 1940 / d. 28 January 1983 London (42)
After returning from a recording session in the early hours of 28 January 1983, Fury collapsed from a heart attack at his home in London. His manager Tony Read found him unconscious the next morning. He was taken to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, but died later in the afternoon, aged 42.
In 1999 Wondrous Place became the Official Theme Of The Toyota Yaris Commercial in the UK
4. Billy Dinn: Buttons In The Wind
(Billy Dinn)
Buttons In the Wind: The Music Takes Me Back Records CSPS 2372
Welland ON
Billy Dinn: accordion
Roy Penney: guitar, five string banjo
Rusty Walker: steel
Brian Twaites: bass
Cam Kinglin: drums
Milo Crumb: fiddle
Produced by Roy Penney and Billy Dinn, 1984
Recorded by Vince Nyult and Kirk Caseley at Rainbow Recording Studio, Niagara Falls ON
Mastered at McClear Place, Toronto
From Fortune Bay, NL, Dinn moved to Ontario a good while back and settled in Welland.
5. Billy Meek: Mickey The Martian
(B Meek)
The Jovial Scot: Audat - 477-9090
Toronto, ON
Billy Meek: banjo, vocals
Probably the Carlton Showband
Produced by Peter Houston circa 1978
Recorded by Peter Houston at United Media Studio
William George Meek b. 5 Sept, 1923, Edinburgh Scotland / d. 11 June, 2010, Toronto (86)
"Entertaining's my job," he said. "That's when I'm happy. Aye, and it's a grand feeling."
Known as 'The Jovial Scot' on The Pig and Whistle weekly TV program where he’d play his banjo and sing humorous ‘George Formby type Music Hall’ songs. Meek was an all round entertainer: a player, a story teller and a jokester. It wasn't so much the jokes he told, dubbed by one critic as "the oldest, most cobweb-covered gags I've ever heard anyone get away with in public," as their timing.
He was born into a show business family. By the time he was 14, Billy was touring the music halls of Scotland and England with his father William and older sister Cathie as The Three Bright Sparks, doing two nightly shows of music and comedy and working with the biggest singer-comedians of the day, including Gracie Fields and George Formby.
Sensing that the era of music halls was coming to an end in Britain, the family decided to join relatives in Toronto. His parents adapted, establishing themselves as puppeteers, but Billy took a job as a sales clerk at Eatons. A last-ditch attempt to resurrect his career got him on CBC Radio's “Opportunity Knocks”, a national talent show he won in 1948 by singing I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover. The next 30 years had him play conventions, country fairs, The Tommy Hunter Show, and opening for Vera Lynn at Maple Leaf Gardens before 15,000 fans. He returned to Scotland in 1977 for a visit, and rued the replacement of music halls with bingo parlours. Besides, he said, since everyone sounded like him and added: "I'd never be able to make a living here." Even after his formal retirement, Meek continued to entertain, often in nursing homes or homes for war veterans.
6. Billy MacInnis: Duke Neilson Jig
(Billy MacInnis Jr)
Fiddles Favorites: World Records WRCI 4156
Charlottetown PEI
Billy MacInnis: fiddle
John MacInnis: drums
Allan McKinnon: piano
Rodrigue Richard: bass
Joe McGarry: steel
Produced by Lou Douse, 1983
Recorded by Lou Douse
Mixed by FC Francis Drake and Wayne Huskings
Mastered at NOVASCO-Sound Vision by George MacPhee
Ahhhh Billy! An album recorded when Billy was barely breaking into his teens. He has since recorded several albums and was Stompin’ Tom’s fiddler. Now living in Eastern Ontario.
7. Derek Markle: Billy Bayou
(Roger Miller)
Be Yourself: Altair Four Records – WRC1-2829
Lanark ON
Steve Pitacco: guitars
Quincy Pamphouse: steel
Dave Babineau: bass
Ron Prescott: drums
Randall Prescott: keys
Robby Dontigny: guitar
Randy Demmon: piano
Bobby Lalonde: fiddle
Derek Markle: vocal
Produced by Randall Prescott, 1983
Recorded & Mixed at Altair Four Studio, Lanark by John Cybanski
Derek Markle b. May 8, 1945 – d. Aug 31, 1983
"Billy Bayou" was composed by Roger Miller before anyone really knew who he was as a singer/songwriter. It was originally released as a 1958 single by Jim Reeves, where the recording spent a total of 25 weeks on the country chart and was his fourth release to reach No. 1, where it stayed for five weeks. It was later recorded by artists such as Burl Ives, Charley Pride and Doug Kershaw.
8. The Pogues: Billy’s Bones
(Shane MacGowan)
Rum Sodomy & The Lash: Stiff Records MCA 5744
London UK
Shane MacGowan: vocals
Spider Stacy: tin whistle
James Fearnley: accordion
Jem Finer: banjo
Cait O'Riordan: bass
Andrew Ranken: drums
Philip Chevron: guitar
Additional personnel
Henry Benagh: fiddle
Dick Cuthell: French horn
Tommy Keane: uileann pipes
Produced by Elvis Costello and Phil Chevron, 1985
Recorded by Nick Robbins and Paul Scully at Elephant Studios, London
Recorded at Elephant Studios, London
9. Billy May’s Orchestra: Little Brown Jug
(Trad)
Bacchanalia!: Capitol Records EBF-374
Pittsburgh PA
Produced by Capitol Records 1953
Edward William "Billy" May, Jr b. Pittsburgh PA Nov 10, 1916 / d. Jan 22, 2004 San Juan Capistrano, CA (87)
May worked with Frank Sinatra on many of his recordings. Also worked with Nat King Cole, Vic Damone, Peggy Lee, Bing Crosby etc. In 1959, May won the Grammy Award for Best Performance by an Orchestra.
10. Billy Holiday: Can’t Take That Away From Me
(George & Ira Gershwin)
Sings The Blues: Pickwick / Everest Records SPC 3335
Philadelphia PA
Billy Holiday: vocals
Members of the Count Basie Band
Compilation Produced, 1973
Original Recording produced by Teddy Wilson, 1937
Billy Holiday born Eleanora Fagan April 7, 1915 / d. July 17, 1959 NYC (44)
Began listening to Louis Armstrong when she was only 12, working at a bordello. Used her father’s last name Halliday (who played in Fletcher Hendersons jazz band). She was discovered by John Hammond Sr who recorded her (at 18) with Benny Goodmans band. She starred as a vocalist throughout the 1930s but years of drug abuse landed her in prison several times. She died in 1959 of cirrhosis of the liver.
Holiday had 16 best-selling songs in 1937, making the year her most commercially successful.
11. Billy Strange: 007 Theme
(Monty Norman)
The Big Sound Of Billy Strange And His Guitar: GNP Crescendo GNP 2019
Long Beach CA
Billy Strange: guitar
Produced by Lanky Linstrot, 1965
Composter Monty (Norman) aka Noserovitch b. 4 April 1928 (currently 93) London UK
Monty Norman is famous for writing the music to the first James Bond film, Dr. No, which included the "James Bond Theme" which is the signature theme of the James Bond franchise. Norman has received royalties for the theme since 1962. However, as the film producers were dissatisfied with Norman's arrangement and employed John Barry to re-arranged the theme. Barry later claimed that it was actually he who wrote it, but Norman won two libel actions against the publishers for claiming that Barry was the composer. Norman collected around £600,000 in royalties between 1976 and 1999 for the use of the theme. It has been used in every James Bond film the franchise since.
William Everett Strange b. Long Beach CA Sept 29, 1930 / d. Feb 22, 2012 (81) Franklin TN
Strange was a session guitarist with the famed Wrecking Crew, and was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame as a member of The Wrecking Crew in 2007. Strange recorded arrangements of James Bond movie themes and provided the instrumental backing and arrangement for Nancy Sinatra's non-soundtrack version of "You Only Live Twice", as well as Nancy and Frank Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid". He was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for his pioneering contribution to the genre.
Strange played guitar on numerous Beach Boys hits, including "Sloop John B" and the Pet Sounds album. He also played guitar for Jan & Dean, The Ventures, Willie Nelson, The Everly Brothers, Wanda Jackson, Randy Newman, and Nat King Cole, among others. One of his most famous performances is on Nancy Sinatra's version of "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)".
12. Billy Budd: Guitar Boogie Breakdown
(Cecil McEachern)
The Versatile Sounds of Billy Budd: Big Wheel Records 2911-002
New Brunswick
Billy Budd: electric lead guitar
Produced by Billy Stoltz, 1971
Written by Cec McEachern, a versitile musician from Prince Edward Island and an indispensible member of Don Messer’s legendary band, The Islanders. Cec was a great guitar player and an even better fiddler. He wrote many fiddle breakdowns to play on guitar, something that he was hired to do on Don Messer’s Jubilee.
Big Wheel Records was a Canadian country music label based in Montréal and founded by Billy Stoltz in autumn 1970.
13. Cornelia & Billy: Cape Breton Miner Man
(Leon Dubinski)
Here’s To John-Willie: The Great Eastern Production Company – SR 52
Cleveland, Cape Breton Island, NS
Cornelia MacLeod: vocals, piano
Billy MacLeod: vocals, bass
RDP (Ron Doug Parks): drums, harmony vocals
Dennis Boudreau: guitars
Berkley Lamey: harp
Produced by Ron Doug Parks and Cornelia & Bill, 1980
Recorded by Pat Martin at Audio Atlantic Recording Studios, Halifax NS
Born Cornelia Boucher, Cornelia grew up on the Acadian shore learning how to play various musical instruments. She later moved out to Calgary. on The Tommy Hunter Show as well as winning The Du Maurier Search For Stars in 1982. Some time after the release of her first solo album she began making music with her then husband and collaborator Billy MacLeod and the two would become Cornelia & Billy, recording 3 albums and touring all over Canada. In 2010 Cornelia was honoured by receiving the Stompin’ Tom Connor Life Time Achievement award at The East Coast Music Awards,
14. Ahmad Jamal: Billy Boy
(Trad)
Poinciana: Argo Records – LP-719
Pittsburgh PA
Bass: Israel Crosby
Drums: Vernell Fournier
Piano: Ahmad Jamal
Produced by John Hammond Sr, 1963
Recorded by Malcolm Chisholm
Recorded live at the Pershing Lounge, Chicago, Illinois, January 16, 1958
Ahmad Jamal b. as Frederick Russell Jones, 2 July 1930 in Pittsburgh PA (currently 90)
Converted to Islam when in his 20s, and changed his name to Ahmad Jamal in 1950.
2003: American Jazz Hall of Fame, New Jersey Jazz Society
2007: Living Jazz Legend, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2007: Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, French government
2011: Down Beat Hall of Fame, 76th Readers Poll
2015: Honorary Doctorate of Music, The New England Conservatory
2017: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, The Recording Academy
15. The Beau-Marks: Billy Billy Went A Walking
(Beau-Marks)
45 single bw Clap Your Hands: Quality Golden Treasures QGT 014
Montreal QC
Ray Hutchinson: guitar
Mike Robitaille: bass
Joey Frechette: piano
Gilles Tailleur: drums
Produced 1959
Formed in the late 1950s, their first release, the April 1959 single "Rockin' Blues" b/w "Midnight Party", came out under the name The Del-Tones, but the group changed their name soon afterward in a nod to the Bomarc missile. "Clap Your Hands," hit #1 in Canada and Australia and peaked at #45 on the US Billboard chart. They appeared on American Bandstand and at a charity concert at Carnegie Hall soon afterwards. Two more albums followed before the group broke up in 1963.
16. 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.
17. Dino, Desi & Billy: Tell Someone You Love Them
(Billy Hinsche)
45 single bw General Outline: Reprise Records 0698
Los Angeles CA
Dino Martin: bass
Desi Arnez Jr: drums
Billy Hinsche: guitar
Produced by Dino Martin and Billy Hinsche, 1965
Dean Paul Martin Jr. (November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987)
Desi Arnaz Jr. (born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz IV; January 19, 1953)
William "Billy" Hinsche (born June 29, 1951, Manilla Philippines)
As young teens of the Stars: Dino 14, Billy 13 & Desi 12
The same day Lucille Ball gave birth to Desi Jr., the fictional Lucy Ricardo gave birth to "Little Ricky" on the ‘I Love Lucy’ television show. As a testament to how interested the American public was in Lucy's TV baby, Arnaz Jr appeared on the cover on the very first issue of TV Guide.
Keith Thibodeaux (who was born December 1, 1950) is a former American child actor of television and film and was best known for playing Little Ricky on the television sitcoms I Love Lucy. He was only three when he first appeared playing the drums on the TV program. It was Thibodeaux who actually taught young Desi Jr. how to play the drums.
18. Billy Bragg: The World Turned Upside Down
(Leon Rosselson)
Feed The Folk: Temple Records FTP01
Barking, Essex, UK
Billy Bragg: electric guitar, vocals
Produced by Edward de Bono, 1984
Compilation album produced 1985
Mastered by Max Walker at Trident Studios, London
Stephen William Bragg b. Barking UK 20 December 1957 (currently 63)
Influenced mostly by The Faces, Small Faces and the Rolling Stones and the music of Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan, he put his energies into learning to play the guitar with his next-door neighbour. But after hearing The Clash he claimed that it was the first time he really stepped into the world of music used for political activism.
In 1977 Bragg formed the punk rock band Riff Raff with Wiggy. They recorded one album which failed to produce any tangible results. The band broke up disillusioned in 1981 and Billy took a job working at Guy Norris' record shop in Barking to make ends meet. After a stint in the army, he began busking around London, playing solo with an electric guitar under the name Spy vs Spy (from the Mad Magazine). His demo tape initially got no response from the record industry, but by pretending to be a television repair man, he got into the office of Charisma Records' A&R man Peter Jenner, the guy who managed Pink Floyd in the Syd Barrett era. Jenner liked the tape, but the company was near bankruptcy and had no budget to sign new artists so Jenner agreed to release “Life's a Riot” with Spy vs Spy (credited to Billy Bragg) in 1983 on Charisma's imprint, Utility Records.
Bragg was listening to British DJ John Peel one day complain, on-air, that he was hungry, so Billy rushed down to the BBC with a mushroom biryani. Because of this, Peel played a song from Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy albeit at the wrong speed (since the 12" record was cut to play at 45rpms. Peel insisted he would have played the song even without the biryani and later played it at the correct speed.
In 1984, he released Brewing Up with Billy Bragg, which was followed in 1985 by “Between the Wars”, an EP of political songs that included a cover version of Leon Rosselson's "The World Turned Upside Down". The EP made the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and earned Bragg an appearance on Top of the Pops.
19. De Danann: Tom Billy’s Jig, Ryan’s Jig, The Sandmount Reel, The Clogher Reel
(Trad)
De Danann: Shanachie Records 79001
Galway, Ireland
Frankie Gavin: fiddle
Johnny Moynihan: bouzouki
Charlie Piggot: banjo
Alec Finn: guitar, bouzouki
Ringo McDonagh: bodhran
Produced by Carsten Linde & Nicky Ryan and De Danann, 1976
Recorded at Conny’s Studio, German by Conny Plank
Side Two – The Rhythm Section
1. Sandy Nelson: Let’s Go
(L & R Duncan)
The Best Of The Beats: Imperial Records LP-C9224
Santa Monica CA
Sandy Nelson: drums
Rick Podolor: guitar
Produced by Rick Podolor, 1963
From the liner-notes:
“Since high fidelity recording includes a true reproduction of all sounds without discrimination or distortion the original recording was done on an Ampex 300 C Magnetic Tape Recorder at 15 IPS using Scotch tape. To effectively record the full frequency spectrum, Telefunken U-47 M microphones were used. Tape to disc transfer employed an automatic Scully lathe with heated stylus using a Grampion feedback cutter system. Disc recording utilizes the standard RIAA recording curve.”
2. James Brown: Cold Sweat
(James Brown / Alfred Ellis)
30 Golden Hits: Polydor MIPD-2-9387
Atlanta GA
James Brown: lead vocal
Waymond Reed: trumpet
Joe Dupars: trumpet
Levi Rasbury: trombone
Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis: alto saxophone
Maceo Parker: tenor saxophone
Eldee Williams: tenor saxophone
St. Clair Pinckney: baritone saxophone
Jimmy Nolen: guitar
Alphonso "Country" Kellum: guitar
Bernard Odum: bass
Clyde Stubblefield: drums
Produced by James Brown & Jerry Wexler, 1967
Recorded at King Studios, Cincinnati OH
James Joseph Brown (b. Toccoa GA May 3, 1933 / d. Atlanta GA December 25, 2006
Clyde Stubblefield is best known for playing drums with James Brown’s orchestra. His recordings with them (from 1965) are considered to be some of the standard-bearers for funk drumming. The band had two drummers: Stubblefield and John "Jabo" Starks. The two drummers had no formal training. According to Stubblefield, "We just played what we wanted to play... We just put down what we thought it should be." His rhythm pattern on James Brown's "Funky Drummer" is among the world's most sampled musical segments. It has been used for decades by hip-hop groups
In 2013 Stubblefield and Starks received the Yamaha Legacy Award
In 2014 Stubblefield was named the second best drummer of all time by LA Weekly. A set of Stubblefield's autographed drum-sticks are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Both drummers died just a few years ago.
3. The Jitters: Hard As Nails
(Blair Packham)
The Jitters: EMI Capitol CLT 48126
Toronto ON
Blair Packham: lead vocal, guitar
Danny Levy: lead guitar
Matthew Greenberg: bass
Vic D’Arsie: keys
Randy Cooke: drums
Produced by Paul Gross, 1987
Recorded by Joe Primeau at Phase One Studio, Toronto
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, NYC
4. Rush: New World Man
(Peart / Lee / Lifeson)
Signals: Anthem Records ANR-1-1038
Toronto
Neil Peart: drums
Geddy Lee: synths, bass, vocals
Alex Lifeson: guitars
Produced by Rush and Terry Brown, 1983
Recorded and mixed at Le Studio, Quebec by Paul Northfield
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Master Disc, NYC
5. Hal Blaine: Kaleidoscope: March
(Hal Blaine)
Psychedelic Percussion: ABC Dunhill Records DS 50019
Holyoke Massachusetts
Hal Blaine: drums, organ, bongos, congas, gong, xylophone, timpani
Mike Lang: keys
Emil Richards, Gary Coleman: percussion
Produced by Steve Barri, 1967
Recorded by Ben Jordan and Phil Kaye
Harold Simon Belsky b. Holyoke MA, Feb 5, 1929 / d. March 11, 2019 Palm Desert CA (90)
Most people have never really heard of him but Hal Blaine has met their ears countless times. Like most smart people, he let his drums do the talking. The drums behind Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In, The Beachboys, Batman’s theme, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Mamas and Papas songs, Dean Martin, Barry McGuire, Petula Clark, Bobby Darin, The Grassroots, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, McArthur Park, Mr. Tambourine Man, Johnny Rivers, Bobby Vee, Lorne Green doing Ringo, Something Stupid, John Denver, Connie Francis, Windy and Wouldn’t it Be Nice. To name just a few! So I think we all know of him.
6. The Viletones: Danger Boy
(Steve Leckie)
A Taste of Honey: Other Peoples Music OPM-2104
Toronto ON
Steve Leckie: lead vocal
Freddie Pompeii: guitar
Chris Haight: bass
Motor X: drums
Produced by The Viletones and Jan Haust, 1977
Compilation Produced 1994
Recorded by Tibor Takacs, 1977
Mastered by Peter E Moore at the E-Room, Toronto
One of the first punk bands in Canada, they formed around 1975. They laid down a bunch of tracks, including The Screaming Fist (their first single) in 1977, most of it unreleased until the compilation album, A Taste of Honey was released in 1994 on CD. (They did record and release one album during their years of operation: 1983s Saturday Night / Sunday Morning which was recorded live at Larry’s Hideaway in Toronto.
7. Buddy Rich & Max Roach: Figure Eights
(Rich / Roach)
Rich Versus Roach: Mercury Records – MG – C20448
NYC / Newland NC
Buddy Rich: drums
Max Roach: drums
Produced by Jack Tracy, 1959
Recorded by William T Stoddard
Bernard "Buddy" Rich b. Brooklyn NY September 30, 1917 / d. Los Angeles CA April 2, 1987 (79)
Buddy’s father saw that he could keep a steady beat with spoons at the age of one. He began playing drums on the vaudeville circuit when he was 18 months old, billed as "Traps the Drum Wonder". At the peak of Rich's childhood career, he was reportedly the second-highest paid child entertainer in the world (after Jackie Coogan).
In his professional career he got to play with greats such as Artie Shaw, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey. He was a personal friend of Neil Peart and since his death, a number of memorial concerts have been held because of Peart’s dedication to the master. In 1994 Peart produced a tribute album “Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich”.
Maxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach b. Newland NC January 10, 1924 / d. NYC August 16, 2007
Began playing drums age 10 in gospel band as an 18-year-old fresh out of Boys High School, he was called to fill in for Sonny Greer with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. His first professional recording session took place in December 1943, supporting Coleman Hawkins. In 1952, Roach co-founded Debut Records with bass playing genius, Charles Mingus. This label released a record of a May 15, 1953 concert, billed as 'the greatest concert ever', which came to be known as “Jazz at Massey Hall”, featuring Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Mingus and Roach. Roach's last performance was at the 50th anniversary celebration of the original Massey Hall concert, in Toronto in 2003, where he performed a solo on the hi-hat.
8. Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation: Trouble No More
(V Brox / Moorshead / A Dmochowski)
The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation: Blue Thumb Records BTS 4
London UK
Alex Dmochowski: guitar
Aynsley Dunbar: drums
Keith Tillman: bass
Victor Brox: keys, vocal
Produced by Ian Samwell, 1968
Recorded by Victor Gann
Aynsley Thomas Dunbar b. Liverpool UK, 10 January 1946
Though he was only 21 when he formed the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, the drummer had already played with several bands of note in both his native Liverpool and London. He did his stint with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers (replaced by Mick Fleetwood), after which he played for a few months in the Jeff Beck Group before forming Retaliation. After Retaliation he formed Blue Whale, releasing one album, he joined Frank Zappa's newly reformed Mothers of Invention. He later went on to play or record with David Bowie, Lou Reed, Herbie Mann, Mick Ronson, Jefferson Starship, White Snake, UFO, Leslie West, Pat Travers. Dunbar was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Journey in 2017.
9. Adrian Belew: Big Electric Cat
(A Belew)
Desire Of The Rhino King: Island Records – 314-510 518-2
Covington, KY
Adrian Belew: drums, guitar, lead vocals
Clif Mayhugh: bass, vocals
Christy Bley: Keys, vocals
Bill Janssen: sax, vocals
Produced by Adrian Belew, 1991
Recorded by Gary Platt and Rich Denhart at Compass Point Studios
mastered By Greg Calbi at Kendun Studios
Robert Steven Belew b. Covington Kentucky, December 23, 1949
It was Frank Zappa’s chauffeur that turned Frank onto the talents of Adrian Belew, then playing in a cover band called Sweetheart in 1977. He appeared on Zappa's 1979 album Sheik Yerbouti, most notably performing a Bob Dylan impersonation on the song "Flakes." After his stint with Zappa, Belew was recruited by David Bowie (on recommendation of Brian Eno) and played on Bowie's Isolar II world tour in 1978. He has also played with Talking Heads and King Crimson. He’s been a producer, session player and solo artist ever since.
10. Black Market: Independence
(Domenic Troiano / Roy Kenner)
Changing of the Guard: El Mocambo Records: ELMO-762
Toronto, ON
Domenic Troiano: guitar, vocal
Paul DeLong: drums
Bob Wilson: bass
Dick Smith: percussion
Roy Kenner: bg vocals
Shawne Jackson: bg vocals
Prakash John: bg vocals
Produced by Domenic Troiano, 1981
Recorded by Mike Jones at Phase One Studios, Toronto
Mastered by Neil Carter at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
11. Dennis Coffee & The Detroit Guitar Band: Scorpio
(Dennis Coffee)
Sussex label SUX-266
Detroit MI
Uriel Jones: drums
Richard "Pistol" Allen: drums
Bob Babbitt, bass
Eddie Brown: congas
Jack Ashford: tamourine
Earl Van Dyke: piano
Dennis Coffee, rhythm guitar
Ray Monette: lead guitar (Rare Earth)
Joe Podorsic: lead guitar
Produced Mike Theodore, 1971
Recorded by Jim Burzzese at GM Recording Studios in East Detroit
Mixed by Ray Hall in RCA Recording Studios in New York.
Uriel Jones (b. Detroit June 13, 1934 – d. Dearborn MI March 24, 2009)
He was a session drummer for Motown's in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. He played & recorded with every Motown act conceivable. His last gig was in 2008 to celebrate paying homage to musicians from the city of Detroit.
Richard "Pistol" Allen: b. Memphis TN August 13, 1932 / d June 30, 2002 (69) Detroit
He was the primary recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band on most of the Holland-Dozier-Holland's hit productions of the 1960s. Allen played the drums on songs like "Heat Wave" by Martha & the Vandellas, "The Way You Do the Things You Do" by The Temptations, "Baby Love" by the Supremes, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, and "Reach Out I'll Be There" by the Four Tops. He was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame in 2010 as a member of the Funk Brothers. Oh and Scorpio sold over a million copies as well.
12. Bloodwyn Pig: It’s Only Love
(Mick Abrahams)
Ahead Rings Out: A&M Records Canada SP-4210
London UK
Mick Abrahams: guitar, vocal
Jack Lancaster: flute, violin, sax
Andy Pyle: bass
Ron Berg: drums
Produced by Andy Johns, 1969
Recorded at Morgan Studios, Willesden, UK, April 1969
Mick Abrahams b. Luton, UK Apr 7, 1943
Jethro Tull hit the scene in a big way in 1968, releasing their incredible first album “This Was”. But all was not well in Jethro Tull-land: guitarist Mick Abrahams quit the band shortly after the album was released, to form a blues-rock band he called Bloodwyn Pig. They only recorded 2 albums but both hit the top ten on the UK Albums Chart.
13. Cream: White Room
(Jack Bruce / Pete Brown)
Heavy Cream: Polydor 2671 102
London UK
Jack Bruce: vocal, bass
Eric Clapton: guitar
Ginger Baker: drums
Felix Pappalardi: viola
Produced by Felix Pappalardi, 1967
Recorded in Atlantic City, NY by Bill Halverson, Arian Barber, Tom Dowd & Damon Lyon-Shaw
John Symon Asher Bruce b. Bishopbriggs, Scotland 14 May 1943 / d. Oct 25, 2014 (71) Sudbury UK
Peter Edward Baker b. Lewisham UK 19 Aug 1939 / d. 6 Oct2019 (80) Canterbury UK
Eric Patrick Clapton b. 30 March 1945 Ripley, Surrey
The song was covered by Jeff Healey, Waylon Jennings, Iron Butterfly, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, The Guess Who, The Stranglers and Vassar Clements.
14. If: Forgotten Roads
(Dave Quincy / T Preston)
IF3: Capitol Records - SMAS 820
UK
John Mealing: keys
Terry Smith: guitar
Jim Richardson: bass
Dennis Elliot: drums
Dick Morrissey: sax, flute
JW Hodkinson: vocals
Dave Quincey: sax, flute
Produced by Jon Child and IF, 1971
Recorded by Frank Owen at Island Studios, London
If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969. Referred to by Billboard as "un-questionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands".
15. Bill Bruford’s Earthworks: Thud
(Iain Bellamy)
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). Also known for his playing with King Crimson. Bruford also performed with Gong, Genesis, UK and Earthworks. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Bruford No. 16 in its list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes in 2017.
16. Blackforest Band: Tedski Polka
(G Kreller)
Black Forest Band Polka Heaven Bir Records - BIRLP003
Conestogo ON
Gary Kreller, Accordion, synths, keys
Ted Zawadzki, guitar
Mark Kreller, drums
Jim Weber, bass
Kerry Ruthig, trumpet
Steve Richtaritsch, sax, clarinet
Debbie Ashworth, trumpet
Produced by Ted Zawadzki, circa 1985
Recorded by Doug Biggs at Cedartree Recording Studios, Kitchener ON
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