Side One
1. Willie Nelson: On The Road Again – 1980
2. Moby Grape: Road To The Sun – 1971
3. The Hollies: Long Dark Road – 1972
4. Norm Hacking: Midnight Road – 1987 *
5. Flying Burrito Brothers: Six Days On The Road – 1972
6. Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Road To Thunder Bay – 1993 *
7. Scott B Sympathy: Mohawk Road – 1990 *
8. David Bradstreet: Parallel Roads – 1980 *
9. Troyka: Rolling Down The Back Road – 1970 *
10. Kansas: Down The Road – 1974
11. Ted Wesley: MacKenzie Road – 1973 *
12. Smyle: Better Road Ahead – 1970 *
13. TNT: Lonesome Road – 1977 *
14. Sultan’s Of String: Road To Kfarmishki – 2017 *
On The B Side
1. Levon & The Hawks: Further On Up The Road – 1961 *
2. Love Sculpture: On The Road Again – 1969
3. Downchild: Road Fever – 1980 *
4. Ken Hamm: Big Road Blues – 1978 *
5. Will Bradley: Down The Road A Piece - 1940
6. Chris Youlden: Nowhere Road – 1973
7. Foghat: Road Fever – 1973
8. Ron Hynes: Roads – 1974 *
9. Buffalo Springfield: Hot Dusty Roads – 1966 *
10. The Paupers: Southdown Road – 1968 *
11. Reg Hill: Road to Fort Coulonge – 1974 *
12. George Higton: Another Road – 2019 *
*CanCon – 65%
And Now for The Particulars:
We're On The Road Again
Side One
1. Willie Nelson & Family: On The Road Again
(Willie Nelson)
Honeysuckle Rose (Music From The Original Soundtrack): Columbia Records S2 36752
Abbott TX
Willie Nelson: vocal
Produced by Willie Nelson, 1980
Willie Hugh Nelson B April 29, 1933 (age 87) Abbott, TX
The song, about life on tour, came about when the executive producer of the film Honeysuckle Rose approached Nelson about writing the song for the film's soundtrack. He was asked to write a Road Song while he was flying to a gig so he quickly wrote the song on a barf bag. "On the Road Again" became Nelson's 9th Country & Western No. 1 hit overall. Won Grammy Award for Best Country Song 1981.
Neil Young released a cover of this song on his 2014 album A Letter Home.
It was also covered by Rick Moranis as ‘Linsk Minyk’ in The Schmenge Brothers film ‘The Last Polka’.
2. Moby Grape: Road To The Sun
(James Mosley)
20 Granite Creek: Reprise Records K44152
San Francisco
James R Mosley: bass
Jerry Miller: guitar
Peter Lewis: guitar
Don Stevenson: drums
Skip Spence: guitar
Gordon Stevens: electric viola, dobro, mandolin
Produced by David Rubinson and Moby Grape, 1971
Recorded at Quadra-Centric Sound by Ed Bannon; Pacific Recording Studios, San Mateo
Recorded by Ed Bannon, David Rubinson and Jerry Zatkin
Mixed at Pacific Recordings Studios, San Mateo by David Rubinson
Moby Grape drummer Don Stevenson moved to Canada a few decades ago and has since taken up residence in Toronto. I had the opportunity of having him on my program a few years ago as a guest to do a feature on Moby Grape, as well as his own solo music. A couple of weeks before that happened, I came across this, the last real ‘Grape’ album, at Rooster Records, 98 Fore St. in Exeter, UK. I paid 12 Pounds for it.
3. The Hollies: Long Dark Road
(T Hicks / K Lynch)
45 single bw Indian Girl: Epic Records 5-10920
Lancashire UK
Mikael Rickfors: lead vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, harmonica, percussion
Terry Sylvester: vocals, guitar
Tony Hicks: vocals, guitars, banjo, mandolin, bass, sitar, keyboards
Bernie Calvert: bass, keyboards
Bobby Elliott: drums
Produced by Ron Richards and The Hollies, 1972
"Long Dark Road", not released as a single in the UK, was one of the last singles released by The Hollies that charted in the USA. Not much was left of the vintage 60’s group at this stage in their career. Their amazing harmonies were obviously grafted into the singing style of Crosby, Stills and Nash, courtesy of Graham Nash, an original member of the Hollies.
4. Norm Hacking: Midnight Road
(Norm Hacking)
Stubborn Ghost: Rosedale Records - RDR 800N
Toronto ON
Norm Hacking: guitar, vocal
Kevin Bell: guitar
Kirk Elliott: violin, mandolin, guitar, accordion, recorders
John Arpin: piano
Doug McClement: bass
David Woodhead: fretless bass
Kid Carson: drums
Matt Zimbel: percussion
Chris Whiteley: horn
Paul Corby: electric guitar
John Sheard, keys
David Witten: cello
Produced by Norm Hacking & Kevin Bell, 1987
Mixed by John Sheard
Recorded by Steve Traub at Comfort Sound, Toronto
Norman Hacking b. August 1, 1950 / d. November 25, 2007 Toronto (57)
One of the most selfless singer-songwriters from the Toronto scene who recorded several albums of original material. For years he encouraged younger songwriters to perform their songs at Open Stages that he hosted.
Norm Hacking was just an excellent songwriter and Stubborn Ghost was his best received album. I don’t know who put up the money (coz he didn’t have much) but everything, from the cool cover to the production quality and a plentitude of great quality studio musicians and first class arrangements, put this album over the top and yet….. almost nobody bought it. Unlike most ‘folkie’ albums that are totally ignored by the media, this one received great reviews in Toronto newspapers. He appeared at the Mariposa Folk Festival in Barrie that year to try and cash in on the new LP but nothing ever happened. He couldn’t get commercial radio airplay. The euphoria faded away and Norm was left holding another great bag of songs.
5. The Flying Burrito Brothers: Six Days On The Road
(C Montgomery / E Green)
The Last of the Red Hot Burritos: A&M Records SP 4343
Los Angeles CA
Chris Hillman: vocals, bass, mandolin
Rick Roberts: vocals, rhythm guitar
Al Perkins: pedal steel guitar, lead electric guitar
Kenny Wertz: vocals, guitar, banjo
Michael Clarke: drums
Bernie Leadon (possible): guitar (overdubbed)
Produced by Jim Dickson, 1972
Recorded by Ed Kramer Dartmouth College, Hanover NH, Antioch Collecge, Yellow Springs, OH.
First released in 1963, Six Days On The Road became a major hit for Dave Dudley that year and is often hailed as the definitive celebration of the American truck driver. The Flying Burrito Brothers are shown performing the song live at Altamont in the movie, "Gimme Shelter". The interesting thing about the Burritos is that they never had a lead guitarist; they utilized the sound of the steel guitar, often played through a fuzz-tone. When they recorded this live album, Nashville session man Al Perkins played the Steel, replacing original band member Sneaky Pete Kleinow who later went on to reform the band. Ex-Byrds Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke were still in the band. Bernie Leadon of The Eagles was also an important member of the first phase of the Burritos which ended just before this albums was actually released.
6. Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Road To Thunder Bay
(T C Connors)
Dr. Stompin' Tom...Eh?: - 7243 495597
Halton Hills ON
Tom Connors: guitar, vocal
Graham Townsend: violin
Duncan Fremlin: banjo
Conrad Kipping: mandolin
Bob McNiven: guitar
Rob Duffus: drums
Greg Street: bass
Fred Northcotte: accordion
Denis Keldie: keys
Chris Whiteley: trumpet
Gray Townsend: piano
Produced by Dr. Tom Connors, 1993
Recorded at Comfort Sound, Toronto
Mastered by Bob Ludwig NYC
Charles Thomas Connors b. Feb 9, 1936 Saint John, NB / d. March 6, 2013 (77) Ballinafad, ON
This is a great song that utilizes subtle imagery from the pen of Stompin’ Tom. It was never released on vinyl. I always get this hazy blue smoke feeling whenever I listen to it. Mist hovering in the back seat of a car is a great image in a ghostly song.
7. Scott B Sympathy: Mohawk Road
(Scott Bradshaw)
Neil Yonge Street: Smokeshow Records - SMOKE ONE
Toronto ON
John Borra: bass
Ian Blurton: electric guitar
Gord Cumming: slide, vocal coach
Scott B: acoustic guitar, vocal
Ed Block: mandolin
Produced by Walter N Sobczak* & Scott B, 1990
Recorded by Walter N Sobczak at Wellesley Sound, Toronto
Scott Bradshaw b. Brantford ON
This 1990 release claims that the album was produced by Walter N Sobczak. I don't believe he's the same Walter Sobczak that John Goodman played in The Big Lebowski. The movie came out in 1997 and this came out 7 years earlier, so...
Scott B put out five cassette and CD albums with his band, The Sympathy, this being his first and only one on vinyl. He later was lead vocalist with a band called Stratochief in the early 2000s and was last heard playing in 2010 in a duo with Gord Cumming called "Massey Harris". For a short while, Cumming was the host of a CIUT radio program called “Lawyers, Guns and Money” which aired directly after my show.
8. David Bradstreet: Parallel Roads
(David Bradstreet)
Black & White: Street Records – SR001
Toronto ON
David Bradstreet, guitars
Carl Keesee, bass
Bill Dillon, guitars
Bucky Berger, drums
Produced by David Bradstreet and Carl Keesee, 1980
Mastered by George Graves at Lacquer Channel, Toronto
Last week I played Renaissance by Valdy, a song that was written by Toronto songwriter David Bradstreet. Bradstreet was quite active in the late 1970s and early 80s, releasing three great albums before getting into recording and producing songs for TV, commercials and films. He has continued to make music with his good friend Carl Keesee who plays bass on this 41 year old album.
9. Troyka: Rolling Down The Back Road
(Troyka)
Troyka: Cotillion Records SD 9020
Edmonton AB
Mike Richards: lead vocal, drums
Robert Edwards: guitar, mandolin, vocal
Rumor Lukawietsky: bass, vocals
Produced by Shel Kagan & Troyka, 1970
Recorded at Round Sound, Edmonton by Ted Richards
Starting out in Edmonton when they were teens in the early 1960s, calling themselves The
Ortegas and then The Royal Family. Cutting a couple of singles in 1965, the band continually tried to re-invent themselves. They were one of the first Alberta bands to play ‘Acid-Rock’ which meant no time for pop singles. Looking for a new name, they moved to Montreal in 1967 and called themselves Troyka (a three-wheeled horse carriage) since all three members had a Slavic heritage. After this album was released, they toured relentlessly through the States, opening for The Byrds, Blue Cheer, Savoy Brown, Canned Heat and Mountain. I attended their last show at The Electric Circus in Toronto, 1970.
10. Kansas: Down The Road
(S Walsh / K Livgren)
Kansas: Kirshner Records / Columbia PZ-33385
Topeka KS
Phil Ehart: drums
Dave Hope: bass
Kerry Livgren: guitars, keys
Robby Steinhardt: violin, vocals
Steve Walsh: lead vocals, keys, percussion
Rich Williams: guitars
Produced by Jeff Glixman and Wally Gold, 1974
Recorded by Peter Granet at Wally Heider Studios, LA
Mastered by Mike Reese at The Mastering Lab, LA
The first incarnation of Kansas took place in 1970 when two progressive Topeka bands came together under the Kansas name. They tried to make it big for a couple of years which ended in failure and basically split up around 1973. They reconstituted the band a year later, and changing their name to White Clover. White Clover then got signed to Columbia Records who insisted that they use the ‘Kansas’ name. Columbia then released this, their first album, in 1974. After extensive touring, developing a ‘cult’ following, the band recorded 13 more albums between 1975 and 2000.
11. Ted Wesley: MacKenzie Road
(Bob Ruzicka)
Blackflies and Mosquitos and Other Love Songs: Boot Records BOS 7143
Yellowknife NT
Ted Wesley: vocals
Others not listed
Produced by Gerry McDonall, 1973
Ted Wasylkiewicz b. Zambia 1951
Ted Wesley was born in Abercorn, in the former British-African colony of Northern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, of Polish refugee parents. When he was six the family moved to England; three years later the family emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta. Being a big kid, he first came north in 1967 as a teen and went to work in the Discovery gold mine north of Yellowknife. "I lied to them, told them I was 18," he said. Within weeks he met Andy Steen and they formed the band called “The Tundra Folk”. He went solo in 1972 and released a trio of albums featuring songs by northern songwriters Bob Ruzicka and Wilf Bean. He was also a part time Elvis impersonator.
Now living in Northern Alberta, Wesley is still performing. The MacKenzie Highway (or road) begins at Grimshaw, Norhtern Alberta and drives north, above the 60th, up to Yellowknife.
12. Smyle: Better Road Ahead
(Don Demmans / Ray Durritt / Pete Rihbany)
Smyle: Columbia Records ES-90017
Burlington ON
Ron Demanns: guitar
Peter Rihbany: bass
Ray Durritt: guitar
Tim Regan: drums
Produced by John Williams, 1970
Recorded by Terry Brown at Toronto Sound Studio
Smyle got together in Hamilton ON in 1967. In 1969 they moved to Toronto after touring the teen circuit for a couple of years. In Toronto they recorded a single called "Glory, Glory" which became a regional hit and secured them a recording contract with Columbia Records. Unfortunately for them, there were no Canadian content laws back then and their 1970 album received little or no airplay. Because of that, Columbia dropped them and they called it quits after releasing two more independent 45s.
13. TNT: Lonesome Road
(Niel Bishop / Claude Caines)
TNT: Quay CS 7801
Stephenville, NL
Elaine Kilpatrick, vocals
Neil Bishop, guitar, vocals
Ted MacNeil, drums
Denis Parker, guitar
Claude Caines, bass, vocals
Brian Murphy, keys
Produced by Neil Bishop & Claude Caines, 1977
Recorded at Clode Sound, Stephenville
mailto:claudecaines@gmail.com
mailto:nbishop@nf.sympatico.ca
This was a super band based out of Newfoundland, put together by two guys from Stephenville: ex-Du-Cat, Claude Caines and guitarist Neil Bishop. It was in a disused airplane hanger in Stephenville that Bishop and Caines began their own record label (Quay Records) and recording studio (Clode Sound) which became the very first ‘real’ studio in the province. Previously, Newfoundland bands had to leave the island to record! Now they would travel up to 750 kms from St. John’s to Stephenville just for time in the studio. Artists such as Figgy Duff did just that.
TNT got together to forge a new pop sound but it wasn’t until a young woman from Georgia jumped ship, leaving her gig as a cruise ship lounge act in St. John’s and deciding to live a while in exotic Newfoundland. Within a few days Elaine Kilpatrick was co-fronting TNT with Neil. They recorded only one album and a great 45.
14. The Sultans of String: Road To Kfarmishki
(C McKhool - K Laliberte)
Ten Years Of Music: Fiddlefire Records MKC 2070
Toronto ON
Chris McKhool: violin
Kevin Laliberte: guitar
Eddie Paton: guitar
Drew Birston: bass
Rosendo Leon: drums, percussion
E Tollar: sax
Compilation produced by Chris McKhool, 2017
Originally Produced by Chris McKhool, 2011
Recorded by Jeremy Darby at The Canterbury Music, Toronto
Mixed by George Seara at Manic Sound, Toronto
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 Mastering
On The B Side
1. 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.
2. Love Sculpture: On The Road Again
(Shade (Floyd) Jones / Alan Wilson)
Blues Helping: Rare Earth R 505
Cardiff Wales
John Williams: bass, vocals
Bob Jones: drums, vocals
Dave Edmunds: guitar, vocals, keys
Produced by Malcolm Jones & Kingsley Ward, 1969
Recorded by Peter Mew
Not many bands can outdo Canned Heat and their Alan Wilson penned hit ‘On The Road Again’ but this one comes close. Who would have thought that a band from Cardiff Wales could wail like the Heat! Featuring a young Dave Edmunds on vocal and guitar, this power trio released just two albums before splitting up in 1971. Their first album, Blues Helping, was just that: a helping of blues while their second album, Forms and Feeling, was a totally different experience. It featured some of their own songs as well as a few classical pieces. It would have been interesting to hear a third album from this trio.
3. Downchild Blues Band: Road Fever
(Jane Vasey)
Road Fever: Attic Records LAT 1099
Toronto ON
Don Walsh: guitar, harmonica, slide guitar
Jane Vasey: piano, vocals
Tony Flaim: lead vocals
Gary Kendall: bass, vocals
Bob Heslin: trumpet
Larry Bodner: sax
Richard Howse: sax
Produced by Bill Bryans, 1980
Recorded by Dan Lanois at Grant Avenue Studio, Hamilton ON
Mastered by George Graves at The Lacquer Channel, Toronto
For over 50 years this Canadian blues band has been active, releasing numerous albums with a rotating list of characters. Originally the brainchild of guitarist Donny Walsh, it included his brother Hock and their antics helped form the basis for Dan Akroid’s idea for The Blues Brothers. Pianist Jane Vasey, who wrote this song, died from leukemia in 1982. She started performing with the band in 1973.
4. Ken Hamm: Big Road Blues
(Tommy Johnson)
Ken Hamm & Friends: North Track Records - NT01 - vinyl
Forget, SK / Thunder Bay ON
Ken Hamm: guitar, vocals
Damon Dowbak: mandolin
Lauri Conger: piano
Sean Mundy: harmonica, percussion
Tom Sinkins: string bass
Produced by Ken Hamm, Ian Tamblyn, Rick Kyle, 1978
Recorded by Richard Denesiuk at Kolossal Studios, Winnipeg
Ken Hamm & Friends was the first LP released on North Track Records, a Thunder Bay Ontario indie label formed by 3 local musicians: Ken Hamm, Rodney Brown & Ian Tamblyn. Hamm and Tamblyn still use North Track as their label while Brown moved on to one of his own. Ken Hamm currently resides in the town of Forget, Saskatchewan where he runs a small music store with his wife selling and repairing acoustic instruments.
5. Will Bradley Trio: Down The Road A Piece
(Raye /Slack / McKinley)
78 single bw Celery Stalks At Midnight: Columbia Records 35707
Newton, NJ
Will Bradley: some vocals
Ray McKinley: drums, vocal
Doc Goldberg: bass
Freddie Slack: piano
Produced 1940
Wilbur Schwichtenberg aka Will Bradley b. July 12, 1912 Newton, NJ / d. July 15, 1989 (77) Flemington, NJ
The most interesting thing about this recording is that, although the name of the band is the Will Bradley Trio, Bradley, who actually was the band leader, did not play an instrument on this recording.
6. Chris Youlden: Nowhere Road
(C Youlden)
Nowhere Road: London Records - XPS 633
Dagenham UK
Chris Spedding: guitar
Danny Kirwin: guitar
Ray Fewick: guitar
Foggy Lyttle: acoustic guitar
Mike McNaught: keyboards
Pete Wingfield: keyboards
Roy Babbington: bass
Andy Sylvester: bass
Bruce Rowland: drums
Produced by Barry Murray for Murray for Simmonds Productions, 1973
Recorded by Terry Evennett
Christopher Thomas "Chris" Youlden b. 1943, Dagenham, England
Chris Youlden is best known for his stint as lead vocalist for Savoy Brown between 1967 and 1970 when the band were really hot, breaking in big in America. In 1971, Youlden left the band to pursue a solo career, but after two critically acclaimed solo albums in the mid-seventies with London Records, which failed to sell, he slipped under the radar and rarely performed or recorded again.
7. Foghat: Road Fever
(Rod Price / Dave Peverett)
Foghat: Bearsville Records – BR 2136
London UK
Tony Stevens: bass
Rod Price: guitar, slide
Lonesome Dave Peverett: guitar, vocal
Roger Earl: drums
Produced by Tom Dawes, 1973
Was formed in London in 1971
This band was formed out of the fragments left over from Savoy Brown after Chris Youlden left. Foghat initially featured Dave Peverett, aka "Lonesome Dave", on guitar and vocals; Tony
Stevens on bass, and Roger Earl on drums. The only non-ex-Savoy Brown member was Rod Price on guitar/slide guitar who joined after he left the Black Cat Bones. This was the band's second self-titled album which was also known as ‘Rock and Roll’ for its cover photo of a rock and a bread roll, and it went gold.
8. Ron Hynes: Roads
(Ron Hynes)
CBC Broadcast Recording: CBC Radio Canada LM 402
St. Johns NL
Ron Hynes: vocal, guitar, harmonica
Unknown Studio Musicians
Produced by Paul Mills, 1974
Recorded in Toronto by Alan Thorne
Ron Hynes b. St. John's, NL December 7, 1950 / d. November 19, 2015 (64) St. John's, NL
This cut was taken from a CBC broadcast recording. Previously in 1972, Hynes recorded his first album called ‘Discovery’ and then moved to Toronto to further his career. After being away from his native province for a few years, he returned to Newfoundland to be a member of The Wonderful Grand Band who made the first commercial recording of Ron’s emblematic song, Sonny’s Dream. In fact, it appeared on both the Grand Band’s albums. He first recorded it in Toronto as a demo in 1976.
9. Buffalo Springfield: Hot Dusty Roads
(Stephen Stills)
Buffalo Springfield: Atco Records Mono 33-200-A
Los Angeles CA
Neil Young: guitar, lead vocal
Steve Stills: guitar
Richie Furay: guitar
Dewey Martin: drums
Bruce Palmer: bass
Produced by Charles Greene, Brian Stone, 1966
Recorded July - September 1966 by Tom May, Doc Siegel, James Hilton, Stan Ross
Mixing: Buffalo Springfield, Charles Greene, Brian Stone
Three of the five members of this California band were from Canada:
Neil Percival Young b. Toronto November 12, 1945
Bruce Clifford Palmer b. Toronto September 9, 1946 / d. October 1, 2004 (58) Belleville, ON
Dewey Martin b. Chesterville ON September 30, 1940 / d. January 31, 2009 (68) Van Nuys, CA
This album was recorded prior to the implementation of Canadian Content Rules in 1972 so although it would NOT be considered CanCon now, it is still considered to be Canadian Content as three of the five members of this band came from here. Chesterville, Ontario is a small town near Smith Falls.
10. The Paupers: Southdown Road
(Adam Mitchell / Skip Prokop)
Ellis Island: Verve Forecast FTS-3051
Toronto ON
Adam Mitchell Guitar, Vocals
Brad Campbell Bass
Chuck Beal Lead Guitar
Skip Prokop Drums
Al Kooper Keys
Produced by Elliot Mazer, 1968
Recorded by Fred Catero
The Paupers were managed Albert Grossman, the same guy who managed Bob Dylan. In New York’s Greenwich Village, they played The Bitter End and totally captivated an audience meant for Jefferson Airplane who they just blew away. Grossman saw that they were developing an underground following like The Beatles did in their early days in Liverpool. He got them signed to record for Verve Records.
Ellis Island was the sophomore release by this Yorkville (Toronto) band featuring their new bass player, Brad Campbell, recruited from local Toronto band, The Last Words, after replacing Denny Gerrard. This was right after the band’s disastrous performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 when ‘everything that could go wrong, did go wrong’. Somehow I found this album to be a little a little disjointed, never finding that magical groove that had driven the band from Toronto to New York and Los Angeles, only to crash in debt and flames. The album was produced by Elliot Mazer who would later go on to work with Neil Young.
11. Reg Hill & The Melodiers: Road to Fort Coulonge
(Reg Hill)
Ottawa Valley Hoedown: Banff Rodeo: SBS 5190
Braeside ON
Reg Hill: fiddle
Mac Beattie: washboard
Jim Mayhew: piano
Gaetan Fairfield: guitar
George Courschesne: bass
Produced by Ralph Carlson, circa 1974
Recorded at Carlsound Studios, Ottawa
Reginald Hill b. Brockville ON circa 1920 / d. 1978 Braeside ON
Started playing fiddle in Brockville as a teen and joined the "Rock Mountain Rangers" square dance group when he was just 16. Joined Mac Beattie’s Ottawa Valley Melodiers as a fiddler in 1954. Prior to that, he lived and worked at the GM plant in Oshawa where he put together a couple of bands including Reg Hill’s Swingers. As well as appearing on all of Mac Beattie’s records, Reg recorded four albums of fiddle tunes backed by the Melodiers. He’s well known for his own composition of The Buck Fever Rag as well as the melody to the Lake Dore Waltz.
12. George Higton: Another Road
(George Higton)
Merrylands: Builtrite Records BR007
Toronto
George Higton: lead vocals, guitar, keys, harmonica
Cleave Anderson: drums
Rachel Melas: bass, accordion
Produced by Lionel Pedro, 2019
Recorded by Lionel Pedro at Trench Recordings, Toronto
We need another road to get back home. George Higton’s from Toronto, so let him take us home
Heard over:
CIUT FM 89.5 CHMR FM 93.5 FM
University of Toronto Radio Inc Memorial University, St. John's NL
Mondays 12 noon: 2pm Tuesdays 10-12 pm NT
Radio Bell Island 93.9 FM Radio VGR
Wabana, Bell Island NL London/Thetford UK
Tuesdays at 8-10 pm NT Tues 21:30: 23:30 GMT
Bluewater Radio CFBW 91.3 FM VOBB The Voice of Bonne Bay
Hanover / Grey Co. ON Rocky Harbour & Norris Point NL
Sundays 3-5 pm Tuesdays 8-10 pm ET Tuesdays 9-11 pm NT
BOIR Bay of Islands Radio Southern Shore Sounds
100.1 FM Internet Radio
Corner Brook, NL Ferryland NL
Thursdays 2-4 pm NT Sun 8:30-10:30 pm NT
Community Radio CIOE
97.5 FM
Lower Sackville NS
Sun 5-7 pm AT