Side A – Islands
1. Billy McInnis: Duke Neilson’s Jig – 1982 *
2. Mike Malahini Scott: Rhythm of the Islands – 1988 *
3. Scarab: Cape Breton Island – 1980 *
4. Gordon Lightfoot: Seven Island Suite – 1974 *
5. Elton John: Island Girl – 1975
6. Red Island: Travelling Jigs – 1978 *
7. Burt Cuff: Island Of Newfoundland – 1966 *
8. Labrador Black Spruce: Twillingate Harbour – 1986 *
9. Bruce Moss: The Islander – 1982 *
10. Sultans Of String: Sable Island – 2017 *
11. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Sable Island – 1970 *
12. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Isle of Magdalen – 1971 *
13. Status Quo: Living On An Island – 1979
14. Gerry Rafferty: Island – 1978
15. Donovan: Isle of Islay – 1967
16. Plaid: Yu Mountain – 2016
17. Mac Beattie: Dream Island – 1968 *
The Hard Side
1. Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard – 1966
2. Flying Burrito Brothers: Tried So Hard – 1971
3. The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard – 1966
4. Will Glahe Orch: One Two Drink Up – 1957
5. Pursuit Of Happiness: Hard To Laugh – 1988 *
6. Lee Aaron Project: I Like My Rock Hard – 1982 *
7. Haywire: Hard Reaction – 1987 *
8. David McCallum: It Won’t Be Wrong – 1968
9. Stevedore Steve: Hard Workin’ Men – 1971 *
10. Glen Reid: Hard Rock Miner – 1978 *
11. Wiz Bryant: Hard Rock Miner – 1989 *
12. Al Bruno: Arkansas Traveller Set – 1958 *
13. Motherlode: Hard Life – 1970 *
14. Sparrow: Hard Times With The Law – 1965 *
15. The Jitters: Hard As Nails – 1987 *
16. Lee Cremo: Cock Of The North – 1972 *
17. Neil Sedaka: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – 1962
18. Nancy Wilson: A Good Man Is Hard To Find – 1962
19. John Lennon: It’s So Hard – 1971
20. Bill Bruford’s Earthworks: Thud – 1987
21. The Strawbs: Hard, Hard Winter – 1976
CanCon = 64%
And Now for The Particulars:
Side A – Rhythm of the Islands
1. Billy MacInnis: Duke Neilson Jig
(Billy MacInnis)
Fiddles Favorites: MV-8506-1
Village Green, PEI
Billy MacInnis: fiddle
John MacInnis: drums
Allan McKinnon: piano
Rodrigue Richard: bass
Joe McGarry: steel
Produced by Lou Douse and C Francis Drake, 1983
Recorded by George MacPhee at Millview Studios, Charlottetown
Mixed by C Francis Drake and Wayne Huskins
Mastered at Novasco Sound Vision, Halifax
b. Charlottetown PEI 1971
Billy is everyone’s favourite person on PEI. He lived in Charlottetown
until just a couple of years ago when he relocated to Brockville ON. Played
fiddle and keyboards for Stompin’ Tom throughout the early 2000s. Recorded
this, his only vinyl LP, when he was only 12.
2. Mike Malahini Scott & His Hawaiianaires: Rhythm of the Islands
(Leon Belasco)
Live At The Waikiki: Maple Records MA 1014
Toronto
Jamie Nolan, guitar
Al Gardner, drums, uk
Paul Butler, keys
Mike Scott, Hawaiian steel
Produced by Mike Scott & Jamie Nolan, 1983
Recorded at Fiesta Studios, Toronto
Born in Wiltshire, England Mike Scott took to the electric Hawaiian
guitar in the late 1940s and learned to play properly before emigrating to
Toronto in 1954. Within days of his arrival he joined the musicians’ union
and was out working with local bands. He was given the
nickname ‘Malihini’ ...a Hawaiian word meaning 'a newcomer' to the Islands.
His Hawaiianaires were frequent musical guests at the Bali Hai room in the
Ports of Call restaurant where CHUM 1050 DJ’s used to hang out.
3. Scarab: Cape Breton Island
(Ron Lafitte / Mitch Myres / Andy MacDonald)
45 single bw Black Star: Great Eastern Production Co SR-54
Halifax NS
Ron Lafitte: vocal
Dan Morrison
Others not listed
Produced by Great Eastern Production Co., 1980
I don’t know anything about these guys!
4. Gordon Lightfoot: Seven Island Suite
(Gordon Lightfoot)
Sundown: Reprise Records – MS 2177
Toronto
Acoustic Guitar [Lead] – Red Shea, Terry Clements
Bass – John Stockfish
Drums – Jim Gordon
Strings, Horns – Nick DeCaro
Synthesizer [Moog] – Gene Martynec
Twelve-String Guitar – Gordon Lightfoot
Produced by Lenny Waronker, 1974
Recorded by Lee Herschberg and Chris Skene
Lightfoot liked experimenting with rather long, complicated songs in
various parts. The Canadian Railroad Trilogy and Patriot’s Dream are two
such sculpted songs. Here’s another one of them from the Sundown album, the
record that made him a superstar.
5. Elton John: Island Girl
(Bernie Taupin / Elton John)
Rock of the Westies: MCA Records – MCA-2163
London
Piano, Vocals – Elton John
Bass – Kenny Passarelli
Drums – Roger Pope
Acoustic Guitar – Caleb Quaye, bg vocal
Ray Cooper – Congas, Tambourine, Marimba
Davey Johnstone – Guitar, Slide Guitar, Electric Guitar, Banjo
James Newton Howard – Synthesizer [Arp], Soloist, Mellotron
Produced by Gus Dudgeon, 1975
Recorded At Caribou Ranch, Nederland, Colorado, by Jeff and Mark Guercio
Mastered By – Arun
In the song, the Island Girl is 6 foot three.
6. Red Island: Travelling Jigs
(Trad)
In Pursuit of the Wild Bologna, Quay CS-7803
St John’s NL
Jamie Snider: fiddle, acoustic guitar
Don Walsh: guitars, bodhran
Derek Pelley: bass
Bruce Crummell: lead guitar, crumpet horn
Shawn Power: drums
Brian Best: sound madness
Produced by Red Island and Neil Bishop, 1978
Recorded by Neil Bishop at Clode Sound Productions, Stephenville NL
7. Burt Cuff: Island of Newfoundland
(B Cuff)
From Newfoundland to Memphis: ARC Records - 707
Barrie ON
Burt Cuff: guitar, vocal
Other musicians not identified
Produced by Ben Weatherby, 1966
Burt Cuff b. Carmanville NL
Don’t know what happened to that guy but this was his only significant
LP. Lots of rumours about him just dropping out of the music scene in various
scenerios. In the early 1960s he left Newfoundland and got a job at Arc Records
in Toronto. This is a well known song in Newfoundland, sometimes called ‘Cold
Canadian Waters’. It has been recorded many times but this is Burt Cuff’s
own take on his it.
8. Labrador Black Spruce: Twillingate Harbour (I’m Coming Home)
(Willie Arseneault)
Love of the Land: Canadian Broadcasting Corp - BDRC-272
Labrador City / Wabush NL
Willie Arsenault: guitar, lead vocal
Ron Harvey: guitar, vocals
Ric Burt: mandolin, bg vocal
Cec Fry: bass
Mike Wilcott: 12 string guitar
Nick Kennedy: guitar, vocal
Produced by Glen Tilley, 1992
Recorded by Terry Winsor at Studio F, CBC Radio, St. John's
A song about longing for home, working up in the Labrador mines with
memories of Fogo and Twillingate Islands. LBS put out two albums: Love of
the Land on cassette and Ashuanipi Wish a few years later on CD. IMHO they
really evoke the sense of the loneliness of living in Labrador. Called ‘The
Land God Gave To Cain’, Labrador is a total wilderness.
9. Bruce Moss: The Islander
(Bruce Moss)
The Islander: Quay Records CS-8072
Newfoundland
Bruce Moss: guitar, vocal
Other musicians not listed
Produced by Neil Bishop, Claude Caines & Bruce Moss, 1982
This guy was quite well known in Newfoundland but has since turned
religious and continues writing and singing spiritual songs.
10. The Sultans of Swing: Sable Island
(Chris McKhool / Kevin Laliberté)
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
Paddy Moloney: tin whistle, Uilleann pipes
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 Mastering
Sable Island, a small Canadian island situated 300 km southeast of Halifax,
first got its name ‘ île de Sable’ which means "island of sand". Known
as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, the shifting sands. An estimated 350 vessels
are believed to have fallen victim to the island's sand bars. Thick fogs,
treacherous currents, and the island's location in the middle of a major
transatlantic shipping route account for the large number of these shipwrecks.
The next set of music begins on Sable Island with Dr. Stompin’ Tom.
11. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Sable Island
(T C Connors)
Meets Big Joe Mufferaw: Dominion Records - LPS 21007
Tom Connors
Halton Hills, ON
Tom Connors: guitar, vocal, board
Glen Reid: banjo
Mickey Andrews: steel
Randy McDonald: bass
Gerry Hall: guitar
Produced by Dr. Tom Connors, 1970
Stompin’ Tom Meets Big Joe Mufferaw was Tom’s fourth studio album
and his second with a band as his first two albums were largely Tom alone
with his guitar and stompin’ boot. The 3rd Stompin’ Tom album, Bud The Spud,
really launched his career; it was his first studio album for the Dominion
Records label. While the production of Bud The Spud was trebly and harsh,
the Big Joe record was better recorded and produced.
12: Stompin’ Tom Connors: The Isles of Magdalen
(T C Connors)
Moon Man Newfie: EMI Canada - 7243 5 208021
Halton Hills ON
Tom Connors - Bill Lewis - Gary Empey
(TC Connors)
Love & Laughter: Boot Records - BOS 7107
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
Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, or the Magdalen Islands, are part of
the province of Quebec, located north of Prince Edward Isle in the Gulf of
St. Lawrence. While most of the archipelago are French, Entry Island has
always been an English speaking island where Lena Walsh grew up before moving
to Charlottetown where she met Tom Connors whom she eventually married.
13. Status Quo: Living On An Island
(Parfitt / Young)
45 single bw Runaway: Vertigo 6059 248
London
Francis Rossi – guitar, vocals
Rick Parfitt – guitar, vocals
Alan Lancaster – bass, vocals
John Coghlan – drums
with
Andy Bown – keyboards
Bob Young – harmonica
Produced by Pip Williams, 1979
Recorded at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum, Netherlands
An English boogie rock band originally known as The Scorpions that formed
in 1962. By 1967, the group had discovered psychedelia and renamed themselves
Traffic, but were soon forced to change it to Traffic Jam to avoid confusion
with Steve Winwood's new band. This was following an argument over who had
registered the name first. In January 1968, the group released their biggest
hit, "Pictures of Matchstick Men", which peaked at number 12 on the Billboard
Hot 100.
14. Gerry Rafferty: Island
(Gerry Rafferty)
City To City: United Artists LA 840G
Paisley, Scotland
Gerry Rafferty: guitar, vocals
Gary Taylor: bass
Glen LeFleur: drums
Tommy Eyre: keys
Raphael Ravenscroft: sax
Brian Cole: steel
Hugh Burns: guitar
Produced by Hugh Murphy & Gerry Rafferty 1978
Recorded by Harry Hammond at Chipping Norton Studios, UK
Gerald Rafferty b Apr 16, 1947 - d Jan 4, 2011
Two Scottish singer/songwriters, Gerry Rafferty and Donovan singing
about Islands. Islay (pronounced Isla) is well known for its delicious peat
flavoured single malt scotches. This small island has about a dozen distilleries,
each with distinctly different malts that make the mouth water (at least,
mine does!) That reminds me….
15. Donovan: Isle of Islay
(Donovan Leitch)
For Little Ones: Epic Records BN 26350
Glasgow SL
Donovan: Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Harold McNair: flute
Tony Carr: drums, percussion, bongos
Candy John Carr: bongos
Ken Baldock: string bass
Produced by Mickie Most, 1967
Recorded by Michael Ross Trevor at CBS Studios, London
16. Plaid: Yu Mountain
(Plaid)
The Digging Remedy: Warp Records: LP277B
London / Ludlow UK
Andy Turner and Ed Handley: electronics
Benet Walsh: flute, guitar
Produced by Plaid, 2016
Mastered by Noel Summerville
17. Mac Beattie & Ottawa Valley Melodiers: Dream Island
(John MacNab Beattie)
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Album: Banff Rodeo RBS 1299
Arnprior ON
Gaetan Fairfield: guitar
Mac Beattie: drums, vocal
Reg Hill: fiddle
Al Utronki: steel, Spanish
Jim Mayhew: piano
Ralph Carlson: bass
Produced by Ralph Carlson, 1968
John MacNab Beattie b Arnprior ON 21 Dec 1916 / d Arnprior 14 Jun 1982 (65)
Performing in The Melodiers, a band he organized in the late
1920s, Mac’s real passion was playing goal for the Arnprior Green Shirts.
If not for WW2, he might have made it to the NHL. He began his professional
career as a singer-songwriter playing drums and washboard in The Ottawa Valley
Melodiers in 1948 and released several singles for Rodeo records in the late
1950s. Rodeo, on its Banff label, put out 11 albums by the Melodiers with
most songs written by Mac about people and places in the Ottawa Valley. In
this song, Mac reminisces about the summer nights playing under the stars
on the shores of the Ottawa River. Steel guitar player Al Utronki later ran
Al Utronki's Appliance and TV - Television & Appliance shop in Renfrew
The Hard Side
1. Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard
(Dave Clark / Mike Smith)
More Greatest Hits: Epic LN 24221
London
Dave Clark: drums, bg vocal
Mike Smith: organ, lead vocals
Dennis Payton: sax
Rick Huxley: bass
Lenny Davidson: guitar
Produced by Dave Clark, 1966
The Dave Clark Five were the first real rivals of The Beatles
back in 1963 when the hits started coming. The Beatles from Liverpool and
the DC5 from London were as different as possible and so well before the
Rolling Stones or the Beatles camps got set up, it was between these two
bands. Both had to pay their dues before they were good enough to record,
thus they were both really ready to produce a string of hits that would last
through the 60s. Sometimes I can’t fully comprehend what it takes to put
so many popular songs on the hit parade. Try Too Hard wasn’t a big one but
it sold very well. Dave Clark’s signature drumming is right up front, pushing
the band with his rolls. My take on it is that it fits right up there with
Do You Love Me and Glad All Over.
I bought this album when I was in Florida, Wednesday March 29, 1967 from Discount Records, 1364 163rd, N Miami Beach.
2. The Flying Burrito Brothers: Tried So Hard
(Gene Clark)
The Flying Burrito Brothers: A&M Records SP 4295
Los Angeles CA
Chris Hillman: bass
Rick Roberts: rhythm guitar, lead vocals
Pete Kleinow: pedal steel
Mike Clarke: drums
Bernie Leadon: guitars, banjo
Produced by Jim Dickson and Bob Hughes, 1971
Recorded by Bob Hughes and Lillian Douma at Record Plant Studios, Hollywood
Written by ex-Byrd, Gene Clark, The Flying Burrito Brothers recorded
Tried So Hard after breaking with their star lead singer, Gram Parsons. This
was when the original Burrito band was basically falling apart and as Bernie
Leadon was flirting with The Eagles. Remember, they had no lead guitar player
so the main lead instrument was Sneaky Pete Kleinow’s pedal steel guitar,
usually plugged into a fuzz-tone.
3. The Seeds: (You’re) Pushin’ Too Hard
(Sky Saxon)
The Seeds: GNP Crescendo 2023
Los Angeles
Rick Andridge: drums
Darryl Hooper: keys
Jan Savage: guitars
Sky Saxon: lead vocal, bass
Produced by Sky Saxon and Marcus Tybalt, 1966
Released April 1966
I remember listening to this album in the Family Room on Torresdale
Avenue in Willowdale. That was where teenaged Geddy Lee lived in his pre-Rush
days. He wasn’t a big record collector but he was the only kid I knew who
was into The Seeds. We used to light a stick of incense and listen in the
darkness of the room after school.
4. Will Glahé & His Orchestra: One Two Drink Up
(Glahe / Ward / Timm)
Beer Garden Musik: London Records LL 3021
Elberfeld.Germany
Produced 1957
It’s drrrrrinkin’ time again. Just one more drink leads to another record.
5. Pursuit of Happiness: Hard To Laugh
(Moe Berg)
Love Junk: Chrysalis Records CHS 41675
Toronto ON
Moe Berg: guitar, vocal
Dave Gilby: drums
Johnny Sinclair: bass
Chris Abbot: guitars
Leslie Stanwyk: vocals
Produced by Todd Rundgren, 1988
Recorded at Utopia Sound Studios, Lake Hill NY
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound NYC
Love Junk was the first TPOH album. It sold over 100,000 copies in Canada
and was certified platinum. Although the group never officially disbanded,
after 1996 they did not record as a unit until again until 2005.
6. Lee Aaron Project: I Like My Rock Hard
(Frank Soda)
The Lee Aaron Project: Freedom Records FR 014
Belleville ON
Lee Aaron: lead vocals
Frank Soda: guitar
Glen Gratto: drums
Peter Crowly: bass
Produced by Robert Connolly 1982
Recorded by Paul Massey, Robin Brouwers, Ed Stone at Masters Workshop, Toronto
Mixed at Phase One Studios, Toronto
born Karen Lynn Greening, July 21, 1962) in Belleville, Ontario
Another one of Frank Soda’s cool songs, sung here by Lee Aaron,
who had a hard edged career like a real life Leather Tuscadero (Suzi Quatro).
I don’t know but I think she’s talking about something other than music when
she sings, “I like it hard.” Around that time she posed naked for Oui Magazine
which totally upended her music career for a while. But that didn’t stop
her; she continues to perform.
7. Haywire: Hard Reaction
(Rhodes / Birt / MacAusland / Kilbride)
Just Don’t Stand There: Attic Records LAT 1239
Charlottetown PEI
Paul MacAusland: vocal
David Rashed: keys
Marvin Birt: guitars
Ronnie Switzer: bass
Sean Kilbride: drums
Produced by Brian Allen 1987
Recorded by Noel Golden and Ed Stone at Metalworks Studio, Toronto
Additional Recording at Manta Sound, Toronto
Mixed at Le Studio, Morin Heights QC by Paul Northfield
Charlottetown gets mentioned again! Haywire formed there in 1981. This, their second album, went platinum throughout Canada.
8. David McCallum: It Won’t Be Wrong
(Roger McGuinn / Harvey Gerst)
Music: A Bit More Of Me: Capitol Records – ST 2498
Glasgow SL
David McCallum: conductor, arranger
HB Barnukm: arranger
Produced by David Axelrod, 1968
Recorded by Joe Polito
As a classically trained musician, he conceived a blend of oboe, English
horn, and strings with guitar and drums, and presented instrumental interpretations
of hits of the day. Played Illya Kuryakin on The Man From UNCLE 1964-68.
Such was the popular hysteria surrounding him that he was referred to in
newspaper reports at the time as ‘the blond Beatle’ or the ‘fifth Beatle’.
While playing Kuryakin, McCallum received more fan mail than any other actor
in the history of MGM
9. Stevedore Steve: Hard Workin’ Men
(Stephen J Foote)
Hard Workin' Men - Boot Records BOS 7102
Saint John NB
Stevedore Steve: guitar, vocals
Other musicians not listed
Produced by Jury Krytiuk, 1971
Recorded at RCA Limited Studio, Toronto
Recording & Mixing Engineer: George Semkiw
Recording Technician: "Cub" Richardson
Cover Photo: A.W. Stanton
Comments on songs: Stevedore Steve
Manufactured in Canada by: Boot Records Ltd.
Stephen J H Foote, b. Saint John, NB Jan 3, 1936 / d. Oct, 2016 Saint John NB (80)
10. Glen Reid: Hard Rock Miner
(Glen Reid)
Hard Rock Miner: Boot BOS 7190
Burks Falls ON
Glen Reid, guitar
Ken Whiteley, piano, mandolin, accordion
Robbie MacNeill, guitar
Bill Cymbala, drums
David Zdriluk, electric guitar, bass
Bob Lucier, pedal steel, dobro
Willie P Bennett, harmonica
Denis LePage, banjo
John Allen, fiddle
Larry Smith, bg vocals
Produced by Denis Lepage, 1978
Recorded by Bob Lanois at Grant Avenue Studio, Hamilton
So I found this album in the early 1990s by a Canadian guy who had a
song about mining. Other than that, I didn't know much about him. His name
was Glen Reid and he recorded for Stompin' Tom's Boot Records label. So I
took it in and played it on my show one night. Rick Fielding, who just arrived
for his Acoustic Workshop show popped into the booth and said: "Steve, Glen
Reid would be tickled to know that you played him on the radio." Rick new
Glen personally. This song is from a true experience up in Creighton Mine,
just north of Sudbury, now an official ghost town. Being the deepest nickel
mine in Canada, the mine is now used as the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.
11. Wiz Bryant: Hard Rock Miner
(Wiz Bryant)
Blue Collar Heroes: Trilogy Records International - TR891
Penticton BC
Wiz Bryant: guitar, vocal
Terry Danko: bass
Jerry Baird: drums
Dave Murphy: keys
Jim Atkinson: guitar, fiddle, slide
Victor D'Arsie: accordion
Steve Thomson: guitar
Produced by Steve Thomson, 1988
Recorded by Greg Lunny at Toronto Recording Workshop, Toronto
Back in the mid-90s, Stompin’ Tom called me up one day and asked me
if I ever heard of a guy by the name of Wiz Bryant? “He sings songs about
Canada,” he told me. “Not my kind of music (coz it wasn’t country) but he’s
gotta good heart.” He was working in a Toronto restaurant as a roving balladeer,
going from table to table, having recorded four LPs worth of original songs.
He later moved back to his home town of Penticton BC where he still writes
and imagines and performs.
12. Al Bruno: Arkansas Traveller / Old Joe Clark / Guitar Breakdown
(Traditional)
Town & Country Guitar: Arc Records - 507
Sudbury ON
Al Bruno: lead guitar
Producer not listed - circa 1958
Al Bruneau b. Sudbury ON January 22, 1937 / d. August 21, 2015 Pensacola, Florida
A No-Name guitarist from Sudbury, comes to Toronto, pays his
dues, records an album then leaves for the States where he got to play on
recordings by a lot of big stars. In 1963, he moved to Philadelphia, where
he worked on Dick Clark’s famous American Bandstand TV show and became Musical
Director for Clark’s Caravan of Stars tours. When Dick Clark relocated to
a new home base in Los Angeles, Al Bruno followed along. He became the house
guitarist for Capitol Records alongside Glen Campbell, playing on recordings
that became huge hits. He later became a Producer. One Canadian that is definitely
under the radar.
13. Motherlode: Hard Life
(Steve Kennedy / Robert Smith / Ken Marco)
When I Die: Revolver Records RLPS 501
London ON
WM Smitty Smith: keys, vocals
Ken Marco: guitar, vocals
Wayne Stoney Stone: drums
Steve Kennedy: tenor sax, harmonica, vocals
Carol Kay: bass, acoustic guitar
Produced by Mort Ross and Doug Riley, 1970
Recorded by Terry Brown
Steve Kennedy, Ken Marco and Wayne Stone went on to be founding members of Dr. Music in Toronto with Doug Riley
14. The Sparrow: Hard Times With The Law
(J Edmonton / D Edmonton)
45 single: Capitol Records Canada 72257
Toronto ON
Dennis Edmonton: guitar
Jerry Edmonton: drums
Golden McJohn, keys
John Kay, guitar: vocals
Rushton Moreve: bass
Produced 1965
The pre-Steppenwolf band when they lived in Toronto and thought
that they were having a hard time with the law. And perhaps they were! After
breaking with singer Jack London in 1965, The Sparrow(s) recorded 4 singles
and an album before packing up and heading for Los Angeles to become one
of the most successful groups of the late 1960s as Steppenwolf.
15. 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
Another of Blair Packham’s excellent songs that are just underground
enough and pop enough to be considered Queen Street classics. "Last of the
Red Hot Fools" was the first single and became a radio hit throughout the
country, and they were nominated at the 1989 Juno Awards in the category
of Most Promising Group of the Year. All this got them gigging a lot, touring
constantly and eventually lead to their breakup in 1991. The pressure was
just too great for them to bear. Too bad!
16. Lee Cremo: Cock of the North
(Trad)
Lee Cremo & The Eastern Variation: Audat Records 477-9010
Eskasoni, Cape Breton Island NS
Lee Cremo: fiddle
Gabriel Sylibay: bass
Wilfred Paul: lead guitar
Joseph MacMullen: piano
Peter Stevens: drums
James Poulette: rhythm guitar
Produced by Dr. A Feeney, 1972
Recorded by Mas Kikuta at Audio Atlantic, Halifax NS
Lee Cremo b. Barra Head, Nova Scotia 30 December 1938 / d. 10 October 1999 Eskasoni, NS)
17. Neil Sedaka: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
(Neil Sedaka / Howard Greenfield)
45 single bw As Long As I Live: RCA Victor 47-8046
Brooklyn, NY
Neil Sedaka: vocal
The Cookies: bg vocal
Al Casamenti: guitar
Art Ryerson: guitar
Charles Macy: guitar
Ernie Hayes: piano
George Duvivier: bass
Gary Chester: drums
Artie Kaplan: sax
George Devens: percussion
Phil Karus: percussion
Seymore Barab: cello
Morris Stonzek: cello
David Gulliet, Joseph H Haber, Harry Kohon, David Sackson, Louis Stone: violins
Produced by Al Nevins (Albert Tepper) and Don Kirshner, 1962
Neil Sedaka born March 13, 1939, Brooklyn NY
Sedaka was a first cousin of the singer Eydie Gormé and
wrote songs for Connie Francis. He began working at The Brill Building with
his lyricist partner Howard Greenfield, in 1957. They wrote a lot of hit
songs together, some which Sedaka performed himself. This was one of ‘em
that hit me over the head when I was a kid, before the Beatles came out.
A typical Brill Building hit!
18. Nancy Wilson: A Good Man Is Hard To Find
(Edward Green)
Hello Young Lovers: Capitol Records: ST 1767
Chillicothe, Ohio,
George Shearing: string choir arranger
Milton Raskin: conductor
Produced by Tom Morgan, 1962
Nancy Wilson (born February 20, 1937)
Recorded more than 70 albums. In 1964, Wilson won her first Grammy
Award for the best rhythm and blues recording for the album How Glad I Am.
First of 3.
19. John Lennon: It’s So Hard
(John Lennon)
Imagine: Capitol Records of Canada C2 44641
Liverpool UK
John Lennon: vocals, electric guitar
Klaus Voormann: bass guitar
King Curtis: saxophone
Jim Gordon: drums
The Flux Fiddlers: strings
Produced by John & Yoko with Phil Spector 1971
Recorded at Ascot Sound Studios by Philip McDonald, Eddie Klein, Eddie Offor, Eddie Veal, Eddie Beer
Released: 9 September 1971 in US Oct 9 1971 in UK
King Curtis added a saxophone solo. It was one of Curtis' final
performances: he was murdered on 13 August 1971, shortly before the Imagine
album was released.
20. 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 well known for his playing
with King Crimson. He 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.
21. The Strawbs: Hard, hard Winter
(Dave Cousins / Robert Kirby)
Deep Cuts: Oyster / Polydor Records – OY-1-1603
UK
David Cousins: guitars, vocals
Dave Lambert: guitars, vocals
Charles Cronk: bass, synths
Rod Coombes: drums
Robert Kiraby: mellotron, winds, keys, french horn, vocals
John Mealing: keys
Rupert Holmes: keys, clarinet
Produced by Rupert Holmes and jeffrey Lesser 1976
Recorded at The Manor, Kidlington, Oxford by Jeffrey Lesser
The Strawbs are an English rock band founded in 1964. Although the band
started out as a bluegrass group they eventually moved on to other styles
such as folk rock, progressive rock, and (briefly) glam rock. After 5 decades
the only original member is Dave Cousins, one of its founders. Lambert &
Cronk joined in the early 70s. They’ve released 2 dozen albums.
