Side One
1. Mike Malahini Scott and His Hawaiianaires: Rhythm of the Islands – 1983 *
2. Scarab: Cape Breton Island – 1980 *
3. Oak Island Treasury Department: Mammy Blue – 1971 *
4. Donnie & Duane: Prince Edward Island Is Heaven To Me – 1974 *
5. The Gulftones of PEI: P E Island Baby – nd *
6. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Sable Island – 1970 *
7. Tom McQueston: Staten Island Reel set – 2008 *
8. Burt Cuff: Island of Newfoundland – circa 1968 *
9. Bruce Moss: The Islander – 1982 *
10. Labrador Black Spruce: Twillingate Island – 1986 *
11. CJ Cox: Toast To An Island – 1986 *
12. Red Island: The Banks of Newfoundland – 1978 *
13. Don Messer & His Islanders: Charlottetown’s Centennial Breakdown – 1967 *
14. Bob Dylan: Belle Isle – 1970
15. Tame Impala: Island Walking – 2011
16. Mac Beattie: Dream Island – 1968 *
17. King Crimson: Islands – 1972
Side Two
1. Lani McIntire and His Aloha Islanders: I found A Little Grass-Skirt – 1954
2. Ron Dillman: Holman Island – 1986 *
3. Huckle: Gabriola Day – 1974 *
4. Len Osland: Island View – No Date *
5. Chris Hadfield: Stag Island Song – 1998 (Live) *
6. Lonnie Donegan: Rock Island Line – 1955
7. Elton John: Island Girl – 1975
8. Gordon Lightfoot: Seven Island Suite – 1974 *
9. Donovan: Isle Of Islay – 1967
10. The Sultans Of String: Sable Island – 2017 *
11. Status Quo: Living On An Island – 1979
12. Gregg Allman Band: Island – 1988
13. Oingo Boingo: Islands – 1982
14. Gerry Rafferty: Island – 1978
15. Bruce Cockburn: Islands In A Black Sky – 1973 *
*CanCon = 64%
And Now for The Particulars
Side One
1. 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
Mike Scott took to the electric Hawaiian guitar in the late 1940s. He was born in Wiltshire, England 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 Hawaii. His Hawaiianaires were frequent musical guests at the infamous Bali Hai room in the Ports of Call restaurant where CHUM DJ’s used to hang out.
This album claims that it was recorded before a live audience, but the shoddy production shows how the audience was dubbed in before and after every song.
2. 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
Others Unknown
Produced by Great Eastern Production Co. 1980
3. Oak Island Treasury Department: Mammy Blue
(Giraud / Trim)
45 Single bw Messin’ Around: Columbia Records of Canada – C4-3003
Halifax NS
Musicians not named
Produced by Robert Stone, 1971
Recorded by Peter Houston at Toronto Sound Studios
Mixed by Al Feeney
Originally written with French lyrics in 1970 by veteran French songwriter Hubert Giraud; he conceived the song in his car waiting out a Parisian traffic jam and had completed its demo within a few days. First English language hit by Roger Whittaker.
4. Donnie & Duane: Prince Edward Island is Heaven to Me
(Harold Breau)
The Nickerson Brothers: Imperial Records (Canada) CJ-12779
Brewer, Maine USA
Donnie Nickerson: guitar, vocals
Duane Nickerson: bass, vocals
Rodney Overlock: drums
Harry King: piano
Mark Wellman: guitar
Produced by Mark Wellman, circa 1974
The Harold Breau who wrote this ode to PEI, was actually jazz head guitarist Lenny Breau’s father who went by the name Hal Lone Pine from the State of Maine. He was extremely popular right across Canada from appearances on CBC radio back then.
5. The Gulftones of PEI: PE Island Baby
(Unknown)
Swan Song: Barbershop Records MS 9061
Charlottetown PEI
Earle Henderson: vocal bass
Jerry Regnier: vocal baritone
Ivan Mitchell: vocal tenor
Joe McCarthy: lead vocal
Produced by The Gulftones, no date
Barbershop quartet who got together in 1969 and only decided to break up after two of its members moved to other parts of Canada.
6. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Sable Island
(T C Connors)
Meets Big Joe Mufferaw: Dominion Records - LPS 21007
Balinifad, ON
Tom Connors
Produced by Tom Connors, 1970
Recorded by George Semkiw at RCA Studios, Toronto
7. Tom McQueston: Mist On The Mountain - Staten Island Reel – MacIlmoyle’s Reel
(Trad)
With Variation: Ind – no serial
King City
Tommy McQueston: fiddle
Kate Murphy: piano
Ian Bell: guitar
Produced by Brian Pickell, 2008
Recorded in Brian Pickell’s living room, circa 1980
Tom McQueston b Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, Ireland 1902 / d. Feb 27, 2002 (100)
8. Burt Cuff: Island of Newfoundland
(B Cuff)
From Newfoundland to Memphis: ARC Records - 707
Carmanville NL
Burt Cuff: guitar, vocal
Other musicians not identified
Produced by Ben Weatherby, circa 1968
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. But this is a well sung song in Newfoundland and Labrador, sometimes called ‘Cold Canadian Waters’. It has been recorded many times but this is Burt Cuff’s take on it.
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
Has since turned to God and continues writing and singing
10. Labrador Black Spruce: Twillingate Island (I’m Coming Home)
(Willie Arsenault)
Love Of The Land: CBC BDRC 272
Labrador City / Wabush, NL
Willie Arsenault: acoustic guitar, vocals
Ron Harvey: acoustic guitar, vocals
Ric burt: mandolin, bg Vocals
Cec Fry: Electric Bass
Mike Wilcott: 12 string guitar, bg vocal
Nick Kennedy: acoustic guitar, vocals
Produced by Glen Tilley, 1986
Recorded at CBC Radio, St. John’s by Terry Winsor
Ossie Branscombe of the Country Music Store that used to operate on the Danforth, gave me a cassette of these guys and I completely fell in love with their music. It's got the spirit, b'y!
11. CJ Cox: Toast To An Island
(Kevin Rowsell)
Out Behind The Barn: Boot BTM 2010
St Albans, Bay D’Espoir NL
CJ Cox: vocal
Al Cross: drums
Andrew Affleck: bass
Bob Lucier, Mickey Andrews: steel
JK Gulley, Wendell Ferguson, Albert MacDonald: guitar
Anthony Panacci, Chris MacArthur, Irene Szymanski: keys
Mickey Andrew: dobro
Graham Townsend: fiddle
Wendy Jarvis, Marry Anne Epp, Elaine Jarvis, Irene Szymanski: bg vocals
Harold McIntyre: tambourine
Produced by Bob Cousins, 1986
Recorded and mixed at Orchard Sound, Norval ON by David Ferris
12. Red Island: The Banks of Newfoundland
(Trad)
In Pursuit of the Wild Bologna, Quay CS-7803
Saint John’s NL
Jamie Snider: fiddle, acoustic guitar
Don Walsh: guitars, bodhran
Derek Pelley: bass
Bruce Crummell: lead guitar, crkumpet horn
Shawn Power: drums
Brian Best: sound madness
Produced by Red Island and Neil Bishop, 1978
Engineered by Neil Bishop
Arranged by Red Island
Recorded at Clode Sound Productions
13. Don Messer and His Islanders: Charlottetown’s Centennial Breakdown
(Don Messer)
45 single bw The Lightening Hornpipe: Apex Records: 9-26415
Halifax NS
Don Messer: fiddle
Waldo Munroe: piano
Duke Neilson: bass
Warren MacRae: drums
Vic Mullen: banjo
Produced 1967
Donald Charles Frederick Messer b. Tweedside May 9, 1909 / d. Halifax NS March 26, 1973
14. Bob Dylan: Belle Isle
(B Dylan)
Self Portrait: Columbia – C2X 30050
Minnesota
Bob Dylan: guitar, vocals
Produced by Bob Johnston, 1970
15. Tame Impala: Island Walking
(Kevin PIarker)
InnerSpeaker B-Sides & Remixes: Modular Recordings – MODCD138
Perth, Australia
Kevin Parker – lead vocals, guitar
Jay Watson – backing vocals, drums
Dominic Simper – guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, bass guitar
Nick Allbrook – bass guitar, guitar, synthesizer
Produced by Kevin Parker, 2011
16. 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
17. King Crimson: Islands
Robert Fripp / Pete Sinfield)
Islands: Atlantic Records SD 7212
London
Robert Fripp: guitar, mellotron, Peter’s Pedal, harmonium
Mel Collins: flute, bassflute, saxes, vocals
Boz: bass, lead vocals
Ian Wallace: drums, percussion, vocals
Pete Sinfield: Words, sounds & visions
Keith Tippett: piano
Paulina Lucas: soprano
Robin Miller: obie
Mark Charig: cornet
Harry Miller: string bass
Produced by King Crimson, 1972
Recorded by Andy Hendrikson at Command Studios, London
Side Two
1. Lani McIntire & His Aloha Islanders: I Found A Little Grass Skirt
(Lani McIntire)
Lani McIntire & His Aloha Islanders EP: Royale Records – 1815
Honolulu, Hawaii
Lani McIntire: hawaiian guitar
Others unknown
Produced 1954
Lani McIntire (sometimes spelled Lani McIntyre, 15 December 1904 - 17 June 1951) was a Hawaiian guitar and steel guitar player who helped to popularize the instrument, which eventually became a mainstay in American country and western music. He played frequently with his brothers — steel guitar legend Dick McIntire and bassist Al McIntire.
McIntire achieved fame playing with Sol Hoopii in his "Novelty Trio" before heading his own acts, "Lani McIntyre and his Aloha Islanders" and later, "Lani McIntyre and his Hawai'ians." His work with Jimmie Rodgers pioneered the Hawaiian guitar sound that laid the foundation for the steel guitar as a standard country instrument, influencing the likes of Hank Williams and Elvis Presley.
2. Ron Dillman: Holman Island
(R Dillman)
Road To Holman Island: CBC Northern Services WRC1-3309
Yellowknife NT
Ron Dillman: vocal
Dougie Trineer: guitars, bg vocal
David Babineau: bass
Ron Prescott: drums
Roxanne Charette: bg vocal
Produced by Les McLaughlin, 1981
Recorded by Tim Kinvig and Ray Lemieux
3. Huckle: Gabriola Day
(Kelly Cavanauh)
Once Upon A Time: Homespun 1974
Gabriola Island BC
Huckle: guitar
Paul Gellman: violin
Michael Butler: bass
Produced by Kelly Cavanauh, 1974
Recorded in the Gabriola Island Community Hall
Kelly Cavanauh born Oakville ON 1954
4. Len Osland: Island View
(Len Osland)
Winnipeg MB
Produced by Len Osland
I can’t find the original CD but he put 2 out between 1997 and 2001. He was based out of Whitehorse but was from Winnipeg.
5. Chris Hadfield: Stag Island Song
(Chris and Dave Hadfield)
Live on The Great North Wind
Canada
Chris Hadfield: guitar, vocal
Dave Hadfield: guitar, harmony vocal
Gerald Levine: fiddle
Produced by Steve Fruitman, 1998
It's not that often that a Canadian astronaut comes asking to play live music on my programs. But it did happen once!
I met Air Canada pilot Dave Hadfield (of Barrie, ON) at a gig promoting outdoor adventures. He was singing songs about float planes and DC3s, so I was interested. Turns out he is Chris Hadfield's brother. So I invited Dave onto my Great North Wind program. Afterwards, 3 quarters in jest, I said that Chris was always welcome to come and perform on my show. Little did I realize that I was making things happen - and quick!
Two weeks later, Dave phones: "Steve, are you still intersted in having Chris on your show?" Well, yahhh! So I got to spend the better part of an hour interviewing him and getting him to play songs that he and his brother have written. (Dave was on the show too.)
You do realize, don't you, that Chris Hadfield had the first guitar in outer space, and was the first person to play a guitar off this planet, and that he sung for a TV audience his 'Canadian Tire, Last Bastian of Men' song. It's all here folks. And so is talk about space and 2001 and what it's like to work in space.....really neat stuff.
6. Lonnie Donegan: Rock Island Line
(Leadbelly)
Lonnie Donegan The File Series: Pye FILD 011
London
Lonnie Donegan: guitar, vocal
Chris Barber: bass
Beryl Bryden: washboard
Produced 1956
Compilation Produced by Jed Kearse, 1977
Pye Records mistakenly credited Lonnie Donegan as writer of the song but it was Leadbelly from 1934. According to Harry Lewman Music,
Lead Belly and John and Alan Lomax supposedly first heard it from [a] prison work gang during their travels in 1934/35. It was sung a cappella. Huddie [Lead Belly] sang and performed this song.
Donegan’s 1955 recording with Chris Barber created the skiffle craze in England that saw groups of young musicians, that only needed one guitar to build a skiffle group around, form all over the place. John Lennon was such a kid.
7. Elton John: Island Girl
(Elton John / Bernie Taupin)
Rock of the Westies: MCA Records 2163
Pinner UK
Elton John: vocal, piano
Kenny Passarelli: bass
Roger Pope: drums
Davey Johnstone: guitars, banjo
Ray Cooper: percussion
Caleb Quaye: acoustic guitar
James Newton Howard: synths, Mellotron
Produced by Gus Dudgeon, 1975
Recorded by Jeff Guercio at Caribou Studios, Colorado
Sir Elton Hercules John aka Reginald Kenneth Dwight b. 25 March 1947 Pinner, Middlesex, UK
8. Gordon Lightfoot: Seven Island Suite
(Gord Lightfoot)
Sundown: Reprise MS2177
Toronto
Gordon Lightfoot: 12 string guitar, vocals
Red Shea: lead acoustic guitar
Terry Clements: lead acoustic guitar
Jim Gordon: drums
Gene Martynec: moog
Nick DeCaro: strings & horn arrangements
Produced by Lenny Waronker, 1973
Recorded by Lee Hershberg and Chris Skene
9. 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
10. The Sultans of String: 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
Violinist Chris McKhool was putting out some pretty interesting solo albums in the early 2000s when he met up with flamenco jazz guitarist Kevin Laliberté and that's when everything began to click. Fusing their wild sounds with world music, they formed the basis of the Sultans of String. Since then they've released several well received albums that have generated a lot of interest. What a treat to finally hear them on vinyl!! It's a totally different experience. Ten Years of Music is a compilation album of earlier works but it sure works to my liking.
11. 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 known as The Scorpions that formed in 1962 and evolved into Status Quo in 1967. By 1967, the group had discovered psychedelia and named themselves Traffic, but were soon forced to change it to Traffic Jam to avoid confusion with Steve Winwood's band. This was following an argument over who had registered the name first. In January 1968, the group released the "Pictures of Matchstick Men" which became the group's only Top 40 hit in the United States, peaking at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. They have never officially retired and continue to perform gigs.
12. Gregg Allman Band: Island
(G Allman)
Just Before the Bullets Fly: Epic – FE 44033
Savannah GA
Bass, Backing Vocals – Bruce Waibel
Drums – David "Frankie" Toler
Guitar – Dan Toler
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Tim Heding
Organ, Lead Vocals – Gregg Allman
Percussion – Chaz Trippy
Producer & Recorded by Rodney Mills, 1988
13. Oingo Boingo: Islands
(Danny Elfman)
Nothing To Fear: A&M Records SP-4903
Los Angeles
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar – Danny Elfman
Lead Guitar, Vocals [Rhythm] – Steve Bartek
Drums – Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez
Bass, Vocals [Rhythm] – Kerry Hatch
Keyboards, Synthesizer, Bass Vocals – Richard Gibbs
Baritone Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Leon Schneiderman
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Sam Phipps
Trumpet, Trombone – Dale Turner
Produced by Joe Chicarelli and Oingo Boingo, 1982
Recorded by Joe Chiccarelli
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
15. Bruce Cockburn: Islands In A Black Sky
(Bruce Cockburn)
Night Vision: True North TN11
Ottawa
Bruce Cockburn: guitar
Dennis Pendrith: bass
Pat Godfrey: keys
Produced by Eugene Martynec and Bruce Cockburn, 1973
Recorded at Thunder Sound, Toronto by Bill Seddon
Cover painting by Alex Colville
Heard over:
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Wabana, Bell Island NL London/Thetford UK
Wednesdays 4 pm NT Tues 10 pm GMT; Sat 3:30 am
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Walkerton ON Rocky Harbour 98.1 FM
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Sundays 6 pm ET Tuesdays 9 pm NT
BOIR Bay of Islands Radio Home Grown Community Radio
100.1 FM CHCR 102.9 FM & 104.5 FM
Corner Brook, NL Killaloe & Wilno ON
Thursdays 2 pm NT Various Times
Community Radio CIOE
97.5 FM
Lower Sackville NS
Sun 8 pm AT