The Hill Side
1. Reg Hill: Road To Fort Coulonge – 1974 *
2. Fats Domino: Blueberry Hill – 1956
3. Boozoo Chavis: Dog Hill – 1982
4. The Kinks: Lavender Hill – 1967
5. Daniel Lanois: Silium’s Hill – 1989 *
6. Joe Pass: ‘Round Midnight – 1973
7. Hank Snow and Anita Carter: Mockin’ Bird Hill – 1962
8. Russ Gurr: The Blue Hills of Brandon – 1971 *
9. Colter Wall: Cyprus Hills and The Big Country – 2024 *
10. Vera Vanderlaan: Flint Hill Special – 197?
11. Mac Beattie: Back In The Packenham Hills – 1970 *
12. Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop: The Hill – 2003 *
13. James Hill: Promenade – 2014 *
14. Syncona: Ping Pong Samba – 1974 *
15. The Doors: The Hill Dwellers – 1987
16. Lavender Hill Mob: Head Over Heels – 1977 *
17. The Beatles: The fool On the Hill – 1967
18. The Pogues: Young Ned of The Hill – 1996
19. Harry Manx & Kevin Breit: Bottom Of the Hill – 2007 *
20. Percy Faith Orchestra: Theme From ‘A Summer Place’ – 1959
21. Coldplay: Violet Hill – 2008
The Singing Side
1. David Essig: The Singing Waterfalls – 1984 *
2. Mickey McGivern: Four Strong Winds – 1965 *
3. Bonzo Dog Band: Can Blue Men Sing The Whites – 1968
4. Robyn Hitchcock: Do Policemen Sing – 1981
5. Metropolitan Toronto Police: Something To Sing About – 1968 *
6. Stanley Jordan: Angel – 1985
7. Connie Francis: Sing Along – 1961
8. George Burns: Willie Won’t You Sing A Song With Me – 1980
9. Jane Morgan: We’ll Sing In The Sunshine – 1965
10. Echoes of Bluegrass: Ralph Stanley Sing On – 1981 *
11. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Singin’ Away My Blues – 2018 *
12. Bill Connors: Cookies – 1985
13. Night Ranger: Sing Me Away – 1982
14. Buffalo Springfield: Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing – 1966
15. The Jam: And Your Bird Can Sing – 1980
16. Los Compañeros: We Sing For You – 1981 *
17. Merle Haggard & Strangers: Sing Me Back Home – 1967
18. Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues – 1956
19. Hotel Orchestra: Sing Sing Sing – 1974 *
20. Gale Garnett: We’ll Sing In The Sunshine – 1964 *
CanCon* = 44%
And Now for The ParticularsThe Hill Side
1. Reg Hill & The Melodiers: The 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, Ontario 1927 / d. Braeside ON 1979)
At 16 became a regular member of the “Rock Mountain Rangers” formed his own group, Reg Hill’s Swingsters. In 1950, Reg married Mona and moved to Oshawa where he worked at GM. 1954, he received a letter from Mac Beattie inviting him to join the “Ottawa Valley Melodiers”. In doing so he quit GM and his family to Braeside and would spend 25 years with Mac’s band before retiring, due to poor health, in 1978. He was a 1981 Inductee into Ottawa Valley Country Music Hall of Fame
2. Fats Domino: Blueberry Hill
(Vincent Rose / Al Lewis / Larry Stock)
Fats Domino '65: Mercury – SR-61039
New Orleans LA
Fats Domino: piano, vocals
Clarence Ford: performer?
Produced by Ed Townsend, 1956
Recorded At the Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas
First published in 1940, the song was covered by various big band artists but the biggest bang came from Fats Domino’s original version recorded in 1956. The track I played comes from a live album recorded in Las Vegas in 1965.
3. Boozoo Chavis: Dog Hill
(B Chavis)
Louisiana Zydeco Music: Maison De Soul - MDS1107
Dog Hill, Lake Charles, LA
Shelton Jackson, bass
Carlton Thomas Jr., Guitar
Boozoo Chavis, accordion
Rellis Chavis, drums
JW Henderson, washboard
Wilson Chavis Jr, accordion
Anthony Chavis, washboard
Produced by JJ Caillier, 1986
Wilson Anthony Chavis
b. Oct 23, 1930 Church Point, LA / d. May 5, 2001 (70) Austin, TX
He made his first recording, of his own song "Paper in My Shoe," in 1954. The record was a regional hit, subsequently acknowledged as a zydeco standard, but Chavis was convinced that it was more successful than the record companies claimed, later saying: "I got gypped out of my record. I get frustrated, sometimes. I love to play, but, when I get to thinking about 1955... They stole my record. They said that it only sold 150,000 copies. But, my cousin, who used to live in Boston, checked it out. It sold over a million copies. I was supposed to have a gold record." Chavis lost trust in the music business, and over the next thirty years only released three more singles. He regained his trust in the business in the 1980s when he recorded several albums for Rounder Records. He was inducted into the Zydeco Hall of Fame in 1998.
4. The Kinks: Lavender Hill
(Ray Davies)
Great Lost Kinks Album: Reprise MS 2127
London UK
Ray Davies, guitar, vocals
Dave Davies, guitar
Mick Avory, bass
Pete Quaife, drums
Tracks Produced by various producers, 1967
Released 1973 & discontinued 1975
Like No. 2 hit Waterloo Sunset, Lavender Hill mythologises another part of London - this time a busy thoroughfare near Clapham Junction. It’s only found on the 1973 release The Great Lost Kinks Album of unreleased material issued by Reprise Records in 1973 after The Kinks had moved to RCA. Ray Davies and the Kinks management first learned of the album's existence after finding it on the US Billboard record chart. Davies instituted legal action against Reprise, which resulted in them discontinuing the album in 1975. Naturally it became an immediate collector's item and most of the songs remained officially unreleased until the 1998
5. Daniel Lanois: Silium’s Hill
(Daniel Lanois)
Acadie: Opal / WB - 92 59691
Hamilton, ON
Daniel Lanois: vocal, guitar, keys
Pierre Marchand: keys
Produced by Daniel Lanois, 1989
Recorded by Malcolm Burn and Mark Howard, New Orleans LA
Additional Recording at Brian Enos Wilderness Studio, UK
Mixed by Malcolm Burn & Daniel Lanois w Mark Howard
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
Always been a great lap steel player, tinkering with it, making different sounds. Thinking outside of the box. This is the guy who began in his mother’s basement in Hamilton, putting a recording studio together with his brother Bob. He began producing bluegrass and folk music before graduating at the side of Brian Eno and working with Bob Dylan and US among others. Has been living and working down in New Orleans for a number of years.
6. Joe Pass: ‘Round Midnight
(Monk / Williams / Hanighen)
Virtuoso: Pablo Records – 2310 708
Johnstown PA
Joe Pass: guitar
Produced by Norman Granz, 1973
Recorded by Dennis Sands at MGM Recording Studios, Los Angeles
Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalaqua
b. Jan 13, 1929 New Brunswick NJ / d. May 23, 1994 (65) LA
7. Hank Snow & Anita Carter: Mockin’ Bird Hill
(Vaughan Horton, music / Carl Jularbo, lyrics)
Together Again: RCA Living Stereo LSP-2580
Nashville
Hank Snow: vocal, guitar
Anita Carter: vocal
Mother Maybelle, June & Helen Carter: bg vocals
Produced by Chet Atkins, 1962
Recorded by Bill Porter at RCA’s Nashville Sound Studio
Ina Anita Carter
b. March 31, 1933 Maces Spring, Virginia / d. July 29, 1999 (66) Hendersonville, Tennessee
Clarence Eugene Snow
b. May 9, 1914 Brooklyn, Nova Scotia / d. December 20, 1999 (85) Madison, TN
Mockin’ Bird Hill was first recorded by a duo called The Beaver Valley Sweethearts in 1950. A year later it was covered by Les Paul and Mary Ford who had the first hit with it. It has been recorded by Patti Page, Teresa Brewer, George Jones, Ray Stevens and Donna Fargo.
Anita Carter was one of the Carter Family. Her first significant solo work was the 1951 single ''Bluebird,'' a duet with Hank Snow that topped the country charts along with its B-side, ''Down the Trail of Achin' Hearts.''
This is a German version of the LP with one of those floppy covers.
8. Russ Gurr: The Blue Hills of Brandon
(Russell Gurr)
Federal Grain Train: Rodeo International SRLP 7119
Brandon Manitoba
Russ Gurr: vocals
Produced by John Hildebrand, 1971
Arranged and conducted by Dave Shaw
Recorded by Paul Hildebrand at Century 21 Studios, Winnipeg
Russell Clarence Gurr
b. Arrow River MB December 23, 1918 / d. Brandon MB November 8, 2011 (92)
Known as ‘The Singing farmer’, Russ didn’t enter the world of recording music until well into his 50s back in 1971. He released three albums of original songs. He had a great sense of humour which was often worked into his lyrics. I met him in Brandon back in 2003 – spent a couple of days with him, getting his stories.
9. Colter Wall: Cyprus Hills and The Big Country
(Colter Wall)
Single bw All Help the Cowboys: La Honda Records – LHR012
Swift Current SK
Colter Wall: guitar, vocal
Harmonica – Jake Groves
Mandolin, Dobro, Guitar [Acoustic Flat Picking] – Patrick Lyons
Produced by Colter Wall, 2024
Recorded at Jereco Studios
Mastered By Mike Monseur
Son of former Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall, this guy (born in 1995) has one of those incredibly deep voices that sounds a hundred and four, perfect for the kind of songs he writes.
10. Vera Vanderlaan: Flint Hill Special
(Earl Scruggs)
Five String Banjoree: Quest Records – Q 101
Vermont US
Vera Vanderlaan: banjo, guitar, bass
Ken Newton: violin, viola
Bryce Shelton: drums
Produced by Vera Vanderlaan, 197?
Recorded by Bobby Ross at Recording Associates, Portland OR
A proud, female right wing folksinger! Very rare, thought by some to be extinct.
While most women in bluegrass tended to gravitate towards playing standup bass, Vera went for the banjo which put her front and centre on any bluegrass stage.
11. Mac Beattie & Ottawa Valley Melodiers: Back In The Packenham Hills
(Mac Beattie)
Mr. Ottawa Valley: Banff Roedo RBS 5333
Arnprior ON
Reg Hill: fiddle
Mac Beattie: vocal, drums
Gaetan Fairfield: guitar
Jim Mayhew: piano
Gordon Summers: lead guitar
George Courschesne: bass
Produced by Ralph Carlson 1970
Recorded at Carlsound Studios, Ottawa
John McNab Beattie
b Arnprior, ON, 21 Dec 1916 / d Arnprior 14 Jun 1982 (65)
12. Bill Garrett & Sue Lothrop: The Hill
(S Lothrop)
Red Shoes: Borealis Records - BCD154
Montreal QC
Sue Lothrop: guitar, vocal
Bill Garrett: guitar, bg vocals
Dave Clarke – guitar
Terry Tufts – dobro, mandolin, electric guitar
Tom Leighton – accordion
Don Reed – fiddle
Christina Smith – cello
Vern Dorge – clarinet
Tom Szczesniak – bass, piano
Brian Barlow – percussion
Produced by Bill Garrett, 2003
Recorded by Mike Haas at Inception Sound, Toronto
Mastered by Chad Irshick and Mike Haas
13. James Hill: Promenade
(James Hill)
The Old Silo: Borealis Records BCVL 230
Halifax NS / Ottawa ON
James Hill: vocal, baritone uke, tambourine, organ
Joel Plaskett: bass, drums, vocals
Joe Murhpy: harmonica
Produced by Joel Plaskett, 2014
Recorded at New Scotland Yard, Dartmouth NS by Thomas Stajcer
Mixed by Joel Plaskett and Thomas Stajcer
Mastered by LaPointe at Archive Mastering, Halifax
James Hill
b. Nova Scotia, 1980
As a kid, Hill was inspired to learn to play the ukulele from Haligonian Chalmers Doane (Melanie Doane’s father) who wrote the book on learning to play the instrument. As a singer/songwriter, he began recording albums in 2002 featuring his ukulele. Teamed up with his cello playing wife Anne Janelle (previously Davison). In 2015, his album "The Old Silo" was nominated for the Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year
14. Syncona: Ping Pong Samba
(R Henderson)
Syncona: Syncona Music SLP 105
Toronto
Dick Smith: lead vocal, piano, clavinet, congas
Michael Rosteing: drums
Audley Williams: bass, percussion
Julien Martin: guitar, piano, bg vocal
Jim Gary: guitars, bg vocals
Selwyn Gomes: marimbas, steel pans
Harris Todman: steel pans
Earl Wong: steel pans
Russ Little: trombone
Catherine Moses: flute
Produced by Dick Smith, 1974
Recorded at RCA Studios, Toronto by George Semkiw
Producer Dick Smith grew up in a remote region of the Blue Mountains in Jamaica where most of his boyhood friends were the descendants of Africans who came to the island centuries before and who became known as the “Windward Maroons.” It was their drum-ming and within a short time he earned the reputation of being one of the best exponents of hand percussion. In 1967 Smith was part of the team that founded Toronto’s famed Caribana Festival. He then formed the band Syncona [a play on the word for the South American plant cinchona] to celebrate the music of the West Indies. In 1987 he was inducted into the Black Music Association’s Hall of Fame for his contributions to Caribbean culture in Canada.
Selwyn Gomes
b. Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad March 28, 1934 / d. Feb 16, 2019 Stouffville ON (84)
I have another recording of the Ping Pong Samba by Toronto steel pan player Selwyn Gomes and the Laurier Steel Band on a single released in 1970.
15. The Doors: The Hill Dwellers
(Jim Morrison (words) / The Doors (arrangements)
Live At The Hollywood Bowl: Elektra – 96 07414
LA
Jim Morrison: vocals
Robbie Krieger: guitar
John Densmore: drums
Ray Manzarek: keys, bass pedals
Produced by Paul Rothchild, 1987
Recorded by Bruce Botnick, July 5th 1968
16. Lavender Hill Mob: Head Over Heels
(N Prigeno / C Chandler / H Jacob)
Lavender Hill Mob: United Artists UALA 719G
Montreal QC
Nicky Prigeno: bass
Ronnie Jones: lead guitar
Gerry Hardy: flute, sax
Hector Jacob: rhythm guitar
Chuck Chandler: keys
Vito Fiory: drums
Produced by Rob Stevens for Cash West Productions, 1977
Recorded & Mixed by Nick Blagona at Le Studio, Morin Heights, QC
Mastered at Masterdisk by Bob Ludwig, NYC
Note: not the same Lavender Hill Mob from Fresno California who broke up in 1967.
Hard to find relevant info on these guys! What I do know is they were active from 1977 to 1978 in Montreal and I’ve got both of their albums. They were a bit commercial and obviously had a lot of money thrown their way since the albums were also released across the USA. They are described as a folk band but this particular track has that McCartney-esque syncopated beat heavily used by The Beatles. Speaking of which…
17. The Beatles: The Fool On the Hill
(Lennon / McCartney)
Magical Mystery Tour: SMAL 2835
Liverpool
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, bass, recorder
John Lennon: harmonica, Jew’s harp
George Harrison: acoustic guitar, harmonica
Ringo Starr: drums, maracas, finger cymbals
Christopher Taylor, Richard Taylor, Jack Ellory: flutes
Produced by George Martin, 1967
Recorded at EMI Studios, London Sept / Oct 1967
18. The Pogues:Young Ned of The Hill
(Terry Woods / Ron Kavana)
Peace And Love: Pogue Mahone Records – UK-WX247
London UK
Shane MacGowan - vocals
Jem Finer - banjo
Spider Stacy - tin whistle
James Fearnley - accordion
Andrew Ranken - drums
Terry Woods - cittern, mandolin, vocal
Philip Chevron - guitar
Darryl Hunt - bass guitar
Produced by Steve Lillywhite, 1989
Recorded by Chris Dickie with Nick Lacey at RAK Studios, London
19. Harry Manx & Kevin Breit: Bottom Of the Hill
(Kevin Breit)
In Good We Trust: Stony Plain – SPCD 1320
Vancouver / Toronto
Harry Manx: vocal, lap slide guitar
Kevin Breit: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bg vocals
Produced by Kevin Breit and Harry Manx, 2007
Recorded by Jon Bailey at Number 9 Studios, Toronto
Mastered by Trevor Sadler at Mastermind Productions
These two guys got together to produce two albums of really cool stuff in the early 2000s.
20. Percy Faith Orchestra: Theme From ‘A Summer Place’
(Steiner)
45 single bw Go-Go-Po-Go: Columbia Records 4-41490
Toronto ON
Produced 1959
Recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City
Percy Faith
b. Toronto ON April 7, 1908: d. February 9, 1976 Encino CA
Originally a violinist, he burned his hands when he was young and took to band leading. He worked for the CBC Radio Canada for several years before settling in Chicago circa 1940. Tony Bennett, Doris Day, Johnny Mathis were some of the acts whose music he would arrange.
"Theme from A Summer Place" (1959), which spent 9 weeks at number one, won the Grammy Award for ‘Record of the Year’ in 1961. He is one of only three artists, along with Elvis Presley and The Beatles, to have the best selling single of the year twice. It remains the longest-running number one instrumental in the history of the Billboard chart.
The 1970 episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus entitled "Intermission" (Series 1, Episode 13) often used this music when announcing that there will be varying sizes of intermission.
21. Coldplay: Violet Hill
(Martin / Berryman / Buckland / Champion)
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends: EMI – 509992 26126 0 1
London
Chris Martin: vocals
Guy Barryman: bass
Jon Buckland: lead guitar
Will Champion: drums
Produced by Brian Eno, Markus Dravs, Rik Simpson, 2008
Recorded in a bakery, a nunnery, a magic shop, a church.
Mastered by Bob Ludwig
The Singing Side
1. David Essig: The Singing Waterfalls
(Hank Williams Sr)
While Living In The Good Years: New Woodshed Records NWS-016
Protection Island, BC
David Essig: fretted instruments, piano, vocals
Rockin’ Randy Kempf: bass
Paul Beedham: drums
Produced by David Essig and Fred Elgersma, 1984
Recorded by Steve Beach at Shotgun Studios, Brantford ON
Mixed by David Essig
This is a really obscure Hank Williams song that Essig found while working at CBC Radio for his country show “Six Days on The Road”. He dedicates his version to Molly O’Day, a country singer from West Virginia who first recorded it for Columbia in 1948 after learning it from Hank Williams Sr.
2. Mickey McGivern: Four Strong Winds
(Ian Tyson)
Twelve String Guitar: Arc Records – A 660
Pembroke ON
Mickey McGivern: 12 string guitar
Al Mathews: piano
Artie MacLaren: rhythm guitar
Bill Bartlett: drums
Mark McGivern: bass
Produced by Ben Weatherby, 1965
Mickey McGivern
b. December 13, 1931 Pembroke ON (92)
Mickey McGivern’s career began with an inexpensive Palm Beach guitar at the age of 12
and, by the age 17, he was on road with The Kidd Baker Show. He became a session guitarist, performing on well over 300 recordings.
Over the next twenty years, he fronted a number of bands, most notably The Mustangs, touring Canada and the US and backing such artists as Del Reeves, Johnny Paycheck and Bob Luman.
Mickey became one of the most respected session guitarists in Canada, working for RCA,
Quality and Arc Records. He has over 350 documented sessions to his credit, backing
such artists as Johnny Burke, Artie McLaren and Dick Nolan. Indeed, its hard to find an Arc
records from the 60s and early 70s that Mickey didnt play on.
Mickey was raised in Pembroke, Ontario where he still resides and continues to perform.
3. Bonzo Dog Band: Can Blue Men Sing The Whites
(Vivian Stanshall)
Urban Spaceman: Imperial Records 12432
London UK
Rodney Slater: sax
Roger Spear: sax, guitar
Vivian Stanshall: vocal, guitar, sax
Neil Innis: guitar, keys
Legs Larry Smith: drums
Produced by Gus Dudgeon and Gerry Bron, 1968
The 1968 album ‘Doughnut in Granny's Greenhouse’ was released as Urban Spaceman in the US and Canada by The Bonzo Dog Band. The phrase "the doughnut in granny's greenhouse" is obscure British slang for the lavatory.
Originally called The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, the Bonzos came to the public attention through a 1968 ITV comedy show, Do Not Adjust Your Set. The band was officially formed on 25 September 1962 after several members bonded after listening to the Sonny Liston / Floyd Patterson championship boxing match. Their hit song, I’m The Urban Spaceman, was co-produced by Gus Dudgeon and Paul McCartney.
4. Robyn Hitchcock: Do Policemen Sing?
(R Hitchcock)
Black Snake Diamond Role: Armageddon Records ARM4
London UK
Robyn Hitchcock: Piano, bass, lead guitar
Gary Barnacle: Saxophones
Matthew Seligman: Bass
Vince Ely: Drums
Kimberley Rew: Guitar
Produced by Pat Collier and Matthew Seligman, 1981
Recorded at The Barge, Alaska, and Music Works studios
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock
b. 3 March 1953 London UK
This is from Hitchcock’s first solo album after leaving The Soft Boys, whom he used on this album. Hitchcock claims that the inspiration for "Do Policemen Sing?" came when two of his friends were arrested and served cold beans for breakfast in their cell, and when he met a Welsh policemen choir in the next studio during a recording session for the Soft Boys. His humorous take on it is what makes it something special.
5. Metropolitan Toronto Police Association Male Choir: Something To Sing About
(Oscar Brand)
A New Beat: Stone Records SXS 3737
Toronto
Orchestral Arrangements: Leonard Moss
Conductor: Alex Teck
Peter Appleyard: vibes
Howie Reay
Jimmy Coxson
Teddy Rodderman
Mary Barrow
Eugene Rittick
Jack Zaza: bass
C Yssellsteyn
Neville Bains
Ralph Fraser
Produced 1968
Orchestral Arrangements: Leonard Moss
Yes! Policemen can sing. At least, our cops in Toronto can!
On the cover it states:
“So some night when you’re stopped beside a cruiser at a red light, don’t be surprised to hear the haunting lyrics of “The Impossible Dream” floating toward you. It will only be one of Metro’s finest Chorus members boning up for the next concert!”
... Dot O’Neil, Toronto Daily Star.
6. Stanley Jordan: Angel
(Jimi Hendrix)
Magic Touch: Blue Note – BT 85101
Chicago IL
Stanley Jordan: guitar (no overdubs)
Produced by Al Di Meola, 1985
Recorded by James Farber & Kenny Florendo at Songshop Studios, NYC
Stanley Jordan b. July 31, 1959 Chicago, Ill
Magic Touch, which sat at No.1 on Billboard 's jazz chart for 51 weeks, a record for a jazz guitar album. Among the artists Jordan has worked with are Quincy Jones, The Dave Matthews Band, The String Cheese Incident, and Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh.
7. Connie Francis: Sing Along
(Gerry Goffin / Jack Keller)
Sing Along With Connie Francis and the Jordanaires: Mati-Mor 8002
Newark NJ
Connie Francis: vocal
The Jordanaires: bg vocals
Joe Mele: conductor
Produced by Jerry Deutsch and Lee G Matison, 1961
There were two different sponsors for this novelty album – I’ve got them both. One was by Silvinkrin Shampoo (women) and the one I used, Brycreem (for smart hair grooming for men). It has this on the back cover:
Brylcreem: a little dab’ll do ya!
Brylcreem: you’ll look so debonair!
Brylcreem: the gals’ll all pursue ya
They’ll love to get their fingers in your hair!
The Silvinkrin album (same serial no.) keeps working between shampoos. Day after day your hair looks lovely…all through the week, the lustrous beauty remains when you use Silvinkrin Shampoo. Only Silvinkrin keeps working between shampoos…because only Silvinkrin shampoo contains Pure Silvinkrin scientific hair nutrient.
8. George Burns: Willie, Won’t You Sing A Song With Me
(George Burns)
Nashville: Mercury Records - SRM-1-8001
New York City
George Burns: vocals, cigar
Produced by Jerry Kennedy, 1980
Recorded at The Village Recorder and Sound Stage Studios
Mastered by Hank Williams at Woodland Studios
Mixed at Sound Stage Studios
Nathan Birnbaum aka God
b. NYC Jan 20, 1896 / d. Mar 8, 1996 (100) Beverly Hills CA
He only recorded two albums, this one and Young At Heart (1982). Also got to appear in the movie Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) as Mr. Kite. His most self-defining role came in 1977 when he played God, opposite John Denver. At a celebrity roast in his honor, Dean Martin adapted a Burns crack: "When George was growing up, the Top 10 were still the Ten Commandments".
9. Jane Morgan: We’ll Sing In the Sunshine
(Gale Garnett)
In My Style…: Epic Records: LN 24166
Newton, Massachusetts
Jane Morgan: vocals
Produced by Manny Kellem, 1965
Florence Catherine Currier
b. 3 May 1924 Newton, Massachusetts / currently 100
Morgan performed for French President Charles de Gaulle, and for five U.S. Presidents: John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and George W. Bush. She toured with Jack Benny and John Raitt, and appeared at the Grand Ole Opry. Two of her RCA singles hit the Billboard country charts in 1970. She's currently 100 years of age!!!
Gale Zoë Garnett
b. 17 July 1942
is a New Zealand–born Canadian singer best known in the United States for her own version of "We'll Sing in the Sunshine", her self-penned, Grammy-winning hit
10. Echoes Of Bluegrass: Ralph Stanley Sing On
(C Love)
Country Poor and Country Proud: Sweetgrass - SGLP 0185
Oshweken / Brantford ON
Shin Van Every: lead vocal, bass
Claude LePrieur: fiddle
Kevin Sullivan: guitar, mandolin
Garret Doyle: banjo
Produced by Echoes of Bluegrass, 1985
Recorded by Doug Biggs and Rick Hutt at Cedar Tree Recording Studio, Kitchener ON
A. Sharon (Shin) Van Every
b. Oshweken, Six Nations, Ontario 1943 / d. Oshweken, 1994
Shin had one of the sweetest voices in bluegrass.
11. Stompin’ Tom Connors: Singin’ Away My Blues
(Tom C Connors)
Stompin’ Tom And The Hockey Song: Anthem OLE 96
Halton Hills, ON
Stompin’ Tom: guitar, boots, vocals
Gary Empey: bass
Bill Lewis: lead guitar
Glen Reid: banjo
John Spence: harmonica
Fred McKenna: dobro
Produced by Tom Connors and Fred McKenna, 1973
Remastered for Ole, 2018
Recorded by Jim Morgan at Captain Audio, Toronto
Mixed by Bill Seddon at Thunder Sound, Toronto
12. Bill Connors: Cookies
(Bill Connors)
Step It: Pathfinder Records PTF 8503
Los Angeles
Bill Connors: guitar
Tom Kennedy: bass
Dave Weckl: drums
Produced by Steve Khan and Doug Epstein, 1985
Recorded at Mediasound, NYC by Doug Epstein, October 1984
Mixed by Doug Epstein, Steve Khan, Bill Connors and David Weckl
Mastered by Creg Calbi at Sterling Sound, NYC
Bill Connors b.
September 24, 1949, Los Angeles
Played guitar on Chick Corea’s band, Return To Forever.
13. Night Ranger: Sing Me Away
(Kelly Keagy / Jack Blades)
Dawn Patrol: Boardwalk Entertainment Co. B1-33259
San Francisco CA
Jeff Watson: guitars
Alan Gerald: keys, vocal
Kelly Keagy: drums, lead vocal
Jack Blades: bass: lead vocal
Brad Gillis: guitar, vocal
Produced by Pat Glasser, 1982
Recorded by John Van Nest at Allen Zentz Recording
Mastered by Brian Gardner at Allen Zentz Recording
Dawn Patrol is the debut studio album by Night Ranger released in 1982. The band was named Ranger during the recording of the album. The first issues of the album were printed and ready to be shipped when it was discovered that there was a country band from California with the same name. The band decided to name themselves Night Ranger after the song that Jack Blades had written for the album. The record company destroyed the copies with the band name Ranger. Their first three albums, Dawn Patrol, Midnight Madness, and Seven Wishes, all reached RIAA Platinum status and garnered the band international fame.
14. Buffalo Springfield: Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing
(Neil Young)
Buffalo Springfield: Atco Records Mono 33-200-A
Los Angeles CA / Ontario
Neil Young: lead guitar
Stephen Stills: guitar, lead vocal
Richie Furay: guitar, lead vocal
Dewey Martin: drums
Bruce Palmer: bass
Produced by Charles Greene, Brian Stone, 1966
Recorded July to September 1966 by Tom May, Doc Siegel, James Hilton, Stan Ross
Mixing: Buffalo Springfield, Charles Greene, Brian Stone
From the first Buffalo Springfield album by this 3/5ths Canadian band in 1966 (but not considered CanCon). Great bass playing drives this in jam, probably more typical of what the band were like back then as opposed to what was produced on the rest of this album. The band never liked the way it was produced, feeling that it didn’t adequately reflect what they were like live. But it seems to come across quite well on this record.
15. The Jam: And Your Bird Can Sing
(Lennon / McCartney)
Extras: Polydor – 314 513 177-2
Woking, Surry UK
Paul Weller: guitar, lead vocals
Bruce Foxton: bass
Rick Buckler: drums
Produced by Peter Wilson, 1980
taken from the demo session recorded at Polydor Studios, Stratford Place, London, April 1980. Cover version of the classic Beatles’ track.
16. Los Compañeros: Beautiful Day
(Adam Konstantakis / Marcello Puente)
Blazing Frontiers: Rebellion Records ICS 8002
Toronto ON
Ricardo Rivas: guitar, charango, bass
Adam Konstantakis: guitar, lead vocal
Dimitrious Apostolou: keys
Marcelo Puente: flute, guitar, harmonica, charango
Juan Salvatierra: flutes, winds
Juan Opitz: perkcussion
Produced by Compañeros, 1979
A band of Chilean and Greek ex-pats opposing military take-overs of their countries with the establishment of right wing death squads and totalitarian regimes. They were the house band at the Danforth coffee house called The Trojan Horse, established in the early 70’s by poet Gwendolyn MacEwan. When the Trojan Horse closed down, they moved next door to The Lyra. These coffee houses were unlicensed, serving coffees and frappes.
17. Merle Haggard & The Strangers: Sing Me Back Home
(Merle Haggard)
45 Single bw Goot Times: Sparton Records – P 1644
Bakersfield CA
Produced by Ken Nelson, 1967
Merle Haggard's third number one
18. Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
(Melvin Endsley)
Singing the Blues: Harmony – HS 11338
Nashville TN
Produced by Mitch Miller, 1956
Martin David Robinson
b. Glendale AZ September 26, 1925 / d. Memphis December 8, 1982
The Marty Robbins version made it to number one on the Billboard C&W Best Sellers chart for 13 weeks in late 1956
19. The Hotel Orchestra: Sing Sing Sing
(Louis Prima)
45 single bw Caravan: Good Noise GN 1005
Montreal
Claude Vendette (vocals, guitar)
Richard Grégoire (vocals, guitar)
Pierre Geoffroy (bass)
Joe Cocuzzo, drums
Marvin Stamm, trumpet
Sonny Russo, trombone
André Perry,
Jeff Layton,
John Lissauer,
Produced by André Perry, 1974
20. Gale Garnett: We'll Sing In The Sunshine
(Gale Garnet)
45 Single: RCA Victor 47-8388
Toronto ON
Produced by Andy Wiswell 1964
b. Auckland NZ 17 July 1942.
Moved to Canada when she was 11. Her father died when she was 12, and at 14 she ran away to New York City to pursue an acting career. In the fall of 1964, Garnett scored a number four pop hit with her original composition "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" (also #1 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart for 7 weeks and a Top 50 country hit), and it won the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording in 1965.
Garnett also had some success in films. She used her voice in The Pink Panther (1963) as Princess Dala, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) as Aunt Lexy (credited as Gale Zoë Garnett). Also did roles in TV shows: Have Gun - Will Travel as Prudence Powers (1 episode, 1963) The Debutante, Shindig, Lloyd Thaxton Show, Bonanza, Rat Patrol, Kojak, King of Kensington, Littlest Hobo, Kung Fu. Inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015
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