The Hard Side
1. Koussevitzky & Boston Pops: Sibelius Sym 7 – 2022
2. Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night – 1964
3. The Jitters: Hard As Nails – 1987 *
4. The Pursuit of Happiness: Hard To Laugh – 1988 *
5. The Strawbs: Hard, Hard Winter – 1976
6. Haywire: Hard Reaction – 1987 *
7. Polish Canadians: Polish Canadian Oberek – circa 1973 *
8. Eric Andersen: So Hard To Fall – 1967
9. Motherlode: Hard Life – 1970 *
10. Stevedore Steve: Hard Workin’ Men – 1971 *
11. John Lennon: It’s So Hard – 1971
12. Nancy Wilson: A Good Man Is Hard To Fine – 1962
13. Neil Sedaka: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – 1962
14. Tito Puente Orch: Arinara – 1955
15. The Flying Burrito Brothers: Tried So Hard – 1971
16. Murray McLauchlan: Hard Rock Town – 1977 *
17. Wiz Bryant: Hard Rock Miner – 1988 *
18. Glen Reid: Hard Rock Miner – 1978 *
19. Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard – 1966
20. The Seeds: Pushing Too Hard – 1966
21. Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds – 1972
The Bee Side
1. The Jam: Monday – 1980
2. Love Sculpture: In The Land of the Few – 1970
3. Arthur Gee: Dawn of Time – 1971 *
4. Traffic: Paper Sun – 1967
5. Kensington Market: Speaking Of Dreams – 1968 *
6. Ronnie Ross Quintet: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – 1958
7. Alice Cooper: Fields of Regret – 1969
8. Skip Prokop: Baseball Blues – 1977 *
9. Section 15 Orch: The Ballad of Tom Henke – 1985 *
10. Al Kooper: Going Quietly Mad – 1976
11. The Whirlygigs: Raised By Wolves – 1989 *
12. Bobby Edwards: Café Summer – 1987 *
13. Dinah Washington: It’s Magic – 1959
14. The Phantoms: No More B.S. For Me – 1990 *
15. A Neon Rome: The Magical summer of ’85 – 1986 *
16. Sopwith Camel: The Great Morpheum – 1967
17. Chris Barber Special: Magnolia’s Wedding – 1955
CanCon = 45%
The Hard Side
Heard over:
1. Koussevitzky & Boston Pops: Sibelius Symph No. 7
Mojo Magazine CD, 2022
2. The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night
(Lennon / McCartney)
A Hard Days Night Soundtrack: United Artists Records UAL 3366
Liverpool UK
John Lennon: guitar
George Harrison: lead guitar
Paul McCartney: bass, lead vocal
Ringo Starr: drums
Produced by George Martin
Recorded at Abby Road Studio 2, London UK by Norman Smith
First Published in Canada July, 1964
That chord!!! One of the greatest chords ever recorded and The Beatles thought it up in 1964. From that opening chord, everything else about the song effortlessly falls into place. That makes A Hard Day’s Night (Ringo though up the title) one of the most recognizable songs in the history of music.
3. The Jitters: Hard As Nails
(Blair Packham)
The Jitters: EMI Capitol CLT 48126
Toronto ON
Blair Packham: lead vocal, guitar
Danny Levy: lead guitar
Matthew Greenberg: bass
Vic D’Arsie: keys
Randy Cooke: drums
Produced by Paul Gross, 1987
Recorded by Joe Primeau at Phase One Studio, Toronto
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, NYC
Songwriter Blair Packham was only 13 when he saw John Prine play Massey Hall. He saw this guy standing alone before three thousand people, holding an acoustic guitar. Packham volunteered at the Mariposa Folk Festival on Toronto Islands in the 1970s and loved the folk blues of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. Through them he started listening to the music of other folk greats. He formed the Jitters around 1980 but always wanted to return to playing an acoustic guitar.
4. 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
The first TPOH album. The album 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 2005
5. 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.
6. 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
Haywire were an Eastern Canadian phenomenon. Emanating out of Canada’s smallest province and smallest capitol city – Charlottetown PEI – they somehow managed to escape the confines of geography, spilling their music far beyond the confines of a shadow. Their heyday was between 1981 – 93. In 1984, they won the "Q104 Homegrown" contest; the first prize was the chance to record a single, but the band took the opportunity to invest additional money of their own and record a five-song EP, called Haywire (1985), which eventually sold over 5,000 copies in the Maritimes. A year later, in 1985, they won the Labatt's "Battle of the Bands" competition, and used the $10,000 first prize to record more material. In 1986, the group signed a recording contract with Canadian independent label Attic Records. Their first full album, Bad Boys (1986), went platinum in Canada
7. The Polish Canadians: Polish Canadian Oberek
(Unknown)
Polkas & Waltzes - For Your Entertainment: Polka Tone Records – 5001
Toronto
Ed Guca: sax, lead vocals
Others not listed
Produced in 1969
This Canadian band’s album was released by an American polka label, Polka Tone. The entire back cover is of ads for some of their other releases, especially Li’l Wally albums. Specially featured was Li’l Wally’s Polish A-Go-Go featuring a Big Bouquet of Roses.
8. Eric Andersen: So Hard To Fall
(Eric Andersen)
Avalanche: Warner Bros – Seven Arts WS 1748
Netherlands
Eric Andersen: guitar, vocal, piano
Steven Anander: bass
Bruce Langhorn: acoustic guitar
Nick Gefroh: drums
Andy Johnson: guitars
Debby Green, Lee Crabtree: keys
Jaydee Manness: steel
Produced by Eric Andersen and Jerry Goldstein, 1969
Recorded by Chris Huston
Mixed by Stan Weiss
It is interesting to watch the development on how artists like Eric Andersen were experimented upon. Producers, in the latter sixties, shied away from the quiet, acoustic sound and started utilizing the studio techniques that rock bands used: heavier drums and bass. With an artist like Eric Andersen, it really didn’t matter; the songs carried themselves so it didn’t matter how they were recorded. In 1970s, a year after this album was recorded, Andersen was booked onto the Festival Express train trip across Canada with the Grateful Dead, Janus Joplin, Ian and Sylvia, The Band, Flying Burrito Bros, Mashakhan and Buddy Guy.
9. 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
When I Die" hit #18 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. Due to the shenanigans of the band’s management, who registered the band’s name in their own names, bands with no original Motherlode members toured under that name. Original members Steve Kennedy, Ken Marco and Wayne Stone went on to be founding members of Dr. Music in Toronto with Doug Riley
10. 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, New Brunswick Jan 3, 1936 / d. Oct, 2016 Saint John NB (80)
Stompin’ Tom’s childhood buddy Stephen J Foote released three vinyl album in the early 70s for Tom’s fledgling record label Boot.
11. 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 Offer, 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 Imagine was released.
12. 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.
13. 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 when he was still a teen. 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. A huge hit for the summer of ’62.
14. Tito Puente Orchestra: Arinanara
(Pozo)
Rumbas: RCA Victor – LPM 1069
New York City
Tito Puente Orchestra
Produced by RCA Victor, 1955
Cover dance steps by The Astaire Dance Studios
Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente
b. April 20, 1923 Puerto Rico / d. June 1, 2000
Puerto Rican parents living in NYC. As a child, he was described as hyperactive, and after neighbors complained of hearing seven-year-old Puente beating on pots and window frames. Deeply influenced by the jazz drummer Gene Krupa. During the 1950s, Puente was at the height of his popularity. In 1979, Puente won the first of five Grammy Awards.
After a show in Puerto Rico on May 31, he suffered a massive heart attack and was flown to New York City for surgery to repair a heart valve, but complications developed and he died during the night of May 31 – June 1, 2000. He was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003
15. 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
First the Byrd’s went country by bringing Gram Parsons into the band for Sweetheart of their Rodeo. When Parsons left the band a year later, he took two other original Byrds with him: bass player Chris Hillman and drummer Michael Clarke to form the Flying Burrito Brothers. This gem of a song was released on their first album.
16. Murray McLauchlan: Hard Rock Town
(Murray McLauchlan)
Hard Rock Town: True North Records TN-29
Toronto ON
Dennis Pendrith: bass
Jørn Andersen: drums
Ben Mink: fiddle
Gene Martynec: guitar
Murray McLauchlan: vocal, guitar
Produced by Murray McLauchlan & Bernie Finkelstein, 1977
Compilation Produced by Graham Stairs and Bernie Finkelstein 2007
Recorded by Ken Friesen at Eastern Sound, Toronto
Murray McLauchlan
b. June 30, 1948 in Paisley, Scotland
Murray was Bruce Cockburn’s main label mate for True North Records in the 1970s (he even drew the logo), in fact, he had more major hits than Bruce that decade. His hits included ‘Farmer’s Song’ (1973), "Hurricane of Change" (also 1973), "Do You Dream of Being Somebody" (1975), and "Whispering Rain" (1979). He holds 11 Juno Awards, is a pilot, a painter and a Member of the Order of Canada, and also played occasionally with Toronto act ‘Lunch At Allen’s’, named after Allen’s on the Danforth.
17. 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
Wiz is a country troubadour who impressed Stompin’ Tom with his uniquely Canadian songs. Tom turned him onto me. He used to perform as a roving troubadour in a restaurant, moving from table to table in Toronto in the late 1980s. After releasing four albums of original songs, he moved back to his stompin’ grounds in the Kootenays where he’s worked at producing television series about the history of western Canada.
Originally attracting miners from various parts of the country, the mines in north Ontario were hard rock as opposed to coal. Cornish tin miners migrated over the ocean to fill in the void as hard rock mining is a very different.
18. 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.
19. The Dave Clark Five: Try Too Hard
(Dave Clark / Mike Smith)
More Greatest Hits: Epic – LN 24221
London
Mike Smith: organ, lead vocals
Dave Clark: drums, bg vocal
Lenny Davidson: guitar, bg vocals
Dennis Payton: sax
Rick Huxley: bass
Produced by Dave Clark, 1966
Compilation Album produced 1967
Purchased from Discount Records 1364 N.E. 163 St, Miami Beach Mar 29, 1967
As far as I’m concerned, the DC5 were one of the most under-rated first wave bands. These were stellar musicians who understood what being in a group means. They made great records, had great gigs, made a lot of money and stayed together in their original form for 10 years. I didn’t buy 9 DC5 albums for nothing~
20. 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 Geddy Lee lived 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.
21. Pink Floyd: Obscured By Clouds
(Roger Waters / Dave Gilmore)
Obscured by Clouds: Harvest Records ST 11078
London UK
Roger Waters: bass
Dave Gilmore: guitars
Rick Wright: keys
Nick Mason: drums
Produced by Pink Floyd, 1972
Recorded at Strawberry Studios, UK and Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France
The Free-Wheelin’ Bee Side
1. The Jam: Monday
(Paul Weller)
Sound Affects: Polydor Records PD-1-6315
Woking, UK
Paul Weller: vocal, guitar, bass, keys
Bruce Foxton: bass, rhythm guitar, vocals
Rick Buckler: drums
Produced by The Jam & Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, 1980
Recorded by Alan Douglas at The Town House, London
The Jam’s active years were from 1972–1982
2. Love Sculpture: In the Land of the Few
(Finesilver / Ker / Edmunds)
Forms And Feelings: Parrot Records 71035
Cardiff, Wales UK
Dave Edmunds: guitar
John David: bass
Rob 'Congo' Jones: drums
Produced by Dave Edmunds, Mike Finesilver & Pete Ker, 1970
Recorded at Maximum Sound Studios by Dave Hadfield
It was 1972 – I was going out with a girl who loved Love Sculpture’s second album, Forms and Feelings. She was normally into acts like Elton John and Carole King so I was astounded to find that the loved this hard rocking Welsh band. He favourite song on it was In The Land of the Few. I went out and bought the album and it blew me away. Went out and purchased their other album, their first called Blues Helping a few days later. That’s what got me into Dave Edmunds’ music.
3. Arthur Lee: Dawn of Time
(Arthur Gee)
Arthur Gee: Tumbleweed Records - TWS 101
Guelph ON
Arthur Gee: guitar, harmonica, vocals
Richard Hathaway: bass
Steve Van Gelder: violin
Snazz Wall: pedal steel
Bob Allison: bg vocals
Produced by Marcus Damerst, 1971
Recorded by Marcus Damerst at Jackson Sound, Denver; Wally Heider Studio; The Record Plant, LA
Mixed by Marcus Damerst and Bill Szymczyk
Had a brief international career recording 2 lps.
Anne Murray covered his song Sunspots on her LP This Is My Way 1969
Migrated to Denver and signed with Tumbleweed Records
Played with Guelph band Celtic Blue late 80s as Riki Gee, fiddler
Currently plays with Jeff Bird, Tony Quarrington & Randall Coryell
4. Traffic: Paper Sun
(Winwood / Capaldi / Mason / Wood)
45 Single: Island Records CB 1302
Birmingham UK
Steve Winwood, keys
Jim Capaldi, drums
Dave Mason, guitar, sitar
Chris Wood, bass, flute
Produced by Jimmy Miller, 1967
Stephen Lawrence Winwood
b. 12 May 1948 Handsworth, Birmingham, England
Their debut single which also featured Dave Mason on sitar. Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi wrote this song in March 1967 when Winwood was in the Spencer Davis Group and Capaldi was a member of Deep Feeling. The bands were on tour together, and after a show in Newcastle, the two convened in a hotel room and put the song together.
5. Kensington Market: Speaking Of Dreams
(Luke Gibson)
45 Single: Warner Brothers 7221
Toronto ON
Keith McKie: vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Alex Darou: Bass Guitar
Jimmy Watson: Drums, Percussion
Eugene Martynec: Lead Guitar
Luke Gibson: vocals, guitar
John Mill-Cockell: Moog Synthesizer
Produced by Felix Pappalardi, 1968
Recorded by Steve Scheafer at Century Sound Studio, NYC
Toronto’s first ‘real’ super-group! Featuring Keith McKie, Luke Gibson and Gene Martynec (who would later go on to produce records for True North) and produced by Felix Pappalardi (Cream / Mountain). It also featured the moog synthesizer (first one in Canada) played by future True North recording artist John Mills-Cockell of Syrinx.
6. Ronnie Ross Quintet: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(Jerome Kern)
Stompin' With The Ronnie Ross Quintet: Ember Records International Ltd – EMB 3323
London UK
Baritone Sax: Ronnie Ross
Bass – Pete Blannin
Drums – Andy White
Trombone, Piano – Eddie Harvey
Trumpet, Mellophone – Bert Courtley
Produced 1961
Recorded 1958
7. Alice Cooper: Fields of Regret
(Alice Cooper)
Pretties For You: Straight Records – STS 1051
Detroit MI
Alice Cooper, vocals, harmonica
Neal Smith: drums
Dennis Dunaway: bass
Glen Buxton: lead guitar
Mike Bruce: rhythm guitar, keys
Produced by Ian Underwood and Herb Cohen, 1969
Recorded by Dick Kunc 1968
This album was recorded at Frank Zappa’s home studio for his own Straight Records label in a couple of days. The band actually thought that they were running through the songs to get ready to record, but Frank kicked them out of the studio and said that what they did was a take. They left a little stunned. The front cover of the album was a painting by Edward Beardsley of a young woman pulling up her skirt, offering herself to an old man who is holding a beer mug and was sold with a sticker over her underpants. The actual painting hung in Zappa’s living room for years but mysteriously went missing.
8. Skip Prokop: Baseball Blues
(Skip Prokop)
All Growed Up: Quality Records SV-1948-V
Toronto ON
Skip Prokop: drums, guitar, keys, vocals, banjo
Jamie Kean: lead guitar, bg vocals
Bobbie Elliot: bass
Patti Black: bg vocals
Produced by Skip Prokop, 1977
Recorded by Jim Morgan at Captain Audio, Toronto
Mixed by Jim Morgan at Mutual Street Studios
Mastered by Alan Moy at Lacquer Channel, Toronto
Ronald Harry Prokop
b. Hamilton, ON 13 Dec 1943 / d. 30 Aug 2017 (73) St. Thomas, ON
Ex-Pauper and Lighthouse founding member, drummer from his one and only solo LP. In 1968, after leaving The Paupers, Prokop played drums on the legendary Al Kooper / Mike Bloomfield album The Live Adventures of Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper. He also did some studio work for Janis Joplin after she quit Big Brother and the Holding Company. In 1969 he, along with Paul Hoffert, formed the legendary Toronto band, Lighthouse.
9. Section 15 Orchestra: The Ballad of Tom Henke
(Butler / Keen / Shurman)
45 single bw The Tom Henke Rag: 3and2 Records EIP-3and2
Toronto ON
Roy Kenner: lead vocal
Michael Francis: acoustic guitar
Bob Disalle: drums
Peter Cardinali: bass
Ron Dann: steel
Dennis LePage: banjo
Mark Hukezalie: keys
Lenny Solomon: fiddle
Robert Armes, Mark Hukezalie, Roy Kenner: bg vocals
Produced by Section 15 1985
Recorded by Mike Jones and Angelo Civiero
Mastered at Maclear Place, Toronto with the Forkball Digitalis Exciter
I found this 45 single in a New Toronto record store featuring some of Toronto’s incredible studio musicians. I have no idea why it was recorded – maybe for a benefit for something. The flip side features the Tom Henke Rag which I don’t think I’ve ever heard! I’ll have to play it someday.
10. Al Kooper: Going Quietly Mad
(Al Kooper)
New York City (You’re A Woman): Columbia Records C30506
NYC
Al Kooper: lead guitar (treble), keys
Caleb Quaye: lead guitar (bass)
Herbie Flowers: bass
Roger Pope: drums
Produced by Al Kooper, 1971
Recorded at Trident Studios, London; Columbia Studios, LA
Engineered by Ken Scott, Robert Gratz, Mark Friedman, Sy Mitchell, Frank Laico and Doug Pomeroy
Mixed by Ken Scott and Doug Pomeroy
Mastered by Mike Ruschach
Alan Peter Kuperschmidt
b. Brooklyn NY, February 5, 1944
Kooper's first professional work was as a 14-year-old guitarist in the Royal Teens. In 1960, he teamed up with songwriters Bob Brass and Irwin Levine to write and record demos for Sea-Lark Music Publishing. The trio's biggest hits were "This Diamond Ring", recorded by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. When he was 21, Kooper moved to Manhattan's Greenwich Village.
He performed with Bob Dylan in concert in 1965, including playing Hammond organ with Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival, and in the recording studio in 1965 and 1966. Kooper also played the Hammond organ riffs on Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone". It was in those recording sessions that Kooper met and befriended Mike Bloomfield,
Kooper joined the Blues Project as their keyboardist in 1965; he left the band shortly before their gig at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. He formed Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1967, leaving due to creative differences in 1968, after the release of the group's first album. He recorded Super Session with Bloomfield and Stills in 1968. In 1975 he produced the debut album by the Tubes.
In May 2001, Kooper was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berkley College of Music. Kooper was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, in Nashville, in 2008.
11. The Whirleygigs: Raised By Wolves
(Alex Mortimer)
Thunderdust: Amok Records LP-529
Ottawa ON
Alex Mortimer: guitar, vocals
Jeff Kerr: electric guitar
Joel Carlson: bass
Rob Porter: drums
Produced by Tino Izzo and Alex Mortimer, 1989
Recorded by Bazooka Joe Viera at Pyramid Prosound Studio, Montreal QC
Mixed by Peter Mika
Once the darlings of College radio in Canada, this Ottawa band released two great albums: Gravity Rides Again and their follow-up in 1989 called Thunderdust. Most members stayed active in the Ottawa music scene and recently came back together for the first time since breaking up over 25 yrs ago.
12. Bobby Edwards: Café Summer
(Bobby Edwards)
Twilight Drive: Duke Street Records DSR 31041
Scarborough ON
Bobby Edwards: solo guitar
Bob Mann: guitar
Danny Colomby: bass
Chris Dahmer, Steve Hunter, Ray Parker: keys
Paul Hannah: drums
Brian Leonard: percussion
Erich Traugott: trumpet
Guido Basso: flugelhorn
Vern Dorge: also sax
Eugene Amaro: tenor sax, flute
Virginia Markson: flute
Jack Zaza: flute, oboe
Jim McDonald, Gary Pattison: french horns
Russ Little: trombone
Erica Goodman: harp
Bill Richards: concert master
Produced by Bobby Edwards, 1987
Recorded by Andrw S Hermant at Manta Sound with Peter Lee and Mark Baldi
Mastered by George Graves at Lacquer Channel, Toronto
Robert David Edwards
b. Nov 24, 1948 in Scarborough, ON / d. South Lake Hospital, Newmarket Sept 15, 2021 (72)
13. Dinah Washington: It’s Magic
(Jule Styne / Sammy Cahn)
What A Diff'rence A Day Makes! Mercury Records – SR 60158
Chicago
Dinah Washington: vocal
Belford Hendricks Orchestra
Produced by Clyde Otis, 1959
Ruth Lee Jones
b. Tuscaloosa, Alabama August 29, 1924 / d. December 14, 1963 (36) Detroit
This song comes from Washington’s major break-through year, 1959. Her version of What A Difference A Day Makes, which is the title of this album, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. She won Best Rhythm & Blues Performance Grammy in 1959 for this album. Three of her songs have been inducted into the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame, including her version of Unforgettable, also in 1969.
14. The Phantoms: No More B.S. For Me
(The Phantoms)
Pleasure Puppets: Spy Records 1006
Toronto ON
Jerome Godbo: bass, lead vocal
Ben Richardson: bass, bg vocals
Joe Toole: guitar
Gregory Ray Tunis: drums, bg vocal
Produced by The Phantoms, 1990
Leader of The Phantoms was Jerome Godbo who was born in Victoria, BC, also played for a while with Moxy.
The Phantoms were formed in Ottawa in 1987. They then relocated to Toronto and became a fixture in the city’s Queen Street scene. A sold out show at Toronto’s Diamond Club was recorded and released on cassette in 1988 which acted as a demo when shopping themselves to record labels. Their debut album, 1989’s ‘Pleasure Puppets’, was produced by Kevin Doyle (Alannah Myles) and Billy Bryans (The Government, Parachute Club). Having left Spy Records in 1991, The Phantoms were added to Jeff Healey’s newly launched Forte Records and released their sophomore album ‘Raw’ in 1992; Godbo
o has gone on to a successful career as both a solo artist and as a session player. He was awarded the Lee Oskar World’s Best Harmonica Player in the International Blues Challenge 2014 in Memphis.
The Toronto Phantoms should not be confused with another band called The Phantoms from Toronto. The earlier Phantoms were a 1960s amalgam of studio musicians that made knock-off cover tune albums for Toronto’s ARC Records. The musicians have been rumored to be members of Doug Rankine & The Secrets of ‘Here Comes Shack’ fame.
15. A Neon Rome: The Magical Summer of ’85
(A Neon Rome)
New Heroin: New Rose Records, ROSE111
Toronto ON
John Borra: bass
Neal Arbick: vocals
Kevin Nizel: guitar, piano
Bernard: synths
Ian Blurton: drums
Produced by A Neon Rome with Andrew St. George, 1986
Recorded by Andrew St. George at Comfort Sound Studios, Toronto
During the band's tour to promote New Heroin, singer Neil Arbic became increasingly disillusioned with the music industry, and began to rebel against the promotional demands of leading a band seemingly on the verge of stardom. He shaved his head, had a diet of almonds and raisins, failed to show up for shows, eventually took a vow of silence and he strictly refused to speak offstage. Although the band completed recording of their 2nd album All the Children Are In, it was never released.
Producer Bruce McDonald's cult hit film Roadkill used a fictionalized version of ‘A Neon Rome’ as the "Children of Paradise", a band which disappeared on tour of Northern Ontario after its lead singer, a similar existential crisis as Neil Arbeck.
16. Sopwith Camel: The Great Morpheum
(Terry MacNeil / Peter Kraemer)
Sopwith Camel: Kama Sutra Records KLP 8060
San Francisco
Peter Kraemer, vocal, sax
Terry MacNeil and William "Truckaway" Sievers, guitars
Martin Beard, bass
Norman Mayell, drums
Produced by Erik Jacobsen, 1967
Recorded by Val Valentin
I’ve always loved this record. The only one the Camel put out at the height of the Psychedelic era. They were good songwriters and sort of merged the sounds of jugbands with cool, modern sounds. And like so many of the bands of their day, they were unique. No one else sounded remotely like them.
17. Chris Barber’s Jazz Band: Magnolia's Wedding Day
(Fields / McHugh)
Chris Barber Special: Nika Jazz Today Series: NJE 1007
London UK
Chris Barber: trombone
Pat Halcox: trumpet
Monty Sunshine: clarinet
Lonnie Donegan: banjo
Ron Bowden: drums
Mickey Ashman: bass
Produced by Denis Preston, 1955
Recorded by Eric Tomlinson
Chris Barber was the father of it all! All British rock n’ roll evolved because of him and his trad jazz band which featured Lonnie Donegan who would sing a skiffle song or two. Donegan’s recording of the Rock Island Line had Barber and a few of his band backing Lonnie up. The Silver Beatles were one result; the Rolling Stones and Long John Baldry were the other.
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