LaBarge, Bernie
Labrecque, Jacques
LaBrie, James
Lahti & the Colts, Sam
Laine, Paul
Laing, Corky
Lalonde, Bobby
Lalonde, Pierre
Lamarche
Lance Charles Syndrome
Land Of Giants
Landry, Diane
Landry, Ned
Lands, Wendy
Lane, Robbie
Lane, Robbie & The Disciples
Lanez, Tory
lang, k.d.
Lange, Mya
Langlois, Jérôme
Lanois, Daniel
Lara
Lark, Tobi
Larkin, Sam
Last Words
Lasting Weep
Latremouille, Fred
Laughter And Sorrow
Lausanne, Liz
Lava Hay
Lavender Hill Mob
Lavigne, Avril
Lavoie, Daniel
Lawn, The
Lawrence, Claire
Lawson, Paul
Lawson, Tim
Lawsuit
Layne, Lynda
Lazarazu
Lazo
L’esperance, Denis
Lea, Sherrie
Leaderhouse
Leahy
Lectric Music Revolution
Lee And The Leesures, Larry
Lee And The Outsiders, Brent
Lee Harvey Osmond
Lee and the Scepters, Bobbi
Lee, Frank
Leeson, Maureen
Legend Killers, The
Leggat
Legion
Lehman, Mike
Leigh Ashford
Leigh, Les
Len
LePage, Claire
Lepage, Denis
Leroy, James
Leskiw, Greg
Leslie Spit Treeo
Lewis, Glenn
Lewis, John
Lexington Avenue
Leyden Zar
Lick N’ Stick
Liette Et François
Life
Lightfoot, Gordon
Lighthouse
Lilian & Manon
Lili Fatale
Lillix
Limblifter
Lime
Linden, Colin
Lisle
Little Caesar & The Consuls
Little Daddie And The Bachelors
Little, Suzanne
LiveonRelease
Liverpool
Liverpool Set
Living Proof
Loader
Lloyd, Sam
Local Farmer
Local Rabbits
Lola Dutronic
Lomez, Celine
London Experimental Jazz Quartet
London, Mark
Long Time Comin’
Long, Dee
Longo Brothers
Look People
Look, The
Looking For Marck
Lorange, Kirk
Lords (1)
Lords (2)
Lords Of London
Lori And Diane
Los Popularos
Lost & Profound
Lost Dakotas
Lost Durangos
Lost Patrol
Lougheed, Lisa
Love & Sas
Love Cyrcle
Love Inc.
Loverboy
Lovesin, Johnnie
Low Level Flight
Lowdown
Lowdown Dirty Mojos
Lowest Of The Low
Lowlife
Luba
Lucifer (1)
Lucifer (2)
Lucy Show
Luddites
Ludwig, Frank
Luedtke, Dale
Luke & The Apostles
Lunch At Allen’s
Lung
Lunney, Olivia
Lutins, Les
Luvin’ Kind, The
Luv-Lites, The
Luxemburg, Ray
Lycett, Doug
Lyell And The Storm, Ray
Lyme, The
Lynch, Barbara
Lynx
Lyrock
LaBARGE, Bernie
Born: Bernard Leo LaBarge on March 11, 1953 in Ottawa, Ontario
Bernie LaBarge started playing guitar at age 11. During the 1970s he was the frontman and/or guitarist for many popular Canadian bands (Bond, Rain, Sweet Blindness, Zwol, Stem, Stingaree). His first original recording was “Catwalk” by Rain and released the band’s self-titled album on Axe Records in 1972. LaBarge released a single entitled “Dream Away” (WEA) in 1981. It was produced by soon-to-be famous producer Daniel Lanois, and featured LaBarge on guitar, vocals, and electric piano, with Jim Vallance (Prism, Bryan Adams) on drums, and Jeff Jones (Red Rider, Carpet Frogs) on bass. The song became one of the most-played songs of 1981. LaBarge was signed to CBS Records in 1984 and released his debut album ‘Barging In’ that year. The album spawned two singles including the charting “Still In Love With You”. He would be nominated for ‘Most Promising Male Vocalist’ at the 1984 JUNO Awards. After winning the Canadian Songwriting Contest in 1986 (in the ‘Best R & B Song’ category) he was signed to RCA Records in 1987 where he released another two singles “Listen To A Boy In Love” and “Turn On the Lights Before You Leave”. Many top Canadian and International performers have covered his songs since then. Meanwhile, he was working in the jingle business performing on advertisements for Coke, Pepsi, GM, Ford, and Nissan. LaBarge has also played guitar on Jim Henson’s popular ‘Fraggle Rock’ TV series (1983 – 1987), ‘Smith & Smith’ (1979 – 1985), ‘Danger Bay’ (1985 – 1989) on CBC, and ‘Party With The Rovers’ (1983 – 1986) on Global Television. Recently he was guitarist on the world-syndicated ‘Doodlebops’ show. Currently Toronto-based, Bernie LaBarge is the lead guitarist for The Dexters and Danny B and the R & B All-Stars. In November 2014 The Dexters celebrated their 20th anniversary at The Orbit Room in Toronto with a farewell performance. He has the distinction of having played at The Orbit Room more than 1000 times. with notes from Bernie LaBarge.
Singles
1981 Dream Away/It’s Real (WEA) 72012
1984 Still In Love With You/You Gotta Work For Me (Columbia) C4-7012
1984 Annie/Can’t Hold On Forever (Columbia) C4-7028
1987 Listen To A Boy In Love/Take It As It Comes (RCA) PB-50954
1988 Turn On the Lights Before You Leave/(same) (RCA) PB-50989
Albums
1984 Barging In (Columbia) PCC-80091
LABRECQUE, Jacques
Born: June 8, 1917 in St. Benoît, Québec
Died: March 18, 1995 in Longueuil, Québec
Labrecque began singing while growing up on his parents’ farm outside of Montreal. He studied voice with several instructors in Montreal and began to develop a love for French-Canadian folk music. He made his first singing appearance at the age of 17 for Radio Canada’ show ‘Le Réveil rural’. In 1937 he began doing stage productions. By 1946 he signed with National Concerts and Artists of New York and toured the East Coast of Canada and the Maritimes. Labrecque would represent Canada in 1949 at a Venice folk festival which convinced him to pursue the genre full time. He released his first album, ‘French Operetta Airs’, on the Decca label in 1950. It was well received and Labrecque decided to set up a new home base in Paris, France and remained in Europe where he sang for the Robert Dhéry group at the Variétés theatre for the next seven years. The Alliance Française sent him on tour allowing him to appear on European and UK radio and television programs. A highlight for Labrecque was appearing at the London Hippodrome. Starting in 1955 he began a series of performances for the JMC with accompanist Jean Guillou on piano. Following no less than eighty performances in two years, he moved back to Montreal he sang and was producer/publisher for Musicana Records. In Autumn 1957, the CBC announced a brand new children’s show called ‘Chez Jacques’ featuring Labrecque which was to run every other week, alternating with the Golden Age Players. Labrecque was hired to greet young viewers and guests into his fieldstone farmhouse for a half-hour of music and dance. The program appeared only once – on October 7, 1957.Labrecque was replaced by singer Alan Mills and Helene Baillargeon under the new programme title ‘Chez Nous’. By 1958 he had signed a long-term recording deal with London Records and released two albums. The exposure allowed him to have a summer residency entertaining at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. His album of French Folk Songs during another visit to Radio Canada in 19 60 and another album for London in 1961 made him a desirable addition at the 1961 Mariposa Folk Festival. He began doing audiovisual shows for his next set of JMC tours from 1970 through 1972 after which he returned to Paris, France for the next three years on a grant from the government of France. He was soon teaching French-Canadian folksongs at the University de Paris VI to students in an effort to re-educate those with impaired psychomotor skills. Labrecque also managed to perform several high profile shows at the Canadian Cultural Centre in Brussels as well as at the JM Camp in Belgium. Following his work in Paris, Labrecque returned to Canada and settled in the Charlevoix region of Québec. In 1976 Labrecque was host of the 14-part series “Chansons voltigeantes…chansons dolentes” on Radio Canada. By the 1980s he was heading the Éditions et Disques Patrimoine where he made new albums and produced a series of ‘Géographie sonore du Québec’ compilations of folk music featuring songs by Labrecque as well as Ernest Gagnon, Marius Barbeau, and Carmen Roy. Labrecque also managed the Galerie du Patrimoine to showcase paintings and exhibits relating to regional heritage.
Singles
1959 Jos Monferrand (London) 45FC-459
1960 Monsieur cinquante/L’abattage (London) 45FC-472
1960 Le temps du carnaval/La bastringue du carnaval (London) 45FC-474
1960 Emmenez-en d’la pitoune/Le grand Joe (London) 45FC-482
1961 The Relatives/Road To Grand’mere (London) M-17203
1984 La Parente/Le Temps Des Fetes (Patrimoine) PAT-3701
Albums
1950 French Operetta Airs (Decca) LX-4527
1953 Le Canada chante pour vous [10”] (Pathé) AT-1029
1953 Chansons Populaires du Canada (London) LB-957
1957 Folk Songs of France and French Canada/Chansons populaires de France et du Canada (Folkways) FG-3560
1958 Carnaval à Québec avec Labrecque (London) MB-17
1958 La Parenté est arrivée… (London) MLP-10014
1959 L’Inimitable Jacques Labrecque (London) MLP-10025
1959 Jacques Labrecque présente Ti-Jean (London) MB-52
1960 Jacques Labrecque en France (London) SMB-40033
1960 French Canadian Folk Songs Fentok Guitar (Radio Canada International) RCI-162
1961 On viola t’y n’avoir du plaisir (London) APM-140
1983 Géographie sonore du Québec – Charlevoix (Patrimoine) PAT-2001
1984 Dans la serie: Auters-Compositeurs (Patrimoine) PAT-18004
1984 Chante Gilles Vigneault (Patrimoine) PAT-18005
1985 Géographie sonore du monde de la mer (Patrimoine) PAT-18007
1986 Chansons Traditionnelles Avec Jacques Labrecque (Patrimoine) PAT-18010
1986 Géographie sonore du monde francophone du Canada (Patrimoine) PAT-18011
1995 Chansons traditionnelles (Fonovox) VOX-7832-2
1996 Singers and songs: a folksong portrait of Canada/Chanteurs et chansons: un portrait folklorique (Mercury/Polygram) 974800
2002 Chants du pays: Jacques Lebrecque (XXI-21) XXI-CD-2-1429.
with JACQUES LABRECQUE et LA MANÈCANTERIE MEILLEUR
1959 Noël et Carillons (London) MB-1
with JACQUES LABRECQUE et BOUILLARD
1983 Géographie sonore du Québec – Saguenay-Lac St-Jean (Patrimoine) PAT-2000
Compilation Tracks
1967 “Blanche comme la neige”, “Le Prince Eugène”, “Chanson de Louis Riel”, “Chantons pour y passer le temps”, “À l’abri d’une olive”, “À la claire fontaine”, “Rossignolet sauvage”, “Nanette”, “Je sais bien quelque chose”, “V’là l’bon vent”, “Dans les chantiers nous hivernerons”, “Les Raftsmen”, “Fringue, fringue, sur la rivière!”, “Partons, la mer est belle”, “Vive la Canadienne”, “Le bal chez Boulé” and “Un Canadien errant” on’Canadian Folk Songs: A Centennial Collection’ (RCA) CS-100/5-ACM-39
LaBRIE, James
Born: Kevin James Labrie on May 5, 1963 in Penetanguishene, Ontario
From the small Georgian Bay port town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, LaBrie drew inspiration from his father and started singing and playing drums at age five. By his teenage years he began pursuing his love of rock music and by age 21 he began vocal training with opera singer coach Rosemary Patricia Burns for four years. After working with several Canadian bands, including a reformed Coney Hatch, Labrie became the vocalist for Sebastian Bach’s solo band and replaced him following Bach’s enlistment with Skid Row stateside. The group was renamed Winter Rose and released one independent self-titled album. The record attracted the attention of Atlantic Records but after the negotiations dragged on (and finally fell through) the band split up. Then Pierre Paradis, who managed the band Voivod, approached LaBrie about recording a solo album with Aquarius Records and another open door with an American band, Dream Theater out of New York, who was looking for a vocalist. Along with John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitars), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion), Kevin Moore (keyboards), and former vocalist Charlie Dominici, Dream Theater carved out a niche as a thinking man’s progressive rock band and become hugely successful in Japan of all places. They had released one album in 1989 called ‘When Dream and Day Unite’ on Mechanic/MCA. But conflicts with Mechanic and their lead vocalist caused them to sever ties with both and Dream Theater spent several years looking for a new singer. After flying to New York to audition in 1991, LaBrie was invited to join the band. Signing with Atco/Atlantic Records, Dream Theater released its second album, ‘Images & Words’, in 1992. The video for the song “Pull Me Under,” became a quick MTV hit. With their fanbase growing and a strong third album, ‘Awake’, released in 1994, the group continued to be hampered by personnel changes. The band had a new keyboardist, Derek Sherinian, by their next album ‘A Change of Seasons’, in September 1995. Following a mini tour in 1996 the members of Dream Theater became involved with a variety of outside projects. LaBrie worked with Mull Muzzler, a group formed with Matt Guillory and Mike Mangini. After re-convening, the band released ‘Falling Into Infinity’ in 1997. Following another keyboardist change, Dream Theater released ‘Scenes From a Memory’ in 1999. This was followed by ‘Live Scenes From New York’ in 2001, an album that stirred controversy when its original cover featured the city of New York burning and pulled from store shelves due to the unfortunate events of September 11. The group has continued a steady stream of albums since with 2002’s ‘Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence’, 2003’s ‘Train Of Thought’, and 2005’s ‘Octavarium’. Labrie still lives in north of Toronto in his hometown of Penetang with his wife. In recent years he has worked on Henning Pauly’s Frameshift release. In 1999 he began fronting a new Prog Rock band side project called Mullmuzzler with Americans Mike Keneally (guitar), Bryan Beller (bass), Mike Mangini (drums) and Matt Guillory (keyboards). Labrie has released three solo albums to date.
Singles
with DREAM THEATER
1992 Metropolis Part 1 (Atco)
1992 Pull Me Under (Atco) PRCD-4624
1992 Take the Time (Atco) PRCD-4911
1992 Another Day (Atco) PRCD-5077
1993 Live (Atco) PRCD-5340
1994 Caught in a Web (Atco) PRCD-5965
1994 Lie (Atco) PRCD-5807
1994 The Silent Man (Atco) PRCD-9117
1995 Tears (Atco) AACD-1
1997 You Not Me (Atco) PRCD-9954
1997 Burning My Soul (Atco) PRCD-9898
1997 Metal Sampler (Atco) PRCD-9899
1997 Hollow Years (Atco) PRCD-9999
1999 Home (Atco) PRCD-7408
2000 Through Her Eyes (WEA) AMCY-7145
2003 As I Am (Elektra) PRCD-1927
2005 These Walls/Panic Attack (Warner)
2007 Constant Motion (Road Runner) RRPROMO-993
2008 The Dark Eternal Night (Road Runner)
2009 A Rite of Passage (Road Runner) RDRR-10256
2009 Stargazer (Road Runner)
2009 Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley (Road Runner)
2009 Odyssey (Road Runner)
2009 Take Your Fingers From My Hair (Road Runner)
2009 Larks Tongues in Aspic Part II (Road Runner)
2009 To Tame a Land (Road Runner)
2011 On the Backs of Angels (Road Runner) PRO-16929
Albums
2005 Elements of Persuasion (InsideOut – US) IOMCD-204
2010 Static Impulse (InsideOut – US) IOMCD-445
2013 Impermanent Resonance (InsideOut – US) IOMCD-596
with DREAM THEATER
1992 Images and Words (Warner) CD-92148
1993 Live At the Marquee [EP] (Warner) CD-92286
1994 Awake (Warner) CD-90126
1995 A Change of Seasons [EP] (Warner) CD-61842
1997 Falling Into Infinity (Warner) CD-62060
1998 Once In a Livetime (Warner) CD-62308
1999 Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory (Warner) CD-62448
2001 Live Scenes From New York (Warner) CD-62661
2002 Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (Warner) CD-62742
2003 Train of Thought (Warner) CD-62891
2004 Live At Budokan (Warner) R2-76546
2005 Octavarium (Warner) 83793
2007 Systematic Chaos (Road Runner) RR-7992
2008 Greatest Hit (…And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (Rhino) R2-429948
2008 Forsaken [EP] (Road Runner) RDRR-10215
2009 Black Clouds & Silver Linings (Road Runner) RR-7883
2009 Wither [EP] (Road Runner) RDRR-10275
2011 A Dramatic Turn of Events (Road Runner) RR-7765
with MULLMUZZLER
1999 Keep It To Yourself (Magna Carta) MA-9039
2001 Mullmuzzler 2 (Magna Carta) MA-9040
with FRAMESHIFT
2003 Unweaving the Rainbow (Prog Rock) PRR-130
LAHTI AND THE COLTS, Sam
From Sudbury, Ontario.
Singles
1969 Please For Me/That’s The Reason (Vintage) SCV-1104 1970 Maybelline/Singing The Blues (Vintage) SCV-1111
LAINE, Paul
Paul Laine left home at 13 and by the time he was 16, he was playing regularly in bars he wasn’t even old enough to be in. At 18 he started saving money and eventually recorded a three song demo to submit to record labels which was subsequently rejected by everyone. Discouraged, he formed a management company to help new bands but sold his share in it less than a year later. With the money he re-recorded the demo because of many comments about the production quality. This time the tape generated some interest but nothing came out of it. Laine went back to the drawing board with more cash and entered a 16 track studio where he produced an impressive demo that led to a major label bidding war with CBS Records and Elektra. MuchWest VJ Terry David Mulligan gave Laine’s demo to Bruce Allen (Bryan Adams, Anne Murray, Tom Cochrane, BTO) and a management deal was signed. Eight months later he was signed to Elektra Records and Laine immediately formed a backing band featuring Kenny Kaos (guitar), Scott Brown (bass), Pat Steward (drums) and Paul Gogo (keyboards) to record and perform his compositions. Bruce Fairbairn (Scorpions, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) produced 1989’s ‘Stick It In Your Ear’ at Little Mountain Sound in Vancouver, British Columbia. The album featured special guest appearances by Mickey Curry (Bryan Adams) on drums and James Cotton on harmonica. He did a cross country tour with Kim Mitchell, but the album failed to ignite at radio or retail. Laine struggled back on the bar scene before an opening came up in 1993 to front US hard rock Danger Danger after they’d lost their singer and heard his solo album. Laine toured and recorded five albums with Danger Danger including European dates in 1998 in support of their album ‘Four the Hard Way’. He also did backing vocals on the Bruce Fairbairn produced ‘Face the Heat’ by The Scorpions and Poison’s ‘Flesh & Blood’ album. He finally left Danger Danger in 2004 to work with his own band Shugaazer featuring Chris Matheson (guitar), Shane Dee (bass), and Roland Churchill (drums). In 2006 he teamed up with André Andersen and David Readman for the Anderson-Laine-Readman one-off studio project ‘III’ that was released to AOR fans in Europe. He now co-owns a recording studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2007 he wrote, produced and performed all the music for the webisodes of ‘Connected Life’ which airs weekly on MSN Canada.
Singles
1989 Dorianna (Edit)/Dorianna (LP Version) [12”] (Elektra) ED-5448
1989 We Are The Young (Elektra)
Albums
1989 Stick It In Your Ear (Elektra) 60941
1996 Can’t Get Enough (Escape) ESM-003
with DANGER DANGER
1995 Dawn (Low Dice) LOWD-41693
1998 Four the Hard Way (Low Dice) LOWD-44697
2000 The Return of the Great Gildersleeves (Low Dice) LD-0303
2001 Cockroach [Paul Laine version] (Sony)
2005 Live and Nude (Low Dice) LD-20090
with SHUGAAZER
2004 Shift
with ANDERSON-LAINE-READMAN
2006 III [Three] (Frontiers – EUR) FR-CD-275
LAING, Corky
Born: Laurence Gordon Laing on January 26, 1948 in Montreal, Québec
Corky Laing was born and raised in Montreal, Québec and received his unusual nickname from this brothers and sisters. Laing would get his music break when he sat in on drums for legendary Doo-Wop group The Ink Spots when they visited Montreal in 1961. In 1965 he joined Gary Ship’s group Bartholomew Plus 3 who were initially signed to Quality Records for two singles before moving over to Can-Am Records in 1966 for two more singles. After being signed to Atlantic Records stateside in 1967, Cream producer Felix Pappalardi produced their 1967 single “When I Fall In Love. With the departure of BPlus3’s Barry Albert in the summer of 1968, the band carried on under the name Energy. Meanwhile, Laing had kept in touch with Pappalardi who was playing bass in Leslie West’s new project Mountain and when the drummer’s position opened up in 1969, Laing joined Mountain which effectively put an end to the band Energy. Mountain lasted from 1969 to 1972 and produced the massive radio hit “Mississippi Queen”. With the band’s demise Laing and Leslie West formed a power trio with Cream’s Jack Bruce called, simply, West, Bruce and Laing. The group would release two studio albums and one live album for Columbia Records between 1972 and 1974. With Mountain reforming fully in 1974 they released two more albums – ‘Avalanche’ and ‘Twin Peaks’ – only to break up again in 1975. Laing and Leslie West recruited bass player Don Kretmer and second guitarist Mick Jones (who would go on to co-found Foreigner) under the banner The Leslie West Band. They released one album in 1975. Following that group’s demise, Laing would then embark on a solo career with the release of his 1977 album ‘Makin’ It On the Street’ for Elektra Records. In 1985 Mountain reconvened again for the release ‘Go For Your Life’. The band has carried on with Laing on drums ever since. In addition to Mountain, he has recorded as part of the group Cork with Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) and Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix). In 2003, Laing and Leslie West co-wrote the book ‘Nantucket Sleighride and Other Mountain On-the-Road Stories’ about their career in Mountain. Laing then published his autobiography ‘Stick It!’. Leslie West’s drums from the Mountain song “Long Red” have been recognized as the most sampled drums used by Hip-Hop/Rap artists. Laing also has his own record label called Voiceprint.
Singles
1977 Heaven/See Me Through (Elektra) E-45393
1977 Makin’ It On the Street/Somebody Tol Me (Elektra) E-45423
with BARTHOLOMEW PLUS 3
1965 She’s Mine/You’re Not There (Quality) 1728X
1966 ‘Cause I’m Alone/On a Wintery Night (Quality) 1802X
1966 Taboo/Why, Oh Why (Can-Am) CA-200
1966 My Babe Before/Delilah (Can-Am) CA-205
1967 When I Fall In Love/I Can’t Go Back (Atlantic) 2439
with MOUNTAIN
1969 Long Red/Blood of the Sun (Windfall/Bell) 531
1970 Mississippi Queen/The Laird (Windfall/Bell) 532
1970 For Yasgur’s Farm/To My Friend (Windfall/Bell) 533
1970 Sittin’ OT A Rainbow/To My Friend (Windfall/Bell) BLL 1125
1971 The Animal Trainer and the Toad/Tired Angels (Windfall/Bell) 534
1971 Travelin’ In the Dark/Silver Paper (Windfall/Bell) 535
1972 Roll Over Beethoven/Crossroader (Windfall/Bell) 536
1972 Waiting To Take You Away/Nantucket Sleighride (Live) (Windfall/Bell) 537
1973 Theme For An Imaginary Western/Roll Over Beethoven (Windfall) BLPB-214-W
1985 Hard Times/Makin’ It in Your Car (Scotti Bros.) 7Y0083
1985 Spark/I Love Young Girls (Scotti Bros.) 7Y0089
1995 Mississippi Queen/Solution (Columbia) CSK-7010
with WEST, BRUCE & LAING
1972 Why Don’tcha/Mississippi Queen (Columbia) 4-45829
1972 Shake Ma Thing (Rollin’ Jack)/The Doctor (Columbia) 4-45751
1973 Dirty Shoes/Backfire (RSO) 2090-113
with THE LESLIE WEST BAND
1974 Money/Dear Prudence//Get It Up/Setting Sun (Phantom/RCA) HB-10424
1975 We Gotta Get Outta This Place/By the River (Phantom/RCA) HB-10522
Albums
1977 Makin’ It On the Street (Elektra) 7E-1097
with MOUNTAIN
1970 Climbing! (Windfall/Bell) 4501
1971 Nantucket Sleighride (Windfall/Bell) 5500
1971 Flowers of Evil (Windfall/Bell) 5501
1972 Live – The Road Goes Ever On (Windfall/Bell) 5502
1973 The Best of Mountain (Windfall/CBS) PC-32079
1974 Twin Peaks (CBS) CBS-88095
1974 Avalanche (CBS) C-33088
1985 Go For Your Life (Scotti Bros.) SCT-26379
1992 On Top (Sony Special Products) A-22625
1995 Over the Top (Columbia) C2K-57451
1996 Man’s World (Viceroy – EUROPE)
2000 Greatest Hits Live (King Biscuit Boy Flour Hour)
2002 High [aka Mystic Fire] (Lightyear) 54486
2002 Roll Over Beethoven (Disky) SI-792232
2004 The Very Best of Mountain (Columbia) 514837
2004 Eruption (Fuel 2000) 206142
2004 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 1: Live in San Bernardino 1971 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-010CD
2004 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 2: Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 17 September 1997 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-011CD
2004 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 3: Capitol Theatre, New Jersey 30 December 1973 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-012CD
2004 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 4: The Ritz Theater, New York, 17 September 1985 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-013CD
2005 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 5: Fillmore East, New York, NY, 28 December 1970 (Voiceprint)
2005 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 6: Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey, 28 December 1974 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ015CD
2005 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 7: Woodstock Festival / New Canaan H.S 1969 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-017CD
2005 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 8: Pineknob Theater, Detroit, Michigan, 7 June 1995 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-018CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 9: Karlshamn, Sweden 1994 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ019CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 10: Canadian Festival Express, 28 June 1970 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-020CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 11: Brandwine Club, Chadd’s Ford, PA 27 May 1981 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-022CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 12: Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, 7 March 1970 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-023CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 13: Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow, Scotland, 26 February 2005 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ046CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 14 : New Year Concert 1971 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-047CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 15: Ludwigsberg, Germany 28 April 1996 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-048CD
2006 Official Live Mountain Bootleg Series Volume 16 : Tempe,Arizona 2 February 1982 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-049CD
2009 Making of a Mountain (Voiceprint) VP-504CD
2010 Original Album Classics (Sony) 764702
2011 Set List: The Very Best of Mountain Live (Sony Legacy) 979142
with THE LESLIE WEST BAND
1975 The Leslie West Band (Phantom/RCA) RS-1258
2007 Official Bootleg Series Vol. 1: Brierley Hill, Robin R’n’B Club, 14 May, 1998 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-050CD
2007 Official Bootleg Series Vol. 2: New York State of Mind, 1994 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-051CD
2007 Official Bootleg Series Vol. 3: Electric Ladyland Studios 1975 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-052CD
2007 Official Bootleg Series Vol. 4: Live in Toronto, 1976 (Voiceprint) VPTMQ-053CD
with WEST, BRUCE & LAING
1972 Why Dontcha (Columbia) KC-31929
1973 Whatever Turns You On (Columbia) KC-32216
1974 Live ‘n’ Kickin’ (Columbia) KC-32899
with LAING, HUNTER, RONSON & PAPPALARDI
1999 The Secret Sessions (PET) PET-CD-60042
with CORK
1999 Speed of Thought (Lightyear/WEA) 54331
2003 Out There (Voiceprint)
LALONDE, Bobby
Born in Fournier, Ontario, Bobby Lalonde had mastered the fiddle by the age of eight. In nearby Shelburne, Ontario where he won the international Old Time Fiddler contest. By the age of 10 he was appearing on television in Montréal, Québec. He signed his first record deal in 1973 with London Records. He was invited that year to visit Toronto and participate in the Stompin’ Tom Connors film ‘Across This Land.’ Lalonde’s backing band was called The Four Sons. In 1984 he signed with Bookshop Records out of Cornwall, Ontario.
Singles
1982 [split w/TERRY CARISSE] / L ‘Esprit Regne Encore (Scouts Canada) WRC3-2375
1984 Breezy Nights/[same] (Bookshop) BSR-45-711
1988 She Got Away With Love/[same] (Bookshop) BSR-45-774
as BOBBY LALONDE/VASSAR CLEMENTS
1984 Rosin Up/Just Kidding (Bookshop) BSR-45-713
Albums
1973 Bobby Lalonde (London) SDS-5153
1974 Volume 2 (London) SDS-5177
1976 Volume 3 (London) SDS-5184
1988 Long Lonely Nights (Bookshop) BSR-33-770
LALONDE, Pierre
Born: Joseph Alphonse Jean Pierre Lalonde on January 20, 1941 in Montreal, Québec
Died: June 21, 2016 in Outremont, Québec
Born in Montreal in 1941, the son of 1930’s singer and recording artist Jean Lalonde, Pierre Lalonde attended high school statesided, but returned to Quebec by 1960. He soon got a job at radio station CKJL with his father in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec followed not long after with a position Montreal at radio station CJMS. In 1961, Lalonde moved into television as host of several programs for CFTM-TV including the popular music show ‘Jeunesse d’aujourd’hui’ (‘Today’s Youth’). At this point he’d already released the single ‘C’est Facile’ in France, and the following year was signed to the Apex label for the single “Chip Chip” and recording his first full length album ‘En d’autres mots.’ He continued to release a succession of French language albums through the mid 1960s where he would make a smooth transition from French to English under the name Peter Martin. In 1967 he landed his own TV series – ‘The Peter Martin Show’ on WPIX-TV out of New York. He also recorded one album in English entitled ‘Introducing Peter Martin.’ Lalonde landed on the Canadian charts with the remake of the Beatles’ “Ticket To Ride” in 1968 where the song cracked the Top100. In 1969 “I’ll Catch the Sun” reached No.60. In 1970 the French language song “C’est toyours comme ca la premiere fois” reached No.85. His other English-language TV shows included ‘Music Hop’, ‘The Mad Dash’, and ‘Circus’ while he continued his appearances in Quebec with ‘The Pierre Lalonde Show’. He would also emcee several Telethon of Stars fundraisers through the 970s and 1980s. He would also host The Miss Teen Canada Pageants in 1983 and 1984. Pierre Lalonde received Quebec’s Medal of Honour of the National Assembly in 2011 for his artistic contributions. He passed away June 21, 2016 at the age of 75 due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.
Singles
1960 C’est Facile/Laissez Tout Tomber (Barclay – France) 60199
1962 Chip Chip/Mam’zelle Marie-Anne (Apex Francais) 13246
1962 Le petit Gonzales/Je n’danserai plus (Apex Francais) 13261
1963 Gina/Tout – Bossa nova (Apex Francais) 13282
1963 C’est le temps des vacances/Seul (Apex Francais) 13300
1963 Tu peux pleurer/Pardonne-moi oh Jackie (Apex Francais) 13314
1963 Nous on est dans le vent/Donne-moi (Apex Francais) 13325
1964 Oh! donne-moi ta main / Il est temps de partir (Apex Francais) 13341
1964 Grand-mère / Ce coin de terre (Apex Francais) 13354
1964 Aujourd’hui c’est congé/Un je ne sais quoi (Apex Francais) 13360
1964 L’école / Trois fois merci (Apex Francais) 13374
1964 Louise/It’s Gonna Be Cloudy (Apex) 76907
1964 It’s Been A Long Long Time/Mimi (Apex) 76928
1964 Forever/Darling je vous aimes beaucoup (Apex) 76952
1965 Never Again/I Believe In Miracles (Apex) 76967
1965 Je ne repartirai plus/Double jeu (Apex Francais) 13393
1965 Rêver/Je sais (Apex Francais) 13409
1965 Viens plus près mon amour/Je t’appartiens (Apex Francais) 13426
1966 Tu n’as pas de cœur/Je croyais (Disco Prestige) DP-4702
1966 Le fer, le marbre, et l’acier/Nous prendrons le même chemin (Disco Prestige) DP-4704
1966 Je les aime tant/Le sourire de mon amour (Disco Prestige) DP-4705
1966 Noël blanc/Noël c’est toi (Disco Prestige) DP-4706
1967 Quand tu reviendras à Montréal/We’ll Have A Ball In Montréal (Disco Prestige) DP-4708
1967 Donne-moi ta bouche/J’ai tant de joie (Disco Prestige) DP-4710
1967 Dans tes yeux/Les week-end (Disco Prestige) DP-4712
1967 Montréal/Angelito (Apex- France) 13484
1968 It’s Getting Better/Hello Lovers (Disco Prestige)
1968 Petite fille/Viens dans mes bras (Disco Prestige) DP-4715
1968 Sleepy Joe/Casino Royale (Disco Prestige) DP-4716
1968 Une poupée/Le temps des feuilles mortes (Disco Prestige) DP-4722
1968 Ticket to Ride/Let Me Tell You Babe (Disco Prestige) DP-4724
1969 I’ll Catch The Sun/Put Your Head On My Shoulder (Capitol) 72572
1969 Prouves-moi que tu m’aimes [Put Your Head On My Shoulder]/De plus en plus fort (Capitol) 85039
1969 L’amour, le soleil et la plage [Move a Little Closer, Babe]/Où s’en vont les filles? [Hooked On a Feeling] (Capitol) 85042
1969 Caroline [Sweet Caroline]/Vivre sans toi [Without Her] (Capitol) 85049
1970 Chaque jour [Every Day] / Quand t’auras vingt ans Maria Isabel (Capitol) 85053
1970 Tous les gens sont les mêmes [Everyday People]/T’es pas une autre [Until It’s Time For Me To Go] (Capitol) 85057
1970 Girl I Left Behind Me/Love Looks So Good On You (Capitol) 72613
1970 All You Ever Get From Me/What Can You Do (Capitol) 72626
1970 C’est Toyours Comme Ca La Premiere Fois/Tu vas cesser tes caprices [Evil Ways] (Capitol) 85060
1971 Attention, la vie est courte/J’aime (Capitol) 85067
1972 Berceuse/Youpie (Capitol) 85071
1972 Dis-moi qui tu aimes [All You’ll Ever Get From Me]/Je m’ennuie (Capitol) 85073
1973 Amoureux/Si (RCA) KPB-05011
1974 Chanson Pour Linda/Winnipeg (RCA) KPB-05038
1975 Honey, Honey/L’amour n’est pas un jeau (RCA) 75-5153
1975 Besoin pour vivre/La vie est belle (Tembo) STM-1001
1975 J’ai envie de toi/J’ai envie de toi (Tembo) STM-1003
1976 Viens/Je serai le premier à Mirabel (Tangerine) TAN-30
1977 Bonjour/Une question de temps (Telson) AE-101
1977 Detroit City/Je veux rentrer chez moi (Telson) AE-107
1977 Entre dans ma vie/Je t’offrirai (Telson) AE-114
1977 Je suis d’ici, je suis d’ailleurs/Tu n’as jamais ete aussi loin de moi (Telson) AE-125
1978 Je la trouverai/Je m’ennuie a mourir (Telson) AE-133
1978 Diana – Unchained Melody/I’m So Lonesome, I Could Cry (Telson) AF-509
1979 Maggie/Swing City (Splash) SP-304
1980 I Never Loved Anybody/C’est toi la femme de tout ma vie (Cloutier/Trans-Canada) NOX-124
1981 My Fine Italian Friend/Mack the Knife (Transbec) BEC-778
1986 Don’t You Know How Much I Love You/Je sais bien pourquoi je t’aime (Chance) CH-2007
with PIERRE LALONDE ET DONALD LAUTREC
1963 Ah! Vive les filles/Le secret du Bonheur (Apex Francais) 13303
with PIERRE LALONDE ET ANDRÉE LALONDE
1967 Ces mots stupides/Rien pour faire une chanson (Disco Prestige) DP-4711
with PIERRE LALONDE ET MICHÈLE RICHARD
1977 Réunis (DSP) DSP-77011
Albums
1962 En d’autres mots… (Apex Francais) ALF-1552
1963 Chante pour la jeunesse d’aujourd’hui (Apex Francais)
1964 Dans le vent (Apex Francais) ALF-1565
1965 Jet…première classe (Apex Francais) ALF-1571
1966 Pierre Lalonde (Disco Prestige) PL-100
1966 Louise (Lero) L-726
1967 À Montréal (Lero) L-748
1968 Disque d’or (Franco) FR-49008
1968 Introducing Peter Martin
1968 Petite fille (Disco Presige) PL-101
1968 The Young Years (Capitol) ST-6337
1969 Pierre Lalonde (Capitol) ST-70022
1969 Mon ami Pierrot (Capitol) ST-70025
1970 Du gazon, de l’air pur, Brandy et moi (Capitol) ST-70026
1971 Pierre Lalonde (Capitol) ST-6367
1971 Inouïk (Capitol) ST-70028
1972 Les titres d’or de (Capitol) ST-70030
1973 Caroline (Capitol) ST-70031
1974 Honey, Honey (RCA) KPL1-0016
1977 Hier et aujourd’hui (K-Tel International) KF-146
1997 Mes jeunes années (Mérite) 22-1059
1998 Succès de jeunesse vol. 2 (Mérite) 22-1071
2000 Ses 20 plus grands succes (Citation) CCD-1621
2001 La belle vie…en spectacle (Star) STR-CD-8124/8126
as PETER MARTIN
1968 Introducing Peter Martin (Disco Prestige) PLS.103
with PIERRE LALONDE ET DONALD LAUTREC
1966 Pierre Lalonde et Donald Lautrec (Lero) L-735
LAMARCHE
Canadian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jim La Marche graduated Music Industry Arts from London, Ontario’s Fanshawe College in 1977. By 1978 he found himself as guitarist/backing vocalist for dance-hall pop act Bond until the band’s demise in 1979.In the early ’80s he was engineer at Captain Audio/Eastern Sound in Toronto where he toiled away after hours on his own recordings, performing all the instruments and vocals, from February 1982 until February 1983, landing him a deal with A & M Records where he released a self-titled EP in late 1983.Later that year he took a teaching position at Trebas Institute. He returned to the studio with several studio musicians – including a young Sara Craig – in 1984 and early 1985 working on the full-length LP follow-up for A & M called ‘Searching For The Sunrise’. The 1985 album brought him substantial airplay on alternative radio like CFNY-FM in Toronto with the synth-pop song “Innocent Little Boys Cry”. Without the prospect of a major solo career, La Marche continued on with his teaching position at Trebas until 2004.Jim La Marche continues engineering and writing/recording ambient and electronica music. with notes by Jim La Marche.
Singles
1985 Innocent Little Boys Cry/Angels On The Shore [12″ AOR Sampler] (A & M) JL-1
Albums
1983 Lamarche [6 songs] (A & M) SP-24502
1985 Searching For The Sunrise (A & M) SP-9111
1991 Night Parachuting (Spiral Sky) SS-1000
1993 Temple (Spiral Sky) SS-1001
LANCE CHARLES SYNDROME
David Glincman (lead vocals) / Emeric Donath (bass, synths) / Morgan Rempel (drums) / Terry O’Brian (guitar) / Laurel Smith (backing vocals)
Toronto, Ontario group.
Singles
1984 Wrestling Man/Stryk-9 Strut (Beam 103) BEAM-1000
LAND OF GIANTS
Mark Wonnacott (synthesizers) / Anya Varda (vocals) / Henryck Jesiak (synthesizers) / John Tucker (synthesizers, programming) / Jeff Packer (percussion)
Experimental synth act from Toronto, Ontario. The group never played live and released one 12” single called ‘Cannibal Dolls’. The recording, including additional material abandoned in the 1980s was re-issued by Artoffact in 2008; Packer would join Boys Brigade.
Singles
1982 Cannibal Dolls/Seven Men [12”] (AV) AV-0112
Album
2008 Cannibal Dolls/Seven Men [LP] (Artoffact) AOF-168
LANDRY, Diane
1966’s Miss Canada, Diane Landry, was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba. Her first love has always been singing and her pursuit of this passion led to a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1971. She is adept at both official languages and managed to gain a foothold in both Québec and Ontario. However, her first and only hit single, “A Corner of Your Heart”, was in English only to try and capture the remainder of the Canadian market. The song and its B-side were both written by famed songwriting duo Marty Butler and Bob Bilyk. Landry has continued her role as Québec chanteuse and has been recording material during the ’90’s with Avatar/OHM Records, an independent label in Québec. She’s also become a renowned photographer whose photos have graced brochures and special projects for Québec Culture & Communications. with notes from Diane Landry.
Singles
1970 A Corner of Your Heart/I’m Gonna Get Out (Columbia) C4-2993
1971 Havin’ A Time of My Life/Everyday Faces and Everyday People (Columbia) C4-3026
LANDRY, Ned
Born: Frederick Lawrence Landry on February 2, 1921 in St. John, New Brunswick
Died: August 25, 2018
A self-taught musician, Landry learned to play harmonica at age four and eventually fiddle. Landry first came to prominence in Canada after appearing on Don Messer’s CHSJ radio show ‘Backwoods Breakdown’ in 1934 as a harmonica player. With his band, The New Brunswick Lumberjacks, the group placed second on CBS Radio’s ‘Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour’ in New York City in 1939, but he took time off to join the Army. He rose to fame as a solo artist following the Second World War appearing in the early 1950s on CFBC radio, Saint John. By 1950 he’d also landed a recording contract with RCA Records where he released a series of 78 RPM and 7” singles and later eight albums before moving on to several smaller labels which eventually included his own Landry Records. He would then take awards as a three-time Canadian Open Fiddle Champion in 1956, 1957, and 1962. In the 1960s he teamed with Don Messer again, this time on ‘Don Messer’s Jubilee’ TV show. Aside from his extensive 40 years of touring he performed for the Prince of Wales in Fredericton on one occasion, and at Disney World in Florida. Among his accolades are Member of the Order of Canada (1991), the Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award (2002), a lifetime contribution award from the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship which named a trophy after him, an induction into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame, the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame (2000), and the New Brunswick Hall of Fame (1983). He died peacefully at the age of 97 on August 25, 2018. Landry is survived by five children, 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. with notes from John R. Kennedy and John Arsenault.
Singles
10″
1950 Big John McNeil/Woodchopper’s Breakdown (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3249
1950 Ragtime Annie/Rock Valley Jig (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3250
1950 Newfoundland Breakdown/Rubber Dolly (RCA Bluebird Series) 55-3253
1951 Red Wing/Landry’s Breakdown (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3255
1951 Mocking Bird/St. Ann’s Reel (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3260
as NED LANDRY AND HIS NEW BRUNSWICK LUMBERJACKS
1953 Buffalo Gals/Angus Campbell (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3278
1953 Logger’s Breakdown/Year of Jubilo (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3282
1953 Snow Deer/MacEachern’s Breakdown (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3290
1954 Lumberjack’s Waltz/Monkey’s Wedding (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3293
1955 The Clarinet Polka/Bowing the Strings (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3299
1955 The Crooked Stovepipe/The Girl I Left Behind Me (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 55-3318
1956 Saturday Night Breakdown/The Plough Boy’s Reel (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 56-3258
1957 Apple Blossom Hoedown/Fisher’s Hornpipe (RCA Victor Blubird Series) 56-3264
1957 Dashing White Sergeant/Inverness Gathering (RCA Victor Bluebird Series) 56-3272
7″
1950 Ragtime Annie/Rock Valley Jig (RCA Victor) 57-5008
1950 Newfoundland Breakdown/Rubber Dolly (RCA Victor) 57-5012
1950 Soldier’s Joy/Devil Among The Tailors (RCA Victor) 57-5015
1951 Red Wing/Landry’s Breakdown (RCA Victor) 57-5022
1952 The Old Man and The Old Woman/Lumberjack’s Special (RCA Victor) 57-5058
1953 Buffalo Gals/Angus Campbell (RCA Victor) 57-5066
1954 Snow Deer/MacEachern’s Breakdown (RCA Victor) 57-5084
1955 The Carnival Reel/The Lightning Hornpipe (RCA Victor) 57-5091
1955 The Clarinet Polka/Bowing The Strings (RCA Victor) 57-5093
1955 The Ontario Swing/Johnny Wagoner (RCA Victor) 57-5101
1956 Saturday Night Breakdown/The Plough Boy’s Reel (RCA Victor) 57-3258
1958 The Gerry Parsons Special/Ned’s Favourite Reel (RCA Victor) 57-3281
1959 The Rockin’ Fiddle/Put On Your Old Gray Bonnet (RCA Victor) 57-3288
1961 The Rockin’ Fiddle/The Western Twist (Groove) G4-3
1983 Prince Charles Waltz/Beautiful Canadian Home (Prime Time) PTR-125
Albums
as NED LANDRY AND HIS NEW BRUNSWICK LUMBERJACKS
1952 Celina Leblanc’s Hornpipe/Bride of the Wind Jig (RCA Victor) 57-5060
1953 Red River Rag/The Mason’s Apron (RCA Victor) 57-5069
1953 Logger’s Breakdown/Year of Jubilo (RCA Victor) 57-5075
1954 Lumberjack’s Waltz/Monkey’s Wedding (RCA Victor) 57-5087
1955 Smash The Window/Ramblers Hornpipe (RCA Victor) 57-5106
1957 Apple Blossom Hoedown/Fisher’s Hornpipe (RCA Victor Blubird Series) 57-3264
1957 Operetta Square Dance/Saint John Hoedown (RCA Victor) 57-3270
1957 Inverness Gathering/Dashing White Sergeant (RCA Victor) 57-3272
1956 Bowing the Strings (RCA Victor) LCP-1001
1958 Canada’s Old Time Fiddling Champion (RCA Victor) LCP-1012
1960 Old Time Fiddlin’ (RCA Victor) LCP-1033
1961 1965 Old Time Fiddlin'(RCA Victor) LCP-1039
1962 Me and My Fiddle (RCA Victor) LCPS-1054
1963 Saturday Night Breakdown (RCA Camden) CAL-780
1964 Ned Landry And His Fiddle (ARC) A-610
1965 More Ned Landry Fiddle Favourite (ARC) A-650
1965 Bowing the Strings with Ned Landry [re-issue] (RCA Camden) CAL-891
1965 Ned Landry [re-issue of “Canada’s Old Time Fiddling Champion”] (RCA Camden) CAL-893
1965 Old Time Fiddlin’ [re-issue] (RCA Camden) CAL-894
1965 Fiddlin’ Favourite [re-issue] (RCA Camden) CAL-895
1967 Me and My Fiddle [re-issue] (RCA Camden) CAS-2125
1967 Canadian Old Tim Fiddle Centennial Tour (ARC) AS-251
1967 The Girl I Left Behind (ARC) AS-265
1968 Ned Landry’s Lightning Fiddle (RCA Camden) CAL-2188
1968 Fiddlin’ Around (RCA Camden) cAL-2236
1968 The Best of Ned Landry (RCA Camden) CAS-2287
1970 The Two Sides of Ned Landry (M.M.& C.) MMC-1706
1977 The Singing Fiddler (Landry) LP-101
1980 Fiddlin’ And Other Fun (Afton) AF-90142
1981 Ned Landry’s Silver Anniversary (Prime Time) PTLP-101
LANDS, Wendy
Born: February 12, 196- as Wendy Dawn Lands in Montréal, Québec
Wendy Lands’ first paying musical job was on a CTV pilot where she sang and danced with life-sized puppets at the age of 16. She eventually relocated to Toronto after various musical and television projects failed to boost her profile. She soon met former Tenants member Andy McLean through a mutual friend. The duo began writing songs which they demoed for Gerry Young (Current Records) who shopped a deal through Polygram Records’ Vertigo label. In 1986 they released their self-titled debut and had some radio play with the single “Date With the Past”, but critics were unkind in their reviews of the album and a second single, “Can’t Hold On”, failed to crack the charts; Lands disappeared from the music industry spotlight for nearly 10 years doing a stint in the Toronto stage production of ‘Les Miserables’ as Eponine. Her recording comeback would be a well received and radio friendly solo album in 1996 called ‘Angels And Ordinary Men’ which also doubled as an enhanced CDRom. The release earned Lands a JUNO Award nomination. She then spent five years writing and recording in Los Angeles. She had been co-writing with songwriter Larry John McNally (Rod Stewart, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley) who saw her perform at The Mint in Los Angeles. Upon her return to Canada Emmy Award winning songwriter/pianist Don Breithaupt and JUNO Award winning producer Greg Kavanagh, relentlessly pursued Lands to work with her in some capacity. With her musical and life partner, Jim Gillard, they co-wrote 10 of 11 songs and headed to the studio to record 2011’s jazz album ‘Mumble’. In 2012, Lands auditioned and won the voice acting role as the character Black Widow in the mobile phone game app based on the Marvel Comics box-office hit movie ‘The Avengers’. [also see DOUBLE DARE]
Singles
1996 Dangling By a Thread/What It Is…/Lonely Joe/Blue In the Heart Blank In the Face/Unglued (EMI)
1996 Little Sins (Edited Version)/Trouble, Time & Tears/Coming Home To You (EMI) CDPRO-1321
1997 Like Oxygen (EMI) CDPRO-1433
Albums
1996 Angels And Ordinary Men (EMI) 383515
2003 Sings The Music of the Pianist Wlandyslaw Szpilman (Universal)
2011 Mumble (Rebelette) 201647
LANE, Robbie
Robbie Lane was leader of one of Toronto’s most popular bands Robbie Lane & The Disciples which was made up of members from various Toronto suburban bands in the dawn of the early 60’s. Robbie Lane And The Disciples received their big break in December 1963 when Ronnie Hawkins hired them as insurance for the soon to be defecting Hawks (who indeed did quit Hawkins’ side to become The Band). Hawkins would have the Disciples playing upstairs at the Hawks’ Nest while the Hawks themselves played downstairs at the Le Coq d’Or with Hawkins himself running sets between the two floors. With the departure of The Band, Robbie Lane And The Disciples ran double shift as Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks while also maintaining their own name sake for recording purposes (though they did record three singles with Hawkins as The Hawks). Their first Disciples recording was on Hawkins’ Hawk Records label called “Fannie Mae” and was produced by Scott ‘Professor Piano’ Cushnie. The flipside, “She’s The One”, was a Dominic Troiano tune. The follow-up single in 1964 was “Ain’t Love A Funny Thing” and was produced by Hawkins alumnus Fred Carter and made the song a nominal hit. By June 1965 Robbie Lane And The Disciples parted company with Ronnie Hawkins (who would soon replace the band with musicians known better as Crowbar). They hit a slow year following this but came back publicly as house band for CTV-TV’s ‘It’s Happening’ show. Capitol Records saw them and soon signed them for an album and several singles of material. The first of these singles was the Dion (DiMucci) song “Sandy” in 1965 followed by “What Am I Gonna Do?” and finally the band’s first original song released as an A-side, “You Gotta Have Love”, both from 1966. The band would also take to recording the theme song “It’s Happening” as a single in 1967. The music director for the TV show was none other than Dr. Music himself, Doug Riley, who helped the Disciples land a television advertisement jingle for Baby Ruth chocolate bars. Members of the Disciples along with Riley recorded and released the song “Baby Ruth” under the pseudonym The Butterfingers. By the end of 60’s, Robbie Lane And The Disciples had become out of step with musical trends and the band split up. Lane, himself, continued on with ‘It’s Happening’ before embarking on a moderately successful solo career. He used members of the Canadian Downbeats when heading out west as his backing band. He recorded a solo album in Nashville in 1968 but the material never materialized until the ‘Backtrax – Best of Robbie Lane & The Disciples’ package by Pacemaker Records in 1996. His true solo career hit its stride in 1974 with the single “M’Lady” which was written by Brian Allen (of the group Toronto and Attic Records executive). The song was actually just Lane singing over the backing tracks of Allen’s old band Rose who had recorded the material but never released the song. His next outing was the Joey Miller song “Missing You” featuring full orchestration and vocal accompaniment by Dianne Brooks and Rhonda Silver. In the 1980’s the original version of Robbie Lane & The Disciples reunited and in the 90’s Lane, Bush and Trach continue on with new members to entertain at Toronto clubs frequently. The band released a live album in 1996 called ‘Ain’t Dead Yet’. with notes from Glenn Hill and Denis Thievin. [also see ROBBIE LANE & THE DISCIPLES].
Singles
1972 M’Lady/Pieces of April (Celebration) 2094
1972 Missing You/Day Becomes Night (Celebration) 2114
1972 Stay With Me/All I’ve Been Looking For (Celebration) 2151
LANE AND THE DISCIPLES, Robbie
Robbie Lane (vocals, trumpet) / Domenic Troiano (guitar) / Gene Trach (bass) / Sonny Milne (drums) / Marty Fisher (piano) / Bert Hermiston (saxophone, flute) / William Cudmore (harmonica, saxophone, keyboards) / Kirk Shearer (drums; replaced Milne) / Stan Szelest (piano; replaced Fisher) / Terry Bush (guitar; replaced Troiano) / Doug Copeland (drums; replaced Shearer) / Paul Denyes (keyboards) / Paul Mifsud (tenor sax) / Bill Davis (keyboards)
Robbie Lane & The Disciples was made up of members from various Toronto suburban bands – including Butterfingers – at the dawn of the early 60’s. Robbie Lane And The Disciples received their big break in December 1963 when Ronnie Hawkins hired them as insurance for the soon to be defecting Hawks (who indeed did quit Hawkins’ side to become The Band). Hawkins would have the Disciples playing upstairs at the Hawks’ Nest while the Hawks themselves played downstairs at the Le Coq d’Or with Hawkins himself running sets between the two floors. With the departure of The Band, Robbie Lane And The Disciples ran double shift as Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks while also maintaining their own name sake for recording purposes (though they did record three singles with Hawkins as The Hawks). Their first Disciples recording was on Hawkins’ Hawk Records label called “Fannie Mae” and was produced by Scott ‘Professor Piano’ Cushnie. The flipside, “She’s The One”, was a Troiano tune, but he would soon leave the group to form Mandala (and eventually move onto Bush, The James Gang and The Guess Who). He was replaced by Terry Bush (Dianne Brooks, Jack Hardin & The Silhouettes). The follow-up single in 1964 was “Ain’t Love A Funny Thing” and was produced by Hawkins alumnus Fred Carter and made the song a nominal hit. By June 1965 Robbie Lane And The Disciples parted company with Ronnie Hawkins (who would soon replace the band with musicians known better as Crowbar). They hit a slow year following this but came back publicly as house band for CTV-TV’s ‘It’s Happening’ show. Capitol Records saw them and soon signed them for an album and several singles of material. The first of these singles was the Dion (DiMucci) song “Sandy” in 1965 followed by “What Am I Gonna Do?” and finally the band’s first original song released as an A-side, “You Gotta Have Love”, both from 1966. The band would also take to recording the theme song “It’s Happening” as a single in 1967. The music director for the TV show was none other than Dr. Music himself, Doug Riley, who helped the Disciples land a television advertisement jingle for Baby Ruth chocolate bars. The song was so catchy that Lane, Bush, Trach, Shearer and Riley recorded the song and released the song “Baby Ruth” under the pseudonym The Butterfingers. By the end of the 60’s, Robbie Lane And The Disciples had become out of step with musical trends and the band split up. Bush continued with Doug Riley in the jingle business and eventfully recorded hit singles of two of his jingles – “Do You Know What You’re Doing” and “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing”; Hemiston became a successful studio musician; Cudmore became a member of The Majestics; Trach joined The Greaseball Boogie Band before becoming a chiropractor; and Shearer was a successful publisher; Lane, himself, continued on with ‘It’s Happening’ before embarking on a moderately successful solo career. In the 1980’s the original version of Robbie Lane And The Disciples reunited. The song “Charlena” found a resurgence having been used in the Richie Valens biopic ‘La Bamba’. In the ’90’s Lane, Bush and Trach continue on with new members to entertain at Toronto clubs frequently. The band released a live album in 1996 called ‘Ain’t Dead Yet’ and a 2002 reunion CD “Doin’ It Righteous.”; Paul Denyes died of cancer in May 2012. with notes from Glenn Hill. [also see ROBBIE LANE, DOMENIC TROIANO]
Singles
1964 Fannie Mae/She’s The One (Hawk) HR-001
1964 Ain’t Love A Funny Thing/All The Big Boys (Hawk) HR-005
1965 Sandy/Where Love Has Gone (Capitol) 72253
1965 Lonely Boy/Tiger In Your Tank (Capitol) 72271
1966 What Am I Gonna Do/I’ll Know It (Capitol) 72357
1966 You Gotta Have Love/Just A Little While Ago (Capitol) 72394
1967 It’s Happening/Just A Little While Ago (Capitol 72503)
with RONNIE HAWKINS AND THE HAWKS
1964 Got My Mojo Workin’/Let The Good Times Roll (Hawk) HR-102
1964 Bluebirds Over The Mountain/Diddly Daddy (Hawk) HR-106
1964 Little Red Rooster/Goin’ To The River (Hawk) HR-107
as THE BUTTERFINGERS
1965 Baby Ruth/Too Early In The Morning (Red Leaf) TTM-610
1966 Look What’s New/Too Early In The Morning (Hallmark) 1514
Albums
1966 It’s Happening (Capitol) ST-6182
1995 Ain’t Dead Yet (Chicken) CRCD-1
1997 Backtrax…The Best Of Robbie Lane & The Disciples (Pacemaker) PACE-023
2002 Doin’ It Righteous (Chicken) CDRCD-2
2008 The Best of Robbie Lane & The Disciples Volume 1
2009 The Best of Robbie Lane & The Disciples Volume 2
Compilation Tracks
1990 “Fannie Mae” on ‘Made in Canada, Our Rock ‘n’ Roll History – Volume One: The Early Years’ (BMG) KCD1-7156
LANEZ, Tory
Born: Daystar Peterson on July 27, 1992 in Toronto, Ontario
Peterson found himself on the streets at the age of 15 after being shuttled around with relatives in the US before returning to Canada where his grandmother could not care for him. An enthusiastic rapper, Peterson nicknamed himself Tory Lanez (his last name coming from his childhood penchant for playing in the streets). He dropped out of high school in Grade 10 at the age of 16 and by 17 he was rapping at outdoor concerts. In 2009, Lanez released his debut mixtape, ‘T.L. 2 T.O.’ During time in Florida he began directing music videos and posting them on YouTube. This caught the attention of rapper/producer Sean Kingston who met with Lanez in February 2010. In 2010, Lanez released the mixtapes ‘Just Landed,’ ‘One Verse One Hearse,’ ‘Playing For Keeps,’ and ‘Mr. 1 Verse Killah.’ In 2011, Lanez signed a record deal with Kingston’s Time is Money Entertainment and released the mixtapes, ‘Mr. Peterson,’ ‘Chixtape,’ and ‘Swavey.’ He later left the label to be an independent artist. In 2012, he released the mixtapes ‘Sincerely Tory,’ then ‘Conflicts of My Soul: The 416 Story’ in 2013,’ and ‘Chixtape II’ in 2014. Lanez then released two episodes of the “Public Swave Announcement” showing behind the scenes footage of the ‘These Things Happen Tour’ featuring G-Eazy and Rockie Fresh. By summer 2014 he released the song, “Teyana, and “The Godfather.” The latter track was part of an announcement that Lanez was only releasing songs, albums, or videos on ‘Fargo Fridays’ through HotNewHipHop. The songs “I’ll Be There,” “Talk On Road,” and “Balenciagas” were released in late June 2014. “The Mission” was released in August to celebrate his first headlining tour, the “Lost Cause Tour,” on the heels of a new mixtape called ‘Lost Cause’ which would be released in October 2014. In April 2015, Lanez released the single “In For It” from his upcoming EP. This was followed by “Ric Flair” (featuring Rory Trustory) and “Acting Like” in May 2015. The EP, entitled ‘Cruel Intentions’ was released in late June 2015 along with the single “Karrueche.” In mid-July 2015 he released the first single “Say It” after signing with Mad Love/Interscope Records. Lanez released his mixtapes ‘Chixtape III’ and ‘The New Toronto’ on Christmas day 2015. “LA Confidential” was the next single released in January 2016 and on January 28, 2016 Tory Lanez performed “Say It” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! February 2016 saw the release of a remix of the track “Uber Everywhere” followed by the March 2016 release of the “Tim Duncan” as part of his Fargo Fridays series. “Real Addresses” was released the following week. On March 26, 2016, during violent scuffles between security and concertgoers at a concert in Midland, Texas, Lanez told the crowd to “fuck shit up,” which incited rioting the closing down of the show. Legal action from the venue and promoters is still pending. In April 2016, Tory Lanez and ASAP Ferg collaborated on the song, “Line Up the Flex” to promote their forthcoming ‘Level Up Tour.’In early May he released two songs, “For Real” and “Unforgetful” as a part of the Fargo Friday series. The single “Luv” was released in late July from his next full-length album ‘I Told You’ which was released in August followed by an extensive tour through 2016/2017. Lanez’ follow-up album, ‘Memories Don’t Die,’ in March 2018, followed in October that year with another album entitled ‘Love Me Now?’ ‘Chixtape 5’ followed in November 2019 and garnered several nomination for the 2020 JUNO Awards. He is often referred to as Argentina Fargo in the US
Singles
2015 Say It (Mad Love/Interscope)
2015 Cruel Intentions
2016 Luv (Mad Love/Interscope)
2016 Real Addresses
2016 L.A. Confidential (Mad Love/Interscope)
2017 Real Thing [featuring Future] (Mad Love)
2017 Shooters (Mad Love)
2017 Skrt Skrt (Mad Love)
2018 Drip Drip Drip [featuring Meek Mill] (Interscope)
2018 Talk To Me [featuring Rich The Kid] (Interscope)
2018 Keep In Touch [featuring Bryson Tiller] (Interscope)
2018 Hypnotized (Original Version) (Universal – Sweden)
Albums
2010 Mr. 1 Verse Killah
2011 Chixtape
2012 Sincerely Tory
2013 DJ Drama Presents Tory Lanez – Conflicts of My Soul: The 416 Story
2014 Lost Cause
2014 Chixtape 2
2015 Chixtape 3
2015 DJ Drama Presents Tory Lanez – The New Toronto (Gangsta Grillz)
2016 I Told You (Mad Love/Interscope)
2017 Chixtape 4
2017 The New Toronto 2
2018 March 2 [3- song EP]
2018 Memories Don’t Die (Mad Love/Interscope)
2018 Love Me Now? (Mad Love/Interscope)
2019 Chixtape 5 (Mad Love/Interscope)
Collaborations
as G-EAZY featuring CHRIS BROWN & TORY LANEZ
2015 Drifting (Sony)
as CASHMERE CAT, STARRAH, 2 CHAINZ & TORY LANEZ
2016 Throw Myself A Party (Mad Love/Interscope)
as CASHMERE CAT featuring SELENA GOMEZ & TORY LANEZ
2016 Trust Nobody (Mad Love/Interscope)
as SEAN PAUL featuring TORY LANEZ
2016 Tek Wah Yuh Heart (Island)
as MASSARI & TORY LANEZ
2017 Number (Universal)
as ROHMILLY featuring TORY LANEZ
2018 Bless Me Baby (Millro Music) CAT210806
as CASHMERE CAT, MAJOR LAZER, & TORY LANEZ
2018 Miss You (Mad Love/Interscope)
as BHAD BHABIE featuring TORY LANEZ
2019 Babyface Savage (Warner)
as CHRIS BURTON featuring TORY LANEZ
2019 What Sucks About Love (Universal)
as RICH THE KID featuring TORY LANEZ
2019 Tic Toc (Universal)
as WILEY featuring TONY LANEZ, KRANIUM & DAPPY
2019 My One (Todd Edwards Remix) (Relentless)
lang, k.d.
Born: Kathryn Dawn Lang on November 2, 1961 in Consort, Alberta
Katherine Dawn Lang passed time in the small village of Consort, Alberta, by pursuing her interests in athletics, guitar and piano. She decided to study music at Red Deer College, where she dabbled a bit in country and folk. Starring in a collegiate theatrical production of the life of Patsy Cline helped her refine her sound. Moving to Edmonton after graduation, she got into performance art and embraced feminism. After answering an ad in a newspaper looking for a country singer to entertain at a party she was partnered with an existing group called The Reclines. She used to go table to table at her gigs to sell an independent single she recorded in 1983, “Friday Dance Promenade”, and in 1984 she recorded her first album for Bumstead Records entitled ‘A Truly Western Experience’. Two singles from that album and their accompanying videos, “Bopalena” and “Hanky Panky”, attracted attention across Canada at college radio and MuchMusic, and she started to gain a reputation for her slightly offbeat approach to both her image and her music. By then manager Larry Wanagas had been brought on board and she was teamed with former FM band member Ben Mink as writer/violinist. Over time The Reclines were let go and Mink began touring with her along with hired musicians. Eventually, Teddy Borowiecki, one of original Reclines, later rejoined her as a piano player. She garnered enough success with the album that she won the 1985 Juno Award for Most Promising Female, which she accepted in a wedding dress. All the attention she was getting in Canada made Sire Records in the US sit up and take notice, and in 1986 she signed with them worldwide. Her first album, ‘Angel With A Lariat’, was recorded in 1986 and produced by Dave Edmunds, and was also released in 1986. It got excellent reviews from the rock critics, heavy support from college radio and cutting-edge country stations, and became a mainstream Canadian hit. It was also an underground US hit, but it was snubbed by Nashville for not being their version of country. However, her amazing voice and strong live show helped garner even more praise and attention. Her second album, ‘Shadowland’, was recorded in Nashville in 1987 and was produced by Patsy Cline’s producer, Owen Bradley. This combined with the inclusion of lang’s duet on “Crying” with Roy Orbison (originally recorded for the soundtrack of the film “Hiding Out”) made the traditional country audiences and industry sit up and take notice, and the first single, “I’m Down To My Last Cigarette”, went country top 40. The album itself went gold and she continued to knock out the critics with her voice and persona. 1988’s ‘Absolute Torch And Twang’, her third album, only helped to solidify her American country audience and showcased her increasingly strengthened voice. She won the Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, and had her first top 25 hit in the summer of that year with “Full Moon Of Love”. Because of her increasing notoriety, her decision to launch a campaign against eating meat in 1990 attracted a veritable media circus, and helped to establish her as a force to be reckoned with. This is part of the reason why, when she came out as a lesbian in an interview with The Advocate before the fourth album, she was able to deflect any slings and arrows that may have been lodged at her for doing so. However, anyone expecting her to continue in her country vein with her next album got a big surprise – 1992’s ‘Ingenue’ was not country at all but an album or adult-oriented pop that attracted a whole new audience to her unbelievable voice. The first single, “Constant Craving”, was her first top 40 pop hit in the US, she won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, and the album went platinum in the US, the UK and Australia; in Canada it went double-platinum (200,000 copies). Following the success of Ingenue, many assumed that she would go right back into the studio and release something quickly to cash in on that success. However, she again took another career turn and recorded the soundtrack for the movie “Even Cowgirls Get The Blues”, which was released several months before the movie and was a critical if not commercial success. Her next studio album of new material was not released until 1995, and ‘All You Can Eat’ once again did not live up to the success of Ingenue. Her latest release was Drag in 1997, and she continues to be regarded as one of the strongest vocalists of her time. She returned in June 2000 with the breezy ‘Invincible Summer’. The tour for the album led to a VH-1 ‘Live By Request’ appearance that was released in 2001 as her next album. In 2004 she decided to pay tribute to Canadian songwriters with ‘Hymns of The 49th Parallel’ where her version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” brought her back into the spotlight with performances of the song on various television shows including the 2005 JUNO Awards and the 2010 Winter Olympics. with notes from Liam Lacey.
Singles
1983 Friday Dance Promenade/Damned Old Dog (Bumstead) BUM-831
1984 Bopalena (Bumstead)
1984 Polly Ann (Bumstead)
1984 Hanky Panky (Bumstead)
1987 Tune Into My Wave/Watch Your Step Polka (Sire)
1987 Rose Garden/High Time For A Detour (Sire) 7-28465
1987 Turn Me Round/Diet of Strange Places (Sire) 7-28338
1987 Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray/Diet Of Strange Places (Sire) 92-82267
1988 I’m Down To My Last Cigarette/Western Stars (Sire) 92-79197
1988 Lock, Stock And Teardrops/Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (Sire) 92-78137
1988 Busy Being Blue (Sire) PRO-919
1988 Sugar Moon/Honky Tonk Angel’s Medley (Sire – UK) W-7841
1988 Our Day Will Come/Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray (Live) (Sire – UK) W-7697
1989 Full Moon Full Of Love/Wallflower Waltz (Sire) 7-22932
1989 Three Days/Trail of Broken Hearts (Sire) 7-22734
1989 Pullin’ Back The Reins (Remix) (Sire) PROCD-3907
1990 Big Boned Gal (Sire)
1992 Constant Craving/Season of Hollow Soul (Sire) 7-18942
1992 Miss Chatelaine/Outside Myself (Sire) 9-40792
1992 The Mind Of Love (Where Is Your Head Kathryn?)/Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray (Sire – UK) W-0170
1993 Just Keep Me Moving/In Perfect Dreams (Sire) 9-41197
1993 Hush Sweet Lover (Sire)
1993 Lifted By Love (Sire) 9-41379
1995 If I Were You/Get Some (Warner Music) 9-43624
1996 You’re O.K./If I Were You (Remix) (Warner Music
1996 Sexuality [6 mixes] (Warner Music)
1997 The Air That I Breathe (Warner Music)
1997 The Joker (Warner Music) PRO-CD-8862
1997 Theme From ‘The Valley of the Dolls’ (Warner Music) 9-43952
1999 Anywhere But Here (Atlantic) PRCD-9059
2000 The Consequences of Falling (Warner Music – Europe) 93624494
2000 Summerfling (Warner Music) 9-44895
2004 Helpless (Nonesuch) PRO-15040
2004 Love Is Everything (Nonesuch) PRO-CDR-101518
2004 Simple (Nonesuch) PR0-15449
2007 I Dream of Spring (Nonesuch) NS-014CD
2008 Coming Home (Nonesuch) PRO-CDR-516214
2010 Hallelujah (Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010) (Nonesuch)
with ROY ORBISON & k.d. lang
1987 Crying/[“Falling” by Roy Orbison](Virgin/EMI) 7-99388
with K.D. LANG with TAKE 6
1990 Ridin’ The Rails/Seven Lonely Days (Sire) 7-19793
with TONY BENNETT
2002 What A Wonderful World/Exactly Like You (Columbia – UK)
with K.D. LANG & THE SISS*BOOM*BANG
2011 I Confess [DigiFile] (Nonesuch)
Albums
1984 A Truly Western Experience (Bumstead) BUM-86
1986 Angel With A Lariat (Sire) 92-54414
1988 Shadowland (Sire) 9-25724
1989 Absolute Torch And Twang (Sire) CD-25877
1992 Ingénue (Sire) W2-26840
1993 Even Cowgirls Get The Blues [soundtrack] (Sire/Warner Bros.) W2-45433
1995 All You Can Eat (Sire) W2-46034
1997 Drag (Sire) W2-46623
1997 1997 Australian Tour Commemorative EP [7 song CD-EP] (Warner Bros.) 93624677
2000 Invincible Summer (Sire) W2-47605
2001 Live By Request (Warner Bros.) W2-48108-2
2004 Hymns of the 49th Parallel (Nonesuch) 2-79847
2006 Reintarnation (Sire/Rhino) 73366
2008 Watershed (Nonesuch) 406908
2010 Recollection (Nonesuch) 523268
2011 Sing It Loud (Nonesuch) KD-CD-014
with TONY BENNETT
2002 A Wonderful World (Columbia) 509870
with K.D. LANG & THE SISS*BOOM*BANG
2011 Sing It Loud (Nonesuch) 525874
Compilation Tracks
1995 “Constant Craving” on ‘In Between Dances (Canadian Artists In Aid Of Breast Cancer Research)’ (Attic) ACD-1431
1996 “Constant Craving” on ‘Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music (MCA) JUNO-25
1997 “Constant Craving” on ‘Women & Songs'(WEA) WTVD-36116
2000 “Summerfling” on ‘on ‘Women & Songs 4’ (WEA) WTVD-39171
2002 “Constant Craving” on ‘The Very Best of MTV Unplugged’ (Universal) 583545
2004 “Helpless” on ‘Women & Songs 8’ (WEA) WTVD-61926
2005 ‘Hallelujah (Live Juno Awards Performance)’ on ‘Women & Songs 9’ (WEA) WTVD-62800
2007 “Help Me” on ‘A Tribute To Joni Mitchell’ (Nonesuch) PRO-400004
LANGE, Mya
From Vancouver, British Columbia.
Singles
as MYA
1975 Ice and Fire/Show Me a Man (Goldfish) GO.2
Albums
as MYA
1975 Snakebite (Goldfish) GOLP-2
LANGLOIS, Jérôme
Montreal’s Jérôme Langlois [aka Jeromy] was previously a member of Lasting Weep, Maneige, and Uzeb before going solo in the 1980s.
Albums
1984 Thèmes
1994 Westerlies
2005 Molignak (ProgQuébec) MPM-08
2007 Live au FMPM/Thèmes (ProgQuébec) MPM-26
2010 Forensic Thriller (Jela) JELA-03
2011 Pièces pour piano et La Luna Suite (Molignak) MLGNK-26
LANOIS, Daniel
Born: September 19, 1951 in Hull, Québec
Lanois was born into a French-Canadian musical family; his mother was a singer and both his father and grandfather were noted violinists. After the separation of his parents in 1963, Lanois moved with his mother to Hamilton, Ontario where he learned the guitar. Lanois cut his teeth as a guitarist with Ray Materick’s band and later studio work with Willie P. Bennett and the Dixie Flyers as well as The Stringband. In 1972 he was the guitarist, along with future Grant Avenue studio engineer Bob Doidge, in the folk/country act Morgan with Lindsay and Jacqueline Morgan. Lanois’ interest in recording began in 1970, when he and his brother Bob Lanois bought a four-track recording machine which they set up in their laundry room as a make-shift recording studio offering local bands a place to record. By offering more than just engineering and production assistance in the form of songwriting and arranging, the Lanois brothers gained a reputation amongst the Hamilton area music industry. By the early ’80’s they had once again upgraded to a full-blown recording facility named Grant Avenue Studios. While working on material by such acts as Ian Tyson, Simply Saucer, The Shakers, Brian’s Children and Raffi, Lanois began working closely with King Crimson/Roxy Music keyboardist Brian Eno who taught Lanois the technique of guitar and studio ambience and sound manipulation techniques. Following Eno return to the UK, Lanois began applying his new techniques to the recordings of such acts as The Parachute Club, Martha And The Muffins, and in 1983, producing improvisational trumpet player Jon Hassell’s album ‘Aka Darbari Java (Magic Realism)’. In 1984, after working with Eno on guitarist Michael Brooks’ ‘Hybrid’ and Harold Budd’s ‘The Pearl’, Lanois was asked to co-produce U2’s ‘The Unforgettable Fire’. The success and overall production feel of the recording came to the attention of Peter Gabriel who invited Lanois to co-produce the ‘Birdy’ soundtrack. Lanois and Gabriel worked so well together that he was asked to produce Gabriel’s 1986’s million selling ‘So’ album which finally launched Gabriel as an accessible commercial recording artist. However, it would be his and Eno’s second co-production outing with U2 on ‘The Joshua Tree’ (1987) that would finally bring Lanois fame. With a Grammy for ‘The Joshua Tree’ and the immediate release of the Lanois co-produced ‘Robbie Robertson’ debut solo album, he found his dance card full. In 1989, he spearheaded Bob Dylan’s comeback album ‘Oh Mercy’ as well as the Neville Brothers’ ‘Yellow Moon’ considered to be a breakthrough for the New Orleans soul group. By this time Lanois had already built his own studio, Kingsway Studio, while living in New Orleans. It was here that he finally laid the foundation for his debut solo album – 1989’s ‘Acadie’. In 1991 he worked with U2 for a third time on their career altering ‘Achtung Baby’ followed by another Gabriel team-up in 1992 for the album ‘Us’. Lanois returned to his own musical muse in 1993 with ‘For The Beauty Of Wynona’ and toured as part of the Tragically Hip’s ‘Another Roadside Attraction’ but like ‘Acadie’ before it was a commercial failure. With one more lukewarm solo disc, ‘Cool Water’, Lanois returned to the non-stop production grind for others including Emmylou Harris’ ‘Wrecking Ball’ (1995), Luscious Jackson’s ‘Fever In, Fever Out’ (1996), and Dylan’s 1997 comeback ‘Time Out of Mind’. During all this activity he found time to record the soundtrack to 1996’s ‘Sling Blade’ movie. In the 2000’s he resumed production work with U2 on their album ‘No Line On the Horizon’ . His 2005 album ‘Belladonna’ was nominated for a Grammy Award and he was inducted into Canada’s ‘Walk of Fame’ the same year. He also provided an instrumental score for the Pixies documentary ‘LOUDquietLOUD’. Lanois released his own documentary ‘Here Is What Is’ at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2007 which is a behind-the-scenes chronicle of the recording of his album of the same name. Soon after, Lanois released a three-disc recording called Omni. In October 2009, Lanois started a project called Black Dub which features Lanois (guitar), Brian Blade (drums), Daryl Johnson (bass) and multi-instrumentalist/singer Trixie Whitley. They released a self-titled album in 2010 and played several live gigs including an appearance at the 2011 Bonnaroo Music Festival. While working on Neil Young’s record ‘Le Noise’ in June 2010 Lanois sustained life-threatening injuries in a motorcycle accident in Silverlake, California. After recovering, he packed up and returned to Canada. He has a new recording studio in Toronto that is located inside a Buddhist temple and he’s released his autobiography ‘Soul Mining’. with notes from Marc Hohmann.
Singles
1989 Jolie Louise/Little Sadie (Live) (Opal/WEA) 92-27627
1989 Still Water [12″] (Opal/WEA) PRO-A-3942
1990 The Maker/Still Water (Opal/Warner Music – UK) W-9844
1993 Inedits (WEA)
1993 Lotta Love to Give/The Messenger (WEA)
1993 The Messenger (WEA) PRO-CD-6316
Albums
1989 Acadie (Opal/WEA) 25969
1993 For The Beauty Of Wynona (WEA) 9-45030
1994 Cool Water (ITM)
2003 Shine (Anti-) 86661-2CV
2004 Rockets (Anti-) 34457-16392
2005 Belladonna (Anti-) 86767-1
2008 Here Is What Is (Red Floor) CD-DLR-003
2009 Omni [3CD]
with BLACK DUB
2009 Black Dub
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Still Water” on ‘New Frontiers (WEA – Italy) 831952
2001 “Still Water” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 2: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music’ (CMC) 0885
LARA
Born: Lara Arleninov
Quebec singer whose backing featured future Les B.B. members François Jean and Patrick Bourgeois.
Singles
as LARA
1986 Don’t Bother/I’ll Change (LongLegs) UR-4545
LARK, Tobi
Born: Bessie Grace Upton in 1941 in Alabama, USA
Upton was born in Alabama but raised in Detroit. She is the daughter of Gospel singer Emma Washington whom she sang with in the Emma Washington Gospel Singers group. After ten years with the group she got a job as backing vocalist for B.B.King. In 1963 she was signed to the Riverside label as Bessie Watson and released the single “Deed I Do” with the Cannon Ball Adderley Quintet as backing band. She then did two more singles with the Jay Pee label – “I’m In Your Corner” and “Wake Up Trying”. She then changed her name to Tobi Lark and released singles on the Palmer, Topper and USD labels. After a separation from her husband in the late 1960’s she and her young son relocated to Montreal, Québec. She performed in nightclubs and showcased at ‘Expo 67’ before moving to Toronto to become a backing vocalist for Ronnie Hawkins. She landed a lead role in the musical ‘Hair’ and established the Armageddon Revue at the Blue Orchid Club. She finally had a hit on the Mala label with the 1968 song “Time Will Pass You By” under the one-off name “Tobi Legend” for contractual reasons. She was an in-demand vocalist and did work with the Impressions, King Curtis, Four Tops, Ben E. King, Wilson Pickett and Duke Ellington among others. She then carried on as Tobi Lark and released two singles on Cotillion Records in 1969 “Shake a Hand” and “Just To Hold My Hand” stateside. Back in Canada she was signed to Jack Richardson’s Nimbus 9 Records who had her do a cover version of the Cat song “We’re All In This Together” which was recorded live with a gospel choir at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Toronto. The song peaked at No.38 on the RPM Top100 singles chart in November 1970. With a new deal on Arpeggio Records in 1972, Lark managed to scratch the bottom of the radio charts with “Here I Go Again” and “Bayou Children”. She has continued working in Toronto, Windsor and Detroit, and has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Kenny Rogers among others. In 1995, she recorded a live CD and appeared at the Toronto Blues Society’s ‘Women’s Blues Revue’.
Singles
1965 I’ll Steal Your Heart/Talk To An Angel (Palmer – US) 5000
1966 Happiness Is Here/Talkin’ About Love (Topper – US) 1011
1966 Challenge My Love/Sweep It Out In The Shed (Topper – US) 1015
1969 Just To Hold My Hand/Giving Up (Is Hard To Do) (Cotillion – US) 44059
1972 Here I Go Again/Sing Out Sweet Jesus (Arpeggio) ARPS-1007
1973 Bayou Children/Goin’ Home (Arpeggio) ARPS-1018
2002 Challenge My Love/[split w/OC TOLBERT] [7″ (Kent – UK) TOWN-116
2003 Happiness Is Here/[split w/DOTTIE & MILLIE] [7″ (Kent – UK) TOWN-120
2006 True True Love/[split w/LITTLE ANN] (Kent Select – UK) CITY-001
2007 Sweep It Out In The Shed/[split w/ DOTTIE & MILLIE] (Kent – UK) TOWN-134
as BESSIE WATSON
1963 Deed I Do/Cottage For Sale (Riverside) 4569
1963 I’m In Your Corner/I’m Never Alone (Jay Pee – US) JU-1001
1963 Wake Up Trying/Who’s Going To Miss You (Jay Pee – US) JU-1050
as TOBY LARK
1966 Lots Of Heart/A Woman’s Job (USD – US) 135
1969 Shake A Hand/Twenty-Four Hours (Cotillion – US) 44025
as TOBI LEGEND
1968 Time Will Pass You By/Heartbreaker (Mala – US) MALA-591
1968 No Good To Cry/Heartbreaker (Mala – US) M-12003
as TOBI LARK WITH TORONTO
1970 We’re All In This Together/Freedom Train (Nimbus) NNS-9011
with BESSIE WATSON WITH CANNONBALL ADDERLEY
1962 Cottage For Sale/Deed I Do (Riverside) RF-4569
Compilation Tracks
1998 “Happiness Is Here” on ‘Soul Survivors 2: 25 Years of the Wigan Casino’ (Telstar TV – UK) TTVCD-2992
1998 “Happiness Is Here”, “Sweep It Out In the Shed”, “Talking ‘Bout Love” on ‘Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Dancers (Kent – UK) CDKEND-154
1999 “Challenge My Love” on ‘Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Dancers Volume 2’ (Kent – UK) CDKEND-177
2005 “Happiness Is Here” on ‘Ace 30th Birthday Celebration – Soul and Funk’ (Ace – UK) CDCHK-1079
2006 “True True Love” on ‘Dave Hamilton’s Detroit Dancers Volume 3 (Kent) CDKEND-257
2007 “Happiness Is Here” on ‘Northern Monsters’ (Kent – US) CDKEND-272
as TOBI LEGEND
1994 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘The Wigan Casino Story’ (Goldmine Soul Supply Ltd – UK) GSCD-51
1997 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘Soul Survivors’ (Telstar – UK) TCD- 2869
2001 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘Scootering Sounds’ (Anagram – UK) CDM- GRAM-144
2001 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘The Best Northern Soul All-Nighter…Ever! (Circa – UK) VTDCD-377
2006 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘Soul Galore: 60’s 70’s & Northern Soul Classics’ (Music Club – EUR) MCDLX-021
2008 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘A Complete Introduction to Northern Soul’ (Universal – UK) 531-261-8
2011 “Time Will Pass You By” on ‘The Best of the Northern Soul Story’ (Sony) 97816
LARKIN, Sam
Folksinger from Toronto, Ontario.
Singles
1978 Mirabeau Bridge/Curly Hair (Cat Sass) WRC3-735
Albums
1994 Ransom (Amatash) SW-0294
2002 Plumbing & Heating [2CD] (Testing Testing) 1234
2006 Night Melts Chains (Ker-Ching) KER-CHING-1818
2015 The Secret Songs of Sam Larkin [DigiFile] (God Finds Cats)
Compilation Tracks
1992 “Somehow” on ‘Moose Lodge’ (Moose/Vertigo/Polygram) 314514-2252
1992 “Sally On” on ‘Highway 61 The Soundtrack’ (Intrepid) N21S-0009
LAST WORDS
Graeme Box (guitar, vocals) / Brad Campbell (bass, vocals) / Bill Dureen (keyboards, vocals) / Ron Guenther (drums, vocals) / Bill Meisner [aka Bill Marion] (vocals, guitar; 1967) / Neil Mattice (guitar; 1967)
The Last Words formed in the early 60’s in Clarkson, Ontario. They were all school chums and decided in 1965 to give the music business a shot. Graeme’s Dad, Keith, came up with the group name and helped the boys immensely with sound business advice. Keith introduced the group to Dave Marden (aka Jack London) who became their first manager. Formerly the leader of Jack London and The Sparrows, (who eventually morphed into Steppenwolf) Dave had many contacts and was instrumental in placing the group in Yorkville Village, the “hot spot” for Toronto in the 60’s. They wrote and produced three singles. The first, “The Laugh’s On Me” was recorded and released on the Canadian RCA label in late 1965, and received little air play. After a planned US tour fell through, the group then split with Dave Marsden, and in 1966 recorded their second single, “I Symbolize You”. Keith Box helped them obtain a distribution deal with Columbia and the single went to #1 in many Canadian cities. It reached No.14 on the prestigious CHUM chart in Toronto, no mean feat in the early days of Canadian rock. In 1967, the third, and what would become their final single, “Give Me Time”, was also successful. ARC Records took the group under it’s wing, and set them up with Brian Ahearn, Anne Murray’s producer. The chemistry wasn’t there, however, and nothing came of the deal. The Words tried to inject some fresh inspiration by adding two new members, vocalist/guitarist Bill Meisner (aka Bill Marion), formerly of The Paupers, and guitarist Neil Mattice. During rehearsals, this led to creative differences wtihin the group, and they played their last engagement as a foursome on July 1, 1967 in London, Ontario. Bill Dureen left and the other original members continued with Meisner and Mattice for a short time. The final split came when bassist Campbell left to join The Paupers who were leaving to try their luck in New York with Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan’s manager. Grossman also managed Janis Joplin, and Campbell eventually left to play bass for The Full Tilt Boogie Band, her last group. When Joplin died, Campbell returned to Canada. The Last Words got together again in the 1980’s to back vocalist Gerry Arpa as The Flashbacks, and played the Ontario bar circuit until 1990, when Arpa left. Members of The Last Words are still good friends and jam frequently. with notes from Bill Dureen, Dave Marden and Grant Mather.
Singles
1965 The Laugh’s On Me/She’ll Know How (RCA Victor Canada International) 57-3361
1966 I Symbolize You/It Made Me Cry (Columbia) C4-2707
1967 Give Me Time/Drive A Mini-Minor (Columbia) C4-2726
LASTING WEEP
Jérôme Langlois (guitar, keyboards, clarinet) / Alain Bergeron (flute, saxophone, vocals) / Claude Chapleau (bass, violoncello, guitar) / Mathieu Léger (drums, percussion, piano, vocals)
Formed in Québec in 1968, Lasting Weep made many recordings but none were released before the group disbanded in 1976; Langlois went on to join Uzeb and has enjoyed a successful solo career; Bergeron became a founding member of Maneige; Lasting Weep’s recordings were finally released in 2007 by ProgQuébec. [also see JÉRÔME LANGLOIS]
Albums
2007 Lasting Weep (1969-1971) (ProgQuébec) MPM-18
2007 Le spectacle de l’albatros (ProgQuébec) MPM-19
Compilation Tracks
2008 “Jumping Jelly Beans” and “Rien ne sert de courir il faut partir à point” on ‘L’Ultime rock progressif du Québec’ (Gala) GAL-113
LATREMOUILLE, Fred
Born: Fred Bruce Latremouille on October 21, 1945, in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Died: March 5, 2015
Latremouille was a Vancouver DJ that worked for CFUN who recorded one novelty single called “Latremotion” b/w “Good Loving” using members of the CFUN Classics – Claire Lawrence, Glenn Miller, Brian Russell, Gary Taylor and Howie Vickers (later known as The Collectors). Fred Latremouille passed away March 5, 2015.
Singles
1965 Latremotion/Good Loving (London) M-17339
with FRED LATREMOUILLE, THE NOCTURNALS
1965 Tossin’ And Turnin’/Mashed Potato [flexi-disc] (Hilroy)
Compilation Tracks
1985 “Latremotion” on ‘The History of Vancouver Rock and Roll Volume 2’ (Neptoon) VRCA-002
LAUGHTER AND SORROW
René Ringuet (organ, vocals) / Charles (guitar) / Michel (bass) / Gerry (drums)
From Montréal, Québec.
Singles
1972 Liberation Part 1/Liberation Part 2 (Pax) PAX-3812
LAUSANNE, Liz
Born: Liz Lausanne in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Singles
1984 (One More) Heartless Night/(No More) Heartless Nights (Danza) HAZ-1
1988 Dancin’ On The Island (Remix)/Dancin’ On The Island (Dub) [12″ (Pacific Wave) PWRC-18921
1988 Dancin’ On The Island [4 mixes 12″ EP (Pacific Wave) PWR-1202
1990 Dancin’ On The Island (Radio Mix)/ Dancin’ On The Island (Dance Mix)
Albums
as VIOLET RAY
2004 Good Things (Climb-It) 7-78578-90022-9
LAVA HAY
Suzanne Little (vocals, acoustic guitar) / Michele Gould (vocals, acoustic guitar)
Lava Hay was formed by singer-songwriters Little and Gould after the two met in 1986 while working in the classifieds department at NOW Magazine in Toronto, Ontario. Little had been teaching guitar to students since the age of 14 and had worked her way up to earn an internship at NOW. Gould had been playing around the Queen Street circuit in various bands including a spot as pedal steel player for James Lord’s band The Ten Commandments. The soon took up residence at Toronto’s Cameron House doing a Monday night stint called ‘The Living Room Show’ with other like-minded Toronto artists doing guest appearances like Bob Wiseman and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo, Molly Johnson, The Leslie Spit Treeo and others. By 1988 they had saved up enough money to record a self-titled EP recorded at a show they had done at the Danforth Music Hall. With a video for the song “Waiting For An Answer” they intended to make waves as a DIY act. After a chance encounter with The Band’s Robbie Robertson, who praised their singing, the press ran with the story and label interest was sparked. The duo signed with Nettwerk Records, moved to Vancouver, British Columbia and co-produced their eponymous debut album with Greg Reely (Images In Vogue) and Steve Berlin. They reconfigured tracks from their 1988 EP and brought in additional help from members of Water Walk and Grapes of Wrath. The album was released in 1990 and saw simultaneous release on Polydor in the US. The duo would soon tour with the Skydiggers, Blue Rodeo and Grapes of Wrath where personal relationships began to develop between the members of the two acts. Both Suzanne Little and Michele Gould eventually married Tom Hooper and Vincent Jones respectively. With sights set on a second record, the duo retired to the studio of guitarist/producer Bill Dillon in Stoney Creek, Ontario where Little and Gould clashed with the producer’s work style. They returned to Vancouver and decided to produce the remainder of the record themselves with assists from Bob Wiseman (Blue Rodeo) and Randy Bachman. ‘With a Picture In Mind’ was released in 1992 and earned them a charting single with “Don’t Tell Me”; But the material was a collision of Little’s continued folk-pop style and Gould’s ongoing desire to add a rock edge to the songs and after the grind of another tour to promote it, the duo parted company in 1994. Little continued on with a brief solo career and Gould co-founded the alternative rock trio Taste of Joy. [also see SUZANNE LITTLE, TASTE OF JOY]
Singles
1988 Waiting For An Answer (independent)
1990 Won’t Matter (Polydor) CDP-219
1990 Baby/My Friend (Polydor) CDP-303
1990 Baby/The Alley Song (Polydor – AUS) 877-360-7
1990 Wild Eyes/Holding On/Genevieve (Nettwerk) W2-3054
1992 Don’t Tell Me/Walk On By (Nettwerk) D-12073
1993 This Pain (Radio Edit)/This Pain (Album Version) (Nettwerk) NTPRO-01
1993 Listen Well/Ring of Fire/If I Leave Now (Nettwerk)
Albums
1988 Lava Hay [EP] (independent)
1990 Lava Hay (Nettwerk) W2-30043
1992 With a Picture In Mind (Nettwerk) W2-30066
Compilation Tracks
1988 “Waiting For An Answer” on ‘Nettwerk Sound Sampler Volume Two – A Food for Thought’ (Nettwerk) NTL-30025
1995 “Won’t Matter” on ‘Decadence [5CD] (Nettwerk) W2-30100
LAVENDER HILL MOB
Chuck Chandler (vocals, keyboards, synthesizers) / Gerald “Gerry” Hardy (vocals, flute, saxophone) / Ronny Jones (vocals, lead guitar) / Nicky Prigeno (lead vocals, bass) / Hector Jacob (vocals, 12-string guitar, rhythm guitar) / Vito Fiory (drums, percussion)
The group, named after the 1951 Alec Guinness/Stanley Holloway movie, formed in Montreal, Québec in 1976.
Singles
1977 The Party Song/The Nazz Are Blue (United Artists) UAXW-925Y
1978 Magic Lady/Chibougamau (United Artists) UAXW-1001Y
1978 Dream Away/No One Compares (United Artists) UAXW-1109
1978 Le boogie woogie de Chibougameau/Discothequer la nuit (Plastic Poison) MRCX-5007
Albums
1977 Lavender Hill Mob (united Artists) UA-LA719-G
1978 Street of Dreams (United Artists) UA-LA818-G
Compilation Tracks
1977 “The Party Song” on ‘Disco Motion’ (K-Tel) TC-241
LAVIGNE, Avril
Born: Avril Ramona Lavigne on September 27, 1984 in Belleville, Ontario
Lavigne’s family moved to in Napanee, Ontario when she was five years old. While growing up in Napanee she sang in a church choir and taught herself to play guitar. She was discovered by her first manager, Cliff Fabri, while singing country songs in a bookstore in Kingston, Ontario. During a performance with the Lennox Community Theatre, Lavigne met local folk artist Steve Medd, who invited her to perform vocals on his his 1999 album ‘Quinte Spirit’, and later, the 2000 album ‘My Window To You’. At sixteen, she was signed by Arista Records A & R rep Ken Krongard to a recording contract. Early attempts to co-write songs fell short of expectations and so Lavigne moved to Los Angeles and eventually co-wrote her debut record with Clif Magness and songwriting team ‘The Matrix’. With an endorsement from Arista president L.A. Reid, the album ‘Let Go’ was released in 2002 and made it to No.2 in the United States, and No.1 on the album charts in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom (the youngest artist to ever do so in the UK). It has since sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. The first single, “Complicated”, went to No.1 in Australia while reaching No.2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Follow-up single, “Sk8er Boi”, reached Top-10 in the U.S. and Australia and No.1 in Canada; “I’m With You” reached Top-5 in the U.S., while “Losing Grip” reached No.1 in Canada, Top-10 in Taiwan, and Top-20 in Chile. Lavigne was named 2002’s “Best New Artist” at the MTV Video Music Awards, won four 2003 Juno Awards in Canada, a World Music Award for ‘World’s Best-Selling Canadian Singer’, and was nominated for eight Grammy Awards in the U.S. After extensive touring to promote the album worldwide, Lavigne wrote new material with Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, Ben Moody (Evanescence), Butch Walker (Marvelous 3), and the rest with her former lead guitarist Evan Taubenfeld. Our Lady Peace frontman (and Kreviazuk’s husband) Raine Maida co-produced the album with Butch Walker and Don Gilmore. The album, entitled ‘Under My Skin’, was released in May 2004 and went to No.1 in several countries, including the UK, U.S., Canada, and Australia. The lead-off single, “Don’t Tell Me”, went to No.1 in Argentina, Top-5 in the UK and Canada, and Top-10 in Australia and Brazil. The follow-up single, “My Happy Ending”, reached Top-10 in the U.S., but the third single, “Nobody’s Home”, failed to crack the Top-40. A fourth single, “He Wasn’t”, managed to rally back and reached No.1 in Canada, but failed to make the UK Top-20 and was not released in the U.S. at all. Lavigne won two World Music Awards in 2004 for ‘World’s Best Pop/Rock Artist’ and ‘World’s Best Selling Canadian Artist’. She received five 2005 JUNO Award nominations in Canada and scoring three in the process including the ‘Fan Choice Award’, ‘Artist of the Year’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year’ for ‘Under My Skin’. Lavigne co-wrote the song “Breakaway” and appeared on the track by American Idol champ Kelly Clarkson. The song would also appear in the soundtrack of the film ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’ in 2004. Lavigne is scheduled to make her movie debut in the 2006 CGI animated film ‘Over The Hedge’ along with the additional voice talent of William Shatner, Bruce Willis and other notable Hollywood talent. She also has two upcoming acting appearances in ‘The Flock’ with Richard Gere and ‘Fast Food Nation’ alongside Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Greg Kinnear. With a new contract with modelling agency Ford Models Lavigne landed the coveted cover spot on the February edition of Harpers Bazaar magazine. She then appear ed at the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy as part of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics presentation. In 2007 Lavigne released ‘The Best Damn Thing’ on RCA Records. The first single, “Girlfriend”, went viral and immediately attracted the attention of 1970s power pop band The Rubinoos who asserted that the Lavigne song borrowed melody and lyrics from their minor hit “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend”. An out of court settlement was reached and “Girlfriend” would help propel sales of the album regardless. Meanwhile, Lavigne began spreading her wings with song placements in video games and movie soundtracks (‘The Princess Diaries 2’, ‘Eragon’, ‘The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie’, and Tim Burton’s ‘Alice In Wonderland’). She also became the face for Canon digital cameras in an international TV advertising and print media campaign. Lavigne’s fourth album ‘Goodbye Lullaby’ was released in 2011. Lavigne was married to singer Deryck Whibley of the band Sum 41 but the two divorced in 2010. Lavigne married Chad Kroeger of Nickelback in 2013.
Singles
2002 Complicated//I Don’t Give/Why (Arista)
2002 Sk8er Boi//Get Over It/Nobody’s Fool (Arista)
2002 I’m With You (Arista)
2003 Losing Grip (Arista)
2003 Anything But Ordinary (Arista)
2003 Mobile (Arista)
2004 My Happy Ending (Arista) 63096
2004 Don’t Tell Me (Arista) 66141
2004 Nobody’s Home (Arista) 66365
2004 Lidrock (Arista)
2005 He Wasn’t (Arista)
2005 Fall to Pieces (Arista) 70656
2006 Keep Holding On [DigiFile]
2007 Girlfriend (RCA)
2007 When You’re Gone (RCA)
2007 Hot (RCA) SICP-1703
2008 The Best Damn Thing (RCA)
2010 Alice (RCA)
2011 Wish You Were Here (RCA)
2011 What the Hell (RCA) SICP-2777
2011 Smile/What the Hell (Bimbo Jones Remix) (RCA – Europe) 88697-92309-2
2013 Rock‘n Roll/Rock ‘n roll (Instrumental) (Epic) 77204
2013 Here’s To Never Growing Up (Epic) 72387
2014 Give You What You Like (Epic)
2014 Hello Kitty (Epic)
2015 Fly (Epic)
2018 Head Above Water (FreeSolo/Vector/BMG)
2018 Tell Me It’s Over (BMG)
2019 I Fell In Love With The Devil (BMG)
2021 Bite Me (DTA/Elektra)
as AVRIL LAVIGNE featuring CHAD KROEGER
2013 Let Me Go (Epic)
as AVRIL LAVIGNE & JONNY BLU
2017 Baby, It’s Cold Outside [Digi-File] (TuneCore)
as AVRIL LAVIGNE X NICKI MINAJ
2019 Dumb Blonde [Digi-File]
Albums
2002 Let Go (Arista) 24740
2004 Under My Skin (Arista) 59774
2007 The Best Damn Thing (RCA) 03774
2007 Walmart Soundcheck [EP]
2008 Avril Live – Try To Shut Me Up [EP]
2008 Control Room – Live EP [EP]
2010 Essential Mixes: 12″ Masters (Arista)
2011 Goodbye Lullaby (RCA) 975587
2013 Avril Lavigne (Epic/SONY)
2013 The Collection – China Special Edition [5 CD] (SONY) 88883757782
2018 Head Above Water (FreeSolo/Vector/BMG)
Compilation Tracks
2003 “I’m With You” on ‘Hits 56’ (BMG – UK) HITSCD-561
2003 “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” on ‘Peace Songs’ (BMG) 491772
2004 “Losing Grip (Live)” on ‘Going the Distance’ [Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Nettwerk)
2006 “Complicated” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 3 – Juno Awards: Celebrating 35 Years of the Best in Canadian Music’ (EMI) 59829
LAVOIE, Daniel
Born: March 17, 1949 in Dunrea, Manitoba
Manitoba-born Daniel Lavoie began his music career in Québec in the early 1970’s and released his first album in English, ‘Nirvana Blue’, in 1979 on the Apex label. With the dawn of the ’80’s he made a go of it as an independent, recording albums as money would allow. With a long-time partnership writing songs with Daniel DeShaime in 1983 and the production of ‘Tension, Attention’ with British producer John Eden (David Bowie), Lavoie began achieving success in Québec and in Europe particularly with the singles “Hotel des reves” and “Ils s’aiment” forcing him to shuttle frequently between Montreal and Paris. While still on the independent Trafic label Lavoie released ‘Vue Sur La Mer’ in 1986 featuring the musical help of Kevin Jarvis (keys), Robert Stanley (guitar), Luc Boivin (drums) and vocalists Gaston Mandeville, Gaston Dussault, Sylvain Lelievre, and Thierry Seychan. The album did so well that an English version was released on Capitol Records in early 1987. However, by late 1987, Lavoie had already jumped over to WEA Records.
Singles
1975 J’ai quitté mon île/ Des Hauts Dans La Journee (London) LF-1065
1977 Commercial pour un jet/Garcon des cantons (Deram) DF-659
1979 St. Come Express/Mes vacances d’ete (Apex) AF-98003
1979 La danse due Smatte/Allume La TV (Apex) AF-98007
1979 Boule qui Roule (Apex) AF-98012
1979 La danse du smatte/C’est pas la pluie (Eurodisc) 100-149
1980 Mon île (Arabella) 102-284
1980 Qui sait (Nouvelle Version)/[same] (Warner) WEA-71435
1981 C’est ‘i vraiment du rock ‘n roll/L’aventure Â-lure (Warner) WEA-72015
1981 Passe Passe et le temps/Tic Apocalyptique (Warner) WEA-72017
1981 Et tout Lundi/Marlene (Warner) WEA-72020
1981 C’est comme ton tour/Aigre-doux, How Are You (Warner) WEA-72024
1981 Henry/Baby Blues (Sefel) 45-008
1982 Ann Jaloo/So Lon (Sefel) PRO-401
1983 Roule ta boule (Pathé – EUR) 165525
1983 Le Metro n’attend Pas/Ils s’aiment (Kébec-Disc) KD-9253
1983 Fouquet’s/[same] (Kébec-Disc)KD-9263
1983 Ravi de te revoir/[same] (Kébec-Disc) KD-9296
1984 Tension attention (Pathé -EUR) 200058
1985 Ils s’aiment/Hotel des reves (EMI – NETHERLANDS) EMI-NL1A
1985 Tension attention (Nouvelle Version)/Ravi de te revoir (Pathé -EUR) 200824
1986 Je voudrais voir New York/Vie de vie de ville (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-86180
1986 Bamboula/La villa de Ferdinando Marcos sur la mer (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-87191
1986 La Nuit Se Leve/[same] (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-87204
1986 Que cherche t’elle/Que cherche t’elle (Live Version) (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-88213
1986 Hotel des reves/Ridiculous Love (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-88221
1986 Les Longs Manteaux/[same] (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TF-88236
1986 Dis lui dis lui Mona/[same] (Trafic/Trans-Canada) 7CDN-57
1986 Danger/Ridiculous Love (Capitol) B-73009
1987 Human Woman/Sad Eyes (Capitol) B-73025
1987 Never Been To New York/City Boy (Capitol) B-44051
Albums
1975 À court terme (London) LFS-9013
1977 Berceuse pour un lion (Deram) XDEF-147
1979 Nirvana Bleu (Apex) ALF-1502
1980 Les Felix (ADISQ)
1981 Daniel Lavoie – Collection [2LP] (Saisons) SNS-8000-1
1981 Aigre-doux, How are You (Warner) 92007
1982 Cravings (Sefel) JO-601
1984 Tension, Attention (Kebec-Disc) KD-584
1986 Vue sur la mer (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TFX-1986
1986 Je voudrais voir New York (Trafic/Trans-Canada)
1987 Tips [English Version of ‘Vue sur la mer’] (Capitol) ST-6551
1987 Olympia 87 (Trafic/Trans-Canada) OTF-8726
1988 Daniel Lavoie (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TFD-8729
1990 Long cbourrier (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TFD-8950
1991 Douce heure (Trafic/Trans-Canada) TFD-8956
1992 Here In My Heart (MCA) MCAD-10729
1995 Ici (Smatt) SMAC-6242
1997 Live au Divan vert (Smatt) SMAC-6244
2004 Comédies humaines (Smatt) SMAC-6256
2005 Moi mon Felix (GSI) GSIC-1829
2007 Docteur Tendresse (Smatt) SMAC-6257
LAWN, The
Gord Cumming (guitar) / Patrick Gregory (guitar) / Richard Gregory (bass) / Mikael Duggan (drums)
From the ashes of Scarborough, Ontario’s Woods Are Full of Cuckoos, The Lawn were staples in the post-punk Toronto club scene performing regularly at the Cabana Room. In 1986 they released their debut album ‘Peace In the Valley’ which was co-produced by Cardboard Brains’ Vince Carlucci. After Duggan left to join The Plasterscene Replicas, the band found itself in limbo but reunited in 1992 to release ‘Debussy Fields’; Duggan opened his own bar in Toronto; the band reunited in March 2010 for a one-off 25th Anniversary show at Toronto’s Comfort Zone club. with notes from Tim Perlich.
Albums
1986 Peace In the Valley (Secret Song) SSR-001
1992 Debussy Fields(Hypnotic/A & M)
Compilation Tracks
1992 “#51” on ‘A Canadian Alternative” (Second Wave) SWM-002
1992 “Debts” on ‘Moose Lodge’ (Moose/Vertigo/Polygram) 314514-2252
1993 “Reconsider Baby” on ‘New Stuff Two’ (MMS) NSCD-002
LAWRENCE, Claire
Born: Vancouver, British Columbia
Following a stint in The Collectors (and its predecessor The Classics), Lawrence followed the next mutation of the band, Chilliwack, for two albums before leaving for a solo career. By the mid-70s he’s joined Valdy’s Hometown Band. He also produced others (Valdy, Bim, Susan Jacks, Minglewood) and also produced the CBC Radio series ‘Great Canadian Goldrush’. [also see THE CLASSICS, THE COLLECTORS]
Singles
1973 Hungry For The Good/Leaving You Free (Haida/A & M) HS-103
1973 Country Mover/Long Long Time (Haida/A & M) HS-108
with THE CLAIRE LAWRENCE BAND
1981 Elevator Wallpaper/Knives (Sloth) SS-102
1981 Dawn/I Don’t Know (Sloth) SS-104
Albums
1973 Leaving You Free (Sloth) HL-5103
with THE CLAIRE LAWRENCE BAND
1981 The Claire Lawrence Band (Sloth) SL-1002
LAWSON, Paul
From Nova Scotia.
Singles
1981 Cameo/Clinical Dancer (Top Hat) 1000-02
1981 Don’t You Give Up On Love/Alinor (Top Hat) 1000-03
1983 No Asylum For The Queen/Morning Star (Top Hat) 1000-04
1983 Crazy Daisy/Nothing Less Than Love (Top Hat) 1000-07
1983 Hyperactive/Without Your Love (Top Hat) 1000-08
Albums
1981 Cameo (Top Hat) 333-01
1982 Fate Is the Hunter (Top Hat) 333-02
1999 Lawson Found
LAWSON, Tim
Folk guitarist and singer-songwriter Tim Lawson is from Langley, British Columbia.
Singles
1999 She Can’t Be Blamed/A Thousand Leaves (Timberholme)
2000 Fire of St. Bartholomew’s (Timberholme)
2000 Goodbye East Berlin [4 song EP] (High Fashion – EUR) MS-349
2000 Lately I Don’t Care (Timberholme)
2001 Oh Man (Radio Edit)/Oh Man (Album Version) (Timberholme) THDPRO-0201
2001 Arrived [4 song EP] (Timberholme)
2001 Here To Find [3 song EP] (Timberholme)
2001 We Gotta Think (Timberholme)
2003 Dawn’s First Light (Timberholme) THDPRO-0209
2003 (You Might Not Have) Noticed (Timberholme)
Albums
1995 Wartime Letter EP (Timberholme) THDPRO-9501
1996 The Quiet Canadian (Timberholme) TH-45001
1999 The Right Way On (Timberholme) TH-45002
2002 Please No Talking (Timberholme) 640105
2003 Lest We Forget (Timberholme) 640209
with THE TIM LAWSON BAND
2004 So Many Stories (Timberholme) TH-0405-1
2005 At a Loss For Words (Timberholme)
LAWSUIT
Brian “Shaky” Johnston (guitar) / Randy Booth (bass) / Ernst E. Gruhn (lead vocals) / Al Webster (drums) / Eric Webster (keyboards) / Spider Sinnaeve (bass; replaced Booth 1986) / Billy Carmassi (drums; replaced Al Webster 1986)
Johnson began playing in Calgary, Alberta bars around 1980 and by 1982 had formed the metal act Breaker – featuring vocalist Rik Anthony, guitarist Kevin Bradley, bassist Warren McWilliams, and drummer Doug Jones – who released ‘In Days Of Heavy Metal’ which was well received with reviews in Europe’s ‘Kerrrang’ magazine. The momentum was short lived and Johnson then created Lawsuit with Booth (Rocki Roletti, MacLean & MacLean), Gruhn, Al Webster (Kilowatt) and Eric Webster (One Life). They released the EP ‘Bad Boys of Rock’ in 1984 – with Streetheart’s John Hannah as special guest – which received major media exposure. This edition of Lawsuit wasn’t able to stay together and Johnson found himself looking for his next musical outlet. By 1986 he was ready to record again and released another Lawsuit EP called ‘Three The Hard Way’ which was produced by Streetheart’s Spider Sinnaeve who also played bass and brought in Aldo Nova drummer Carmassi to round out the line-up. with notes from Shaky Johnston.
Singles
1986 Three the Hard Way [3-song EP] (Shaky) LAW-003THW
Albums
1984 Bad Boys Of Rock [4-song EP] (Shaky) CCR-001
1991 Strictly Business (Lawsuit) LAW-SB-369
2004 Stoned To Death (Shaky) LAW-STD-1020
as BREAKER
1982 In Days Of Heavy Metal (Shaky)
LAYNE, Lynda
Born: Hazel McKirdy in Kitchener, Ontario in 1949
Considered Canada’s top teen star, Layne appeared regularly on TV shows “Club 11”, “After Four”, and became a regular on CBC TV’s “Music Hop” program starting in 1964. Won RPM’s “Most Promising Female Vocalist Award” in 1964. In 1969 she teamed up briefly with Larry Lee for a one-off single on Nugget Records (Beacon in the UK) called “Most Peculiar Girl”. In the 1970s she continued her solo career on various independent labels; Layne is retired from music and sells real estate under her real name in Pickering/Ajax, Ontario.
Singles
1963 Stay Away From My Baby/Don’t Say You Love Me (Tartan) TA-60-1017
1963 Mark My Word/Acres of Heartaches (Tartan) TA-60-1020
1965 I Don’t Want To Go/I’m Your Pussycat (RCA Victor Canada International) 57-3366
1966 Hang On To Me Now Baby/I Would Bring Sunshine (Red Leaf) TTM-627
1971 Out of Time/Island (Tuesday) GH-106X
1972 (The Best Part of ) Breakin’ Up/Bet No One Ever Hurts This Bad (Tuesday) GH-115X
1978 Go Out and Find Another/I Don’t Wanna Live (Arrow – US) 501/502
as LINDA LANE
1979 Love Is Suppose To Be/The Best I Can (Sound Path) SP-015
as HAZEL McKIRDY
1962 End of the World/Mama Didn’t Lie (Arc) A-1019
with LARRY & LYNDA
1969 Most Peculiar Girl/Magnificent Out-Pouring (Nugget) NR-1039
LAZARAZU
Tom Ferris (keyboards, samples) / Kevin Kane (guitar, vocals) / Julie Ferris (vocals) / Kelly Cook (bass) / Brian Berry (drums)
Lazarazu was a short-lived project from the mind of producer/programmer Tom Ferris (Moev, Econoline Crush) who enlisted the help of Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath) and lead vocalist Julie Ferris. With the addition of ex-Moev bassist Kelly Cook and live drummer Brian Berry they were able to play occasional gigs to promote their 2003 album ‘Floodlit’. With notes from Julie Ferris. [also see KEVIN KANE, MOEV]
Albums
2003 Floodlit (Carved Out)
LAZO
Born: Lazarus Jno Finn in Castle Bruce, Dominica
Toronto, Ontario Reggae artist Lazo grew up in Dominica and began his music career at the age of 15 in a band called Black Blood, whose debut album charted at No.2 and received extensive airplay in the Caribbean. Soon after immigrating to Canada, Lazo formed his own band, Unity, to showcase his original compositions. Upon relocating to Toronto, he created The Lazo Band, and released the well-received 1987 five song EP, “Satisfaction Guaranteed”. He also studied at the University of Toronto and holds a degree in Political Science. In the 1990s Lazo became the first Canadian artist signed to Washington, DC-based reggae label RAS Records following the independent release entitled ‘Impetus’ in 1993 – which was the first indie CD to ever chart on Vancouver’s Z95.3 Top-30. The video single “Crucial” reached No.3 on the charts in Guyana, South America and received extensive play on the Caribbean Satellite Network, as well as getting rotation on Black Entertainment Television in the United States. He was nominated for ‘Top Reggae Performer of the Year’ from at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards in 1994. RAS then released ‘Something Real’ which was nominated for a JUNO Award in 1995. At the turn of the millennium, Lazo signed with YT Records and finally won a JUNO Award for ‘Best Reggae Recording’ for his 2000 CD ‘Heart and Soul’. In 2010, Lazo released the ‘Passin’ Thru’ CD and then toured North and South South America as a member of Bob Marley’s original touring band The Wailers. The South American leg also included African Reggae star, Alpha Blondie. Lazo also fronts a Bob Marley tribute as part of Craig Martin’s ‘Classic Albums Live’ music series.
Singles
1993 Crucial
1995 Love Is On Your Side
Albums
1987 Satisfaction Guaranteed [5 song EP] (Spynn) CCR-9999
1993 Impetus (RAS) RASCD-3126
1995 Something Real (RAS) RASCD-3157
2000 Heart & Soul (YT) 64891
2001 Children of the Palm Race (YT) 64892
2010 Passin’ Thru (YT)
with LAZO & THE RADIKALS
2008 The Time Is Right (YT) 207410
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Treat Her Right” on ‘New Stuff Seven’ (MMS) NSCD-007
L’ESPERANCE, Denis “Dino”
Born: 1943; Died: December 23, 2004
Québec singer and composer who fronted the bands Dino Et Les Questions and Cesar Et Les Romains in the 1960s. He would go solo in 1969. [also see CÉSAR ET LES ROMAINS]
Singles
as CESAR
1969 Tu N’As Plus Besoin De Moi/Le Bout De La Rue (Apollo) LO-501
1976 Je Ne Suis Plus Rien Sans Toi/It’s Only Make Believe (Tranzit/London) TZ.4
1976 Au Fil Du Temps/Colour My World (Tranzit/London) TZ.15
1976 Viens Me Faire Oublier/Viens Me Faire Oublier (Instrumentale) (Tranzit/London) TZ.17
1980 La Chanson Du Pina Colada/La Chanson Du Pina Colada (Instrumentale) (Les Disques Maisonneuve) MAS-1408
as DENIS L’ESPERANCE
1970 Sur Ma Moto/15 Enfants (Apollo) LO-506
with DINO ET LES SOEURS GALLANT
1965 Noel Dans Le Vent/Noel Solitaire (Fantastic) FA-3637
LEA, Sherrie
Born: Sherrie Lea Laird
Former vocalist for the Toronto synth-pop duo Sulk, Sherrie Laird became Sherrie Lea for her solo pursuits.
Singles
2002 Anyway [4 mixes 12”] (Hi-Bias – USA) HB-126
2005 No Ordinary Love [6 mixes CD] (Hi-Bias – USA)
2006 Spellbound [8 mixes CD] (Hi-Bias – USA)
as NICK FIORUCCI PRESENTS SHERRIE LEA | TARAS
2006 Nothing Better Than Life [7 mixes] /[split w/TARAS] (Hi-Bias – UK) HIB-PROMOUK-CDS1
Albums
2005 Spellbound (Hi-Bias) HIB-10392
Compilation Tracks
2003 “Anyway” on ‘Hot Tracks NRG Series 54’ (Hot Tracks) 25-NRG54S-201
2003 “Over My Head” on ‘Women & Songs 7’ (WEA) WTVD-61047
LEADERHOUSE
Scott Nolan (bass, vocals) / Christian Dugan (drums, vocals) / Dustin Leader (lead guitar) / Matthew Buda (vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, trumpet, organ)
From Winnipeg, Manitoba; Nolan woud go on to form The Scott Nolan Band.
Albums
1998 Leaderhouse (Leaderhouse) 0001
Compilation Tracks
1999 “Leaving Liberty” on ‘The World According To Popguru’ (Popguru/Page) 6-27915-07882-7
LEAHY
Julie Leahy (vocals) / Denise Leahy (vocals) / Donnell Leahy (fiddle) / Erin Leahy (piano, guitar, mandolin) / Angus Leahy (fiddle) / Maria Leahy (banjo, vocals) / Siobheann Donohue (bass, vocals, fiddle) / Doug Leahy (fiddle) / Agnes Enright (keys, vocals) / Chrissie Leahy (keys) / Frank Leahy (drums)
Leahy is five sisters and four brothers from Lakefield, Ontario who established a reputation as one of North America’s most entertaining groups through their contemporary interpretation of Celtic and Canadian folk music alongside French Canadian step-dancing. The rigors of farming in the rugged climate long made playing and dancing both a discipline and a festive experience for the Leahy household. One by one the children picked up, put on, spun, twirled, reeled and rocked parents Frank and Julie Leahy’s old farmhouse. Brothers and sisters grew up listening to and learning from each other, about the farm, the road and the band. Every year or two the band became bigger by adding another sibling. In the 1970’s and early 1980’s, the family achieved tremendous success at county fairs and rural weddings where they raised barns and brought down the houses. When Angus finished Grade 13, he and Erin, Doug, Agnes and Frank (who had finished University), Julie (the composer who had returned home from L.A.) and Siobheann (who came home from Ottawa) teamed with Donnell and Maria to become a commercially viable 9-piece group. In 1985 the Leahy’s were also the subject of the Peter Weyman’s Academy Award-winning film ‘The Leahy’s: Music Most of All’ as ‘Best Foreign Student Film’. The released their independent debut album ‘On the Move’ in 1986 which featured the single “You’ve Got the Fiddle (I’ve Got the Bow)” which reached No.52 on the Canadian Country Music charts. Performance highlights have included return engagements on the prestigious Austrian ‘Musikantenstadl’ television show which was broadcast to 100 million people throughout Europe and many Summer festivals in Austria in 1994-1995. LEAHY opened the Folk Dream Gala at Toronto’s Massey Hall with Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Ani DiFranco and Pete Seeger. The also appeared atTSN’s and ABC’s Opening Ceremonies Finale of the Special Olympics, The Breeder’s Cup, ‘A Day In The Bog’ Irish Festival in Yonkers, New York, the Irish Family Festival in NYC, The Harbourfront Celtic Festival in Toronto, Ontario, and the Chicago Irish Festival. In 1996, they released their self-titled debut album which was recorded in four days in the summer of 1996. The independent record sold out several pressings before Virgin Records picked up the album for national distribution. The first single and video from the abum was the “The Call To Dance” which reached No.26 on the Canadian Country Music chart and No.31 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary charts. LEAHY was awarded two JUNO Awards in 1998 for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Best Instrumental Artist’. Later that year they were the opening act for Shania Twain’s 1998 ‘Come on Over Tour’ including two television specials from the tour – ‘Winter Break’ and ‘Come On Over’. In 1999 they won a JUNO Award for ‘Best Country Group or Duo’.
Singles
1986 You’ve Got the Fiddle (I’ve Got the Bow)
1997 The Call to Dance (Virgin) CDPRO-1512
1997 B Minor (Virgin) CDPRO-1639
2001 Down That Road
2001 Mission
2004 Chasing Rain
2004 Coyote Way
Albums
1986 On the Move (Panther) PR-1612
1996 The Leahy Family (Donlea) A-100
1997 Leahy [re-issue of ‘Leahy Family’] (Virgin) 842955
2001 Lakefield (Narada) NDA-45716
2004 In All Things (Narada) NDA-96732
2006 Live From Gatineau, Québec [CD/DVD] (Foreign Media – HOLLAND) FMG-8420
2008 Handmade [2 CD] (Foreigh Media – HOLLAND) FMG-5063
Compilation Tracks
1997 “The Call to Dance” on ‘Ear Conditioning’ (EMI) 833136
1997 “Colm Quigley” on ‘The Hanging Garden [Motion Picture Soundtrack]’ (Virgin) 844908
1997 “B Minor” on ‘Deliverance: Stereo Freedom Has Arrived’ (Virgin) CAMPUS-2
1998 “B Minor” on ‘Brave Hearts’ (Narada) 845445
Collaborations
with THE CHIEFTAINS
1998 “Madame Bonaparte/Devil’s Dream/Mason’s Apron” on ‘Fire In the Kitchen’ (Wicklow – UK) 663133
LECTRIC MUSIC REVOLUTION
ORIGINAL LINE-UP: Jack MacDonald (guitar, vocals) / Manny Slauenwhite (lead vocals, guitar) / George Smith (keys) / Wayne Pottie (drums) / Dennis Richardson (bass, vocals); OTHER MEMBERS: Hal Hudson (lead guitar) / Blaine Jollimore (saxophone) / Tim Garrigan (drums) / Gary Dixon (drums) / Mike Pelham (drums) / Jim White (bass) / Lennie Brennan (bass) / Ernie Reti (bass) / Ray Evans (bass) / Bruce Baker (bass) / Dan Skinner (bass) / Garrie Cooke (bass) / Lee MacDonald (keys)From Halifax, Nova Scotia. With notes from Jim Rice.
Singles
1969 Bye Bye Lover/Funny Little Girl (Solar) SAR-202
Albums
1971 Lectric Music Revolution (Marathon) ALS-331
LEE AND THE LEESURES, Larry
Lawrence Milton Broderick [aka Larry Lee] (vocals) / John Del (guitar) / Ray Fennell (drums) / Billy Diel (piano, organ) / Chuck Daniels (bass) / Andy Wilson (saxophone)
Formed in London, Ontario in 1961. The band was signed to Ohio’s Destiny Records initially before moving to Art Snider’s Canatal Records and eventually were signed to Columbia where they saw mild chart success in Canada; Larry Lee would go on to be a member of Chelsea Wind; Bill Diel died May 22, 2020.
Singles
1961 Desire/Kentucky (Destiny) D-503
1961 I Get So Lonely/Someday (Destiny) D-505
1963 Just A Little Too Much/Yes Tonight Josephine (Canatel) CT-604
1963 Stood Up/Little Lana (Tamarac) TTM-601
1964 Big Boss Man Part 1/Big Boss Man Part 2 (Columbia) C4-2649
1966 Toodle-Oo Kangaroo/Patches Of Heaven (Columbia) C4-2690
1966 A Little Bit Of Love/Give Me Love Now (Columbia) C4-2701
1966 Cry/I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Columbia) C4-2728
1967 Barefootin’/My Love Must Be Going Out Of Style (Columbia) C4-2740
Albums
1962 Larry Lee And The Leesures (Canatal) CTLP-4016
1967 Club Date (Columbia) ELS-314
LEE & THE OUTSIDERS, Brent
Brent Lee (lead vocals, guitars) / Naoise Sheridan (guitars, vocals) / Mike Lynch (bass, vocals) / Ron Desjarlais (drums)
Brent Lee & The Outsiders got their start in Vancouver in 1990 as a country cover band. With sights set on being closer to the music industry and anticipation of a record deal they relocated to Toronto in summer 1991. Friends and family chipped in to help finance their first CD “Rose Tattoo” which they released independently. Between 1990-1992 they struggled through the bottomless pit of the country bar circuit and would traverse the genre by getting showcases at some of Queen Street’s finer rock bars like Ultrasound and The Horseshoe. 13 appearances on MuchMusic without the benefit of a video stood them in good stead with Justin Entertainment who licenced the discs for re-release through MCA Records. The disc spawned 4 consecutive singles but the band wasn’t able to break out of the mold of their rock and roll sound to attract enough country fans. Brent Lee would eventually move back to Vancouver and has picked up honours at the West Coast Music Awards for ‘Best Club Act’; Mike Lynch currently lives in Europe; Drummer Desjarlais remained in Toronto to play with various artists around Southern Ontario. He recorded an independent album with singer/songwriter Phil Hallidy along with Mike Lynch. He also played in a cover band in 1996 with Naoise Sheridan just before his move to Nashville. Desjarlais returned to his hometown of Vancouver where he continued to play in country cover bands, was voted runner up for ‘Drummer of the Year’ at the 2002 BCMA Awards. He currently does studio work and plays in a band called Longrun. Naoise Sheridan (whose previous experience before the Outsiders was guitarist with Raymond May) formed The Herd in 1993 and would go on to some prominence as songwriter for the likes of Kim Stockwood and Jason McCoy. He now lives in Nashville. His songwriting highlights include: 1998 SOCAN Canadian Country Song of the Year, CCMA, (for “Born Again In Dixieland”, co-written with Jason McCoy and Denny Carr); 1998 SOCAN Award for airplay (for “Born Again In Dixieland”, co-written with Jason McCoy and Denny Carr); 1998 “Cried All The Way Home” written with and performed by Jamie Warren, was a Top 10 single on Canadian country charts; 1996 “Jerk” and “Enough Love” (both with Kim Stockwood) went Top10 on the Canadian pop charts;1997 SOCAN Award for airplay (“Enough Love” co-written with Kim Stockwood); With notes from Naoise Sheridan, Ron Desjarlais and Mike Lynch.
Singles
1991 Would You Love Me Anyway (Justin/MCA)
1992 Where I’m Going (Justin/MCA)
1992 Mexican Bandits (Justin/MCA)
1992 Take It To The Mountain (Justin/MCA)
Albums
1991 Rose Tattoo [independent]
1992 Rose Tattoo [re-issue] (Justin/MCA) JED-019
LeE HARVeY OsMOND
Tom Wilson (vocals, guitar) / Michael Timmins (guitar) / Josh Finlayson (guitar) / Aaron Goldstein (guitar, pedal steel) / Cam Malcolm (bass) / Brent Titcomb (percussion) / Ray Farrugia (drums)
LeE HARVeY OsMOND’s ‘acid folk’ was born in an old garage off Clinton Avenue in Toronto, Ontario from the fertile minds of Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie & the Rodeo Kings), several Cowboy Junkies, and a few Skydiggers. Between their other full time projects the members of LeE HARVeY OsMOND released their first album ‘A Quiet Evil’ on Latent Records. The group then toured with the Cowboy Junkies in the USA to support the release. The record was a long-listed nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. LeE HARVeY OsMOND functions as either a stripped-down solo show by Tom Wilson, or as the full five-piece band which currently consists of Aaron Goldstein and Cam Malcolm (both from Hamilton-area band Huron), Brent Titcomb, Ray Farrugia (Junkhouse). [also see TOM WILSON, MALCOLM TOMLINSON]
Albums
2009 A Quiet Evil (Latent) LAEE-24
Compilation Tracks
with LEE HARVEY OSMOND AND MARY GAUTHIER
2011 “Dear Doctor” on ‘Paint It Black: An Alt Country Tribute to the Rolling Stones'[DigiFile]
LEE AND THE SCEPTERS, Bobbi
Bobbi Lee Justice [aka Dan Roach] (lead vocals) / Lee Martin [aka Semp Franchi] (vocals) / Stacey Adams [aka Stan Adamiak] (bass) / Willy Jacobs [aka Walter Pylyp] (lead guitar) / J.C. Profitt [aka Jan Czaban] (organ) / Al St. Blue [aka Alex Tesluk] (drums)
Bobbi Lee Justice & The Scepters were a Toronto R&B group formed in 1961. In 1963 they began playing at the In Crowd Club. They were the former house band of the Mynah Bird Club in Yorkville, and were the first group to be offered “The Mynah Bird Song” to record as part of a recording deal with Capitol-EMI. Fearing a backlash from a possible image change they declined. Rick James’s band would adopt the name and the song “The Mynah Birds” instead. The group also played The Hawks Nest, Club 888, Avenue Road Club along with such acts as Mandala, Jon & Lee & The Checkmates, Grant Smith & The Power et al. In 1966 Lee was involved in a near fatal car accident, which left Bobbi as sole vocalist for the group. They returned to Yorkville’s Chez Monique Club with a more soulful blues sound. The group was managed by Finkelstein & Riley and in 1967 signed with Sam Romanoffs ‘Top Ten Agency’ where he got them recording time at Sound Canada for what was to be their debut single “Tell Me About It” with producer Greg Hambleton under their new name: The News. This original tune lost its original R & B appeal and with a change in sound, they began to lose their live audience. This affected the decision to release the record and the band split up. Six months later they re-invented themselves as The Blue Eyed Souls but they had lost all momentum and folded in 1968 following a gig at the House of Blues. with notes from Dan Roach.
Singles
as THE NEWS
1967 Tell Me About It/Going Down [unreleased]
LEE, Frank
Born: Francesco Querci
Former lead singer for The Mid-Knights following King Biscuit Boy’s departure to join Crowbar. After The Mid-Knights dissolved, Lee formed The Robert E. Lee Brigade and landed a deal with Columbia. Both the band and Lee released singles for the label simultaneously. Lee would go on to do a Rod Stewart tribute act for many years. He passed away in 1999 from prostate cancer. with notes from Barbie Querci. [also see ROBERT E. LEE BRIGADE]
Singles
1970 She/Spinning Wheel (Columbia) C4-2938
1971 Soft Summer Rain/I’m Losing Time (Columbia) C4-2994
LEESON, Maureen
Born: Maureen Louise Leeson on March 12, 1966 in Ottawa, Ontario
Maureen Leeson is the youngest of four children. With three older, louder, more demanding siblings, she would often not be heard at the dinner table as a pre-teen, and so would retire to the living room to play her mother’s upright Heintzman piano. Leeson would pluck out the notes that she knew how to read from on-again off-again piano lessons, and then start singing. Anne Landon was her music teacher at Rideau District High School in Elgin, Ontario, when Leeson started Grade 9 there. In band Landon taught her how to play the flute; in choir, she taught her how to sing properly. Leeson moved to Oshawa, Ontario, to attend Durham College. Through the late 80’s/early 90’s, she regularly guested with her brother Jef Leeson’s various country bands (including Ambush) and a number of Toronto cover bands like Ground Zero and The Carpet Frogs who had heard her singing at the Sunday Night Jam at Lee’s Palace in Toronto. But, her desire was to be in a band. Leeson wanted to sing for a living and decided to audition for Oshawa funk-rock act The Life and landed a spot as their back-up singer. In 1992 The Life took part in Toronto radio station Q107’s annual Homegrown contest and managed to get their song “Sunrise” on ‘Homegrown’ Volume 14 which was released on MCA Records in 1993. After a year, Leeson moved on in hopes of fronting her own group. She hooked up with another Durham College graduate in the fall of 1993, Geoff Wilson, and then recruited bassist Jaimie Vernon and drummer friend Duanne Welsh from the recently disbanded Moving Targetz. After showcasing some cover tunes at the Sunday night Lee’s Palace Jam, Spare Parts was born. For almost four years Spare Parts played all over southern Ontario, with regular trips to Maynooth, near Algonquin Park, to entertain the locals there. But after a couple years of doing other people’s music, artistic frustration set in and the desire to do something original took hold. They recorded under the pseudonym Sharon’SISTER and the eight-song CD EP ‘Steeped’ was released on Bullseye Records in 1996. In 1997, former Klaatu member Terry Draper adopted Sharon’SISTER as his backing band — rechristening the group Terry & The Twilight Zone who recorded a live album also released on Bullseye Records. However, Wilson’s desire to spend less time in the bars and more time with family led him to quit the band and they soon disbanded. This left Leeson seeking a new musical outlet. She began doing session work for Terry Draper’s solo releases, and with producer Brian Gagnon which included singing on professionally produced radio jingles for Kwik Copy and The City Of Vaughn to name just a few. But she missed performing live aspect and so, in 2000, Leeson answered an ad in the paper for Toronto cover band The Sugardaddies. Her tenure with this act lasted 4 years. During all this, Bullseye Records of Canada was committed to working with Leeson on a solo album. Producer/musician Creighton Doane (Honeymoon Suite, Harem Scarem) was brought in to orchestrate the recording and production of her debut album which would feature the musical talents of Melanie Doane, Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem), Jeff Jones (Red Rider), and Michael Borkosky (Soho 69, Alannah Myles). ‘Aka Moe’ was released in 2002. She co-wrote five of the ten songs with both Creighton and Melanie Doane. Randy Bachman also supplied a song he had written that he felt was suitable for her vocal style and Canadian hit songwriter John Boswell supplied three songs. She has toured and showcased the album sporadically since 2003 in Toronto, Chicago and New York with The Maureen Leeson Band — featuring such sidemen as Gene Scarpelli (Revolver, Crash Kelly, Goddo), Stacey Washington (Moving Targetz, The First Time) and Danny Ricardo (Gowan). In 2005 Leeson was also part of former Klaatu member Dee Long’s band Dee Long & The Short Notice for a live album and was then added to the full reunion of Klaatu in May 2005. The six song performance was recorded and eventually released on the band’s ‘Solology’ rarities CD in 2009. Her current day gig involves vocal and piano coaching in Highland Creek in the east end of Scarborough. Leeson occasionally reunites Spare Parts for one-off reunion shows for charity.
Albums
2002 aka Moe (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4075
2011 Reel Masters: The Moest Coverage [DigiFile] (Bullseye)
2011 Reel Masters: Songs In The Key of Moe – The Early Years [DigiFile] (Bullseye)
with Sharon’SISTER
1994 Crisis? What Identity Crisis? [cassette] (Bullseye) NOVA-041
1996 Steeped [6-song EP] (Bullseye) BEP-002
with TERRY & THE TWILIGHT ZONE
1997 From the ‘Cue to the ‘Shoe [CD-Rom] (Bullseye) BLP-CD-4011
with THE FURZALL FAMILY
2000 We’re The Furzalls (Bullseye) BEP-006
with DEE LONG AND THE SHORT NOTICE
2005 Long Live & Prosper (Bullseye) BLR-CD-410
with KLAATU
2009 Solology (Bullseye) BLR-CD-2517
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Holdin’ On” on ‘Unsigned Sealed & Delivered – Volume 4’ (Bullseye) BLP-CD-4006
2001 “A Song For Christmas” on ‘Takin’ Care of Christmas’ (Bullseye) BLP-CD-4019
2004 “Can’t Get Over It” on “Bullseye – Back to Back Hits” (Bullseye) BLR-CD-0050
2004 “Oh! Darling” on ‘It Was 40 Years Ago Today: A Tribute To The Beatles – Disc 3’ (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4060
2004 “I Only Wanna Be With You” on ‘Men in Plaid: A Tribute to the Bay City Rollers – 20th Anniversary Archives (Bullseye) BLP-CD-2002
2004 “December Dream” on “Around the Universe in 80 Minutes: A Tribute to Klaatu – 20th Anniversary Archives” (Bullseye) BLR-CD-2003
2005 “Frontline Sampler: 20th Anniversary 1985-2005” (Bullseye) BLR-CD-2020
2007 “Maybe You Will” on ‘Unsigned, Sealed & Delivered – In Pop We Trust: V2.2’ (Bullseye/Frontline) FL-804130
LEGEND KILLERS, The
Mike McGill (bass, vocals) / Chris Mittelholtz (guitar, vocals) / Earle Rutherford (lead, vocals) / Bill Wallace (drums, vocals)
From London, Ontario; McGill is currently in Teenage Head tribute band Disgusteen.
Singles
1989 Better Than Hammerin’ [4-song EP]
1991 The Legend Killers [5-song EP]
2003 The Legend Killers [Full CD]
Albums
1989 Shoot Magoo [cassette]
Compilation Tracks
1987 “Born Loser” on ‘Garunge’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1987 “Little Saldi Tease” on ‘Live In London’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1987 “Legend Killer Stomp” on ‘Wave From The Grave 2’ (What Wave/CHRW) #2
1988 “Shoot Magoo” on ‘Four Whom The Bell Tolls’ (CHRW)
1988 “I Can’t Control Myself” on ‘Disgraceland’ (What Wave/CHRW) #3
1989 “She Struck Me Down” on ‘Mr. Garager’s Neighbourhood’ (Og) OG-21
1989 “She Gone Wild” on ‘What’s All the Fuzz About’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1991 “Rattlesnake Beer” on ‘Eighth Wonder’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1992 “Rippin It Up” on ‘Cat O’ Nine Tails’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1996 “Zombie Janitors From Hell” on ‘London Crawling’ (What Wave/CHRW)
2004 “Cry, Cry, Cry” on ‘Thee Cave Comes Alive – Songs From The Lost What Wave Fanzine Tapes’
LEGGAT
Hughie Leggat (bass, vocals, guitars, mandolin, percussion) / Gord Leggat (guitars) / Danny Taylor (drums, percussion) / Rod Sagar (guitar, backing vocals) / Phil Sullivan (keyboards, flute, bass pedals)
Following the collapse of their commercial Album Oriented Rock act Private Eye in 1981, the Leggat brothers carried on an association with Capitol-EMI Canada. They cut a few demos with the Albert Brothers (Bee Gees) in Florida who attempted to steer the brothers toward disco. The band politely declined and moved over to Rick Hall’s Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals where they cut four songs. Though Capitol US gave the brothers a go ahead to continue working with the studio, the brothers returned to Canada. On the advice of former Daffodil Records president Frank Davies, they headed to Master’s Workshop in Rexdale, Ontario in 1981. With Toronto Sound engineer Steve Vaughan, they began recording album with Davies producing. The Leggats brought in former Lords of London/Nucleus/A Foot In Coldwater member Danny Taylor or drums plus Rod Sagar and Phil Sullivan to round out the full band. The sessions also featured additional musicianship from Gerald O’Brien and Steve Jensen both of Surrender. The album was released on Capitol in Canada in the spring of 1982 and despite enthusiasm from the media, radio wasn’t interested in any of the three singles released. With the failure of the album to attract commercial appeal, the brothers went on to other projects eventually resurfacing as The Mississippi Hippies in 2004. An interesting post-script is that Blue Oyster Cult were fans of the record and wanted to cover several tunes. In the end they recorded “White Flags” for their 1986 ‘Club Ninja’ album. The track was released as a single and became the band’s biggest hit in England since “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. with notes from Francis W. Davies. [also see PRIVATE EYE]
Singles
1982 Slippin’ Into Limbo/Lovin’ Me Is Gonna Break Your Heart (Capitol-EMI) 72883
1982 White Flags/Rolling Hard (Capitol-EMI) 72877
1982 Red Wine & White Lies/Today Is An Open Road (Capitol-EMI) 72891
Albums
1982 Illuminations (Capitol-EMI) CKBB-6489
LEGION
Paul Appeller / Joao Carvalho
This Windsor, Ontario act started life in 1984 as Foreign Legion. Their debut single, “Rachel”, was produced by Brian Danter (Teaze).
Singles
1985 Rachel/Rachel (Instrumental) (JLT) JLT-28501
LEHMAN, Mike
Born: Michael Andre Lehman
Former member of the band Yukon went solo in 1975 after being signed to Rubber Bullet records. He formed the band Full Flight to tour Canada featuring Bill Mononen (guitar), Wayne Dietrich (bass), Pat Ferlong (drums), and Cheryl Lescom (backing vocals). [also see YUKON]
Singles
1975 I’m On Fire/Here It Comes Again (Rubber Bullet) RB-101X
1976 You Know How Much I Love You/Give Me More (Rubber Bullet) RB-104X
1976 Magic Of A Feeling/To Be Loved (Rubber Bullet) RB-107X
1977 Step By Step/Send In The Clowns (Axe) AXE-42
1977 Someday/Can’t Stop Myself from Loving You (Axe) Axe-47
Albums
1979 Ladies And Gentlemen….. (Syren) WRC1-728
LEIGH ASHFORD
Dave Cairns (vocals, drums) / Joe Agnello (bass) / Newton Garwood (keys) / Gord Waszek (guitar) / Wally Cameron (drums; replaced Cairns) / Lance Wright (drums; replaced Cameron) / Craig Kaleal (drums; replaced Wright) / Buzz Shearman (vocals; replaced Cairns) / Bruno Weckerle (organ; replaced Garwood) / Don Elliott (bass; replaced Agnello) / Doni Underhill (bass; replaced Elliot) / Earl Johnson (guitar) / Terry Juric (bass) / Bill Wade (drums)
Leigh Ashford founders Waszek and Agnello knew each other as members of G.W. And The Demons at Riverdale High School in Toronto. Fresh out of high school, Agnello joined The Ambassadors and Waszek joined the Lee Ashford Blues Band. When the Lee Ashford Blues Band folded Waszek and keyboardist Newton Garwood joined Agnello and new drummer David Cairns (Tom And Ian And The Soul Set) as sidemen for The Spirit Revue. By early 1967 the four had grown tired of the suits and the restricting etiquette of the Spirit Revue and revived the name Lee Ashford as Leigh Ashford – complete with a fictitious biography that painted Ashford as a turn of the century prostitute. After playing around the growing Toronto rock scene for two years Guess Who producer Jack Richardson signed the act to his own Nimbus Records. Studio sessions were initiated for an album but collapsed when Cairns took ill. He was replaced in the studio for the bed-tracks by Wally Cameron (A Passing Fancy) and one useable track resulted in the long forgotten single “Country Place”. An attempt to get Cairns back on track faltered and Lance Wright (Terry & The Pyrates) filled in on drums until permanent replacement, Craig Kaleal, (Witness Inc.) was enlisted. A new vocalist, Buzz Shearman (Shearman & Peabody), was brought in to give the act a harder edge. In 1969 the band opened for the Vanilla Fudge at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto and later on that year, for the Who at the Rockpile in Toronto.With a release from their Nimbus deal, the band kept busy in the clubs, and occasional studio work, and as 1970 wore on, Garwood was replaced by Bruno Weckerle on keyboards. In 1971, Mort Ross’ Revolver Records picked up the band and took them into the RCA Studio in Toronto to produce the ‘Kinfolk’ album.While in New York, Leigh Ashford would do opening slots for The Who (at The Rockpile) and Vanilla Fudge. The album’s first single, “Dickens”, began gaining attention and upon returning to Canada they performed at the Strawberry Fields Festival in Mosport, Ontario. But, typical creative differences broke the band up by 1972. Waszek continued to work for Mort Ross and Revolver Records as Ross’ cash cow, Motherlode, was refit for a third incarnation headed by Waszek and featuring ex-Chimo! vocalist Breen LeBoeuf, future Triumph bassist Mike Levine and former Leigh Ashford bandmates Wally Cameron and Newton Garwood. After one failed Motherlode single, Waszek revived Leigh Ashford with Buzz Shearman, Cameron, Garwood and bassist Don Elliott (ex-Mandala). Mort Ross had another subsidiary label on the go, Hopi, and grabbed Leigh Ashford for one under-achieving single of Waszek originals – “Workin’ All Day” b/w “The Country’s Got A Soul Of Its Own”. With the departure of Elliott (with Doni Underhill taking over), the Leigh Ashford name was retired and they became Burgundy before, it too failed to chart a single. Waszek and Underhill decided to jump ship at this point and joined Fludd in 1974. Buzz Shearman kept the band and its name going for another two years before finally evolving into the hit recording act Moxy and helping future metal chanteuse Lee Aaron launch her solo career. Shearman would die tragically in a motorcycle accident in the early ’80’s; Agnello continued on as bassist for many showcase R & B acts around Toronto including Chuck Jackson; Underhill would eventually leave Fludd to reform the band Fingers with Waszek before moving on to stint with Trooper; Elliott went on to be an audio technician and cameraman; Waszek, meanwhile, did session work with the likes of Triumph (on “Just A Game”) and would spend a good part of the late ’80’s with Bobby Dupont and in the ’90’s as alternate lead guitar with Eagles tribute band Desperado which featured former members of Refugee. He is now a fully retired postal worker living in the USA; Bruce Weckerle died July 10, 2004 of complications from a stroke in 2003; Newton Garwood died of cancer November 4, 2005. with notes from Gary 17, Bill Munson, Mary Weckerle, Joe Agnello and Sebastian Agnello.
Singles
1969 Country Place/Ev’rything Is Easy (Nimbus 9/RCA) 75-1026
1971 Dickens/Lee Oompa Kum Pah Pah (Revolver) REVS-010
1971 Dickens/Lee Oompa Kum Pah Pah [re-issue] (Revolver/RCA/Victor) 75-1040
1971 Never Give Myself/Country Country (Revolver/RCA/Victor) 75-1054
1971 Good Day/Never Give Myself (Revolver/RCA – US) 74-0526
1972 Workin’ All Day/The Country’s Got A Soul All Its Own (Hopi) PI-1001
Albums
1971 Kinfolk (Revolver/RCA) LSP-4520
Compilation Tracks
1972 “Workin’ All Day” on ‘Concept’ [Silver]’ (Concept 376/ARC) PRP-206
LEIGH, Les
Canadian vocalist who has been in many groups including The Billy Van Four, Six People, The Johnny Burt Society, and the Sycamore Street Singers. [also see SIX PEOPLE, THE JOHNNY BURT SOCIETY, THE SYCAMORE STREET SINGERS]
Albums
1980 Without A Song (SRT – UK) SRTY/80/CUS706
LEN
Marc Costanzo [aka The Burger Pimp] / Sharon Costanzo / D-Rock / DJ Moves / Planet Pea [aka Kudu5] / Drunkness Monster
Based out of Toronto, Ontario, Len was formed originally as a four-piece in 1991. Brother and sister team Marc and Sharon Costanzo initially formed the group as a noise-driven punk-pop act while honing their beat-making skills with longtime friends/musicians on Canada’s East coast. From 1992 to 1996 LEN would release one EP and two albums on their own Funtrip Records label. Releasing 1996’s ‘Get Your Legs Broke’, with innovative indie self-directed videos for “Smarty Pants” and “Trillion Days,” they continued mining hip-hop grooves on the side and releasing other hip-hop acts on The Burger Pimp’s (aka Marc Costanzo) own Four Ways To Rock label. Both albums charted on the indie retail charts and the band was able to garner some Much Music attention with their self-directed videos. The act was signed to Work Group in 1998. They achieved some notoriety after their song “Steal My Sunshine” popped up on the ‘Go!’ movie soundtrack. The single for the song was released to CHR radio in April 1999 and began to achieve hit record status quickly. The video helped solidify the band’s ‘happy’ groove and propelled the June 1999 release of their full-length CD ‘You Can’t Stop The Bum Rush’. The video for the song won three awards at the September ’99 MuchMusic Video Awards. Len has found a resurgence in 2012 with a new management/production team spearheaded by EMI Publishing’s Barbara Sedun. With notes from Barbara Sedun.
Singles
1996 Smarty Pants (Funtrip)
1996 Trillion Days (Funtrip)
1999 Steal My Sunshine (Work Group/Epic/SONY) 667858
1999 Feelin’ Alright (Work Group/Epic/SONY) 669115
2000 Cryptik Souls Crew (Work Group/Epic/SONY) 669248
2002 I Don’t Wanna Die…(Not Knowing) (Dreamworks)
2012 It’s My Neighbourhood (BS Productions)
Albums
1992 Len [EP] (Funtrip)
1993 Len [LP] (Funtrip)
1996 Get Your Legs Broke (Funtrip)
1999 You Can’t Stop the Bum Rush (Work Group/Epic/SONY) OK-69528
2002 We Be Who We Are (Dreamworks) DRMF-13875
2005 Diary of the Madmen
2002 It’s Easy If You Try (BS Productions)
LEPAGE, Claire
Born: November 9, 1945 in Lachute, Quebec
Mostly known in Quebec for her remake of the Sonny & Cher hit “Bang! Bang,”
Lepage would makemore than a dozen single released until she left the music
business in 1972. During 1970 she was part of the band Claire LePage &
Compagnie featuring Germain Gauthier, Bill Lazariuk, and Richard Patry.
Singles
1966 Bang! Bang!/Je Suis Triste (Télédisc) TD-21
1966 J’Entends Cette Musique/Comment Se Fait… (Télédisc) TD 28
1966 Le premier chagrin d’amour/Le jour viendra (Télédisc) TD-30
1967 Bam Bam Bam (L’orage)/La Souris Et La Guitare (DSP) DSP-8604
1967 Dans Tous Les Pays/Dis-Moi Mon Ami (Télédisc) TD-46
1968 Bang Bang [4-song EP] (Super 4/DSP) S4-139-04
1968 Senor Et Senorita/Le Vieux Piano (DSP) DSP-8615
1968 La La La (He Gives Me Love)/La La La (He Gives Me Love) [Version Française] DSP-8629
1968 La Noël Des Petits/L’Ange Et La Petite Cloche (DSP) DSP-8638
1969 Tu reviens/Puff (DSP) DSP-8646
1969 Dis-Moi Mon Ami/Goodbye (DSP) DSP-8651
1971 Tant Qu’Il Y Aura L’Amour / La Chanson Sur Le Vent (Trans-World) TWF-70
1972 L’Amour S’Envole/Demain (Les Disques Maisonneuve) M-1802
with CLAIRE LEPAGE & COMPAGNIE
1970 L’Amour Est Là/Rendez-Vous Express (Trans-Canada) TC-3329
1971 Les Chemins De L’Amour/Demain (Trans-Canada) TC-3350
Albums
1966 Bang! Bang! (Télédisc) TD-361
1967 15 Disques D’Or (DSP) DSP-16018
1970 L’Histoire De Claire Lepage 2LP (Spectrum) SP-2-601
1972 Claire (Trans-World) TWF-9014
1999 Bang Bang (Disques Mérite) 22-2405
with CLAIRE LEPAGE & COMPAGNIE
1970 Claire LePage & Compagnie (Trans-Canada) TC-766
Compilation Tracks
1974 “L’Amour Est La,” Les Chemins De L’Amour,” and “Demain” on ‘4 Vedettes’ (Pacha) PAC-9606
LEPAGE, Denis
Born: Denis Richard Lepage
From Montréal, Québec. Lepage got his start in the early 1960s as a member of Swing Rock group Les Stringers. He’d then join the Ye Ye group The Persuaders (formerly André Rheault Et Ses Nobles (Les Nobles) who released several singles. In 1968 Lepage was part of the OUBA improv project (also known as Reels Psychedaliques) with Michel Pagliaro, Tony Roman, and Andy Shorter. During the early ’70s Lepage did production and session work for Les Karrick, Nanette Workman, and Les Scarabées among others. Come the mid-1970s, Lepage teamed up with Joe La Greca to produce albums and dance singles under the name Kat Mandu. After marrying Denyse Savaria the pair formed electro-dance duo Lime which found club success in the early 1980’s. Denis and Denyse Lepage reworked the Lime brand with help from Joe La Greca called Cherry-Lime for several new dance singles in the late 1980s. Denis Lepage and La Greca also worked under the name Diva at the same time with singer Sandy Wilbur. Denis Lepage and La Greca would carry on the early 1990s releasing dance singles under the pseudonyms Eva, Virginia Wolfe (with George Antiglio), Direct Input, The Hillbillies, Step By Step (with Denyse Lepage), The Brat Brothers, and Amithia (Geraldine Cordeau). Denis LePage later came out as transgender, singing under the alias Nini Nobless. [also see LIME, PERSUADERS, KAT MANDU, OUBA, BOMBERS]
Singles
1979 Hot Wax (6:20)/Magnum (6:57) [12″] (Celsius) 12CLS-7003
as BLUSH
1994 I Want To Love [4 mixes 12″] (Igwana/Unidisc) IG-4900
as THE PROFESSOR
1968 With These Hands/Out Of Left Field//[split w/LOTSA POPPA] (Lotta Soul/London) LS-5001
with DIVA
1981 Double Trouble/Double Trouble (Instrumental) (Matra/Downstairs) WN-356
with EVA
1991 Are You Ready For Love [4 mixes] (BGM America – US) BGM-1203
with VIRGINIA WOLFE
1993 Superstar Do You Know Who You Are?
Virginia Wolfe – Superstar Do You Know Who You Are?/ same (independent) 007
with DIRECT INPUT
1993 Stealing The Nigh 4 remixes 12″ (Ha! Ha! Production – US) HA-195
1994 Big Lips Babe (Club Mix)/Big Lips Babe (More Bass Club) (Future Tell) FT-1910
1994 Human Race 4 mixes 12″ (Igwana/Unidisc) IG-4901
with STEP BY STEP
1994 Don’t Let It Get You Down [3 mixes CD] (Future Tell) FT45-1010
1994 Don’t Let It Get You Down [4 mixes 12″] (BGM America – US) BGMA-1011
1994 Your Love (Bogart Mix)/Your Love (Vocal Remix) [12″] (BGM America – US) BGMA-1021
with THE BRAT BROTHERS
1994 Tickle, Tickle (Don’t Stop) (Ball Mix)/Tickle, Tickle (Don’t Stop) (Short Ball Mix) [12″] (BGM America – US) BGMA-1022
with AMITHIA
1995 Music Lover [3 mixes 12″] (BGM America – US) BGM-1028
with THE HILLBILLIES
1996 Cousin Willie [3 mixes 12″] (Lime Inc.) LI-1010
Albums
197? Dansez Avec Denis Lepage (Franco-Élite) EL-11617
1994 Just Friends – Jazz (Future Tell) FT4-1339
as MAGNUM
1986 Magnum [5-song EP] (Celsius/BGM) BGM-L-001
with LES STRINGERS
1964 Swing Rock Swing Avec Les Stringers (Caprice) CPL-24010
1964 Swing Rock Swing With The Stringers (Banff) RBS-1207
with STEP BY STEP
1994 Reason Of My Life (Future Tell) FTCD-1340
as NO BLESS
2008 All Night Long (AC) ACNB-0001
as NINI NOBLESS
2008 Music Varieties (AC) ACNB-0003
2009 Man Size Mistress (AC) ACNB-0005
2012 Ladyboy To Ladyboy (AC) ACNB-0009
2015 Full Time Tranny (AC)
LEROY, James
Born: April 3, 1947
Died: May 10, 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario
James Leroy was born in 1946 in Martintown, Ontario. When his father became the city-wide franchisee for Canadian Tire in Ottawa the family relocated there in the mid-60’s. Despite the tutelage of Bruce Cockburn to hone his skills as a folksinger, Leroy decided to dive into the contemporary pop field. With the assist of The Esquires’ Gary Comeau starting in 1970 he began the process of assembling a band around Leroy which initially included Ritchie Grand of the Mynah Birds. But, it took until 1971 for all the parts to gel with the addition of former members of the Harry Young band JUMBO (David Oslund, Gibby Lacasse, Chuck Bergeron) along with Gary Comeau and Val Tuck (from Canada Goose) to play and record his original material. One song Leroy had written was “You Look Good In Denim” and the band used Denim as its name. James Leroy and Denim were signed to GRT Records and managed several singles throughout 1973 before disbanding. Leroy continued on with GRT as a solo artist. In the mid-70s he was entertainment manager at the Water Tower Inn in Sault Ste. Marie where he hooked up with the touring Major Hoople’s Boarding House. He convinced them to drop the Major Hoople’s part of their name and fronted the band briefly. After leaving Boarding House, he collaborated with a group originally from Winnipeg called The Terry Crawford Band, reworking many of the songs he had written for Boarding House to suit the voice of lead vocalist Terry Johnson under the new handle ‘Crawford’. Leroy committed suicide and died at Ottawa’s Macy Hotel, May 10, 1979 at the age of 32. with notes from Richard Patterson, Harvey Glatt, George Pollard, Gary Comeau, Hope Stone, and Reg Moore.
Singles
1974 Some Kind Of Fool/Fast Eddie (GRT) 1230-80
1974 Lady Ellen/Lady Comes (GRT) 1230-86
with JAMES LEROY & DENIM
1973 Touch of Magic/Comin’ On Home (GRT) 1230-47
1973 You Look Good In Denim/Lady Of The Night (GRT) 1230-53
1973 Make It All Worthwhile/Comin’ To A Party (GRT) 1230-65
1978 You Look Good In Denim/Touch of Magic [re-issue] (GRT) 1230-147
Albums
with JAMES LEROY & DENIM
1973 Denim (GRT) 9230-1034
2019 Touch of Magic (Mousehole/Pacemaker) PACE-098
Compilation Tracks
1975 “Lady Ellen’ on ‘Power Pak’ (K-Tel) TC-223
with JAMES LEROY & DENIM
1973 “Touch of Magic” on ‘Concept’ [Gold] (Concept 376/Arc) PRP-208
1973 “Make It All Worthwhile” on ‘Sound Explosion’ (K-Tel) TC-213
LESKIW, Greg
Greg Leskiw began playing guitar at the age of 12. During “kitchen jam sessions” his father, who performed with small combos that toured in Western Manitoba in the 30’s and 40’s, taught him the popular songs of that eras. Throughout his school years Leskiw continued to develop his chops and went on to play with Winnipeg rock bands The Shags, Logan Avenue, and Wild Rice. Leskiw’s fortunes changed when Wild Rice broke up and Randy Bachman left The Guess Who. The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings gave Leskiw a call and he was soon added to the band. The Guess Who toured North America extensively, performing for the Royal Family and at the White House for President Richard Nixon. The band also performed overseas in England, France, Belgium, Germany, and Italy. Leskiw received gold albums and JUNO Awards for the albums ‘Share the Land’, ‘So Long Bannatyne’, and ‘Rockin’’, plus a platinum album award for ‘Best of The Guess Who (Volume 1)’. It was during this period that Leskiw began songwriting and penning songs such as “Coming Down Off the Money Bag”, “One Divided”, and “Grey Day”. In 1972 Leskiw left The Guess Who to form Mood Jga Jga who signed with Warner Bros. in Los Angeles and recorded their debut album in New York City with producer Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Billy Joel). Mood Jga Jga’s successful career has spanned more than two decades on and off. Throughout the 70’s, Leskiw continued to perform with Mood jga jga, Crowcuss, and the Les Q Band which was renamed Kilowatt when the signed to Delacorte Records. The mid-80’s saw Leskiw’s focus change from performing live to recording and music production when he opened Vox Pop Studios. Vox Pop soon became a popular recording studio for local Winnipeg Groups such as Crash Test Dummies, The New Meanies and Mood jga jga. The studio operated from 1986 to 1997, during which time Leskiw continued to write songs, record and produce local Winnipeg artists. In 1997, Mood jga jga released a new album entitled ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ and performed at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival and on the talk show ‘Gabereau Live!’ with Vicki Gabereau. By that summer Leskiw had formed SwingSoniq, an acoustic trio dedicated to the feel and style of the 30’s and 40’s. With notes from Greg Leskiw. [also see CROWCUSS, THE GUESS WHO, JAMIESON-ROBERTS DEVICE, KILOWATT, MOOD JGA JGA]
Singles
with LES Q
1979 Rite Hand Driver/Do What You Want Mama (SL) WRC3-764
Albums
with LES Q
1979 Be My Champion (SL) CSPS-1346
with SWING SONIQ
1998 Swing Soniq (SwingSoniq) SwingSoniq-1
LESLIE SPIT TREEO
Laura Hubert (vocals) / Pat Langner (rhythm guitar) / Jack Nicholsen (guitar) / Jason Sniderman (keyboards; 1992) / Frank Randazzo (bass; 1992) / Joel Anderson (drums; 1992) / Vince Montago (drums; 1997) / Shaun Noronha (bass; 1997) / Jason Reed (lead guitar; 1997) / Tag (dog)
The Spits, as they are sometimes known, started out rehearsing at the foot of the Leslie Street Spit in Toronto (a landfill site at the Harbourfont). After playing at the duMaurier Theatre Festival in the Water’s Edge Cafe they began busking in the streets where they honed their alternative folk music. The group was spotted by Canadian film maker Bruce McDonald in 1989 and landed a role in McDonald’s breakthrough film ‘Roadkill’ which featured their song “The Sound”. Nicholsen would also star in the movie ‘Perfectly Normal’ in 1990. With the help of Glass Tiger manager Joe Bamford the band secured a recording contract with Capitol Records in the Fall of 1990 and released their first album ‘Don’t Cry Too Hard’ the same year. With the success of the singles ‘Heat’ and John Prine’s ‘Angel of Montgomery’, plus a release on IRS in the US with supporting tour for 7 weeks with The Alarm, they won a JUNO Award for ‘Most Promising Group’ in 1991. By 1992 they had added keyboardist Jason Sniderman (Blue Peter), drummer Joel Anderson (NEO A4) and bassist Frank Randazzo to complete their line-up. The follow-up Joe Hardy/Chris Wardman produced album, ‘Book of Rejection’, was more rock and roll with the addition of Randy Bachman on several songs including the first single “In Your Eyes”. The making of ‘Book of Rejection’ had been an unpleasant experience particularly in that EMI and the Leslie Spit Treeo had contradictory visions of the band’s direction. The band asked to be let out of the remainder of their 6 album deal and in 1993 EMI obliged. The group changed its name to simply The Spits – having ditched the Treeo handle following the departure of Jack Nicolsen in the Spring of ’93 (he would late marry and took his wife’s name Mathews for a new stage name) – and found themselves working for six months on Bruce McDonald’s movie ‘Dance Me Outside’ appearing as the movie’s houseband and having material on the soundtrack. To try and make a fresh start, they sent their old producer friend, Joe Hardy, whom they had worked with on ‘Book Of Rejection’, a demo and he invited the act down to his home studio in Memphis to record, for free — also waving his production fee. Kim Mitchell gave the band some unused tape (from his ‘Itch’ album sessions) to record on and other Toronto area musicians lent a hand to the near destitute musicians – from singers David Ramsden and Cindy Matthews to Lori Yates and Blue Rodeo’s Basil Donovan, and keyboardist Jason Sniderman (son of Sam The Record Man’s Sam Sniderman) who also fronted cash for the band to press their disc. The CD ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ (named after a place in Toronto’s Kensington Market where the duo would regularly eat) was released in 1994 on their own TAG Records (named after their dog mascot). After the initial pressing sold out, the band realized that their visibility had been affected with the misleading name, ‘Spits’, and they would eventually re-release the disc in 1995 as The Leslie Spit Treeo. In 1995 and 1996 they recorded their next album, tweaking material a an open stage they ran at Toronto’s The Cameron House. The disc was a cleverly marketed double CD called ‘Chocolate Chip Cookies’ which came in a cookie bag that was similar in design to a Chips Ahoy package by the Nabisco Company. The band received a cease and desist order from the confectionery company and the group was forced to destroy the offending packaging — through a ceremonial bonfire in Toronto’s High Park — and re-issued the disc with altered artwork. In the summer and fall of 1997 they began touring with a reconstituted version of the band. They also did a quick tour of Ontario in the summer of 1998 and plans are underway for the act to write the ultimate ‘rock musical’ which they’ve self-described as “our geriatric ‘Rent’”.
Singles
1991 Angel From Montgomery/In The Round/Moon At Noon (Fade) [cassingle] (Capitol) 4JM-73138
1991 Heat (Capitol)
1991 UFO (Catch The Highway) (Capitol)
1992 In Your Eyes/Unforgiven (Capitol-EMI) 4JM-73182
1992 Sometimes I Wish (Capitol-EMI)
1993 Happy (Capitol-EMI)
1994 Runaway (TAG)
Albums
1990 Don’t Cry Too Hard (Capitol) C2-94856
1992 Book of Rejection (EMI) C2-99646
1995 Hell’s Kitchen [re-issue] (Tag/Dark Light) DL-12005
1997 Chocolate Chip Cookies [2CD] (TAG/Page) TAG-9602
as THE SPITS
1994 Hell’s Kitchen (P.A.M/Tag) PAM-666
Compilation Tracks
1989 “The Sound” on ‘Roadkill’ (Denon) CAN-9006
1991 “Heat” on ‘Juno Awards Twentieth Anniversary (The Official 1991 Collection)’ [2CD (CARAS)
1992 “She’s A Slut” on ‘New Stuff’ (MMS) NSCD-001
1994 “Dirt On Me” on ‘Dance Me Outside’ (Denon) CAN-9018
1995 “Just Want The Proof” on ‘The Kumbaya Album 1995’ (Warner) CD-11719
1996 “Ancient Eyes” on ‘Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider’ (EMI) 7-2438-32950-2-9
1996 “Can’t Stop” on ‘Page 2’ (Page) PM-1270
as TREEO
1993 “Snowflake” on ‘Keeping Our Country Christmas Together’ (Sony) CCMAS-93
LEWIS, Glenn
Born: Glenn Ricketts Jr. on March 13, 1975 in Toronto, Ontario.
Toronto singer Glenn Ricketts is the son of Crack of Dawn member Glenn Ricketts. From ages 8 to 14 he lived in Trinidad before moving back to Toronto, Ontario where he attended Eastern Commerce Collegiate. He would win the high school’s talent contest by covering singing Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. Following graduation, Lewis began recording demos and performing in Toronto bars. In 1997 he was signed to a development deal with Beat Factory/BMG Music which produced his first single, “The Thing to Do”. The song was nominated for a JUNO Award as ‘Best R & B/Soul Recording’. The follow-up single, “Bout Your Love”, in 1998 replicated the success and a second JUNO Award nomination. He then appeared on Jazmin’s ‘Better Be Good’ album in 1999 dueting with her on the song “Whatever It Takes”. With additional appearances on albums by Kardinal Offishall and De La Soul in 2001, he came to the attention of Epic Records who released his debut CD, ‘World Outside My Window’, in March 2002. The first single, “Don’t You Forget It”, and a tour with Alicia Keyes drove the album to No.4 on the Billboard album charts. The song also won him a JUNO Award for ‘Best R & B/Soul Recording’ that year. Lewis found himself on the big screen that year as well making a guest appearance in the Jennifer Lopez film ‘Maid in Manhattan’. His version of the song “Fall Again” (which was demoed by Michael Jackson but never completed before his untimely death) was used in the soundtrack. Lewis also released a live concert DVD for Christmas 2002. Pre-production began in earnest for his follow-up album, ‘Back for More’, in 2003 including the release of the title track as the first single which featured a return favour appearance by rapper Kardinal Offishall. was released to radio and a video began to air. Despite scheduling promises, the album never materialized. However, Lewis did garner a Grammy nomination that year for his duet with Amel Larrieux on Stanley Clarke’s “Where Is This Love”. Frustrated with the lack of progressive in getting his music released by Epic Records, Lewis left the label in 2005. He would sign with Underdog Entertainment the following year to work on an album project with The Underdogs entitled ‘Remember Me’. The album was slated for a 2007 release and, again, never came to fruition ending his relationship with Underdog. By 2009, Lewis had reconnected with Andre Harris and Vidal Davis (aka Dre & Vidal), who produced his debut CD and began working on a new album. A completed track, “Good One”, was leaked on a website in December, 2010 and Lewis was forced to release the single to radio the following week. A year later the album had still not been released but Lewis had signed with EMI through IAMP. To date, Lewis has yet to put out a sophomore album.
Singles
1997 The Thing You Do (Beat Factory/BMG)
1998 Bout Your Love (Beat Factory/BMG)
2001 Don’t You Forget It (Epic/Sony) EAS-56829
2001 What’s Come Over Me [w/Amel Larrieux] (Epic/Sony) EAS-58001
2001 Never Too Late/Beautiful Eyes (Epic/Sony)
2002 It’s Not Fair (Epic/Sony) 79722
2002 Testin’/I Try (Remix) [w/Macy Gray] (Epic/Sony)
2003 Back For More [w/Kardinall Off!shall] (Epic/Sony) 34K-3454
2010 Good One
Albums
2002 World Outside My Window (Epic/Sony) 85787
Compilation Tracks
1997 “The Thing You Do” on ‘GROOVEssentials Volume One’ (Beat Factory/BMG)
2001 “Don’t You Forget It” on ‘Red Star Sounds, Vol. 1: Soul Searching’ (Sony)
2002 “Fall Again” on ‘Maid in Manhattan [Motion Picture Soundtrack]’ (Sony) EK-86921
2003 “Superstition” on ‘Conception – An Interpretation of Stevie Wonder’s Songs’ (Motown)
Collaboration Tracks
with JAZMIN
1999 “Whatever It Takes” on ‘Better Be Good’ (Attic) ACD-1541
with KARDINAL OFF!SHALL
2001 “G Walkin'” on ‘Quest for Fire: Firestarter, Vol. 1 (MCA) 811256
2008 “Family Tree (Still Eyerize)” on ‘Not 4 Sale’ (Kon Live)
with DE LA SOUL
2001 “Am I Worth You?” on ‘AOI: Bionix’ (Tommy Boy) TB-1362
with STANLEY CLARKE
2003 “Where Is the Love” [w/Amel Larrieux] ‘1, 2, To The Bass’ (Epic) EK-67346
with RHYMEFEST
2010 “Agony” on ‘El Che’ (dN|Be)
LEWIS, John
Guitarist from Hamilton, Ontario and one-time member of The Shakers. Lewis would all but give up his music career after the tragic death of his 11 year-old daughter Claire Lewis in October 2011. He and his wife, Brenda, began the Revolution Hope Fund at Hamilton Community Foundation with gifts made in Claire’s memory. The fund focuses on programs and activities to help young people, particularly children at risk, experience the arts. The family’s goal is to raise $1 million in the fund.
Singles
1987 I Don’t Wanna Be Lonely/In Your Magazine
Albums
1983 Gator Blue (World) WRC1-2386
1987 Prisoner of Gravity (Freedom) FR-018
LEXINGTON AVENUE
Donald Brown (guitar, vocals) / Tommy Horricks (saxophone, vocals) / Lyn McEachem (drums, vocals) / Joey Stapansky (keyboards, vocals) / George Stevenson (bass, vocals) / Doug Muncaster (drums; replaced McEachern 1968) / Peter Demian (bass; replaced Stevenson 1968)
Thunder Bay’s Lexington Avenue was originally known as The Plague when they released two singles for Quality Records in 1996/1967. With a musical shift the band changed names as they were writing and recording in the new ‘Summer of Love’ psychedelic style that emerged. Their first single, “Bird Collector”, was released on RCA/Victor but McEachern and Stevenson were soon replaced by Doug Muncaster and Peter Demian respectively. The new line-up would record two singles for Columbia Records in 1968 before self-destructing; Horricks would go on to play in The Jarvis Street Revue; Demian joined The Good Time Band with future Crowbar guitarist John Gibbard. [also see THE PLAGUE]
Singles
1967 Bird Collector/Flowing Kind of Feeling (RCA Victor Canada International) 57-3450
1968 Farmer John/Wendy Taylor (Columbia) C4-2879
1968 Good To Me/Sound The Alarm (Columbia) C4-2880
Compilation Tracks
2002 “Bird Collector”, “Sound the Alarm”, “Wendy Taylor”, Flowing Kind of Feeling” and “Good To Me” on ‘The Gaiety Records Story’ (Pacemaker) PACE-020
2003 “Farmer John” on ‘The Gaiety Records Story II’ (Pacemaker) PACE-044
LEYDEN ZAR
Serge Gratton (drums) / Paul Grondin (lead vocals, bass) / Pascal Mailloux (vocals; keyboards) / Jacques Noel (rhythm guitar) / Brian Wilson (lead guitar) / Eddie Stevens (guitar; replaced Wilson)
Québec quintet was formed in 1976 as backing band for singer Robert Leroux. Eventually the line-up of Grondin, Gratton, Mailloux, Noel and Wilson went off on their own to work on original material. Their debut album was released to minimal fanfare and a line-up change ensued. Their second album, ‘Leyden Zar’, was produced by Walter Rossi and was fronted by by Mailloux had to do double vocal duty to make up for the loss of former vocalist Grondin. Guitar came courtesy of Stevens who replaced Scotsman Brian Wilson.
Singles
1981 Back Street Girl/Danger Zone (A & M) AM-526
1981 Money Talks Loud!/Mirrors (A & M) AM-537
1985 It’s Alright (LP Version)/It’s Alright (Video Mix) (CBS) 7MAG-702
1985 I Wanna Be Lovin’ You (Remix)/I Want You Back (Epic/CBS) 7MAG-703
Albums
1981 Leyden Zar (A & M) SP-4860
1985 Leyden Zar (Epic/CBS) AGE-2001
Compilation Tracks
1978 “Sunnyside Up” on ‘L’esprit’ (CHOM L’esprit) CH-7801
LICK ‘N’ STICK
Paul Vigna [aka Paul James] (guitar, vocals) / Rick Law (bass) / Martin Soldat (keyboards) / Bob Hancock (drums) / Brian Fraser (keys; replaced Soldat)
Blues guitarist Paul Vigna played around the seedier side of the Toronto club scene in the early 70’s and he soon decided that to make a living doing what he loved he needed to put a band together. The group was called Lick N’ Stick, and were signed to Columbia Records in 1974. There followed several singles on their own imprint, Lick ‘N’ Stick Records distributed by Columbia, but Vigna disagreed with the label’s insistence that the band pursue a disco career and there was no album ever released. Vigna decided to distance himself from the perception of Lick ‘N’ Stick as a disco act and began pursuing his blues roots. After a three month stint with Mink DeVille in Europe, Vigna returned to Canada a better musician and with a new name – Paul James – which has given him a lengthy solo career ever since; Martin Soldat would go on to be an award winning graphic artist. [also see PAUL JAMES BAND]
Singles
1975 Gravity Of Sin/Take It Easy (Columbia) C4-4070
1975 Under My Thumb/You Can’t Do Nothing For Me (Columbia) C4-4118
1975 Mary Ann/Come and Get My Love (Columbia) C4-4134
LIETTE ET FRANÇOIS
François Bégin (guitar) / Liette Lomez (vocals)
Following a short career in a duo with her sister Celine, Liette Lomez met François Bégin (also known as François D’Assise), and they formed their own successful musical collaboration beginning in 1969; Liette Lomez, died on November 17, 2014 from cancer at the age of 61. [also see CÉLINE ET LIETTE]
Singles
1970 Le Premier Amour/Vivrec Avec Toi (Trans-World) TWF-53
1970 L’Amour Que J’ai Pour Toi/Le Monde A Refaire (Trans-World) TWF-61
1971 Le Secret Du Bonheur/Je Suis Fier De T’aimer (Trans-World) TWF-73
1971 Inter-Loto/C’est Si Bon La Vie (Les Disques Trans-World) TWF-80
1972 On Reviens Toujours Ensemble/En Jamaïque (Trans-World) TF4-88
1973 Heureux/L’Amour Est Comme Un Arc-En -Ciel (Trans-World) TF4-110
1974 On Sera Bien Ensemble/Un Jour Tu Vas Exploser (Trans-World) TF9-129
1974 Une Vie Pour S’aimer/Une Vie Pour S’aimer (Instrumental) (Pirate) P-7911
1974 Le Premier Amour/Avec Un Tout P’tit Peu D’Amour (Les Disques Millionnaires) MG-100127
1976 La Paloma Blanca/La Paloma Blanca (Instrumental) (Pirate) P-7921
Albums
1971 François Et Liette (Trans-World) TWF-3500
2010 Le Top 30 [split w/L’ALBATROS] (Disques Mérite) 22-8526
LIFE
Barry Albert (acoustic & electric guitar) / J.P. Lauzon (guitar) / Neil Sheppard (horns, strings) / Michael Ship (organ, vocals) / Marty Simon (drums, vocals) / Danny Zimmerman (bass) / Malcolm Tomlinson (flute)
Having left Bartholomew Plus 3 in the summer of 1968 to continue working and pay for University, Barry Albert hooked up with LIFE who were signed to Polydor in 1969. Their first single, a cover of the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever”, brought them notoriety but it would be their second single “Hands of the Clock” which reached No. 27 on the CHUM Chart, made the RPM Magazine Top40 across Canada in August 1969 and the Billboard Top100 in the USA. Albert left to continue his schooling and was replaced by former J.B. & The Playboy/Carnival Connection member J.P. Lauzon. The band would carry on with several more singles and a full-length LP in 1970. The band split up not long after the album release; Simon would go on to win many awards for sound-design on TV (‘Lexx’) & movie soundtracks (‘Scanners II & III’). Simon is now the Vice-Chairman of SOCAN and tracks down royalties for artists all over the world; Albert became the business manager for a top session singer in Québec and still continues to perform as well; Lauzon went on to be in Our Generation plus a short stint in The Wackers before carrying on with a modest solo career and was, until 2008, in a band called Helium. with notes from Barry Albert. [also see MARTY SIMON]
Singles
1969 Strawberry Fields Forever/Come Into Me (Polydor) 540-005
1969 Hands Of The Clock/Ain’t I Told You Before (Polydor) 540-009
1970 Sweet Lovin’/Desire (Polydor) 540-013
1970 Needing You/Lovin’ Time (Polydor) 540-017
Albums
1970 Life (Polydor) 2424-001
LIGHTFOOT, Gordon
Born: Gordon Meredith Lightfoot on November 17, 1938 in Orillia, Ontario.
Died: May 1, 2023
Gordon Lightfoot was a soprano as a boy performing on local radio and as part of Kiwanis’ various festivals including an appearance at Toronto’s Massey Hall when he was 13. In his teens he took up piano and drums and sang in a barbershop quartet. Starting in 1957, he studied jazz orchestration at Westlake College of Modern Art in Los Angeles. Upon returning to Canada in late 1958, he worked with ‘Country Hoedown’ group The Swinging Eight as well as the Gino Silvi Singers. After taking up guitar and embracing folk music he formed The Two Tones with vocalist/guitarist Terry Whelan and began performing at coffee houses starting in 1961. Chateau Records came knocking and recorded the duo at the Village Corner for a live album released in 1962. This led to an appearance at the Mariposa Folk Festival that summer. Chateau also took a shining to Lightfoot as a soloist and released the single “(Remember Me) I’m The One” which led to offers from publishers. Lightfoot followed requests to appear on BBC-TV in England for their ‘Country And Western Show’ while establishing songwriting relationships with up and coming British female artists. The publishing prospects never panned out in the UK, but Lightfoot came back with a larger appreciation for the new British Invasion sweeping the world and for upcoming folk troubadours like Bob Dylan. With a keen eye on trends and commercial prospects, Lightfoot’s style led him to actual song placements with Ian & Sylvia Tyson and Peter Paul & Mary. Following the chart success of his first hit, “I’m Not Saying”, in 1965 for United Artists, country acts began paying attention to his songwriting as well. Both Leroy Van Dyke and Marty Robbins recorded his songs soon after. Through the ’60s he followed up with many modest single releases on United Artists, but larger successes came from his tunes being covered by Chad & Jeremy, Harry Belafonte, Judy Collins, The Johnny Mann Singers, and George Hamilton IV (who would release an entire album of Lightfoot tunes). With this success he was invited to play both the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island and the Town Hall in New York City in 1965. The following year he would tour with Ian & Sylvia in England. In 1967 he played the first solo show of 40 years worth of residencies at Massey Hall in Toronto. His three appearances there in 1969 were recorded for the album ‘Sunday Concert’. In 1970 Lightfoot signed a new recording deal with Reprise Records. The bulk of his biggest solo hits came during the period with Reprise between 1970 and 1977 including “If You Could Read My Mind”, “Sundown”, “Carefree Highway”, “Summerside of Life”, “Beautiful”, “Rainy Day People” and “Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald”. Extensive global touring, including two trips to Australia, kept Lightfoot in the public spotlight around the world during this period. In 1971 Sound Canada Studio owner/producer Art Snider controlled the masters of some old sessions by Lightfoot and Snider decided to capitalize on Lighfoot’s success by releasing the album ‘Early Lightfoot’. Lightfoot soon bought the masters back from Snider, bought up every single copy of the album he could find in warehouses and in record shops, and with his manager, laid them out in his driveway where they took an axe and smashed every single copy making the record extremely rare. His late 1970s and 1980s output was through Reprise’s parent company Warner Music where he enjoyed success with “Daylight Katy”, “Endless Wire”, “Anything for Love” and “The Circle Is Small” amongst others. He performed 40 to 50 dates annually on world tours including his first jaunt to Europe in 1981. Through the 1990’s Lightfoot returned to his acoustic roots and recorded two new albums – ‘Waiting for You’ and ‘A Painter Passing Through’. He was still averaging 50 concerts a year. Several retrospective CD collections sprang up including Rhino Records’ 4 CD set called ‘Songbook’. In September 2002, just before the second of two shows in Orillia, Lightfoot fell ill and was airlifted to McMaster Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ontario where he underwent surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He was in a six-week coma where he received a tracheotomy, and subsequently underwent four additional operations. The remainder of his 2002 tour was canceled and he was finally released from hospital before Christmas of that year. In 2003 Lightfoot underwent follow-up surgery to continue the treatment of his abdominal condition. In November he signed a new recording contract with Linus Entertainment and began rehearsing with his band for the first time since his illness. January 2004 saw Lightfoot finally complete the ‘Harmony’ album he had been working on prior to falling ill for Linus Entertainment. In 2005, he was guest of honour on the TV show ‘Canadian Idol’ where singing contestants performed his songs – including a group version of ‘Canadian Railroad Trilogy’. He then headed out on a low-key tour called the ‘Better Late Than Never Tour’. In September 2006, Lightfoot suffered a minor stroke during another show that eventually left him without the use of the middle and ring fingers on his right hand. But he returned to performing nine days later. Though he was forced to use a substitute guitarist in some live shows, he has since regained the use of his fingers and continues playing all his own guitar parts live. During the planning stages of a new tour in 2008, Lightfoot’s long-time manager, Barry Harvey, and so Lightfoot took the year off returning in late 2009 for a 26 city tour. In February 2010 Lightfoot was rumoured to have died in a viral Twitter hoax. Lightfoot was at a dental appointment when the story broke nationally. He called radio station CJOB in Montreal and cleared up the misunderstanding. It is unknown where the story originated. During the Occupy Toronto political protests, Lightfoot made a public appearance at St. James Park in Toronto to voice his concerns about the state of jobs and the economy alongside protestors – which included his daughter. Total worldwide career album sales are estimated at 10 million copies which includes 500,000 units each for ‘Sit Down Young Stranger’, ‘Sundown’, ‘Gord’s Gold’ and ‘Wireless Wire’ plus 1,000,000 copies of ‘Summertime Dream’. Lightfoot became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1970, and was named a Member of the Order of Ontario in 1988. Gordon Lightfoot passed away May 1, 2023. with notes from Valerie L. Magee, Bob Doidge, and Lindsay Morgan.
Singles
1962 (Remember Me) I’m The One/Daisy-Doo (Chateau) C-142
1962 I’ll Meet You in Michigan/Is My Baby Blue Tonight
1962 It’s Too Late, He Wins/Negotiations (Chateau) C-148
1963 Day Before Yesterday/Take Care of Yourself (Fontana – UK) TF-405
1965 For Lovin’ Me/I’m Not Sayin’ (Warner Music) WB-5621
1965 Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues/Ribbon of Darkness (United Artists) UA-929
1967 Go-Go Round/I’ll Be Alright (United Artists) UA-50114
1967 The Way I Feel/Peaceful Waters (United Artists) UA-50152
1968 Black Day In July/Pussy Willows, Cat-tails (United Artists) UA-50281
1968 Bitter Green/Does Your Mother Know (United Artists) UA-50447
1969 Movin’ (Soundtrack)/[Jean-Pierre Ferland] (Canadian National) PRC-5000
1970 Me And Bobby McGee/The Pony Man (Reprise) 0926
1970 If You Could Read My Mind/Poor Little Allison (Reprise) 0974
1971 This Is My Song/Sleep Little Jane (Ame/Quality) AME-102X
1971 If I Could/Softly (United Artists) UA-50765
1971 Talking In Your Sleep/Nous Vivons Ensemble (Reprise) 1020
1971 Summer Side Of Life/Love And Maple Syrup (Reprise) 1035
1972 Beautiful/Don Quixote (Reprise) REP-1088
1972 Same Old Obsession/You Are What I Am (Reprise) REP-1128
1972 10 Degrees And Gettin’ Colder
1973 Can’t Depend On Love/It’s Worth Believin’ (Reprise) REP-1145
1974 High And Dry
1974 Sundown/Too Late For Prayin’ (Reprise) REP-1194
1974 Carefree Highway/Seven Island Suite (Reprise) R-1309
1975 Cold On The Shoulder/Bells of the Evening (Reprise – France) 14390
1975 Rainy Day People/Cherokee Bend (Reprise) REP-1328
1976 The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald/The House You Live In (Reprise) RPS-1369
1977 Race Among The Ruins/Protocol (Reprise) RPS-1380
1978 The Circle Is Small (I Can See It In Your Eyes)/Sweet Guinevere (Warner Music) WBS-8518
1978 Daylight Katy/Hangdog Hotel Room (Warner Music) WBS-8579
1978 Dreamland/Song the Minstrel Sang (Warner Music) WBS-8644
1980 Dream Street Rose/Make Way For the Lady (Warner Music) WBS-49230
1980 If You Need Me/Mr. Rock of Ages (Warner Music) WBS-49516
1982 Baby Step Back/Thank You For The Promises (Warner Music) WBS-50012
1982 Blackberry Wine/Shadows (Warner Music) 7-29963
1982 In My Fashion/Shadows (Warner Music) 7-29659
1983 Salute (A Lot More Livin’ To Do)/Knotty Pine (Warner Music) 7-29511
1983 Without You/Someone to Believe In (Warner Music) 7-29466
1983 Whispers Of The North/Gotta Get Away (Warner Music – NL) 929-399-7
1986 East of Midnight/I’ll Tag Along (Warner Music) 7-28442
1986 Morning Glory/[same] (Warner Music) 7-28222
1986 Ecstasy Made Easy/Morning Glory (Warner Music) 92-82037
1986 Anything For Love/Let It Ride (Warner Music) 92-86557
1986 Stay Loose/Morning Glory (Warner Music) 7-28553
1993 I’ll Prove My Love (Warner Music)
2004 Inspiration Lady (Linus)
Albums
1966 Lightfoot! (United Artists) UAS-6487
1967 The Way I Feel (United Artists) UAS-6587
1968 Did She Mention My Name? (United Artists) UAS-6649
1968 Back Here On Earth (United Artists) UAS-6672
1969 Sunday Concert (United Artists) UAS-6714
1969 Best of Gordon Lightfoot (United Artists) UAS-6754
1970 Sit Down Young Stranger [aka If You Could Read My Mind] (Reprise) RS-6392
1971 Early Lightfoot! (Ame/Quality) 7000
1971 Summer Side Of Life (Reprise) MS-2037
1971 Classic Lightfoot (United Artists) UAS-5510
1972 Don Quixote (Reprise) MS-2056
1973 Old Dan’s Records (Reprise) MS-2116
1974 Sundown (Reprise) MS-2177
1975 Cold On The Shoulder (Reprise) MS-2206
1975 Gord’s Gold Volume I (Reprise) 2RS-2237
1976 Summertime Dream (Reprise) MS-2246
1977 Fantastic Gordon Lightfoot Vol. 1 (K-Tel) NC-423
1978 Endless Wire (Warner Music) KBS-3149
1979 The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (Pickwick) SPC-3676
1980 Dream Street Rose (Warner Music) XHS-3426
1982 Shadows (Warner Music) XBS-3633
1983 Salute (Warner Music) 92-39014
1985 Songbook (EMI America) PCD-21081
1986 East Side Of Midnight (Warner Music) 92-54821
1987 Over 60 Minutes With…(Capitol) CDP-7488442
1988 Gord’s Gold Volume II (Warner Music) 92-57841
1990 Early Morning Rain – Best Of
1991 Best Of Gordon Lightfoot (Curb/WEA) WEA-D2-77428
1992 The Original Lightfoot: The United Artists Years [3CD] (United Artists) S2- 80748
1993 Waiting For You (Warner Music) WS-45208
1993 36 All-Time Favourites (Time-Life)
1996 Live (Capitol) CAP-53299
1997 A Painter Passing Through (Warner Music) WS-46949
2001 Singer Songwriter (Bear Family) 814262
2002 Complete Greatest Hits (Rhino/Warner) WTVD-78287
2003 Classic Masters (EMI) 82503
2004 Harmony (Linus) 70027
2012 All Live (Early Morning) 2-614790
2023 At Royal Albert Hall
with TWO TONES
1962 Two Tones At The Village Corner (Chateau) CLP-1012
Compilation Tracks
1964 “Harbour Le Cou”, “The Auctioneer”, “Betty Mae’s A Good Time Gal”, “The Long River”, “Turn, Turn, Turn”, and “Cod Liver Oil” on ‘Folk Songs’ (Canadian Talent Library) M-1049
1978 “Early Morning Rain” on ‘Les grands auteurs Canadiens: The Greatest Canadian Authors – Vol. 1 (Maple Leaf) CA-100
1996 “If You Could Read My Mind” on ‘Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music (MCA) JUNO-25
2001 “Carefree Highway” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 2: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music’ (CMC) 0885
LIGHTHOUSE
1969 ‘Lighthouse’ LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Pinky Dauvin (lead vocals) / Grant Fullerton (bass) / Ian Guenther (strings) / Leslie Snider (strings) / Don Whitton (strings) / Freddy Stone (horns) / Arnie Chycoski (horns) / Howard Shore (saxophone, flute) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Russ Little (trombone);
1969 ‘Suite Feeling’ LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Pinky Dauvin (lead vocals) / Grant Fullerton (bass) / Leslie Snider (strings) / Paul Armin (strings) / Dick Armin (cello) / Myron Moskalyk (strings) / Paul Adamson (horns) / Bruce Cassidy (horns) / Howard Shore (saxophone, flute) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Russ Little (trombone);
1969/1970 ‘Peacing It All Together’ LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Pinky Dauvin (lead vocals) / Grant Fullerton (bass) / Leslie Snider (strings) / Paul Armin (strings) / Dick Armin (cello) / Arnie Chycoski (horns) / Bruce Cassidy (horns) / Howard Shore (saxophone, flute) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Russ Little (trombone);
1970-1972 LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Bob McBride (lead vocals) / Dick Armin (cello) / Keith Jollimore (saxophone, flute) / Howard Shore (saxophone, flute) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Louie Yacknin (bass) / Larry Smith (trombone, keyboards) / Pete Pantaluk (trumpet; added 1970) / Mike Malone (horns; replaced Pantaluk 1971) / John Naslan (horns; added 1972) / Alan Wilmot (bass; added 1972);
1973 “Can You Feel It” LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Dale Hillary (horns) / Dick Armin (cello) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Alan Wilmot (bass) / Larry Smith (trombone, keyboards) / John Naslan (horns) / Rick Stepton (horns); 1974 “Good Day” LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Dale Hillary (horns) / Dick Armin (cello) / Don Dinovo (violin) / Billy King (drums, percussion) / Sam See (keyboards) / Terry Wilkins (bass) / Rick Stepton (horns);
1978-1982 LINE-UP: Ralph Cole (guitar) / Dale Hillary (horns) / Tom Wells (drums) / Allan Staniforth (lead vocals) / Taras Chornywal (violin) / Rod Philips (keyboards) / Robert St. Clair Wilson (bass) / Gord Russell (bass; replaced Wilson 1979); John Dell (drums, percussion, vocals)
1990’s LINE-UP: Skip Prokop (drums) / Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Ralph Cole (guitar) / Doug Moore (bass) / Don “Quan” Paulton (keyboards) / Dan Clancy (lead vocals) / Russ Little (trombone) / Steve Kennedy (tenor saxophone) / Simon Wallis (baritone saxophone) / Rick Waychesko (trumpet);
2023 LINE-UP: Paul Hoffert (keyboards) / Dan Clancy (lead vocals) / Russ Little (trombone) / Paul DeLong (drums) / Marc Ganetakos (guitar) / Doug Moore (bass)
Honorary Live members: Doug Billard (lead vocals) / Billy Ledster (lead vocals) / Don Englert (horns) / Joe Ambrosia (horns) / John Capon (horns) / Dave Tanner (horns) / Sam Alongi (horns) / Howie Wiseman (strings) / John Ogilvie (strings) / Dennis Pendrith (bass) / Phil DeMille (keyboards) / Trevor Veitch (guitar) / Fred Mandel (guitar) / Jamie Prokop (drums) / Michael Stuart (tenor saxophone)
Drummer Skip Prokop (the Paupers, Al Kooper, Mike Bloomfield, Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin) and keyboard player Paul Hoffert (who had a background in the classics, film and show music) got together with guitarist Ralph Cole in 1969 to form Lighthouse, a 13-piece rock group combining horns, violins, cellos and vibes with the traditional rock and roll instruments of guitar, bass and drums. The band debuted at the Rockpile in Toronto on May 14 of that year with Stitch In Tyme singer Pinky Dauvin and guitarist Grant Fullerton on bass. Folk artist Tony Kosinec opened the show. They signed a contract with RCA Victor in 1969, released four albums and soon became internationally known and admired. They managed one brief charting single called “If There Was a Time” that peaked on the CHUM Chart at No.24 in November 1969, before moving to the fledgling GRT label as its premiere act. The band made a change and brought Bob McBride on board as lead singer. At Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, Lighthouse represented the Ontario Government as Musical Ambassadors, resulting in awards from Ontario Premiere William Davis, The Ontario Government and the Government of Japan from the Emperor of Japan. With star producer Jimmy Iennner (The Chamber Brothers, The Raspberries), they recorded seven albums for GRT and had a string of hits including “Hats Off (To the Stranger)” (peaking at No. 27 on CHUM in May 1971), “One Fine Morning” (peaking at No.13 on CHUM in October 1971 and No.24 on Billboard’s Top40), and “Sunny Days” (peaking at No.10 on CHUM in, ironically, December 1972 and No.34 on Billboard’s Top40 in late November). Nine of their albums went gold in Canada (50,000 copies) with ‘Lighthouse Live!’ selling platinum (100,000 copies). Appearances at the Monterey, Newport and Boston Globe jazz festivals, the Atlantic City Pop Festival, the Isle of Wight Festival in England and Carnegie Hall (the last of which being released as a live album) solidified their stature worldwide. They won a JUNO Awards in 1971 for ‘Outstanding Group Performance’, for ‘Vocal Instrumental Group’ in 1972, and for ‘Group of the Year’ in 1973. In 1972 Jollimore would leave to join Doug Riley’s Dr. Music. In 1973 Paul Hoffert and Bob McBride left the band. Despite the upheaval, Prokop sang lead and they managed another hit with the song “Pretty Lady” which peaked in the Canadian Top10 on December 22, 1973. Prokop departed in 1974 to become a producer and pursue a solo career. Lighthouse carried on with Doug Billard (Pepper Tree) as lead vocalist until the band finally split up in 1976. In 1982 the original members of Lighthouse did four shows at Ontario Place in Toronto which was promoted as ‘One Fine Weekend’. With Prokop stepping up front to sing several songs, John Dell was added to alternate between drums and percussion along with vocals; By the late 1980’s the band – featuring core members Prokop, Hoffert, and Cole – was revived. In 1993 they played a concert at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square with Dan Clancy (singer) and Donald ‘Quan’ Paulton (keyboards). 1996 saw the release of a new album ‘Song of the Ages’. The band still manages a dozen or more shows a year. In 2010 the existing version of Lighthouse re-recorded the 16 most requested songs and filmed the proceedings with eight cameras for a DVD that included a 5.1 Surround Sound mix. The stereo CD and DVD combo was released as ’40 Years of Sunny Days’; On February 20, 1998 Bob McBride died of complications from his years-long battle with substance abuse; Howard Shore would go on to compose movie soundtracks, initially for David Cronenberg films including ‘The Fly’ and ‘Dead Ringers’ but then left for Hollywood to compose for blockbusters such as ‘Big’, ‘Silence of the Lambs’, ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy which Shore won an Academy Award for. He will be composing the music for Jackson’s upcoming ‘Hobbit’ films starting in 2013; when not doing Lighthouse gigs Dan Clancy is a coach for The League of Rock; Pinky Dauvin died April 21, 2013; Skip Prokop left Lighthouse in 2014 and died of congestive heart failure August 30, 2017. A book about his life entitled ‘Sunny Days: The Skip Prokop Story’ was released in 2019. with notes from Skip Prokop, Greg Simpson and Gord Russell. [also see SKIP PROKOP, GRANT FULLERTON, PINKY DAUVIN]
Singles
1969 If There Ever Was A Time/Eight Miles High (RCA) 74-0224
1970 The Chant (Nam Myo-Ho Renge Kyo)/Could You Be Concerned (RCA) 47-9808
1970 Feels So Good/Places on Faces Four Blue Traces (RCA) 74-0285
1971 Just a Little More Time/Fiction of 26 Million (RCA) 75-1059
1971 Hats Off (To the Stranger)/Sing Sing Sing (GRT) 1230-04
1971 One Fine Morning/Little Kind Words (GRT) 1230-10
1971 Take It Slow (Out In the Country)/Sweet Lullabye (GRT) 1230-19
1972 1849/I Just Wanna Be Your Friend (GRT) 1230-25
1972 I’d Be So Happy/Old Man (Evolution – US) 1061
1972 Sunny Days/Lonely Places (GRT) 1230-39
1973 You Girl/Merlin (GRT) 1230-46
1973 Broken Guitar Blues/Merlin (GRT) 1230-52
1973 Can You Feel It/Love Is the Answer (GRT) 1230-61
1973 Pretty Lady/Bright Side (GRT) 1230-63
1974 Magic’s In The Dancing/Disagreeable Man (Polydor – US) PD-14220
1974 Good Day/Going Downtown (GRT) 1230-74
1974 Eight Miles High/Got A Feeling (GRT) 1230-90
1978 One Fine Morning/Sunny Days [re-issue] (GRT) 1230-152
Albums
1969 Lighthouse (RCA/Victor) LSP-4173
1969 Plays for Peace [aka Peacing It All Together] (RCA/Victor) LSP-4241
1969 Suite Feeling (RCA/Victor) LSP-4325
1970 One Fine Morning (GRT) 9230-1002
1971 Thoughts of Movin’ On (GRT) 9230-1010
1971 One Fine Light [compilation] (RCA – US)
1972 Lighthouse Live! (GRT) 9230-1018
1972 Sunny Days (GRT) 9230-1021
1973 Can You Feel It? (GRT) 9230-1039
1974 Good Day (GRT) 9230-1046
1974 The Best of Lighthouse (GRT) 9230-1052
1978 K-Tel presents Lighthouse – 20 Great Hits (K-Tel) NC-440
1989 The Best of Lighthouse – Sunny Days Again (Denon)
1996 Song of the Ages (Breaking Records/Denon)
2010 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Lighthouse [re-mastered] (Universal) 75327017
2010 40 Years of Sunny Days [CD + DVD] (Universal) 7697428599
Compilation Tracks
1972 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Maple Music Vol. 1 (MMJ) MMJ-1
1972 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Concept’ [Silver] (Concept 376/Arc) PRP-206
1972 “Sunny Days” on ‘Believe In Music’ (K-Tel) TC-208
1973 “Pretty Lady” on ‘Sound Explosion’ (K-Tel) TC-213
1973 “You Girl” on ‘Good Vibrations’ (Ronco/Columbia Special Products) CSPS-661
1974 “Good Day” on ’Hot Hits’ (Jukebox International) 74001
1974 “Can You Feel It” on ‘Music Power’ (K-Tel) TC-214
1974 “Sunny Days” on ‘Canadian Mint’ (K-Tel) TC-215
1975 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Canada Gold – 22 Karat Hits’ (K-Tel) TC-225
1976 “Pretty Lady” on ‘Superstars’ (K-Tel) TC-227
1978 “Sunny Days” on ‘Sizzlers’ (Cymbal/GRT) 9240-1010
1990 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Made in Canada, Our Rock ‘n’ Roll History – Volume Two: Into the 70’s’ (BMG) KCD1-7157
1990 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Super Hits of the ’70s: Have a Nice Day – Vol. 6 (Rhino) R2-70926
1996 “One Fine Morning” on ‘Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music (MCA) JUNO-25
2001 “Sunny Days” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 2: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music’ (CMC) 0885
2006 “Pretty Lady” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 3 – Juno Awards: Celebrating 35 Years of the Best in Canadian Music’ (EMI) 59829
LILIAN & MANON
Born: Lilian Zlamal and Manon Zlamal in Slovakia
Daughters of renowned Slovak poet and writer Miloslav Zlamal (The Partisan Captain) and Jaroslava Zlamal. After emigrating to Canada, the sisters released their debut self-titled album in 1975 on Condor Records. In 1976 they released the single “Only You And Me” through Periwinkle. The duo later joined country act Skyliner who were signed to the Mercey Brothers’ MBS label; Lillian Zlamal would marry music executive Bob Johnston and change her stage name to Lil Johnston. She also worked in children’s entertainment as Miss Lilly in a group called But, I’m Just A Kid who were nominated for a JUNO Award.
Singles
as LILI & MANON
1976 Only You and Me/Blow Wind (Periwinkle) PER-3770
with SKYLINER
1983 The Same Mistake/Give Me A Chance (MBS) MBS-1038
Albums
1975 Lilian & Manon (Condor) 977-1481
LILI FATALE
Nathalie Courchesne (vocals, guitar, piano) / Richard Valmont Binette (bass, guitar, vocals) / Martin Beaulieu (bass, vocals) / Uranian Valceanu (guitar, vocals
4-piece Québec recording act whose eponymous debut CD racked up seven ADISQ nominations, and landed the group a major tour of Europe.
Singles
1997 Mimi (Sony Musique) CDNK-1287
2001 Ange De Ville (Version Album)/Ange De Ville (Version Radio) (Sony Musique) CDNK-1353
Albums
1997 Lili Fatale (Sony Musique) CK-80296
1997 Feels [7-song EP] (Sony Musique)
2001 Panavision (Sony Musique) CK-80612
2015 Sous la Neige, la Plage [3-song EP DigiFile] (Les Lili Fatale)
LILLIX
Lacey-Lee Evin (vocals, keyboards) / Tasha-Ray Evin (vocals, guitar) / Louise Burns (vocals, bass) / Sierra Hills (drums) / Kim Urhahn (drums; 2002) / Alicia Warrington (drums; replaced Urhahn 2003) / Britt Black [aka Britton Karroll] (guitar; 2009) / Eric Hoodicoff / Alex Varon / Cameron Brass
Lillix was formed in 1997 in Cranbrook, British Columbia originally under the name Tigerlily while the Evin sisters, Burns and Hills were attending high school. In 2001 the band was signed to Maverick Records and became Lillix due to an existing Tigerlily in the US. Their debut album was the Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes) produced 2003’s ‘Falling Uphill’ which spawned three singles including a remake of The Romantics’ “What I Like About You” which appeared on several movie soundtracks. Sierra Hill left prior to the album’s release and was replaced by Kim Urhahn. Eventually she would also be replaced by Alicia Warrington (Kelly Osbourne, Miley Cyrus). In 2006 they released their sophomore effort, ‘Inside the Hollow’ which was produced by Jeff Saltzman (The Killers). The single “Sweet Temptation” was voted one of the ‘Top 100 Songs of 2006’ in ‘Blender Magazine’. Unfortunately, internal strife following the demise of Maverick Records saw the departure of both Warrington and bass player Louise Burns. In 2007 the sisters decided to carry on as a duo to write the next album. In 2008 the band relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia and began work on their third release – playing all the instruments except drums themselves. In 2009 they added second guitarist and former LiveonRelease and Bif Naked member Britt Black to the line-up. Their third album ‘Tigerlily’ was released in August 2010 and featured the singles ‘Dance Alone’ and ‘Nowhere to Run’. Positive reviews allowed the band to release two more singles from the album in 2011 and tour as a five-piece featuring three gentleman as backing band for the Evin Sisters – Eric Hoodicoff (Savage Blade, The Fuckstixx), Alex Varon (The Fall Collection, Bug House 5) and Cameron Brass. Lillix have been nominated in the past for two JUNO Awards for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Best Pop Album’ and won ‘Best New Group’ at the Canadian Radio Music Awards.
Singles
2003 It’s About Time (Maverick) PRO-CD-101042
2003 Tomorrow (Maverick) PRO-CD-101187
2003 What I Like About You (Maverick)
2006 Sweet Temptation (Hollow)
2010 Dance Alone
2010 Nowhere To Run
2011 Dreamland
2011 Back Up Girl
Albums
2003 Falling Uphill (Maverick) CDW-48323
2006 Inside the Hollow (Maverick) CDW-49422
2011 Tigerlily (Fontana North) FNCD-5561
Compilation Tracks
2003 “It’s About Time” on ‘Women & Songs 7’ (WEA) WTVD-61047
2003 “It’s About Time” on ‘Now! 8’ (EMI) 591083
2003 “What I Like About You” on ‘Freaky Friday: Original Soundtrack’ (Hollywood) 162404
2004 “Tomorrow” on ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen [Motion Picture Soundtrack]’ (Hollywood) 162442-2IN02
2004 “What I Like About You” on ’13 Going on 30 [Motion Picture Soundtrack]’ (Hollywood) 162454
LIMBLIFTER
Ryan Dahle (guitar, vocals, bass, keys) / Kurt Dahle (drums, vocals) / Ian Somers (bass) / Todd Fancey (bass; 2000-2001) / Meegee Bradfield (bass, cello, double bass; 2001) / David Paterson (guitar; 2001)
During the struggle to get their popular Age of Electric alter-egos attention in 1995, the Dahle brothers made a brief excursion into another musical direction with buddy Ian Somers. They wrote a handful of songs, jammed about ten times, and recorded a demo on a 4-track tape recorder. Soon, they couldn’t keep up with demand from friends for copies of the tapes. One such friend, Krisjan Leslie, invited them into a Calgary studio for 4 days over Christmas 1995. None of the members had even sung lead on a song before and using old discarded, previously used reel-to-reel tapes, they hammered out what would become their debut album. The material was then remixed by Jim Rondinelli (Matthew Sweet, Big Star) and released worldwide in January 1996 by Universal/MCA in Canada and Mercury Records in the US. ‘Bellaclava’ followed in 1999 and the band went through several member changes through 2000 and 2001 before the project ran out of steam. Ryan Dahle would revive Limblifter briefly in 2004 for one more album entitled ‘I/O’; Todd Fancey is now a member of the New Pornographers and records solo albums under the name Fancey. [also see AGE OF ELECTRIC]
Singles
1995 Screwed It Up (Mercury) CDP-1532
Albums
1996 Limblifter (MCA) MCASD-81001
1999 Bellaclava (Limblifter/MCA) LL-022
2004 I/O (Maplenationwide/Universal) MNCD-4404
2015 Pacific Milk (Re-Recordings) REO-CD-5806
2022 Little Payne (We Are Busy Bodies) WABB-133
Compilation Tracks
1996 “Tinfoil” on ‘Big Shiny Tunes’ (MCA) MCAD-81026
LIME
Denis Lepage (programming, vocals) / Denyse Lepage (vocals) / Joy Dorris (vocals) / Chris March (vocals)
Formed in Montreal, Québec in 1981 featuring the studio husband and wife team of Denis and Denyse Lepage. The couple never appeared live as Lime, instead they hired Joy Dorris & Chris Marsh to be sound-alikes for live promotional appearances and performances. Denis and Denyse Lepage reworked the Lime brand with the addition of Joe La Greca called Cherry-Lime for several new dance singles in the late 1980s. By 2001 Denyse Lepage had retired from the project and Denis Lepage had the vocal duties split with Amber Star Chaboyer, Benedict Ouiment, Chubby Tavares, Julie Courchesne, Marie-Piere Vaillancourt, Mary Lassard for the 2002 album ‘Love Fury’. [also see DENIS LEPAGE]
Singles
1981 Your Love [12″] (Matra) W12-045
1981 You’re My Magician [12″] (Matra) W12-108
1982 Baby, I’ll Be Yours/Agent 406 [12″] (Prism) PDS-425
1982 Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonite [12″] (Matra) MA-007
1982 Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonite (Edit)/Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonite (Matra) 7MT-001
1982 On the Grid (Re-Mix)/On the Grid (Re-Mix) (Dub Version) [12″] (Unidisc) SPEC-1204
1982 Come and Get Your Love (Remix)/A Man and a Woman [12″] (Matra) MA-012
1982 Come And Get Your Love/Your Love (Remix) [12″] (Matra) SPEC-1206
1982 Wake Dream (Remix)/A Man and a Woman (Matra) MA-022
1982 A Man and a Woman (Long Version)/A Man and a Woman (Short Version) (Matra) 7MT-010
1983 Guilty/Angel Eyes Medley/Angel Eyes [12″] (Matra) 12MA-029
1983 Guilty (Remix)/Angel Eyes (Remix) [12″] (Matra) SPEC-1226
1983 Guilty/Guilty (Instrumental) [12″] (Matra) MA-023
1983 Guilty/Guilty (Instrumental) (Matra) 7MT-014
1983 Angel Eyes/Angel Eyes (Dub Mix) (Matra) 7MT-018
1984 I Don’t Want to Lose You/My Love [12″] (Matra) 12MA-048
1984 I Don’t Want to Lose You/I Don’t Want to Lose You (Matra) 7MT-035
1984 Re-Lime-d/Wake Dream [12″] (Matra) SPEC-1225
1984 Take It Up/The Party’s Over (Polydor – FRANCE) 881-203
1985 Unexpected Lovers (Remixes) [12″] (Matra) 12MA-049
1985 Unexpected Lovers/Unexpected Lovers (Instrumental) (Matra) 7MT-037
1985 Do Your Time on the Planet/Say You Love Me (Matra) 7MT-040
1985 Say You Love Me/Do Your Time On The Planet (Remixes) [12″] (Matra) 12MA-053
1985 Alive and Well/Alive and Well (Instrumental)//I’m Falling In Love/I’m Falling In Lover (Instrumental) [12″] (Unidisc) SPEC-1203
1986 Take the Love/Come On Everybody [12″] (Matra) 12MA-056
1988 Please Say You Will (Be My Baby)/A Brand New Day (Karisma/Unidisc) MM-721
1988 Cutie Pie (Remix)/Did You See That Girl [12″] (Matra) SPEC-1205
1989 Sentimentally Yours (Remixes)/A Man and a Woman [12″] (Karisma/Unidisc) MM-53
1991 Caroline [4 mixes] (Unidisc) MM-061
2002 No Other Love (I Need It Bad) [4 mixes] (Unidisc) SPEC-1787
as LEPAGE
1987 Reconciliate/Reconciliate (Dub Version) [12″] (Prism – US) PS-2010
1988 You Can Do The Dancin’ [4 mixes 12″] (Prism – US) PS-2022
1989 My Baby Don’t Know What You Do To Me [3 mixes 12″] (Prism – US) PS-2025
as CHERRY-LIME
1987 Reconciliate/Do You Like It (Power) PXDJ-1010
1989 You Never Said Good-Bye/Tease Me (London Street – Italy) FTM- 31635
1992 Greatest Hits Of D. & D. Le Page [2 medleys 12″ (BGM) BGM-1360
Albums
1981 Your Love (Matra) WLP-1026
1982 Lime II (Matra) MLP-002
1983 Lime 3 (Matra) MLP-006
1984 Sensual Sensation (Matra) MLP-012
1985 Unexpected Lovers (Matra) MLP-013
1985 Greatest Hits (Matra) MLP-014
1986 Take the Love (Matra) MLP-015
1991 Caroline (Matra) MLP-018
1998 The Stillness of the Night (Maximum) MM-1001
2002 Love Fury (Unidisc) SPLK-7350
as DENIS & DENYSE LEPAGE
1980 Denis & Denyse LePage (Rota Enterprises – US) R-5000
2011 A Twist Of Lime’s Medley (Essential Media Group)
as CHERRY-LIME
1990 Greatest Hits LP (Peerless – Mexico) PEE-20088-9
LINDEN, Colin
Born: April 16, 1960
Colin Linden began playing acoustic guitar before he turned eight, buying his first guitar from his older brother for $5. Developing a love for the blues at an early age, he met his hero the legendary blues man Howlin’ Wolf, at The Colonial Tavern in Toronto when Linden was just eleven years old. From that day on, the two developed a friendship that lasted until Wolf died in 1976. A very similar experience presented itself to Linden when he was touring through Regina at the age of seventeen and met future Canadian guitar great Colin James. One of Toronto’s most prized musicians, Linden recorded his first album with the legendary blues man Sam Chatmon in 1979, followed by the release of his first solo album a year later, ‘Colin Linden – Live’. In 1988, he released his first disc on Sony Music Canada’s Columbia label entitled, ‘When The Sprit Comes’. Since that time, Linden has kept himself quite busy. He has played in Bruce Cockburn’s band and produced a number of Cockburn’s albums. As a session guitarist, he has played on recordings by Dwayne Steele, The Band, Amy Sky, he wrote the hit ‘Guitar Talk’ for Michelle Wright, and produced Sue Foley’s multiple Maple Blues Award and Juno winning album ‘Love Comin’ Down’. Linden has released six of his own albums and has received much critical acclaim over the years. His fourth release, 1994’s ‘South At Eight, North At Nine’, won the ‘Blues & Gospel’ Juno Award. In 1996 he won another Juno Award in the ‘Blues & Gospel’ category for his production work on Lennie Gallant’s ‘The Open Window’. Linden released ‘Raised By Wolves’ in 1997 to extremely high praise and excellent reviews. In February 1998, he shared the Maple Blues “Producer Of The Year” award with Colin James for his work on James’ ‘National Steel’ CD. Linden received a Grammy nomination in 1999 for his contribution to the Nashville-based ‘Tribute To Howlin’ Wolf’ disc. In 1996 Linden emersed himself in a new side project-turned-super-group Blackie And the Rodeo Kings. The group consists of Linden, Stephen Fearing and former Junkhouse frontman Tom Wilson. Formed because of a mutual love and appreciation for the music of William P. Bennett, Blackie And The Rodeo Kings received a Juno nomination for their tribute album to Bennett, titled ‘High And Hurtin’. In 1999, Blackie And The Rodeo Kings issued their second album, the 2000 Juno Award winning two-CD set ‘Kings Of Love’, a collection of original tunes and covers of songs by the likes of Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan, and others. Also in 1999, at the prestigious Toronto Arts Awards, Linden was presented with the Music Award for his contribution to music by then Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hillary Weston. At the 2000 Juno Awards, Linden won three awards: ‘Blues’ category for producing Ray Bonneville’s ‘Gust of Wind’; ‘Roots And Traditional: Solo Artist’ category as Bruce Cockburn’s producer for ‘Breakfast In New Orleans, Dinner In Timbuktu’; and ‘Roots and Traditional: Group’ category as a member of Blackie And The Rodeo Kings. Although Linden was born and mostly lives in Canada, he and his wife now spend part of the year in Nashville. It was there that he received a call from his good friend T-Bone Burnett, who asked him to come to the film set of ‘O Brother Where Art Thou?’ and teach a young actor how to play the blues guitar. Linden’s version of “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” was also used in the soundtrack to the film! In May 2001, Linden released the CD ‘Big Mouth’ featuring special guests Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, Jonell Mosser, Bruce Cockburn, Jessie Alexander and Lee Roy Parnell. [also see BLACKIE & THE RODEO KINGS]
Singles
1986 Hammer And Weight/Heave That Shovel (Stony Plain) SPS-1041
1986 I Appreciate Your Honesty/I Am A Soldier (Stony Plain) SPS-1044
1988 Miles Away From You/No Place For Love (A & M) AM-758
1988 Two Halves of a Whole/There Goes the Neighbourhood (A & M) AM-764
1993 The Way Heaven Feels (Columbia/SONY) 828
1993 Still Yesterday (Columbia/SONY) 915
1995 When the Carnival Ends (Columbia/SONY) 1069
1995 Out of the Wilderness (Columbia/SONY) 1136
with COLIN LINDEN & THE IMMORTALS
1987 I Love You When You’re Sleeping/I Love You When You’re Sleeping (Live Video Version) (Stony Plain) SPS-1049
Albums
1980 Colin Linden Live (Ready) LR-011
1986 The Immortals (Stony Plain) SPL-1097
1988 When The Spirit Comes (A & M) SP-9143
1993 South At Eight – North At Nine (Columbia/SONY)
1995 Through the Storm Through the Night (Columbia/SONY) CK-80225
1997 When The Spirit Comes [re-issue] (Columbia/SONY)
1997 Raised By Wolves (Sony/SONY) CK-80329
2000 Sad And Beautiful World (True North) TND-330
2002 Big Mouth (True North) TND-334
2005 Southern Jumbo (True North) TND-352
2006 Easin’ Back to Tennessee (True North) TND-401
2008 The Columbia Years [4 CD] (True North)
2009 From the Water (True North) TND-526
2012 Still Live (Crosscut) CRCT-001
2015 Rich In Love (Stony Plain) SPCD-1386
2021 bLOW (Thirty Tigers/Highway 20) H-20013
with HARRISON KENNEDY WITH COLIN LINDEN
2015 This Is From Here (Electro-Fi) 3442
with COLIN LINDEN & LUTHOR DICKINSON WITH THE TENNESSEE VALENTINES
2019 Amour (Stony Plain) SPCD-1405
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Go Wherever You Want To” on ‘New Stuff Two’ (MMS) NSCD-002
1994 “Intro” and “Tonight’s the Night” on ‘Borrowed Tunes: A Tribute to Neil Young’ (Sony) 80199
1996 “Dry Bones Dance” on ‘Orphans of God’ (Fingerprint – US) 9601-FCD
2002 “Blackbird” on ‘The Blues White Album’ (Telarc – Austria) CD-83553
2003 “April Come She Will” ‘Intolerable Cruelty [Motion Picture Soundtrack]’ (Hip-O – US)
2003 “Big River” on ‘Johnny’s Blues – A Tribute to Johnny Cash’
with CHRIS THOMAS KING featuring COLIN LINDEN
2000 “John Law Burned Down the Liquor Sto'” on ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Down From the Mountain’ [Motion Picture Soundtrack] (Lost Highway) 170221
Collaborations
with SAM CHATMON AND HIS BARBECUE BOYS
1980 Sam Chatmon And His Barbecue Boys (Flying Fish) FF-202
LISLE
Bill Chambers (guitar, lead vocals) / Brian Mathias (bass, vocals) / Dan Stephens (drums, vocals)
Lisle was formed in 1967 in Barrie, Ontario as a regional cover band. After signing to Bronco Records in 1972, the band’s debut single – “You’re Why Baby” – peaked at No.31 on the RPM Top MOR chart in early December that year. “Sweetheart” was released in June of 1973 and peaked at No.29 in September on the RPM Top Country singles chart. Their biggest success was “Shelley Made Me Smile” which was released in the fall of 1973 and peaked at No.16 in April 1974 on the CHUM Chart; Lisle made a brief comeback in the early 1980s with the single “We Have Just Begun”. with notes from Craig Smith.
Singles
1972 You’re Why Baby/Goin’ Away (Bronco) BR-2703
1973 Sweetheart/Sittin’ Back Lovin’ You (Bronco) BR-2710
1973 Shelly Made Me Smile/Your Song (Bronco) BR-2715
1983 We Have Just Begun/I Want To Love You Tonight (Airborne) AB-001
Albums
1974 Smile With Lisle (Bronco) BR-212002
Compilation Tracks
1974 “Shelly Made Me Smile” on ‘Music Power’ (K-Tel) TC-214
LITTLE CAESAR & THE CONSULS
Bruce Morshead (vocals, keyboards) / Peter Deremigis (drums) / Gene MacLellan (guitar) / Ken Pernokis (guitar) / Norm Sherrat (saxophone) / Robbie Robertson (guitar) / Tom Wilson (bass) / Wayne Connors (drums) / Gary Wright (drums; replaced Connor) / Steve Macko (vocals; replaced Morshead 1968) / Vic Wilson (1968) / Paul Denyes (keyboards; replaced Macko 1973) / Tommy Graham (guitar; 1973) / John Bradley (guitar; 1976) / Bob Oliffe (bass; 1976) / Tony Crivaro (1993)
Formed in 1957 in Toronto, Ontario, and originally called The Consuls, they changed their name by adding the ‘Little Caesar’ after many commented on Morshead’s appearance being similar to Edward G. Robinson’s from the movie of the same name. Early members also featured future The Band guitarist Robbie Robertson, and “Snowbird”/”Put Your Hand In the Hand” songwriter Gene MacLellan. When Robertson, McLellan, and Deremigis left the band in 1959 they formed The Blue Suedes with piano player Scott Cushnie. Little Caesar & The Consuls recorded several Canadian hits including 1963’s “If I Found a New Girl” on Columbia and then switched to Red Leaf in 1965 for “My Girl Sloopy,” (which was overshadowed by The McCoys’ version in the US) and Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got A Hold on Me”. Morshead left in 1968 after being offered the chance to open for some larger major label bands and decided that he didn’t want to make music a full-time job. The band continued on and reverted back to Columbia Records where they released their final singles. The band broke up in 1971, but re-formed in 1973 (to tour briefly), 1976 (where they re-recorded The McCoys’ “Hang On Sloopy”) and a one-off reunion in 1986 to raise money for Toronto’s United Way and released several singles on the Hummingbird label. 1992 saw Sherrat, Wright, Wilson, Macko, Wilson and newcomer Tony Crivaro get together long enough to record the album ‘Since 1956’ at Phase One Studio in North Scarborough in 1993. They disbanded in 1994. 2006 marked the group’s 50th anniversary. A book called “Troubles & Trials” was also released; Paul Denyes went on to play in Greaseball Boogie Band and worked for many years at Long & McQuade Musical Instruments. He passed away in June 2012; Peter Deremigis passed away March 19, 2023. notes from Vic Wilson, Tom Wilson. and Dan Pernokis. [also see TOMMY GRAHAM]
Singles
1959 Runaway/I’m Happy (Abel – US) ABEL-222
1963 If…(I Found A New Girl)/Two Bits (Columbia) C4-2637
1963 Troubles & Trials/Something’s Funny Something’s Wrong (Columbia) C4-2641
1964 Don’t Make A Fool of Me/Little Heartbreaker (Bigland) BGL-202
1964 Sea Cruise/Finger Poppin’ Time (ARC) A-1066
1965 (My Girl) Sloopy/Poison Ivy (Red Leaf) TTM-612
1965 You Really Got A Hold On Me/It’s So Easy (Red Leaf) TTM-613
1966 You Laugh Too Much/Hey Girl (Red Leaf) TTM-616
1966 One Thousand Miles Away/Just Like Romeo and Juliet (Red Leaf) TTM-618
1966 (You`Ve Got) Personality/Lose a Good Thing (Roman) DR-1112
1966 Mercy Mr. Perry/I’ll Do The Same Thing For You (Columbia) C4-2703
1967 My Love For You/My Love For You (Instrumental) (Columbia) C4-2747
1976 Hang On Sloopy/Poison Ivy (Raunch/Earth) R-76003
1986 Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go/You Cheated, You Lied (Hummingbird) WRC3-5410
1986 (Just Like) Romeo & Juliet/Dance With Me (Hummingbird) WRC3-5607
1987 Hypnotizin’ Boogie/Dance With Me (Hummingbird) WRC3-6103
Albums
1965 Little Caesar & The Consuls (Red Leaf) RED-1001
1993 Since 1956 (Attic) RRCD-101
Compilation Tracks
1968 “Finger Poppin’ Time” on ‘Yorkville Evolution’ (Yorkville) YVM-33001
1982 “If” on ‘Lookin’ Back Volume 2’ [2LP] (Columbia Special Products) CSPS-2-1938
1990 “(My Girl) Sloopy” on ‘Made In Canada – Volume One: The Early Years’ (BMG) KCD1-756
1991 “If (I Found a New Girl)” on ‘Made in Canada, Our Rock ‘n’ Roll History – Volume Four: More Great Stuff (BMG) KCD1-7247
LITTLE DADDIE AND THE BACHELORS
Tommy “Little Daddie” Melton (vocals) / Tommy Chong (guitar) / Wes Henderson (bass) / Ted Lewis [aka Duris Maxwell] (drums) / Don Mallory (drums) / Bernie Sneed (keyboards) / Floyd Sneed (drums)
Vancouver’s Little Daddie And The Bachelors was formed in 1963 and after being voted Best Band at the 1964 Pacific National Exhibition they were able to record their one and only single for RCA. The group would later change its name to the the less-than-subtle Four Niggers And A Chink due to the diverse nature of the band members’ nationalities. However, the name stopped many promoters from booking them and they soon toyed with variations like The Calgary Shades, Four Coloured Fellows And An Oriental Lad but eventually shortened it to Four N’s And A C., before folding. They eventually reformed with an altered line-up as Bobby Taylor And The Vancouvers with one album released on Motown in 1968; Tommy Chong became half of 1970s successful comedy duo Cheech & Chong; Duris Maxwell became a prominent live and session musician with acts like Jerry Doucette; Floyd Sneed joined Three Dog Night. Sneed died January 27, 2023.
Singles
1965 Too Much Monkey Business/Junior’s Jerk (Aragon/RCA Victor International Canada) 57-3363
LITTLE, Suzanne
Singer-songwriter Suzanne Little was born in Scotland but raised in West Hill, Ontario. At the age of 14 she enjoyed guitar so much she started teaching others how to play. After high school she studied journalism at Centennial College in Scarborough which led to an internship at NOW Magazine in Toronto. She found early fame after connecting with fellow singer-songwriter Michelle Gould in 1986 who also worked at NOW. They formed Lava Hay and recorded two albums which led to a modicum of success. Following the demise of Lava Hay in 1994, Little went to San Francisco, California later that year to work with record producer Norm Kerner, and collaborated with Chuck Prophet (Green on Red), David Immerglück (Camper Van Beethoven) and Bruce Kaphan (American) Music Club. The songs they worked on wound up on her debut album for Nettwerk Records entitled ‘Be Here Now’ in 1995. Early in 1996 Little launched a short solo tour but she wanted to have a family life and retired to occasional performances around her home base on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. She worked for Randy Bachman’s Ranbach Music for several years in the early 2000s as the office manager. She is married to singer-songwriter Tom Hooper (Grapes of Wrath). Little and Hooper often perform together with their two musical sons as The Hooper Family. With notes from Suzanne Little. [also see LAVA HAY]
Singles
1995 Tragic Flaw (Nettwerk) W2-30085
Albums
1995 Be Here Now (Nettwerk) W2-30093
with THE HOOPER FAMILY
2009 A Hooper Family Christmas (independent)
Compilation
1995 “Tragic Flaw” on ‘Percolator’ (Nettwerk) W2-30091
1995 “Tragic Flaw” on ‘Decadence [5CD] (Nettwerk) W2-30100
LiveonRelease
Colette Trudeau (vocals) / Brittin Karroll [aka Britt Black] (guitar) / Felicity “Foxx” Herst (bass) / Leah Emmott (drums)
The all-girl group LiveonRelease was founded by guitarist Britt Black (who had previously co-written material with Bif Naked at the age of 10) in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2000. The teen group was signed to Warner Music where they released the album ‘Seeing Red’ (2001) and with Bif Naked’s Her Royal Majesty’s Records for ‘Goes On a Field Trip’ (2003). The received attention based on their debut single “I’m Afraid of Britney Spears” which was featured on the soundtrack of the Ashton Kutcher film ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ With the demise of LiveonRelease in 2004, Black became Bif Naked’s lead guitarist. In 2005 she released her debut solo album, ‘Blackout’. She briefly formed her own band Stay Beautiful in 2008 before accepting a position as Lillix’s lead guitarist. She left Lillix in 2009; Colette Trudeu released a solo single, “I Don’t Wanna Know”, in 2009.
Singles
2001 I’m Afraid of Britney Spears (Warner)
2001 Get With It (Warner)
2001 Emotional Griptape (Warner)
2003 Let’s Go (Her Royal Majesty’s)
Albums
2001 Seeing Red (Warner) 751624
2002 Fifteen Will Get You Twenty (Her Royal Majesty’s)
2003 Goes On a Field Trip (Her Royal Majesty’s) 31121
LIVERPOOL
Brian Meissner (bass, guitar) / Laurie Currie (drums) / Rick Pearson (guitar) / David Moyles (guitar, keys) / Malcolm Buchanan (keyboards) / Gary O’Connor (vocals, guitar)
Saskatchewan natives Brian Meissner and Laurie Currie originally found notoriety in Winnipeg showband Sugar & Spice. By 1972 they had changed their name to Spice and soon relocated to Toronto. The band fell apart about 9 months later. With Ray Danniels’ SRO management behind them, Meissner and Currie stayed in Toronto and formed Beatles tribute band Liverpool in the spring of 1972 with guitarist David Moyles and guitarist/keyboardist Rick Pearson. Liverpool was quite likely the very first Beatles tribute act. It was this founding line up of musicians that performed at the world famous Whiskey a Go-Go in Los Angeles in 1973 and at the first Beatles festival, Beatlefest ’75, in New York City. Legend has it that they were the inspiration for the producers of the Broadway show “Beatlemania!” in New York. With intensive touring in Canada and the United States on the back of several singles for Danniels’ Taurus Records, they were able to share the stage with The Outlaws, Charlie Daniels, Hall & Oates, Steve Martin, Roy Clark, The New York Dolls, Captain Beefheart, Monty Python, Stories, Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show, Rush, Max Webster, The Eagles, Donnie Hathaway, Roberta Flack, Buddy Rich and Heart, to name a few. Keyboardist Malcolm Buchanan was added to the band in 1976 to facilitate the performance of some of the more studio production oriented Beatles songs. Pearson and Moyles left the group in late 1976 and were replaced by Gary O’Connor (Cat), but with Taurus Records having financial problems, the band was soon in flux. O’Connor briefly formed a new band called Kid Rainbow before re-connecting with the members of Liverpool to form Aerial and to re-sign with Danniels under his second label project Anthem Records (Rush, Max Webster) for two albums. Following Aerial’s demise in 1981, Gary O’Connor would be signed to Capitol Records for a self-titled debut LP, and released a second solo album on RCA before becoming world renowned as a songwriter for such acts as .38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and Eddie Money among others; drummer Laurie Currie returned to his home in Saskatchewan playing in a band called the Doug Boomhower Quartet (2001) and The Maurice Drouin Jazz Show (2002); Meissner stayed in Toronto and has been recording solo material in recent years; David Moyles stayed active in the music scene playing for a period of time with Rick James before venturing into the recording studio business and eventually founding an audio company named Coast to Coast Audio that has serviced and consulted to many international artists and studio owners including The Tragically Hip, Zappacosta, Sheriff, Paul Deville, Ian Thomas, Puka and consulted or supplied international artists such as Bruce Swedian (Michael Jackson), Bill Botrell (Madonna), David Huff and Wolf Stevenson; Rick Pearson continued to tour Canada with his new band, Noodles, which included former Ronnie Hawkins guitarist David Van Duzen and former Cat members Graham Fidler and Phil Mulholland. In 1981, Rick performed the lead role in the Canadian musical theatre production ‘Imagine’, portraying the life and music of John Lennon. The birth of his first child lead Rick back to school and he entered the teaching profession thereafter where he taught music for twenty years, retiring recently in order to return to his greatest passion, singing, playing, writing and recording. Meissner, Pearson and Moyles are all still living in the Greater Toronto Area and have recently reunited to work on a new musical project and to collaborate on writing and recording a new album. with notes from Rick Pearson, Vic Giggani, Michael Gillespie, Bob Walker, Dave Sampson, and Chris Stask. [also see AERIAL, GARY O’CONNOR]
Singles
1975 Love Is Melody/Dance Dance Dance (Taurus) TR-002
1975 Dolly/Lose My Soul (Taurus) TR-004
1976 Down To Liverpool/Don’t Want To See My Lover Again (Taurus) TR-007
1976 Melitta/Love Is Melody (Taurus) TR-008
LIVERPOOL SET
Dave Donnell [aka Lachlan Macfadyen] (vocals, guitar) / Jack Douglas (bass) / Kent Daubney (drums) / Evan Hunt (guitar) / Garry Nelson (guitar) / Shane Sennet (bass)
Kent Daubney (of Newark, England) was formerly in the Mynah Birds with Rick James (nee Matthews) before leaving the band to co-found The Liverpool Set with Macfadyen. As their name suggests, the first single “Must I Tell” was influenced by the British Invasion. The song took them into the Canadian Top-20 and peaked at No.18; Following the demise of the band, Macfadyen would join the Townsmen. Later, he would team up with Daubney and Douglas to form Waterfront Productions in the 1970s; Macfadyen would join Richard Patterson’s band Canada Goose before discovering and producing Harlequin. His most recent work included Joe Hall’s Rancho Banano; Daubney is currently owner of the Polar Bar ice cream parlour in Unionville, Ontario. with notes from Corey Macfadyen, Greg Simpson, Richard Patterson, and Doug Prose.
Singles
1965 Must I Tell You (I Love You)/Miss You So (Columbia) 4-43351
1965 Oh Gee Girl/Walking The Dog (Columbia) 4-43512
1966 Seventeen Tears To The End/Change Your Mind (Columbia) 4-43813
LIVING PROOF
Michael James (guitar, vocals) / Lonnie James (drums) / Alistair James (vocals, guitar)
From Toronto, Ontario. Featuring future members of Was Ist Los? Royal City, and The Lawn.
Singles
1983 The Band Is Living Proof, The Music Speaks For Itself [2-song 7”] (100%) JM-8311
Albums
1984 This Trip Is For Real (100%) 002
LOADER
Jason Schaffer (vocals, guitar) / Simon Nixon (guitar, vocals) / Cam MacLean (drums) / Tim Gerald (bass)
Compilation Tracks
1994 “Thin Red Smile” on ‘Elvis Monday Vol. 1’ (Kinetic) KRD-919
1994 “Thin Red Smile” on ‘Northern X-Posure Volume 1’ (CMW/Astral)
LLOYD, Sam [see RÈAL BROUSSEAU]
LOCAL FARMER
John Turnbull (drums) / Adam Barton (guitar) / Brad Johnson (guitar) / Glenn Barton (guitar, acoustic guitar) / Sarah Spring (organ) / Jeff Hawkins (vocals, mandolin )
Albums
1995 Local Farmer [cassette]
1997 Seven Day Cruise (Tomcat) TCCD-97502
Miss Emma [cassette] (independent) LFC-394
LOCAL RABBITS, The
Peter Elkas [aka Montréal Pete Elkas] (vocals, guitar) / Ben Gunning (vocals, guitar) / Ryan Myshrall [aka King Johnny Starr] (bass) / Jay Tustin (drums)
Local Rabbits was formed in Montréal, Québec in 1992. They released their independent debut, ‘Super Duper’, in 1993 and gained some notoriety in Montréal. They were then signed to Sloan’s vanity imprint, Murderecords, and released the well received ‘You Can’t Touch This’ in 1996. An EP followed on the back of a national tour entitled ’61 Days’. Their third album, ‘Basic Concept, reached No.1 on the Canadian campus radio charts in 1998 and allowed them to tour again with label mates The Super Friendz, Thrush Hermit, and Sloan, as well as The Inbreds and the Kelley Deal 6000. Local Rabbits also stood in as Neko Case’s backing band on several Lilith Fair Festival tour dates. The band broke up following 2001’s ‘This Is It Here We Go’. Elkas and Gunning have each pursued solo careers; Myshrall has been a member of Clark and is currently in the band Sister with Carla Gillis and Lynette Gillis of Plumtree; Tustin went on to form Soft Canyon with Andrew Dickson of Tricky Woo for one album in 2003. He is currently a carpenter. He has done carpentry work on Debbie Travis’ ‘Facelift’ TV show. The band briefly reunited in 2007 to record a cover version of “Record Body Count” for the Rheostatics tribute album ‘The Secret Sessions’. Gunning, Elkas, and Myshrall occasionally perform around Toronto in the cover band Oldies 990.
Singles
1994 You’re Such A Stupid Idiot/Play With Your Poodle [7”] (Murderecords) MUR-013
1997 British Knights Coalition Consolidation & Strike (Stomp Your BK’s Down)/ Pop’s & Company (Disco Version) [7”] (Murderecords) MUR-033
Albums
1993 Super Duper [6-song EP] (En Guard) ENG-027
1996 You Can’t Touch This (Murderecords) MUR-021
1997 61 Days (Murderecords)
1998 Basic Concept (Murderecords) MURD-035
2001 This Is It Here We Go (Brobdingnagian) BROBCD-015
Compilation Tracks
1994 “Shot Me Down” on ‘Impact Music Volume Two’ (MMS) IM-002
2000 “Silicone Teens” on ‘Ripcordz As Fuck’ (Absolute)
2007 “Record Body Count” on ‘Rheostatics Tribute: The Secret Sessions (Zune) ZUN-020
LOLA DUTRONIC
Richard Citroen / Stephanie B-Yen
Toronto/Dusseldorf-based Electro Pop duo. The first team-up featured Citroen and Frankie Hart on the first two albums: ‘The World Of Lola Dutronic’ and ‘Album 2: The Love Parade.’ Citroen would then tap into the talents of Berliner Suzana “Lola Dee’ Djordjevic for the ‘In Berlin’ before working on the current version of Lola Dutronic with Stephanie B-Yen who was the former lead singer of German electro pop band DKDent. She has worked with Alle Farben, Robin Schulz, The Ting Tings, La Roux, Imagine Dragons & Ozzy Osbourne while British-born but Toronto-based Richard Citroen is a former member of Canadian punk/new wave band The Diodes, a former top Toronto club DJ (with Chris Sheppard), the de facto partner of Marty Thau at indie label Red Star, and has hosted a live music/chat show on IHeart Radio. He has also worked with Wendy James, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke,Martin Rev, Rusty Egan, Paul Zone, Donna Destri, Man Parrish, Jack Sonni (Dire Straits), Marc Campbell (The Nails), Holly Cole, Paul Hyde (Payolas) & Billy Freedom (Black Orchid Empire). The duo itself works in as many as four languages. Their songs have been featured in numerous films & TV shows including ‘The L-Word’, and have appeared on dozens of compilation albums around the world. Lola Dutronic have had Top 10 radio hits in Japan (InterFM), Greece (Best Radio) & Peru (Radio Doble Neuve), and garnered significant airplay on the Rodney Bingenheimer Show on KROQ in Los Angeles & SIRIUX FM. Their album ‘The Love Parade’ received a 1st ballot Grammy Award Nomination in the Dance/Electronica category. Their video for their single “Whisper” was banned by YouTube for nudity! The resulting controversy even got them into the pages of ‘USA Today.’ Their three “radio hits” were “Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead” (Japan), “Happy Birthday” (Peru) and “(Another) Christmas Without Snow” (Greece). They have worked with Mike Garson (David Bowie), Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club), Hugo Burnham (Gang Of 4), Man2Man, Mona Mur & En Esch (KMFDM), Jeremy Gluck & David Buckley (Barracudas), Eric Debris (Metal Urbain) and others. Lola Dutronic have performed in Canada, Germany (w/Tom Tom Club), and Bucharest, Romania, playing to the biggest crowd of their career, as well as playing at the world’s first “Silent Disco”.
Singles
2004 Walking On Sunshine [DigiFile] (Bongo Beat)
2008 My Radio [DigiFile] (LDP)
2009 Je t’aime Je’taime/Au Revoir [DigiFile] (LDP)
2010 Brigitte Bardot [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2010 Beautiful World [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2010 Whisper [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2010 (Another) Christmas Without Snow [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2011 Kids Just Wanna Dance [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2011 Keep Your Dreams [DigiFile] (Red)
2012 Everybody Loves You (When You’re Dead) [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2013 Happy Birthday [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2013 The Christmas Disco [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2014 L’amour est bleu (Love Is Blue) [DigiFile] (Red Star)
2015 I Believe [DigiFile] (LDP)
2016 Harley Davidson [DigiFile] (LDP)
2017 Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead: The Sequel [DigiFile] (LDP)
2017 My Name Is Lola [DigiFile] (LDP)
2017 Male Stripper [w/MAN2MAN] [DigiFile] (LDP)
2019 Sounds Like An Anthem [DigiFile] (LDP)
2022 Get Us To The Eurovision [DigiFile] (LDP)
2022 Let’s All Dance (Our Last Summer) [DigiFile] (LDP)
with everYthinGnot Featuring LOLA DUTRONIC
2008 Airport (NERA – Bulgaria) NERA-009
Albums
2005 The World Of Lola Dutronic (Bongo Beat) BB-1970-2
2007 Album 2: The Love Parade (Bongo Beat) BB-1985-2
2008 Definitive French Language Singles (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 In Berlin (LDP)
2008 The Definitive French Lounge Singles: The Greatest Hits Of Lola Dutronic [2CD (EQ – Singapore) EA-71602
2009 The Best Of (LDP)
2010 Musique [7-song EP] (Red Star)
2011 New York Stories [5-song EP] (Red Star)
2012 Everyone’s A Star (Red Star) RED STAR-3000
2012 2EPS – “Musique” & “New York Stories” (Red Star) RED STAR-3001
2015 Lost In Translation (LDP) LDP-201
Compilation Tracks
2007 song on ‘Le Saint-Sulpice Hotel Volume 1’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 song on ‘Psychedelic Lounge’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 song on ‘Late Night Urban Chill’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 song on ‘Real Ibiza Chill’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 song on ‘Paris Lounge Nights Volume 2’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 song on ‘Real Bistro Chill’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 “Le Model” on “French Nu Lounge Cuts’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 “La Mer” on ‘French Nu Loung Cuts – Volume 2’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 “Girl On A Motorcycle” on ‘Bossa Nova For The Modern Woman’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2008 “Les Cheveux De Mon Amour” on ‘Jazz For The Modern Woman’ (G-Pop – Singapore)
2009 “Le Model” [featuring Françoise Hart on ‘Paris Fashion District 2’ [2CD] (Cool:DVision – Italy) CLD-CD-059/09
2009 “Song For Edie” on ‘Real Ibiza Chill Vol. 2 (Lounge Grooves/EQ) EA-71877
2010 song on ‘Whisper EP’ (Red Star)
2010 “Un Histoire De Plage” [featuring Françoise Hart] on ‘Paris Le Flore: Paris Nights’ (High Note – Taiwan)
2011 “Beautiful World (Slight Remix)” on ‘Paris Fashion District 5’ [2CD] (Cool D:vision – Italy) CLD-CD-077/11
2011 “Le Model” [featuring Françoise Hart] on ‘Hotel Emiliano, 9 & 10’ [2CD] (Universal – Brazil) 60252776365
2011 “Beautiful World (Slight Return)” on ‘Finest Lounge Tunes’ [2CD] (High Note – Taiwan) HN875CD
2012 “Cheree” and “Kids Just Wanna Dance” on ‘Paris Fashion District 5’ [2CD] (Cool D:vision – Italy) CLD- CD 087/12
2012 “Au Revoir [featuring Mike Garson] and “Je m’appelle amour” on ‘French Café – The Finest Fresh Music Selection From Paris’ (High Note – Taiwan) HN945CD
2013 song on ‘Variations’ (Red Star – Europe)
LOMEZ, Céline
Born: May 11, 1953
Lomez started her show business career singing French-Canadian pop songs with her sister Liette Lomez and the two gained popularity after their performance at the Festival du Disque in Québec in 1968.The were signed to RCA Victor and released several singles. By 1969 Céline began a solo career while Liette formed a new duo with François Bégin (ex-Les Merseys) who released a number of records through the late 1960s and early 1970s before eventually joining Toulouse. Meanwhile, Céline was soon offered a role in the Denis Héroux film ‘L’Initiation’ (‘Here and Now’) It was 1970 and she was 17 at the time. Her music career was also flourishing with several albums to her credit with some significant hits such as “L’amour dans les rangs de coton” in 1974. She would continue to pursue acting as her passing having come close to being cast in Charlie’s Angel’s – her part eventually going to Tanya Roberts. Lomez did manage to land a leading role opposite Christopher Plummer in the 1978 thriller ‘The Silent Partner.’ Another role in the 1983 horror film ‘Curtains’ was initially hers but she was let go and replaced by actress Linda Thorson. Lomez published her autobiography entitled ‘Pour quatorze dollars elles sont à vous?’ in 2004. [also see CÉLINE ET LIETTE]
Singles
1970 Ce Que Tu Veux Je L’Ai/L’Autoroute (Trans-Canada) TC-3326
1970 Un Petit Coeur A Vendre/Sans les Femmes (Trans-Canada) TC-3341
1971 Mets Un Peu D’Amour Dans Ta Vie/Ami Prends Le Temps De Vivre (Trans-Canada) TC-3355
1971 Apres Ski/Pardonne-Moi Si Je T’aime (Trans-Canada) TC-3366
1971 Apres Ski/Pardonne Moi Si Je T’aime//Mets Un Peu D’amour Dans Ta Vie/Ami Prends Le Temps De Vivre (Maxi 4/Trans-Canada) M-450
1971 Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi/La Marchandise (Trans-Canada) TC-3387
1971 14 Soleils/[split w/MASKING SOUND] (Trans-Canada) TC-4073
1972 Pour Lui Je Ne Suis Qu’une Amie/L’amie Que Tu Aimais (DSP) DSP-010
1973 Bête Comme Ça/Libre Comme Une Hirondelle (DSP) DSP-017
1974 L’amour Dans Les Rangs D’coton/Dans La Lumiere De L’hiver (Les Disques Maisonneuve/Trans-World) M-1823
1974 Mardi Gras (Made In Louisiana)/Dans la foire de ma memorie (Les Disques Maisonneuve/Trans-World) M-1826
1975 La Lune Est Un Ballon/(Une Femme) Comme Les Autres (Deram/London) DF.563
1976 Panne D’Amour/Chanson Pour F (Deram/London) DF.616
1979 Vol de nuit/Vol de nuit (Instrumental) (Telson) AEX-142
1979 Night Flight/Night Flight (Instrumental) (Telson) AFX-513
1980 Winning/Joking (Tiffany) TY-1000
1980 More Than A Pretty Face/Be Mine (Tiffany) TY-1002
as CÉLINE
1969 Oui Papa, Non Papa/Mister Lou (Trans-Canada) TC-3309
Albums
1971 Ce Que Tu Veux, Je L’ai (Trans-Canada International) TSF-1431
1972 Mon Disque D’Or (DSP International) DSP-49802
1979 Vol De Nuit (DSP Serie) RSP-3701
1980 Burning (Tiffany/Telson) AF.2514
1995 Nuits D’enfer (Productions Esméralda Inc.) ESM-CD-9509
1999 Ce Que Tu Veux, Je L’Ai (Disques Mérite) 22-2408
LONDON EXPERIMENTAL JAZZ QUARTET
Eric Stach (soprano and alto sax, wood flute) / Gerry Van de Kamp (electric bass) / Gregg Dechert (piano, vocals) / Erna Van Daele (cello, flute, vibes) / Ron Martin (alto sax) / Randy Coryell (drums, piano) / Peter Denny (vibes, bass sax)
From London, Ontario; Stach would form the Eric Stach Quartet and would record as a solo artist; Dechert would go on to be a member of Uriah Heep, briefly. He would also perform and record with David Gilmour (Pink Floyd). Dechert would also do session work for Dream Academy and Bad Company; Coryell would go on to back Mel Brown, Eric Stach (along with Gerry Van de Kamp), and Jim Thompson; Denny would go on to join Luddites in the 1980s.
Albums
1974 Invisible Roots (Scratch) SR-10
LONDON, Mark
Montreal-raised Mark London was a teen crooner in the early 1960s and was signed to the Chateau label where he charted with the song “How Much Longer Must I Wait” (in Canada it had been presented as the B-side to his “Raggedy Ann” single). He moved to London, England in 1965 and was signed to Pye Records for the single “Stranger In The World.” He was soon recognized for his songwriting and would pen songs for Dave Berry, Paul Jones, George Bean, and Lulu including her chart topping hit song “To Sir With Love.” London eventually got into music management with Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant taking on Stone The Crows as a client. After Stone The Crows ended, he helped singer Maggie Bell on her 1970’s solo albums. Since the 1980s London has been composing soundtrack music. London wrote music for the movies ‘Act V’ (1981), ‘Bloodbath At The House Of Death’ (1984), the television short ‘Mr. Men, Little Misses’ (1991) and the ‘Junglies’ TV series (1992). In 2015 “To Sir With Love” was inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.
Singles
1962 Raggedy Ann/How Much Longer Must I Wait (Chateau) C-141
1963 I’ll Get Along/Summertime Romance (Venus) VS-3036
1965 Stranger In The World/Moanin’ (Pye – UK) 7N-15825
1971 Theme From “First Love”/Theme From “First Love” (Instrumental) (London – JAPAN) TOP-1673
Albums
1971 First Love (Original Soundtrack) (London – JAPAN) CL-7825
LONG TIME COMIN’
Mike Bosley (guitar) / Howard Atherton (drums) / Jerry Lipinski (guitar) / Gary Webstad (bass)
Vancouver, British Columbia band Shape O’ Things was formed in 1966. They would eventually work with producer Stan Cayer who produced their three singles under the name Long Time Comin’.
Singles
1970 Bum-Ba Ba-Da-Da-Da (Kind of Girl)//Paper Rose (SGM) SGM-5S
1971 Down Hill Slope/Magic World (London) M-17403
1972 Part of the Reason/Funny (SGM) SGM-12S
Compilation Tracks
1994 “Paper Rose” and “Part of the Reason” on ‘The History of Vancouver Rock and Roll Volume 4’ (Neptoon) VRCA-004
LONG, Dee
Born: David Long in 1951 in Toronto, Ontario
RH King Collegiate school mates Dee Long, Fred Coutts, John Judge, Clifford Maynes and Dave Darch originally formed as Black Market in Toronto in 1966. The band played school dances and battle of the band contests throughout Toronto and eventually changed their name to The Polychromatic Experiment culminating in an opening slot for Nucleus. After Polychromatic Experiment wound down in 1968, Long and Coutts recruited Val Mancuso (guitar), Vic King (drums) and Dave Martin (bass) to form Bloodstone. Having maintained their connection to Nucleus’s Greg Fitzpatrick, they were able to land a production deal with producer Shel Sefran for a 7″ single released on Bent/Quality Records called “Toronto” and backed with “I’m Your Man” in 1970. Alas, the record’s lack of commercial or radio success led to them disbanding later that year. Long would join Terry Draper, John Woloschuk and Jamie Bridgman as a member of Mudcow in 1971. Following the collapse of Mudcow, Long and Woloschuk created Klaatu in the fall of 1972 as strictly a studio project while working together in Long’s father’s electronics company. With their home demos the duo was signed to a production deal under the tutelage of producer Terry Brown at Toronto Sound. Through a series of one-off singles for GRT and Daffodil Records, and the addition of drummer Terry Draper in 1974, they attempted to gain traction on Canadian radio. With the assistance of Daffodil Records’ Frank Davies the studio band secured a five album record deal with Capitol-Records in the US under the provision that the band remain anonymous and would never be required to reveal their identities or appear in public. Surprisingly, Capitol agreed to these terms and Klaatu’s debut album, ‘3:47 EST’, was issued in August 1976 without much fanfare. The album received some favourable reviews and a bit of moderate airplay on FM stations in Canada. Still, it did not fair well in the sales department. By the end of the year the band had resigned itself to the fate of the first album and pressed on with recording a follow-up. They decided on a weighty space concept album called ‘Hope’ and proceeded to England at the beginning of 1977 to have the London Symphony add their orchestrations to Doug Riley’s orchestral arrangements. By March, Klaatu were to deliver the finished album to Capitol Records, despite Klaatu not being entirely happy with the final product. They turned over the record but not before insanity had begun sweeping over the US radio waves. Steve Smith of the ‘Providence Rhode Island Journal’ had hypothetically wondered if Klaatu weren’t a reunited Beatles or a side project from one of its members. Suddenly, the first album started gaining national interest with DJs and listeners wondering who the mystery band was. A virtual mania ensued as the original ‘Klaatu’ sold out pressing after pressing…the hysteria gave Capitol moment to pause and officially ordered the release of ‘Hope’ be put on hold. The furor over Klaatu’s identity died down by the summer of 1977 when a disc jockey surmised their true identities through the Library of Congress. However, Klaatu once again became the subject of much discussion as adult pop duo The Carpenters remade Klaatu’s Sci-Fi opus “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft”. Within weeks, the Carpenters album ‘Passages’ featuring the song, and Klaatu’s ‘Hope’ LP, was riding the same charts. ‘Hope’ gained critical acclaim, but, alas the record sold poorly. Klaatu wanted to maintain a living as songwriter/performers so the third album was designated a proper pop record. During the recording process, Terry Brown and Klaatu had a dispute and the partnership dissolved. The pressure of producing an opus as grandiose as ‘Hope’ had exhausted Woloschuk and so, he gave Long a free reign to have more songs on ‘Sir Army Suit’. Long found himself not only a songwriter/guitarist but also producer, engineer on nearly half the album’s tracks. Meanwhile, an animation company in Toronto thought they had the solution to Klaatu’s lack of visibility and offered to create a full-length movie of the ‘Hope’ album. Capitol and the band found this impractical and instead agreed to let Shadow Productions produce an animated TV special featuring 4 songs from the upcoming album and two Klaatu classics: “Calling Occupants” and “Sub Rosa Subway”. 1978’s ‘Sir Army Suit’ was delayed nearly 9 months and despite having 3 singles released from it, including “A Routine Day” with its Shadow Productions animated video (a Canadian first), the album did not sell well. Radio wanted Klaatu as allies but Klaatu wasn’t budging – interviews were grudgingly granted in anonymity by John Woloschuk himself. Alas, the album didn’t even chart in Canada. Capitol Records grew restless and wanted hit singles. Barely able to afford to make demos, Klaatu were handed over to producer Christopher Bond who picked the Klaatu songs to be recorded and flew them to LA for 4 months at the end of 1979 to start the next album. Hired studio musicians like Lee Sklar and Ed Greene replaced not only Draper in the recording process but, on many of the overdubs of Woloschuk and Long, Bond himself played guitar. While in LA, Klaatu tracked down Shadow Productions to see how the full-length animation special was coming and it was hopelessly incomplete due to lack of funds. Several deadlines for airing it on television had come and gone and the timeliness of the material seemed outdated. To this day “Happy New Year, Planet Earth” remains unreleased. Klaatu’s 4th album, ‘Endangered Species’, was released in 1980 and deleted almost immediately due to the administrative changes going on at the time within Capitol Records Los Angeles. Klaatu’s record deal expired shortly thereafter. While in contractual limbo, Draper and Long formed a touring Top40 cover band called FUNN which featured Gerald O’Brien (Nightwinds, Surrender, The Hunt) and, briefly, Lawrence Gowan. Not willing to throw in the towel on a bad note Klaatu negotiated a new deal with Capitol’s field office in Canada. They would agree to finance and release a 5th LP on the condition that the band reveal their secret identities and go on tour. Klaatu reluctantly agreed, but only under the condition that it be recorded and produced by the band. Long had opened ESP Studio in Buttonville, Ontario with John Jones (Duran Duran, Alan Frew, Fleetwood Mac). ‘Magentalane’ was Klaatu’s swan song and was released in late 1981 to coincide with the band’s first and only tour using additional players to augment their sound. The tour began in Saskatoon in November 1981 opening for Prism. After the initial arena and soft-seater shows were completed, Klaatu carried on as headliners doing club dates. They criss-crossed Ontario throughout 1982 with occasional jaunts into Quebéc, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. In April 1982 Long quit the band and was replaced by Dave Cooper (Ian Thomas). Long wanted to focus on engineering and producing at ESP Studio as it was now home to the majority of Capitol-EMI recording acts such as Red Rider, Zappacosta, Leggat, Karen Hendryx, Dalbello, and Rational Youth among artists from other labels such as Gary O’Connor. Long and partner John Jones had acquired a CMI Fairlight midi work station which was cutting edge in 1984 and soon Long and Jones’ services were in demand in England. They sold ESP Studio and set up a digital editing suite in George Martin’s illustrious Air Studios in London. It was at this facility that Long created jingles for McDonalds, and did sampling work alongside Jones on projects with Michael Kamen, Paul McCartney, Willie Deville, Terence Trent D’arby, Roy Wood, Tom Jones, Mark Antony, Mark Knopfler, Robert Gorl (DAF), John Illsley,The Rolling Stones, Paul Rodgers, Eric Clapton, Andrew Lloyd Webber, The Outfield, and Duran Duran among others. In the meantime he continued recording his own material as a means to push the boundaries of new technologies. On the promise of a potential Klaatu reunion Long left England and moved back to Canada but the plans never materialized. Fed up with the music business, Long moved to Vancouver in 1995 as a software programmer where he developed an animation morphing program called ‘Scream’. But, renewed enthusiasm by fans of Klaatu convinced Long to return creating new music. First came the theme song for John Woo’s short-lived TV drama ‘Once A Thief’ and then soundtrack work for the French Sci-Fi movie ‘Babel’ in 1998. Following up on the momentum, Bullseye Records of Canada decided to release his older material from the ESP/Air Studios era as a double CD package called ‘Been Here Before’ with a vision to help Long realize a full-blown comeback record. 2002’s ‘Outside’ CD – utilizing a state-of-the-art drum sampling/editing program called the ‘DeeSampler’ (which he created) – was his first true solo album and it renewed interest by fans all over the world. Using his ‘Scream’ video software he also created videos for half a dozen songs from the album and released a DVD package entitled ‘Outside of Time & Space’ in 2004. Long took his show on the road in 2005 performing dates in British Columbia and southern Ontario – the net result was a live album called ‘Long Live and Prosper’. There was also a brief reunion for Klaatu in May 2005 following the release of the band’s boxed set, ‘Sun Set: 1973-1981’, which saw the band perform at a closed event specifically for fans called ‘World Kontact Day’ put on by Fans First Inc. in Toronto. The event led to renewed interest in the group and the recorded performance from that day was released in 2009 on the Klaatu CD ‘Solology’. In 2006 Long returned to live performing to promote his latest studio album ‘Welcome To The Future’ and made his first of many appearances at The Vancouver International Pop Overthrow Festival. In 2008 he formed a new band in his adopted town of Lillooet, British Columbia called the Wild Onions. They released a CD of cover tunes in 2009 entitled ‘Born To Be…The Wild Onions’. Bullseye released a collection of early demos and rarities from Long’s formative years – including the first digital release of Bloodstone’s 1970 single “Toronto” – on the limited edition 2010 disc ‘1,2, 3, 5: LONGevity 4’. The renewed interest in these long-lost recordings inspired Long to revisit some of the tracks for a newly re-imagined ‘best of’ collection called ‘Life AfterLife’ in 2011. Long is currently playing live to promote these tracks as a solo act and with his latest vehicle Atomic Tracktor. The band released an album of cover tunes in 2012 entitled ‘Run 4 Cover.’ With notes from Dee Long. [also see BLOODSTONE, KLAATU]
Singles
2019 Can’t We All Just Get Along [DigiFile] (DLM)
with MOE KOFFMAN
1973 Cavern of the Mountain Trolls/Suite Fantastique Reveries (GRT) 1230-66
with ATOMIC TRACKTOR
2011 Dope Suckin’ Hippies (DLM)
Albums
1998 Digital: LONGevity 1 [6-song EP] (Bullseye) BEP-004
1999 Been Here Before: LONGevity 2 & 3 (Bullseye) BLP-2CD-4014
2002 Outside (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4036
2004 Outside of Time & Spaced [CD + DVD] (DeeTeeVee/Bullseye) BLR-DV-5501
2005 Long Live & Prosper (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4111
2006 Welcome To The Future (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4116
2010 1, 2, 3, 5: LONGevity 4 (Bullseye) BOD-002
2010 7, 9, 10, 11: LONGevity Bonus Material [6-song DigiFile] (Bullseye)
2011 Life AfterLife (DLM) DLM-001
2019 Robot Love [3-song DigiFile] (DLM)
with THE BURGERHEADS
2006 The Burgerheads [DigiFile] (DLM)
with THE WILD ONIONS
2009 Born To Be…The Wild Onions (DLM)
with ATOMIC TRACKTOR
2012 Run 4 Cover [DigiFile] (DLM)
Compilation Tracks
2004 “Blue Jay Way” and “Across the Universe” on ‘It Was 40 Years Ago Today: A Tribute to the Beatles’ (Bullseye) BLR-CD-4060
2005 “Meaning of Life (Video Mix)” on ‘Bullseye Records of Canada – Frontline Sampler (20th Anniversary 1985-2005) (Bullseye) BLR-CD-2020
LONGO BROTHERS, The
D. Longo/ Frank Longo / Larry Longo
Singles
1978 Sun Side Up/Looking For Love (People City Music) PCM-123
1981 Free Feeling/Something For You (Blue Chip) B.C. #11/12
1982 Coast To Coast/Takin’ Off (People City Music) C-382
1982 Free Feeling/Something For You (People City Music) PCM-223
1983 Manhattan/Nightwalk (People City Music) PCM-523
1983 In the Middle of the Night [featuring JILL VOGEL]/In the Middle of the Night (Instrumental) (People City Music) PCM-623
1984 The Night Life [featuring WAYNE ST. JOHN]/Coast To Coast (People City Music) PCM-723
1984 City Motions [featuring MOE KOFFMAN]/If The Feeling’s Not Right (People City Music) PCM-823
1985 It’s Simply Love [featuring MOE KOFFMAN]/We Got Action (People City Music) PCM-923
Albums
1979 Imitation Life (People City Music) PCM-323LB
LOOK PEOPLE
Jaymz Bee (vocals; 1985-1994) / Andy Flinn (guitar; 1985) / Fabio Marc Baltensperger (guitar; 1985) / Longo Hai (guitar; 1985-1988, 1990-1994) / Bazl Salazar (guitar; 1989) / Aardvark Q. Dardknarbles (guitar; 1989) / Walter K. (bass;1985-1988) / Clayton Tyson (bass; 1989-1991) / Chris Gartner (bass; 1991-1994) / Mike Weilenman (drums; 1985) / Great Bob Scott (drums, percussion; 1985-1994) / Kevin Hearn (keyboards; 1988-1994)
When things went downhill for touring Swiss rockers Chinook while in Canada they stumbled across resident eccentric Jaymz Bee of The Bee People and they decided to merge in 1985. An 8 track demo was recorded at Vital Sines’ Rhythms In Dark Studios in Toronto with Sines’ bassist Terry Michaelson producing. From these sessions was gleaned the ‘Stop Making Cheese’ EP which was scooped up for distribution by AMOK Records. The band began hopping back and forth across the Atlantic plying their weird musical trade on unsuspecting Europeans. With a return to Canada in late 1986 they made their first video, ‘Baby X’, that was too weird for MuchMusic to play. On the side Great Bob Scott and Jaymz Bee played in Hatfield McCoy Pioneer Experience Reunion in 1988. Their 1989 EP ‘More Songs About Hats and Chickens’ continued to set the tone for more eccentric and inaccessible albums to come. In 1991 the band managed to finally land the big record deal and released their debut Spike Jones-meets-The Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Boogazm’ which featured a seminal hit in the remake of War’s “Low Rider”. As a way to fend off boredom from their frenetic touring schedule the Look People began to put on wigs and black leather and would open their own shows as alter ego heavy metal act Guelph (often insulting the Look People during their sets). Despite being five-time CASBY nominees and developing an intense cult following, The Look People called it a day in 1994. Currently Jaymz Bee has been doing A & R work and compiling lounge music CDs featuring big band remakes of classic Canadian rock tracks and occasionally touring with his own Jelly Roll Orchestra; Kevin Hearn would go on to join the Barenaked Ladies.
Singles
1987 Baby X
1991 Low Rider/[w/S.O.S. Band] (Tabu/Hypnotic/A & M) AMDJ-101491
Albums
1986 Stop Making Cheese [4-song EP] (AMOK)
1989 More Songs About Hats And Chickens (Quantum) QR-89005
1990 Small Fish, Big Pond (Quantum) QR-90011
1991 Boogazm (Hypnotic/A & M) 6100
1992 Crazy Eggs (Hypnotic/A & M) 6101
1993 The Latest In High Fidelity
Compilation Tracks
1985 “Baby X” on ‘German Canadian Friendship/Deutsch Kanadische Freundschaft (Amok) LP-504
1993 “Lousy Lover” on ‘A Canadian Alternative ’92’ (Second Wave) SWM-002
1993 “Looking for a Job That Doesn’t Suck” on ‘New Stuff 7’ (MMS) NSCD-007
1994 “Nails” on ‘Elvis Monday Vol. 1’ (Kinetic) KRD-919
LOOK, The
Bob Warden [aka Rowden] (lead guitar, vocals) / Dave Boucher (guitar) / Barry Warden [aka Rowden] (bass, vocals) / Jack Willander (drums)
Vancouver, British Columbia’s The Look featured brothers Barry and Bob Rowden who had been in Painted Ship for their early 1966 recordings. The Look was booked by Stan Cayer for Rols-Royce Bookings. Cayer released a rare compilation single for his acts in 1968 to help promote the artists and his agency. The Look’s song “In a Whirl” was included; Barry Rowden passed away in 2010.
Compilation Tracks
1968 “In a Whirl” on ‘Rols-Royce Bookings Presents…Live From Vancouver’ [7”] (SGM) EPA-81007
1994 “In a Whirl” on ‘The History of Vancouver Rock and Roll Volume 4’ (Neptoon) VRCA-004
LOOKING FOR MARCK
Marc Côté (keyboards, electric guitar, drum programming) / Mark Vinet (vocals, piano, acoustic guitar)
From Québec.
Singles
1989 Overnight/Pace (Alert) BDS-540
Albums
1989 Dangerous Visions (Alert) Z1-81011
LORANGE, Kirk
Born: 1949 in Mexico
Kirk Lorange began playing guitar in 1961 as a 12 year old Canadian living in Belgium. His father worked for a multinational company, and the family had already spent time in Mexico, Venezuela and Cuba. He was already experimenting with home made drum kits, playing along to his dad’s big band LPs, but it was The Shadows’ instrumental “Apache” that triggered his life long obsession with the guitar. The Loranges moved back to Montréal, Canada in 1963 where Kirk finished high school and continued to perfect his guitar playing. In 1967, with a new Goya nylon string guitar, he started a series of backpacking guitar-toting trips to Europe to escape the Canadian winters. His professional career began during this period with several recording sessions in Montréal and doing solo instrumental guitar gigs at the Sir Winston Churchill Pub. It was during this time that he met fellow Montréaler and musician Dwight Druick. They traveled together to the Greek island of Mykonos, and spent a winter writing and arranging songs. These tunes would eventually land them a deal in London, where they recorded initially under the name May West for Polydor and then a full album on Goodear Records in the UK called ‘Druick & Lorange’, produced by Marty Lewis. Unfortunately, the label soon went bust. When the smoke cleared on this sour note, he decided to move to Australia in 1974. Within days of arriving he had met Doug Ashdown and they formed the band Sleeping Dogs, performing covers and originals to receptive crowds in Sydney. Their true claim to fame was opening for Supertramp on their Australian tour, busing from Adelaide to Brisbane via Melbourne and Sydney. As a duo, Lorange and Ashdown opened shows for Little River Band, Marcia Hines and Leo Kottke. Lorange also began a long association with Richard Clapton during his early years in Oz, contributing to two albums. On the success of Clapton’s hit song “Capricorn Dancer”, Lorange toured the length and breadth of Australia with Clapton from 1976 to 1978. During periods off the road, Lorange did session work. One of these sessions was for the late Marc Hunter (ex-Dragon). Lorange toured with The Marc Hunter Band for several months in the early ’80s. Lorange also recorded and toured with Kevin Johnson who wrote the Terry Jacks hit “Rock And Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life”. He would tour with the short lived Glenn Shorrock Band following his stint with The Little River Band the highlight of which was performing “Blue Suede Shoes” on Australian TV’s ‘The Michael Parkinson Show’ with Ringo Starr. In 1983, Lorange finally recorded a solo album entitled ‘No Apostrophe’ for WEA Records whose first single “Come A Long Way” did minor chart activity in Canada. The album reached the teens on the Adelaide and Perth charts, but never achieved major airplay in most cities. Wanting to spend more time with his three children, Lorange stayed close to home and formed Chasin’ The Train with former members of Moving Pictures. Chasin’ The Train played 6 nights a week during their heyday, and opened for such acts as The Band, John Mayall, and joined forces with Angry Anderson, Marc Hunter and Sharon O’Neill for a touring show called ‘The Good, the Bad and The Angry’ in the late 80’s. The group lasted 15 years. In 1995 he appeared, along with Sharon O’Neill, on the song “Oh Now Girl” by the act Dragon. An offshoot of The Train was a band called the Six Amigos who had the pleasure of opening for The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson) on their tour of Australia in 1991. Kirk began writing and illustrating his book ‘PlaneTalk- The Truly Totally Different Guitar Instruction Book’ in the early ’90s. The book is now selling worldwide online along with the companion DVD which he later produced and edited himself on his iMac in 2000. In 1997 Lorange settled in Tamborine Mountain, to be closer to his adult children where he now markets his book PlaneTalk and music on the Internet. He still plays locally in various lineups, plays sessions, and runs ‘Guitar for Beginners.com’ – a website site with over 120,000 members. In 2006 he produced the ‘How to play Slide Guitar in Standard Tuning DVD’. with notes from Kirk Lorange and Bill Smith.
Singles
1983 Come A Long Way/Gangocka (WEA) 725-9762
1983 Hooked On You/Danny’s Song (WEA) PRO-256
with DRUICK & LORANGE
1974 Dark End of the Rainbow/ (Goodear – UK) EAR-102
with MAY WEST
1972 Sweet Retzina/If You’re Leaving (Polydor) 2001-387
Albums
1983 No Apostrophe (WEA) 25-02121
1994 Still No Apostrophe
with DRUICK & LORANGE
1974 Druick & Lorange (Goodear – UK) EARL-2701
LORDS (1)
Mel Degen (vocals) / Harry Krawchuk (bass) / Andy Krawchuck (guitar) / Dan Hanson / Ken Johnson / Stu Mitchell (drums) / Al McGee (keyboards) / Wayne Kozak (saxophone)
Edmonton, Alberta’s The Lords were originally called The A & W Lords. They recorded three singles for Pace Records and were often the backing band for soul singer Mary Saxton. Members of The Lords were also part of the studio act Rising Sun which was comprised of Mary Saxton, Barry Allen, and members of Southern Freeway. Members of the Lords later ended up in the band Privilege; Mitchell went on to a solo career. Degen died August 13, 2014; Stu Mitchell died September 14, 2022; Al McGee passed away February 24, 2018. with notes from Dwayne Osepchuk. [also see STU MITCHELL]
Singles
1966 There Ain’t No Doubt About It/Rovin’ Heart (Pace) 20-1166
1967 Blue/Dirt Beneath Your Feet (Pace) 4-367
1967 Savin’/The High Successful Rupert White (Pace) 8-867
Compilation Tracks
1966 “Lump City”, “Shadows In The Sun”, “Books And Movies”, “Journey To Nowhere”, “Big City Guy” [with Mary Saxton] on ‘Direct…From The…Rainbow Ballroom’ (Pace) RS-101
LORDS, The (2)
From Montréal, Québec.
Singles
as THE LORDS featuring LITTLE HARLEY
1965 Baby I’ve Got to Have It/Let it Be Me (Allied) AR-6355
LORDS OF LONDON
Greg Fitzpatrick (bass, vocals) / Gary Elliott (keyboards) / Hughie Leggat (guitar) / John Richardson (guitar, vocals) / Danny Taylor (drums) / Sebastian Agnello (bass, then keyboards; replaced Elliott)
In 1964, twelve year-old guitarist Sebastian Agnello started a rock band with fellow classmates Danny Taylor and John Richardson at Earl Grey Public School in Toronto, and called themselves D.T. & The Phantoms. They played a few Tea Dances and Sock Hops until Agnello left to play with “older guys” from East York Collegiate. Meanwhile Taylor and Richardson recruited Hughie Leggat, Greg Fitzpatrick and Gary Elliott to gig under the handle The Lords Of London. In the summer of 1966, bassist Greg Fitzpatrick went on a family vacation to the east Coast and Sebastian was called in to play bass for the whole summer. Organist Elliott left the band when Fitzpatrick returned and Sebastian was asked to become the keyboard player. Having never played keyboards before, and with only a meagre knowledge of the piano keyboard, Agnello made his debut as The Lords’ keyboard player less then a month later playing “two finger chords: one finger from each hand.” After watching them play together around Ontario for two years, manager Brian Pombiere finally decided that the group was a better fit for the teen market than the adult club scene and had sufficient experience to go into the recording studio. Late in 1966 the Lords went to RCA studios in Toronto to record four songs – “Cornflakes And Ice Cream”, “Time Waits For No One”, “21,000 Dreams” and “The Popcorn Man” on the studios 4-track machine. The psychedelic bubble gum flavoured nursery rhyme “Cornflakes and Ice Cream”, written and produced by sixteen year-old Greg Fitzpatrick attracted the attention of Al Mair at Apex Records who licensed it and “Time Waits For No One” for release. They scored a Canadian hit with “Cornflakes And Ice Cream” in 1967 and became teen sensations when the song went No.1 on CHUM radio stations across Canada and appearances on CTV’s ‘After Four’ and ‘It’s Happening’ TV shows among others. After making friends with a CTV cameraman, the band managed to archive footage for a “Cornflakes and Ice Cream” video that would finally see the light of day nearly 30 years later. A follow up single in the summer of 1967 was issued by Apex in the form of “The Popcorn Man” b/w “21,000 Dreams” but lightning failed to strike twice. By this time the boys were a little older and were playing the Yorkville clubs in Toronto. Eventually, they managed to get a showcase at Ronnie Hawkins’ Hawks Nest, where the Ugly Ducklings had a residency. The performances were recorded but never released. With music a full-time concern, the freshly-out-of-school musicians needed a rehearsal space. They moved into what would be known as ‘The House Of Soul’ which was an old house on Danforth Road in Toronto run as a drum teaching school by an ex-jazz drummer named Bill Mathews. The Lords’ road manager Greg Sleigh approached him to rent the main floor to the band as a rehearsal studio by the month. Rooms were fixed up and it became home to many Toronto acts through 1969. Meanwhile, because of the Canadian chart success of “Cornflakes”, Apex’s American parent company, Decca, decided to release it in the US. They backed up the release with a large-scale promotional campaign, including a full page ad in the Billboard magazine. The Lords of London were also booked for a guest spot on the music show ‘Upbeat’ which was produced at the WEWS studios in Cleveland and syndicated to more than 50 cities in the US. The show would also air in Canada in November of 1967. Unfortunately, Decca had mislabeled the single, and marked “Cornflakes and Ice Cream” as the B side, and the flipside – “Time Waits For No One” as the A side. This limited any success it would have seen in America as magazine and newspaper reviewers focused their articles on the wrong song. The second US single, “Candy Rainbow” along with its B-side “Within your Mind”, were recorded at A & R Studios in New York City as part of a proposed full-length LP in December 1967. The label wanted the band to release “Candy Rainbow” as the next single, but the band were opposed to having a 2nd bubblegum song as the follow-up unless it could be a cover version of The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”. Leggat developed strep throat and when it was proposed that Fitzpatrick sing lead, or even an outside vocalist, Agnello quit the band and flew back to Toronto. More work was done on the tracks at Eastern Sound when the band returned to Toronto, but were abandoned – “Be My Baby” included – when they realized Agnello was not returning to the group. “Candy Rainbow” was released as planned in March 1968 but lacked the familiarity that might have swayed American audiences and was a commercial flop. Ironically, a remake of “Be My Baby” would become a hit for fellow Canadian Andy Kim in 1970. Agnello was replaced by Bob Horne whose photo was manipulated on the artwork for the single and the promotional campaign to look like Agnello in an effort not to upset dedicated Lords of London fans. But, when the Lords attempted to fulfill their obligations live, Horne was unfairly attacked by some fans. As the members matured, so did their musical interests causing the group to begin a quick evolution into progressive sounds and a new name: Nucleus. They recorded one album and had a moderate hit with the song “Communication” before the group disintegrated. Leggat, Taylor and Horne would go on to form A Foot In Coldwater in the early 1970’s. The original members of Lords Of London reunited in 1991 at a gathering of the audiophile society Canadian Wax Hounds in Toronto to discuss their careers and debut the never before seen “Cornflakes And Ice Cream” promotional video that had been thought long lost; Sebastian Agnello was in several bands including Teenage Dance Band, Spuff/Male Bagg, and SCAB, and has continued a solo career for more than 40 years, and has been involved in hundreds of session recordings in the 1970s; Hughie Leggat and his brother Gord had a brief run on Capitol Records in the 1980s under their own name and as Private Eye. In 2004 they fired up a new act called The Mississippi Hippies. Hugh is currently part of the 2011 reunion tour of A Foot In Coldwater; Greg Fitzpatrick produced a number of records for the UNI Record label – including “Toronto” by Dee Long’s pre-Klaatu band Bloodstone – and has had a lengthy solo career. He is currently living in Newfoundland; John Richardson worked as an engineer at a Toronto recording studio; Danny Taylor, John Richardson & Hugh Leggat reunited in 2007 with their musical friends Grant Slater & Mike Kamino and performed as Nucleus in the Spring of 2008. with notes from Larry LeBlanc, Myke Roch, Danny Taylor, Sebastian Agnello, Gord Leggat, Ritchie Yorke, Al Mair, and Greg Fitzpatrick. [also see SEBASTIAN (1), LEGGAT, PRIVATE EYE, NUCLEUS, A FOOT IN COLDWATER]
Singles
1967 Cornflakes and Ice Cream/Time Waits For No One (Apex/Compo) 77054
1967 The Popcorn Man/21,000 Dreams (Apex/Compo) 77068
1968 Candy Rainbow/Within Your Mind (Apex) 77074
Compilation Tracks
1990 “Cornflakes And Ice Cream” on ‘Made In Canada – Volume 3: Eclectic Avenue’ (BMG) KCD1-7158
LORI AND DIANE
Lorraine (Lori) Walton (vocals) / Diane Walton (vocals)
Singles
1963 Billy Brown/Be (Diana) DO-1001
1964 It Bothers Me/Mister Key Maker (Diana) DO-1002
with LORI AND DIANE WITH THE DARNELS
1965 Be/Billy Brown (Barry) B-3325X
LOS POPULAROS
Bill Shirt (vocals) / Art Bergmann (guitar, vocals) / Buck Cherry (guitar) / Tony Bardach (bass) / Gord Nicholl (keyboards) / Zippy Pinhead (drums)
Short-lived act from Vancouver, British Columbia; Cherry would go on to be in Active Dog, Lost Durangos and Modernettes; Bergmann would have a lengthy solo career.
Singles
1981 Working Girls/Mystery to Myself (Puerco Maria) LP-001
Albums
1982 Born Free [4 song EP] (GP Productions) GP-101
Compilation Tracks
1991 “Can’t Come Back” on ‘Last Call: Vancouver Independent Music 1977-1988’ (Zulu) ZULU 5-2
LOST & PROFOUND
Lisa Boudreau (vocals) / Terry Tompkins (guitar, vocals) / Bartok Guitarsplat (guitar) / Curtis Driedger (guitar; replaced Guitarsplat) / Allen Baekeland (bass) / David Quinton-Steinberg (drums) / Anton Evans (bass) / Victor D’Arsie (keyboards)
Boudreau, originally from Moncton, New Brunswick relocated to Calgary with her occasional band The Nerves. Tompkins was originally from Hamilton and waded through a number of bands, including The False Idols, before heading to Calgary as well. Out of the seething Calgary underground avant-garde music scene came Boudreau (ex-The Left Book Club), Tompkins (ex-The Now Feeling) and Baekeland (ex-The Now Feeling) as The Psychedelic Folk Virgins who relocated to Toronto looking for better coffee-houses. With the addition of Bartok Guitarsplat, they released ‘The Bottled Romance of Nowhere.’ When Guitarsplat left for a solo career, they hooked up with ex-CeeDees Curtis Driedger to release another independent cassette. A tune from it wound up on the ‘Moose Compilation’ distributed by Polygram. When A & R reps asked if they had anything else, they handed over a finished master of their first album. Both Baekeland and Driedger left before their self-titled debut took radio by surprise with the first single/video, “Brand New Set of Lies”, and landing on The Record’s Top 20 while also seeing substantial rotation on MuchMusic. The second single was “Curb the Angels” followed by “Winter Raging”. They received a Juno nomination in 1993. Richard Bennett (Emmylou Harris, Partridge Family) produced their follow-up, ‘Memory Thief’, having mixed the first album previously. The album’s highlight was the remake of Nancy Sinatra’s 1968 classic “Some Velvet Morning” featuring a 17-piece orchestra. ‘Love’s Secret Messenger’ came in 1996 and failed to achieve anything but moderate interest. Tompkins and Boudreau folded the band shortly thereafter but re-emerged in 2002 under the new name Red Suede Red. In 2014 they returned to the Lost & Profound name and released the album ‘Goodbye Mine.’ Bassist Allen Baekeland died after a long battle with cancer on May 23, 2020. With notes from David Quinton-Steinberg.
Singles
1992 Brand New Set Of Lies (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-181
1992 Curb The Angels (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-262
1992 Winter Raging (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-264
1993 All Consuming Mistress (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-306
1994 Miracles Happen (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-330
Albums
1992 Sampler [5 song EP] (Polydor/Polygram) PCD-195
1992 Lost And Profound (Polydor/Polygram) 5132512
1994 Memory Thief (Polydor/Polygram) 5195182
1996 Love’s Sweet Messenger (Lost & Profound) LPMM1017CD
2014 Goodbye Mine (Drunken Boat) DBLP-003C
as THE PSYCHEDELIC FOLK VIRGINS
1989 The Bottled Romance of Nowhere
1990 The Psychedelic Folk Virgins
as RED SUEDE RED
2002 Red Suede Red
Compilation Tracks
1992 “How Many Times?” on ‘Moose Lodge’ (Moose/Vertigo/Polygram) 314514-2252
1992 “All Consuming Mistress” on ‘Moose: The Compilation’ (Polydor/Polygram)
1992 “All Consuming Mistress” on ‘March Ninety 3’ (Polydor/Polygram)
LOST DAKOTAS
Paul Dakota (vocals) / Adam Faux (guitar) / Greg McConnell (bass) / Rob Plowman (drums) / Ron Duffy (drums) / Rick O’Brien (guitar; replaced Faux)
Soloist Dakota hooked up with former Absolute Whores’ McConnell in 1989 and began the Lost Dakotas as a duo busking at the corners of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto. In the winter they would move underground to the Toronto Transit Subway system. With the addition of Rob Plowman on drums they released the independent cassette ‘Love To Play’ in 1991. They recruited Adam Faux as second guitarist and recorded their seminal album ‘Last Train To Kipling’ which was released in 1992. Faux soon left the Lost Dakotas to form Toronto band Pig Farm, and was replaced by transplanted Nova Scotian Rick O’Brien. Rob Plowman would also be replaced by Ron Duffy (Change Of Heart). Their image and visuals were designed by Toronto journalist Erella Ganon and this look translated to their stage look, posters, and album work. Dakota, McConnell, Duffy and O’Brien recorded another full-length disc ‘Sun Machine’ in 1993 which was distributed through Cargo Records in 1994; Faux has released solo recordings and has been a sound man at a number of Toronto music venues; McConnell went on to form Strato-Chief but died unexpectedly April 4, 1999.
Singles
1992 To Love Someone (Cargo)
1993 Over You (Cargo)Albums
1991 Love To Play [cassette] (independent)
1991 Last Train To Kipling (independent) LUV-092
1993 Sun Machine (independent) LUV-094
1994 Sun Machine (Cargo) CARD-1027
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Over You” on ‘New Stuff Two’ (MMS) NSCD-002
1993 “Down” on ‘New Stuff Seven’ (MMS) NSCD-007
LOST DURANGOS
Kelly Brock (vocals) / Dave Best (guitar) / Paul Stewart (bass) / Bruce Shipeley (drums)
The Lost Durangos were from Vancouver, British Columbia. The released one EP entitled ‘Evil Town’ before falling apart in 1987; Brock went on to join Innocent 3 who were winners of a 1988 CFOX-FM battle of the bands contest in Vancouver. The group won a distribution deal for one single on CBS Records. The A-side “Out of Touch” was produced by Brian McLeod (Headpins) and the B-side, “You’re Not There” was produced by Paul Hyde (Payola$). Kelly Brock would go on to have a substantial career in country music through the decades that followed.
Album
1986 Evil Town [6-song EP] (Armadillo) AR-00
LOST PATROL
Paul Langan (guitar) / Karen Marrero (vocals) / Dave Whitehead (lead guitar) / Jason Reid (bass) / Rob Michie (drums)
From Windsor, Ontario.
Singles
1986 Lost Patrol [5-song 7″ EP] (Ali) LA1-0010
1988 Second Time Around [4 song 7″ EP] (Ali) LA2-0020
1991 On The Other Side/What Colour Are Your Eyes? (Ali) ALI-007
Albums
1988 Lost Patrol (Stop It Baby) STB-04
Compilation Tracks
1987 “Lost Dreams” on ‘Garunge’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1987 “Comanche” on ‘Wave From The Grave 2’ (What Wave/CHRW) #2
1988 “Second Time Around” on ‘Disgraceland’ (What Wave/CHRW) #3
1989 ‘Roast Beef Song’ on ‘Mr. Garager’s Neighbourhood’ (OG) OG-21
1989 “Grow Up Hard” on ‘What’s All the Fuzz About’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1990 “You Don’t Own Me” on ‘Baloney Sandwich’ (What Wave) #12
1991 “My Soul” on ‘Eighth Wonder’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1992 “I Know You Ryder” on ‘Cat O’ Nine Tails’ (What Wave/CHRW)
1996 “Comanche” on ‘Time Machine: The History of Canadian 60’s Garage Punk and Surf (1985-95)’ (Stomp) STOMP-008
LOUGHEED, Lisa
Born: 1969 in Etobicoke, Ontario
Daughter of mixed race parents, Lougheed was a dance major at The Etobicoke High School Of Arts before landing a summer job as a singer dancer for three shows five days a week at Canada’s Wonderland variety show. She joined an R & B act specializing in Sly & The Family Stone covers and performed on telethons. With proper management she landed a vocal job doing voice work on the TV show ‘Vid Kids’. She finally came to prominence doing the voice of Lisa on the CBC cartoon ‘The Racoons’. She also sang the show’s theme song, “Run With Us” which was released as a single on Run Records. The song peaked on the Canadian singles chart at No.69 and the Adult Contemporary chart at No.8. With other songs written for the show, Lougheed released a full-length album, ‘Evergreen Nights’, produced by Jon Stroll and Kevin Gillis in 1988. The record landed her a coveted JUNO Award nomination for ‘Most Promising Female Vocalist’ in 1989. Her major label debut, ‘World Love’, was a four single, hit dance record recorded in Toronto. By the end of 1992 Lougheed had been nominated for two JUNO Awards – ‘Best Dance Recording’ (“World Love”, “Love Vibe”) and a 1992 Canadian Music Video Award (“Love Vibe”). For her second album, ‘Peace + Harmony’, she recorded with producers Jellybean Benetiz and Mike ‘The Hitman’ Wilson in New York and Chicago. Benetiz had been saving the song “Won’t Give Up My Music” for singer Zelma Davis of C + C Music Factory but offered it to Lougheed on the condition it be released before Davis was free to do her own version of it. The song was recorded and distributed on promotional 12″ singles at the Miami Music Conference where noted British DJ Tony Humphries went back to the UK and the dance clubs with it. At the same time, Billboard magazine dance music editor Larry Flick wrote a glowing review of the track. The finished album wowed the critics and dance floors once again. Following the success of the album, Lougheed disappeared from the music business to raise her son. She has re-appeared in recent years on albums by R. Kelly and Celine Dion.
Singles
1987 Run With Us/Hold Back Tomorrow (Run/CBC) RN-001L
1988 Ain’t No Planes/Growing Up (Run/CBC) RN-003
1991 Love Vibe (Warner) CDN-5
1992 World Love [5 song 12”] (Water) WM-001
1992 Love Vibe [4 song 12”] (Water) WM-002
1992 Running Out of Love [w/Acosta-Russell] (Warner)
1992 Love You By Heart (Warner)
1993 Won’t Give Up My Music [6 song 12”] (Water) WM-003
Albums
1988 Evergreen Nights (Run/CBC) RN-002L
1992 World Love (Warner) CD-75476
1993 Peace + Harmony (Warner) CD-93335
Compilation Tracks
1994 “Won’t Give Up My Music” on ‘Awesome 3’ (PolyTel) 516-680-2
2012 “Run With Us (Original 7” Mix)” on ‘Disco Discharge. Midnight Shift’ (Harmless) HURTCD-117
LOVE & SAS
Lovena Fox (vocals) / Saskia Garel (vocals)
Lovena ‘Love’ Fox was the lead singer for various funk and R & B bands and worked on Vancouver stages including over 1000 performances as part of the cast of ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ and did backing vocals with the likes of Bon Jovi (1988’s ‘New Jersey’), The Payola$, Little Ceasar and Colin James. Saskia ‘Sas’ Garel was born in Kingston, Jamaica, of Chinese, Spanish and West Indian descent. She moved to Toronto when she was 6 years old. She graduated the Claude Watson School of the Arts, The Royal Conservatory of Music and York University studying jazz and classical voice which won her the Oscar Peterson Award for high artistic standards. She later became the singer for reggae band Coconut Groove. Discovered and creatively designed by BMG guru David Bendeth, these R & B singers became Canada’s answer to Salt ‘N’ Pepa over the course of several singles and an album, ‘Call My Name’, in 1992. The album won a Juno for ‘Best R & B Recording’. A second album, ‘Once In a Lifetime’, followed with an additional Juno added to the duo’s career. However, despite successful tours in Canada, the US and the UK, by the summer of 1993, Love & Sas split up citing creative differences. Sas continued her management deal with Ivan Berry and has been working on a solo album ever since. She was on the Raptors’ dance team in 1995 and recorded their theme song, “Higher”, in 1996. She has appeared in commercials, television shows (Street Legal and Newsroom) and films (Mistrial, Teammates and Woo). In 1998 he had a semi-regular appearance on the cable TV show ‘Nightman’. She is currently a member of the Canadian cast for the musical “RENT” as the character ‘Mimi Marquez’. She still lives in her home of Agincourt, Ontario. Lovena Fox returned to Vancouver and eventually landed a part in the Canadian stage production of “Ragtime” as the character ‘Sarah’. That role landed her in both the Chicago Ensemble as well an appearance on the 1996 Broadway cast recording for RCA. with notes from Tonya Facey and Terry & Judy Graham.
Singles
1991 I Don’t Need Yo’ Kiss (12″ Mix) (BMG) JD-10037
1991 Call My Name (BMG) KD-51073
1992 Don’t Stop Now (BMG) KCDP-51080
1992 Once In A Lifetime (BMG)
Albums
1991 Call My Name (BMG) 10612
1992 Once In a Lifetime (BMG
LOVE CYRCLE
Alan Fieldhouse (bass, vocals) / Sheldon Stoller (drums) / Rob Langdon (guitar) / Wes Doll (guitar) / Jackie Richards (keys, vocals)
Singles
1969 Never Leave Me Never/Wind, Rain and The Seashore (Franklin) QC-626
Compilation Tracks
2008 “Never Leave Me Never” and “Wind, Rain and The Seashore” on ‘The Best of Franklin Records” (Super Oldies) SOCD-6
LOVE INC.
Chris Sheppard (DJ) / Simone Denny (vocals)
Following CFNY-FM DJ Chris Sheppard’s foray into mix compilations like ‘Here Come the Sound Pirates’, he dabbled in creating music and formed Love Inc. in 1997 with vocalist Simone Denny. Signing with BMG’s ViK. Recordings in 1997, Love Inc. had several No.1 charting singles in Canada including including “Broken Bones” (1997), “Homeless” (1998), “You’re A Superstar” (1999), and “Who Do You Love” (1999).
Singles
1997 Broken Bones (Vik.) 215677
1998 Homeless (Vik.) KCDP-51641
1999 You’re a Superstar (Vik.) 215954
1999 Who Do You Love (Vik.) 216664
2000 Here Comes the Sunshine (Vik.) 217789
2000 Into the Night (Vik.) KCDP-51847
2003 You’re a Superstar ’03 (NuLife) 765055
Albums
1998 Love Inc. (Vik.) 215903
2002 Into the Night (Vik.) 217988
Compilation Tracks
2000 “You’re A Superstar” on ‘Allstar Contact: The Ultimate Hockey Album’ (Attic) ACD-1542
2001 “Do Ya (Feel the Love)” on ‘Queer as Folk: Music From the Original Soundtrack (RCA/Victor) 266376
2001 “Broken Bones (City of Love radio mix)” on ‘Big Brother the Album – Music Inspired By..’. (BGM – Australia) 218701
2002 “You’re a Superstar” on ‘YTV Big Fun Party Mix 3’ (Universal)
2003 “Broken Bones (Pez Tellett Radio Edit)” on ‘Hits 56’ (BMG – UK) HITSCD-561
LOVERBOY
Mike Reno [aka Mike Rynoski] (lead vocals) / Matthew Frenette (drums) / Scott Smith (bass) / Paul Dean (guitars, vocals) / Doug Johnson (keys) / Spider Sinnaeve (bass; replaced Smith)
After an apparently unexplained boot from Streetheart, Vancouver guitarist Dean gigged around western Canada with friends and seriously considered being the lead singer for his own band. He woke up one morning and realized it wasn’t really what he wanted and called an agent friend to supply the name of a singer looking for work. This turned up the name Mike Rynoski (later changed his name to Reno), who was back in Vancouver after a two-year stint in Toronto with Moxy. Rynoski actually auditioned to be drummer, but Dean preferred his singing talents, felt comfortable co-writing with him, and recruited him. Classically-trained keyboardist Johnson came on board, former Streetheart drummer Frenette jumped in, and DalBello bassist Smith came into the fold. Loverboy was born, introduced to manager Bruce Allen by mutual friend Lou Blair, and shortly thereafter got the opening gig for Kiss at the Vancouver Coliseum. Thus began the career in 1979 of one of Canada’s most internationally successful bands to date. Selling more than 10 million copies of their first three albums by 1984 and gigging around North America with the likes of Kiss, Bob Seger, Cheap Trick, Prism, Kansas, Point Blank, Z.Z. Top, and Journey, their brand of slickly-packaged, meticulously produced pop-rock appealed to a young, predominantly female audience. In 1983 they made attempts to crack the otherwise uncaring overseas market with an appearance on Germany’s enormously popular “Rockpalast” TV program, viewed by 20 million viewers, and guesting with Tom Petty, Chicago, A Flock Of Seagulls, and Gary Moore. A tour of Japan but the two trips failed to make the dent they’d been hoping for. After 1983’s ‘Keep It Up’, the band took a short break from the constant life on the road and came back with ‘Lovin’ Every Minute Of It’. This was the first of their two harder-edged, tougher sounding albums that weren’t as popular with the fans as their first three. Sales of these two records failed to live up to previous figures and in 1989 the band decided to part company, just in time for Columbia to release the first of two best-of compilations, called ‘Big Ones’. Dean and Reno recorded and released solo efforts; Smith became a dee-jay at CFOX in Vancouver and was a booking agent for the Sam Feldman Agency; Johnson took to writing TV and radio soundtracks; Frenette joined forces with Tom Cochrane and also helped reform Streetheart in 1996. In 1995 Loverboy reformed to begin recording new material and touring again. Loverboy released their sixth album titled, simply ‘VI’ (six), independently – their first studio release of all new songs in 11 years. ‘VI’ spawned four singles including “Big Picture”, “Waiting For the Night” and the current ballad “Secrets”. The band would tour relentlessly throughout 1998 and 1999. Tragedy struck the revived band in late November 2000 when bassist Scott Smith was swept overboard by an eight-metre wave and presumed drowned during an outing on his boat along the California coast. Despite intense searches by the US Coast Guard, his body has never been found. Loverboy has continued on with Streetheart bassist Spider Sinneave touring to promote their 2001 release ‘Live Loud And Loose (1982-1986)’. The band has maintained a constant touring schedule of Casinos, soft-seat arenas and retro tour packages with other 1980s bands. They’ve also released two albums of new material in that perioid – ‘Just Getting Started’ (2007) and the most recent ‘Temperature’s Rising’ (2012).
Singles
1979 Turn Me Loose/Prissy Prissy (Columbia/CBS) C4-4226
1980 The Kid Is Hot Tonight/Teenage Overdose (Columbia/CBS) C4-4255
1980 Turn Me Loose [re-issue] (Columbia/CBS) C4-4266
1981 Lady Of The 80’s/DOA (Columbia/CBS) C4-4272
1982 Working For The Weekend/Emotional (Columbia/CBS) C4-4291
1982 When It’s Over/It’s Your Life (Columbia/CBS) C4-4300
1983 Jump/Take Me to the Top (Columbia/CBS) C4-4328
1983 Queen Of The Broken Hearts/Chance of a Lifetime (Columbia/CBS) C4-4347
1983 It’s Never Easy/One-Sided Love Affair (Columbia/CBS) C4-4359
1983 Lucky Ones/Gangs In The Street (Columbia/CBS) 38-03054
1983 Hot Girls In Love/Meltdown (Columbia/CBS) 38-03941
1984 Almost Paradise [with Ann Wilson]/Strike Zone (Columbia/CBS) 38-04418
1985 Lovin’ Every Minute Of It/Bullet In The Chamber (Columbia/CBS) 38-05569
1985 Dangerous/Too Much Too Soon (Columbia/CBS) 38-05711
1986 This Could Be The Night/It’s Your Life (Columbia/CBS) 38-05765
1986 Lead a Double Life/Steal the Thunder (Columbia/CBS) 38-05867
1986 Heaven In Your Eyes/Friday Night (Columbia/CBS) 38-06178
1987 Notorious/Wildside (Columbia/CBS) 38-07324
1987 Love Will Rise Again/Read My Lips (Columbia/CBS) 38-07652
1987 Hometown Hero/Wildside (Columbia/CBS) C4-3032
1987 Break It to Me Gently/Read My Lips (Columbia/CBS – UK) 651459
1989 Too Hot/When It’s Over (Columbia/CBS) 38-73066
1997 Big Picture/Maybe Someday (CMC International) PR-7230
1997 Waiting For the Night (CMC International) PR-7240
1997 Secrets (Edit)/Secrets (Album Version) (CMC International) PR-7246
Albums
1980 Loverboy (Columbia/CBS) 36762
1981 Get Lucky (Columbia/CBS) 37638
1983 Keep It Up (Columbia/CBS) 38703
1985 Lovin’ Every Minute of It (Columbia/CBS) 39953
1987 Wildside (Columbia/CBS) 40893
1989 Big Ones (Columbia/CBS) 45411
1994 Loverboy Classics (Sony) 477856
1994 Temperature’s Rising (Sony) A-24191
1997 VI (Six) (MTM – Europe) 199638
1997 Loverboy: Super Hits (Sony) 705317
2001 Live Loud and Loose (1982-1986) (Sony) 504720
2007 Just Getting Started (RockStar) RSR-CD-0669
2010 Temperature’s Rising [DigiFile] (Legacy)
Compilation Tracks
1981 “The Kid Is Hot Tonite” on ‘Bubble Yum Pink Flash (CBS) CSPS-1794
1981 “The Kid Is Hot Tonite” on ‘Superstars Salute New Massey Hall’ (CBS/CRIA) CRIA-1
1981 “Turn Me Loose” on ‘Rock ‘81’ (K-Tel) TC-280
1982 “When It’s Over” on ‘Electric North’ (K-Tel) TC-277
1982 “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” on ‘Certified Gold’ (K-Tel) TC-278
1982 “When It’s Over” on ‘Blastoff’ (K-Tel) TC-284
1982 “Working For the Weekend” on ‘Street Hits’ (CBS Special Products) CSPS-1953
1983 “Hot Girls In Love” on ‘Humpty Dumpty Rock Music Album’ (Columbia Special Products) CSPS-2342
1984 “Hot Girls In Love” on ‘Hot Tracks’ (K-Tel) TC-291
1996 “Turn Me Loose” on ‘Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music (MCA) JUNO-25
2000 “Lovin’ Every Minute of It” on ‘Allstar Contact: The Ultimate Hockey Album’ (Attic) ACD-1542
2001 “The Kid Is Hot Tonite” on ‘Oh What a Feeling 2: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music’ (CMC) 0885
2001 “Working For the Weekend” on ‘Ultimate Rock 2’ (Sony) 91480
2006 “Lovin’ Every Minute of It” on ‘Dock Rock Presents Classic Rock Weekend’ (Sony/BMG)
2007 “This Could Be the Night” on ‘Dock Rock After Dark’ (Sony/BMG) 567824
2008 “Heaven In Your Eyes” on ‘Time-Life Presents: Power Ballads’ (Universal Special Markets) A-688003
LOVESIN, Johnnie
Born: May 22, 1949 in Val D’or, Québec
Died: February 23, 2019
Veteran rocker from Vancouver who got his start in the mid-1960’s spent much of his career honing his guitar and songwriting craft in bars. With a reputation as a street punk, Lovesin got his start playing in Yorkville busking for change and managed to get signed to Bill Gilliland’s Yorkville label for one single called “Letter To the President” . In 1974 he was dubbing himself ‘Crazy John’ Lovesin: The Ace From Space. Fronting his own band in November 1976, Johnnie Lovesin And The Invisible Band opened for The Ramones at the New Yorker Theatre in Toronto and was observed by Toronto Sun columnist Wilder Penfield III as having blown The Ramones off the stage. Lovesin (now ‘The Electric Kid’) and his band open play at the Rock Shock Concert with Teenage Head and others in May 1977. Later that year, Lovesin and The Sidewalk Commandos get national exposure at the CNE Bandshell. Lovesin releases several singles on the short-lived SMILE Label. In 1978 Lovesin was blazing across the Canadian club scene with a band called THE N.E.X.T. who managed to open for the Runaways at The El Mocambo in Toronto. Lovesin set down in Toronto and in 1980 he releases “Set the Night On Fire” on Taxi Records featuring many backing musicians including Greg Godovitz (Goddo), Terry Hattie, Dave Stone, Doug Baynham, Greg McIlveen, Glen Morrow, Chris Gibb (The Deserters), and Dave Dobko. Following a nomination for a CFNY-FM U-Know Award in 1985 for ‘Male Vocalist of the Year’ based on the airplay of “(I Need A) Working Girl” from his Amber Productions ‘Rough Side Of Town’ EP, Lovesin was signed directly to A & M Records. Supporting his ‘Tough Breaks’ album, in 1987 Lovesin performed at the Kingswood Music Theatre opening for Stevie Ray Vaughan. He also performed twice at Ontario Place, in Toronto – with Big Sugar, backing him on one occasion. Lovesin has also been the subject of a MuchMusic “The Big Ticket” special, and still gets aired on to this day; Lovesin had been hospitalized on and off since 2017. He passed February 23, 2019. with notes from Steve Jones and Johnnie Lovesin.
Singles
as JOHN LOVESIN
1969 Letter To the President/Black Spider (Yorkville) YVM-45044
as JOHNNIE LOVESIN
1977 Tonight/Ce Soir (Smile) SLE-113
1977 Ce Soir/Ce Soir (Instrumental) (Smile)
1980 Set The Night Of Fire/Don’t Cut Me Out (Taxi/GCE) AI-01
1980 Teeny Bopper/One of the Boys (Taxi/GCE) (Taxi/GCE) AI-02
1982 American Miss/Matter of Time (Taxi) (Taxi/GCE) AI-03
1983 (I Need A) Working Girl [extended mixes – 7:40 & 6:32]/Rough Side Of Town(Amber/A & M) AMS-129745
1983 (I Need A) Working Girl/Rough Side of Town (Amber/A & M) AM-622
1983 Chalk It Up/Time Off (Amber/A & M) AM-636
1984 Turn Up The Music/Turn Up The Music [instrumental dub mix] (Amber/A & M)
AM-655
1986 Voices (Carry Through The Night)/Scurry Up (A & M) AM-704
1986 She’s A Woman Tonight/Tough Girls (A & M) AM-710
Albums
1980 Set the Night On Fire (Taxi/GCE) TX-1000
1983 Rough Side of Town (Amber/A & M) SP-24504
1986 Tough Breaks (A & M) SP-9127
1998 Ready To Rumble (Lovesin)
LOW LEVEL FLIGHT
Ryan Malcolm (vocals) / Shaun Noronha (bass) / James Rooke (rhythm guitar, keyboards)
Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm’s band project. They were the opening act, along with See Spot Run, at the Rogers Sarnia Bayfest for Bon Jovi (July 2008). [also see RYAN MALCOLM]
Albums
2007 Urgency (I Heart) IHR-002 2011 Through These Walls (Brave) LLF-02
LOWDOWN
Ted Floyd (vocals, bass guitar) / Doug Varty (vocals, guitar, keyboards) / Brian Salt (vocals, drums)
Formed in London, Ontario in 1982, Lowdown recorded their own independent album of cover tunes entitled ‘Love Ya’ that year on the Lady Records label. Sessions for the follow-up album, ‘Gimme Some’, were recorded in 1983 and released later that same year. The title track was written by Doug Varty and reached No.1 on the Canadian A/C charts in December of 1983 and remained there for 10 weeks. A subsequent distribution deal for the ‘Gimme Some’ album was made with Globe Records in 1984. In July of 1984 the single “How Can You Say” reached the No. 4 position on the A/C Canadian charts. Also in 1984 the single “I’m So Happy” rose to the No.2 position on the Canadian A/C charts. Several more singles co-written by Doug Varty and Dee Long (Klaatu) – “The Girl’s Already Gone” and “No Doubt About It” – followed but failed to chart. However, the sixth, and final, Doug Varty written single “Baby I Know” climbed to No5 on the A/C Canadian charts in August of 1985. From 1982 through 1996 they toured Canada playing from northern British Columbia to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Many of their shows were fundraising events for Kinsmen/Kinettes, Lions Clubs, Rotary Club and others. They also appeared regularly on Saskatchewan’s Telemiracle for five consecutive years. Opening slots for major acts included The Beach Boys, John Mellencamp, Roy Orbison, Neil Sedaka, The Four Seasons, and Ricky Nelson. They also performed on bills with Del Shannon, Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits), John Allan Cameron, Shirley Eikhard, Valdy, and B.J. Thomas.The band later shifted to mostly cover tunes until their break-up in 1996. They even recorded an album of covers with legendary producer Jack Richardson that was never released but songs from it did appear on a compilation CD that the band sold from the stage at Kinsmen shows. After Lowdown’s demise, Ted Floyd started his own environmental electronics company called Ecopower; Brian Salt went on to establish a wildlife rehabilitation centre that still operates today called Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre Inc.; Doug Varty has gone on to have a successful independent solo career. with notes from Doug Varty and Brian Salt.[als see DOUG VARTY]
Singles
1983 Gimme Some/Gimme Some (Lowdown) LR-183
1984 I’m So Happy/I’m So Happy (Lowdown) LR-3
1984 How Can You Say/Same Reaction (Globe) GS-4520
1984 One, Two, Three/ Gimme Some (Globe) GS-4525
1984 The Girl’s Already Gone/Baby I Know (Globe) GS-4544
1985 No Doubt About It/The Girl’s Already Gone (Globe) GS-4561
1985 Baby I Know/Stay (Lady) 1995
Albums
1982 Love Ya! (Lady) 2003
1984 Gimme Some (Lowdown/Globe)
LOWDOWN DIRTY MOJOS
Paul Wootton (vocals, guitar) / Stephen Foster (guitars, vocals) / Russ Wilson (bass) / Bucky Buchanan (bass) / Mike Williams (bass) / Kevin Christoff (bass) / Greg Plant (bass) / Mike Northcott (bass) / Daniel Wintermans (bass) / Ray Farrugia (drums) / Claude Desroches (drums) / Joe Csontos (drums) / Jack Rogers (drums) / Michael Keena (drums) / John Angle (organ, piano) / Mimi Shaw (backing vocals) / Patti Smith (backing vocals) / Lynn Buckshot Beebee (backing vocals)
In 2018 Paul Wootton and Stephen Foster assembled the finest rhythm sections from Hamilton bands – bass players and drummers – to record 12 compositions written by the duo. The result was named The Lowdown Dirty Mojos and their debut album entitled ‘Screamin’ Hooddo R’n’B’ in January 2019. With notes from Paul Wootton.
Albums
2019 Screamin’ Hooddo R’n’B (Hand Made)
LOWEST OF THE LOW
Ron Hawkins (guitar, vocals) / Stephen Stanley (guitar, vocals) / Lawrence Nichols (harmonica, vocals) / John Arnott (bass) / David Alexander (drums)
Toronto, Ontario Queen Street bar act Lowest of the Low recorded their 17 song debut album ‘Shakespeare My Butt’ independently in 1991. As the second act distributed by Page Publications – who had broken down retail barriers with their charter group Barenaked Ladies – managed to sell 25,000 copies and garner critical rave reviews. The media and retail furor brought them to the attention of A & M Records who signed the act and re-issued the album for distribution nationally. The band would then return to the studio and release their sophomore album ‘Hallucigenia’ on A & M in 1993 before going their separate ways. Hawkins formed his own band Ron Hawkins And The Rusty Nails who recorded several albums. In 2001 Lowest of the Low reunited. They released a double album package in 2002 – one disc was live and the other all new studio recordings. They returned to live touring and followed up with a 2004 album called ‘Sordid Fiction’ with Maple Music
Singles
2002 New Westminster Taxi Squad
Albums
1991 Shakespeare My Butt (Yes Boy/Page) WRC8-6564
1991 Shakespeare My Butt (Yes Boy/LSD/A & M) 74927-9303-2
1994 Hallucigenia (LSD/A & M) 314540228-2
2002 Nothing Short of a Bullet (independent) 42216
2004 Sordid Fiction (Maple Music/Universal) MRCD-6433
2017 Do The Right Now (Pheromone) PHER-CD-1050
2019 AGITPOP (Yes Boy) YESRECCD-007
Compilation Tracks
1992 “Henry Needs a New Pair of Shoes” on ‘Indie-Can ‘92’ (Intrepid) CD-5
1993 “Henry Needs A New Pair Of Shoes” on ‘A Canadian Alternative ’92’ (Second Wave) SWM-002
1995 “Rosy & Grey” on ‘Page One’ (Page) PP-005
LOWLIFE
Rick Sprung (vocals) / Mark Halldorson (drums) / Brad Hrushka (guitar) / Richard Duguay (bass)
From Winnipeg, Manitoba
Singles
1979 Leaders [3 song 7″ EP] (Airout)
Compilation Tracks
1995 “Leaders”, “White Lightning”, and “Thinking Naturally” on ‘Smash the State – A Compilation of Canadian Punk Rock, 1979-81: Volume Two (No Exit) NO-EXIT-002
2005 “Thinking Naturally” on ‘Only in Canada, Eh 77-81 Volume 1’ (Punk History Canada) PHC-CD-0101
LUBA
Born: 1958 as Lubomyra Kowalchuk
The Montréal-born dynamo started her musical pursuits with vocal lessons followed by lessons on guitar, flute and piano by her teenage years. As a singer she travelled across Canada to perform traditional Ukrainian folk songs at weddings and other social gatherings in the Ukrainian community. In 1977 she released an independent album under her full name Lubomyra performing Ukrainian folk and traditional music plus modern Ukrainian rock and pop songs. Rebranding herself Luba Kowalchyk she formed a pop band called LUBA in 1979 with drummer Peter Marunzak, guitarist Mark Lyman, bassist Mike Zwonok, guitarist John Nestorowich, and keyboardist Doug Short. They released the Tony Green produced ‘Chain Reaction’ on the TGO label in 1980. Distribution through Parlophone/Capitol-EMI helped bring the band some attention outside of Québec. In 1982 Capitol-EMI signed the act direct for a 4-song EP that included future producer Pierre Marchand on keyboards and containing a Montréal area hit with the song “Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry”. With touring and radio play Capitol were encouraged enough to have the band follow-up with a full-length album called ‘Secrets And Sins’ produced by Daniel Lanois in October 1983. Capitol Record’s US office was nervous about a world release with a mere Canadian at the controls so they ordered the album be remixed by Jim Boyer in New York. It was finally released in Spring of 1984 spawning a re-release of “Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry” and legitimate single/video hits with “Let It Go” and “Storm Before The Calm”. The album would help her win a Juno in 1985 for ‘Best Female Vocalist’. Luba’s next album began recording in November 1985 at Morin Heights, Québec with producer Pierre ‘Baz’ Bazinet and her band Pete Marunzak (drums), Mark Lyman (guitar), Michael Bell (bass) and Alan Couture (guitar, vocals). The result was ‘Between The Earth And Sky’ in 1986 featuring the Narada Michael Walden produced “How Many (Rivers To Cross)” and a handful of follow-up singles. Later in 1986 Luba’s “Best Is Yet To Come” became the love-theme for the erotic Hollywood drama ‘9 1/2 Weeks’. During the tour of the album, the band’s tour bus was using was involved in a serious collision, nearly killing several members of her band (Luba wasn’t on board at the time). Luba took three years off to reflect on this close call and changed management companies (moving to a US based agency to get her exposure south of the border) and alter her long standing, and understandably shaken, band. Capitol, in the interim, released a ‘best of’ package called ‘Over 60 Minutes With…Luba’ that spawned a hit with the previously unreleased remake of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman”. In 1988 CBC-TV aired a one-hour TV special about the singer and her band. Her return to splendour was 1989’s ‘All Or Nothing’ which saw the added musical weight of Tom Petty & The Heartbreaker’s Mike Campbell on guitar, David Letterman’s Paul Shaffer on piano, and Al Stewart guitarist Peter White on classical guitar along with her new band (Jeff Smallwood, Michael Corrivo and Pete Marunzak). Five tracks were recorded in winter 1989 as acoustic versions on a live-in-the-studio CD called ‘Live On Tour’ was released by Capitol Records in 1990. Luba band was Pete Marunzak (drums), Jeff Smallwood (guitar, backing vocals), Michel Corrivo (keyboards), Dorian Sherwood (percussion, backing vocals), Michael Breen (guitar, backing vocals), and Rick Byer (bass). In 1990 Capitol Records let Luba out of her contract in a business house-cleaning, management continued to slide and she split with husband and drummer Peter Marunzak, finally disappearing from the public eye. After ironing out all her legal entanglements, Luba, the solo performer, emerged in May 2000 with the surprisingly restrained ‘From The Bitter To The Sweet’, released on her own Azure Music label. Luba now lives in the Caribbean. with notes from K.G. Smith, Michael Zwonok, Michael Devall and Axel Hirschmann.
Singles
1982 Every Time I See Your Picture I Cry/Raven’s Eyes (Capitol-EMI) 72899
1982 Scarlet Letter/Paramour (Capitol-EMI) 72912
1982 Paramour/Raven’s Eyes (Capitol-EMI) 72920
1984 Let It Go/Young Guns (Capitol-EMI) B-72947
1984 Let It Go (Extended Club Mix)//Let It Go (Dub Version)/Let It Go (European Single Version) [12″] (Capitol-EMI) V-75077
1984 Storm Before The Calm (Video Mix)/Private Wars (Capitol-EMI) 72959
1984 Storm Before The Calm (Extended Dance Mix)//Storm Before The Calm (Dub Mix)/Storm Before The Calm (Video Mix) [12″] (Capitol-EMI) SPRO-260
1985 Secrets and Sins/One With You (Capitol-EMI) 72966
1985 Still the Heart/Sacrificial Voices (Capitol-EMI) 72976
1986 How Many (Rivers To Cross)/Between the Earth and Sky (Capitol-EMI) 72997
1986 How Many (Rivers To Cross – Rain Mix)//How Many (Rivers To Cross – Dub Mix)/How Many (Rivers To Cross – 7″ Single Mix) [12″] (Capitol-EMI) S-75157
1986 Innocent (With An Explanation)/Take It Like A Woman [7″ & 12″] (Capitol-EMI) B-73003
1986 Strength In Numbers/Lay Down Your Love (Capitol-EMI) B-73012
1986 The Best Is Yet To Come/ (Capitol-EMI) B-5574
1986 The Best Is Yet To Come/Best Is Yet To Come (Dub Version)/Let It Go [12″] (Capitol – US) 12655
1986 Act of Mercy/Back To Emotion (Capitol-EMI) B-73018
1987 When A Man Loves A Woman/Secrets and Sins (Capitol-EMI) B-73043
1989 Everytime I See Your Picture/Giving Away a Miracle (Capitol-EMI) B-73099
1990 No More Words (Capitol-EMI)
1990 Little Salvation (Capitol-EMI)
2000 Is She Alot Like Me (Azure/Maple Music)
Albums
1980 Chain Reaction (TGO/Parlophone/EMI) TGO-7003
1982 Luba [4 song EP] (Capitol-EMI) DLP-3003
1984 Secrets and Sins (Capitol-EMI) ST-12351
1986 Between the Earth And Sky (Capitol-EMI) ST-12472
1987 Over 60 Minutes With…Luba (Capitol-EMI) CDP7-48553
1989 All Or Nothing (Capitol-EMI) C1-93176
1990 Luba…Live On Tour (Capitol-EMI) CDPRO-462
1996 Chain Reaction [CD re-issue] (Unidisc)
2000 From The Bitter To The Sweet (Azure/Maple Music)
as LUBOMYRA
1977 Lubomyra (Sage) ESP-77501
Compilation Tracks
1982 “Everytime I See Your Picture” on ‘Electric North’ (K-Tel) TC-277
1985 “Let It Go” on ‘Chartbusters’ (Quality) QRSP-1010
1986 “The Best Is Yet To Come” and “Let It Go” on ‘9½ Weeks – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ (Capitol) C2-46722
1987 “How Many (Rivers To Cross)” on ‘Canadian Gold’ (Quality) QRPS-1061
1996 “How Many (Rivers To Cross)” on ‘Oh What a Feeling: A Vital Collection of Canadian Music (MCA) JUNO-25
1999 “Let It Go (Extended Club Mix Edit)” on ‘Pure Canadian: Retro 80’s Volume 6’ (EMI) 20023
LUCIFER (1)
Bobby Washington (bass) / Christiaan Kooij (guitar) / Eugene “Jay” Smith (guitar, vocals)
A three piece act from Hamilton in the early ’70s known on their own as “Snap, Crackle, Pop”. They would often add a full-blown horn-section to augment their sound under the moniker Lucifer. It was this line-up that produced a single LP of material.
Albums
1971 Lucifer (P-Vine)
LUCIFER (2)
Mort Garson (keyboards)
Pseudonym for Saint John, New Brunswick Moog player Mort Garson.
Singles
1971 Black Mass (MCA – US) MCA-170
LUCY SHOW
Mark Bandola (vocals, guitar, keyboards) / Rob Vandeven (vocals, bass) / Peter Barraclough (guitars, keyboards) / Bryan Hudspeth (drums)
The Lucy Show was formed by two Canadian-born musician friends Mark Bandola and Rob Vandeven with Brits Pete Barraclough and Bryan Hudspeth. In 1983, they released their first single, “Leonardo da Vinci,” on Shout Records, which received airplay by the BBC’s John Peel. In 1984, the band released two singles and an EP during on A & M Records imprint Piggy Bank Records. After sending a tape of their material to R.E.M., The Lucy Show was invited to support the band on R.E.M.’s 1984 UK tour. With a move to A & M Records’ parent label, the band’s debut album, ‘…Undone’, was released in 1985. The album received critical approval and it would eventually hit the No. 1 position on the CMJ album charts in the United States. However, at year’s end the band was dropped by A & M Records. In 1986, The Lucy Show signed with independent label Big Time Records and soon released their sophomore effot ‘Mania’. The record was a change in musical direction and still managed to top the CMJ charts. MTV played the video/single “A Million Things” as well as the second single “New Message”. Both became College radio hits. However, Big Time Records went bankrupt and The Lucy Show was effectively over save for a live album in 1987 and one last single released as a duo of Bandola and Vandeven entitled “Wherever Your Heart Will Go” in 1988 on their own Redhead Records.Bandola went solo and released the EP ”Til Tuesday’ with Let’s Active producer Mitch Easter in 1993. He was also briefly a member of London post-rock group Ausgang. He continues releasing experimental solo albums intermittently.
Singles
1983 Leonardo da Vinci/Kill the Beast (Shout – UK) XS-007
1984 Electric Dreams/History Part 1 (Piggy Bank – UK) BANK-999
1984 See It Goes/Resistance (Piggy Bank – UK)
1985 Ephemeral/White Space (A & M – UK) AM-261
1985 Undone/Dream Days (A & M – UK) AM-287
1986 A Million Things/Sojourn’s End (Big Time – US) BTS-7
1986 New Message/Sun and Moon (Big Time – US) ZB-41603
1988 Wherever Your Heart Will Go/Only Moments Away (Redhead – UK) LUC-T1
Albums
1984 Extended Play [4 song EP] (Piggy Bank – UK) BANX-888
1985 …Undone (A & M) SP-5088
1986 Mania (Big Time – UK) ZL-71274
1987 Live, Bath, Moles Club (Redhead – UK)
2011 Remembrances (Words on Music – US) WM-23
Compilation Tracks
1986 “View From The Outside” on ‘A Big Time Sampler’ [4 song 7” EP] (Big Time – UK) BIGT-1
1987 “New Message (New Version)” on ‘The Bigtime Syndrome’ (Big Time – UK) 6050
1987 “Land and Life” on ‘Big Noise From Big Time’ (Big Time – UK) WL-71275
LUDDITES
Bill Bissett (vocals) / Murray Favro (guitar) / Peter Denny (xylophone, vibraphone) / Gerry Collins (guitar)
Experimental musical poetry from London, Ontario. Formed in 1985 and split up in 1992.
Albums
1987 Luddites [4-song cassette]
1989 Luddites (Wet Carrel) WC-100
1991 Dreemin Uv Th Nite [4-song cassette] (Wet Carrel) WC-003
2008 86 – 91(independent)
LUDWIG, Frank
Keyboardist from British Columbia. When the original keyboard player left Richmond, British Columbia band The Self-Portrait in 1968, Ludwig – who was a UBC theology undergrad student and enrolled in the music program studying keyboards was asked to join. They soon signed with Wayne Stirloff’s Rumble Records and released the single “He’s A Man” in 1969 which received minimal airplay around British Columbia. Ludwig would leave to join Crosstown Bus in 1970, followed by Brutus, Trooper (writing and singing their hit “Round Round We Go”), and eventually Randy Bachman’s Union and Ironhorse. He also co-founded Body Electric with Bob Buckley and David Sinclair in the 1980s. [also see THE SELF-PORTRAIT, CROSSTOWN BUS, BRUTUS, TROOPER, IRONHORSE, UNION, BODY ELECTRIC]
Singles
1982 Beam Me Up, Scotty/Appearing Live Tonight (Neptoon) 101
LUEDTKE, Dale
Guitarist from Edmonton, Alberta. Luedtke released his Nashville produced debut solo album, ‘Telling Tales With Loose Ends,’ in 1981. In 1983 he became a member of the band Hypno-Gogo. [also see HYPNO-GOGO]
Albums
1981 Telling Tales With Loose Ends (End Of The Trail) NR-12427
LUKE & THE APOSTLES
Luke Gibson (vocals) / Mike McKenna (guitar) / Rick McMurray (drums) / Pat Little (drums; replaced McMurray) / Peter Jermyn (keyboards) / Graham Dunsmore (bass; left in 1967) / Jim Jones (bass) / Danny McBride (guitar) / Jack Geisinger (bass) / Walter Rossi (guitar) / Danny McBride (guitar)
Yorkville Village act Luke & The Apostles were innovators of the electric Blues long before Cream and Led Zeppelin. They achieved some success at sold out coffeehouses but bounced into the limelight with a record deal through MGM in Los Angeles and had one moderate hit called “Been Burnt” in 1967. With performances in New York they managed to land an exclusive gig at the prestigious Bitter End which led to larger venues opening shows primarily with Jefferson Airplane and The Grateful Dead. But the band was not making any inroads and sensing the imminent failing of the act, Gibson joined Kensington Market and the Apostles folded immediately the week after. Jermyn would steal away to Ottawa and take The Esquires members Robert Coulthart and Doug Orr to form The Modern Rock Quartet; McKenna would join The Ugly Ducklings briefly and then create the McKenna-Mendelson Mainline Blues Revue; Pat Little joined Transfusion in the US which eventually became Neil Young’s backing band Crazy Horse. Meanwhile, after Kensington Market failed to set the world on fire, it split-up in 1969 leaving Gibson, Little, McKenna, McBride and Geisinger were left to fill the position of the *new* Luke And The Apostles for a reunion single in 1970 – “You Make Me High” – on manager Bernie Finkelstein’s fledgling True North label. The single would turn out to be the band’s most successful record, but previous commitments for some of the members led to the addition of Walter Rossi on guitar. However, by the end of 1970, the band had split up once more. Gibson would go on to record for True North and released two moderately successful albums in 1971 and 1972; Little had been touring in recent years with Neil Young & Crazy Horse; Peter Jermyn and his wife, Diane, became owners of Yorkville bar Blues On Belair in the late ’90s where some of Toronto’s Yorkville veterans made regular appearances with a reformed Luke And The Apostles. Several of these performances were recorded in 1999 for a CD release but the material wouldn’t see the light of day until 2011 as downloads on iTunes entitled ‘Reel Masters: Revival 1999 – Live At Blues On Belair’; bass player Jimmy Jones passed away February 15, 2023. [also see LUKE GIBSON]
Singles
1967 Been Burnt/Don’t Know Why (Elektra/Allied) EK-45105
1970 You Make Me High/Not Far Off (True North) TN4-101
1970 You Make Me High/[same] (True North) TN4-102
Albums
2011 Reel Masters: Revival 1999 – Live At Blues On Belair [DigiFile] (Bullseye)
Compilation Tracks
1983 “Been Burnt” on ‘The Midwest Vs. The Rest Vol.1’ (Unlimited Productions) UPLP-1001
1990 “You Make Me High” on ‘Made In Canada – Volume Three: Eclectic Avenue’ (BMG) KCD1-7158
2004 “Green Onions” on ‘When CanCon Rocked – Volume 1’ (Bullseye) BLP-CD-4015
LUNCH AT ALLEN’S
Ian Thomas / Marc Jordan / Murray McLaughlan / Cindy Church
A Canadian supergroup of songwriting veterans, Lunch At Allen’s was formed in 2004 and named after a restaurant on Danforth Avenue in Toronto where members of the band often met for lunch. What was initially supposed to be a one-off, eight-city tour became a recording and touring act over the next decade.
Albums
2004 Lunch At Allen’s (EMI) 96473
2006 Catch the Moon (EMI) 84902
2010 More Lunch At Allen’s (Linus) 270118
2012 Zuzu’s Petals (Linus) 270157
2017 If It Feels Right (Linus) 270248
LUNG
Jason (guitar) / Doug (guitar) / Mike (bass) / Richard (drums)
From Vancouver, British Columbia.
Singles
1991 Psychopornadelia (Scratch) No.3
1992 Litany/Fuck Generator (Serial Killer) FATAL-2
Albums
1992 Magnum Opiate (Zulu) ZULU-8-2
Compilation Tracks
1993 “Fuck Generator” on ‘Wade-Free Vancouver: The Club Grotesque Compilation’ (Club Grotesque) CG-1
LUNNY, Olivia
Born: 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canadian singer-songwriter who competed in CTV’s talent show ‘The Launch,’ and was a member of Mini Pop Kids from 2012 to 2014.
Singles
2019 I Got You (The Launch Season 2) [DigiFile] (Big Machine)
2019 Blacklight [DigiFile] (Infinity)
2021 Who Could Say No [DigiFile] (Umusic)
2021 Sad To See You Happy [DigiFile] (Umusic)
2021 American Dream [DigiFile] (Infinity)
2022 Vibe Check [featuring BHAD BHABIE] [DigiFile] (Infinity)
2022 Wonderland [DigiFile] (Infinity)
2022 Under The Lights [DigiFile] (Infinity)
Albums
2020 To The Ones I Loved [4-song EP] DigiFile (Infinity)
2021 Olivia Lunny [DigiFile] (Infinity)
LUTINS, Les
Alain Blanchard (bass; 1964-1969) / Normand Brouillard (drums) / Simon Brouillard (vocals) / Serge Lambert (guitar) / André Richard (guitar, 1963-1965) / Luc Dozois (drums, 1963-1964) / Yvan Saint-Onge (guitar, 1965-1968) / Richard Guillemette (guitar, 1968-1969)
Originally formed in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec in 1963 as Les Luths.
Singles
1965 Petite fille/Trop jeune pour aimer (Ideal) ID-1942
1966 Je cherche/Elle n’a rien compris (Carrousel) CR-1
1966 Laissez-nous vivre/Dany (Carrousel) CR-8
1967 Loin de moi/Je suis de bois (Carrousel) CR-16
1968 Demain ça ira/Elle (Carrousel) CR-26
1968 Monsieur le robot/C’est toi ma princesse (Carrousel) CR-37
1969 Roquet Belles Oreilles/Petit Joe (Carrousel) CR-45
1968 A t’on le droit/Girl (Carrousel) CR-55
1969 À motocyclette/La jeunesse d’aujourd’hui (Carrousel) CR-63
Albums
1967 Les Lutins (Carrousel) CR-5401
1967 En orbite, Vol. 2 (Carrousel) CRS-5402
2001 Laissez-nous vivre (Mérite) 22-940
Compilation Tracks
1976 “Laissez-nous vivre” on ‘Le Retour Des Groupes: 20 Succès Originaux’ (K-Tel) KF-123
LUVIN’ KIND, The
Jerry Leclair (bass) / Gerry Matte (drums) / Bob Blow (keyboards) / Eddie Leclair (lead guitar) / Lenny Fidkalo (drums) / Doug Dodd (keyboards) / George Crakewich (lead vocals) / Alan Schick (rhythm guitar)
From Winnipeg, Manitoba. The original line-up was brothers Jerry and Eddie Leclair plus Matt and Blow rounding out the quartet. They were signed Columbia for the single “That Jungle Sun” in 1966. The band struggled and fell apart in 1967. In 1968 Eddie Leclair relaunched the group with all new musicians and changed the band name to Luvin’ KYND. Fidkalo had previously been with The Quid. After releasing the single “Without Her” in 1968 the group called it a day; Dodd would go on to Good Fortune; Schick would go on to The Mongrels and later a solo career; Crakewich would front The Lyme.
Singles
1966 That Jungle Sun/It’s Not Always That Way (Columbia) C4-2722
as THE LUVIN’ KYND
1968 Without Her/Missy D.M. (Now/Stone) RS-601
Compilation Tracks
2009 “That Jungle Sun” and “It’s Not Always That Way” on ‘Buried Treasures: Winnipeg Rock Gems 1958-1974’ (Super Oldies) SOCD-9
as THE LUVIN’ KYND
“Without Her” and “Missy D.M.” on ‘Buried Treasures: Winnipeg Rock Gems 1958-1974’ (Super Oldies) SOCD-9
LUV-LITES, The
Jeff Elliott (vocals, bass) / Pete Nichol (guitar) / Ron Burns (organ) / Larry Roberts [aka Larry Atamanuik] (drums)
Short-lived act from Toronto that did work as backing band for singing group The Tiaras; Larry Roberts would run a small studio out of Larry Sykes’ Music store in Toronto. Later joined Crowbar, and Janis Joplin’s Full Tilt Boogie Band. with notes from Nicholas Jennings.
Singles
1966 Where It’s At/Born In Chicago (Op-Art) OPA-1001 ideo production.
LUXEMBURG, Ray
From Vancouver, British Columbia.
Singles
1981 Run Away From Love/Following (Beaver Beat) 3809
LYCETT, Doug
From Orono, Ontario. Known for fronting the Country act The Kingston Monarchs. Lycett released a number of solo releases.
Singles
1963 One Of The Lonely/After The Heartache (Arc) A-1024
1964 Going Home/Head Over Heels (Arc) 1039
1967 Build A Scaffold Way Up High/Old Zero (Columbia) C4-2751
as DOUGLAS LYCETT
1960 Cindy Merindy/You Don’t Want To Go (Quality) 1245X
with DOUG LYCETT AND THE KINGSTON MONARCHS
1964 What Does A Boy Do/Reunion Party (Hawk/Capitol) HR-004
LYELL AND THE STORM, Ray
Ray Lyell (lead vocal, guitars) / James Anthony (drums) / Dave Kristan (guitars) / Vince Rinaldo (keyboards) / Luc Grenier (bass) / Paula Tessaro (vocals) / George Manz (keyboards, piano, vocals; replaced Rinaldo) / Tim Tyler (drums; replaced Anthony)
Singer/songwriter Lyell began writing songs when he was 13 years old, after spending his childhood listening to music, most notably Elvis Presley. In 1983 he joined the St. Catharines band Tracy Kane as the bass player, replacing Daryl Gray who had departed to join Helix. Lyell brought fellow Hamiltonians guitarist Dave Kristan and Paula Tessaro with him but after Tracy Kane’s demise in 1984 Lyell decided to focus on a solo career. He entered St. Catharines radio station HTZ-FM’s homegrown talent competition in 1987 with his original song “Take This Heart” – co-produced and played on by Brent Doerner and Daryl Gray from Helix with Brian Doerner on drums. Recruiting the members of local band Ta-She, in return for singing for Ta-She when they went on the road afterwards, Lyell won the competition. After the tour with Ta-She was done, Rinaldo, Anthony and Tessaro joined forces with Lyell to form The Storm. Two years of writing and playing resulted in Ray Lyell And The Storm being signed to Spy Records. Produced by Gary Moffatt (ex-April Wine) and Billy Szawlowski, their eponymous 1989 debut performed well on Canadian charts as did three singles and accompanying videos. Gigs opening for the likes of Luba, Kim Mitchell, Alannah Myles, Glass Tiger, The Grapes Of Wrath, and The Pursuit Of Happiness garnered them new fans. The album would also be released in Australia where it received very strong critical praise, as did the Ray Lyell himself during a promo tour of that continent. The album was also nominated for a JUNO Award. In 1987, Lyell co-wrote the songs “Wild In the Streets” and “What You Bringing To the Party” on Helix’s Capitol/EMI album release ‘Wild In the Streets’.It took three years and a couple of band member changes before the next album, ‘Desert Wind’, was released again to strong critical and audience acclaim. Produced by Frazier Hill and Rick Hutt, it continued in the vein of Lyell’s “heartland rock n’ roll”. The name changed, however, because a band from the US (featuring ex-Journey guitarist Neal Schon) wanted to use ‘The Storm’ and bought the rights to the name from the band. Although attracting strong radio and video play, the album failed to live up to the success of the first release. Lyell carried on with a 1995 stripped-down, homegrown styled album called ‘Working Man’, but it too failed to set the Canadian airwaves on fire. In 1996, Lyell was encouraged to pursue vocal coaching as a career. His experience as a performer, with thousands of shows under his belt, meshed perfectly with his ability to coach singers toward better and healthier vocal performance which he called ‘The Dynamic System of Vocal Teaching’. In an effort to expand his own knowledge, Lyell has studied with some of the most prominent vocal coaches in North America: Renee Grant-Williams, Lis Lewis, Roger Beale, and Melissa Cross. After a ten year break from recording, Ray Lyell released his fourth album, ‘Running on Faith’, with CMC Canada in 2006. with notes from Darryl Gray.
Singles
as RAY LYELL AND THE STORM
1987 Take This Heart/Time Won’t Heal (H & S/CBS) 7CDN-48
1989 Running From Another Man’s Gun/Colour of Money (A & M) AM-702
1990 Cruel Life (Spy/A & M)
1990 Carry Me/Heart of Dixie (Spy/A & M) 1002
1990 No Christmas Without You (Spy/A & M) [n/a]
as RAY LYELL
1993 Gypsy Wind/The Almost Legend Of Billy Doon/Carry Me (Festival) D-11388
1993 Desert Nights (Spy/A & M)
1993 Don’t Let Go (Spy/A & M) 1011
1993 Bitter Creek (Spy/A & M)
1993 One For The Old Guard (Spy/A & M)
1995 Wrong Kind of Love (Spy) SPY-3
Albums
as RAY LYELL AND THE STORM
1989 Ray Lyell & The Storm (Spy/A & M) SPY-1002
as RAY LYELL
1992 Desert Winds (Spy/A & M) SPY-CD-41011
1995 Working Man (Spy/A & M)
2006 Running On Faith (CMC)
LYME, The
George Crakewich (lead vocals) / Terry Read (keyboards) / Gary Sherbanow (guitar) / Rick Keens (bass) / Wade Gargan (drums) / Mark Thiessen (bass; replaced Keens)
Following some time in Burlington, Ontario, Terry Read returned to his native Winnipeg, Manitoba with fellow Burlington musicians Gary Sherbanow and Rick Keens in tow. He soon formed a new band by adding Wade Gargan and George Crakewich. They played locally around Winnipeg and began writing original material. Keens soon returned to Ontario and was replaced by Mark Thiessen. The group was signed to the Quasimodo Agency whose other client included The Guess Who. The band’s Randy Bachman took an interest in The Lyme and produced several demos at Winnipeg’s Century II Studios which spawned two songs for their first single on Dominion Records – “I’m Only Dreaming” and “Measles”. The band managed an appearance on CBC-TV’s “Music Hop” but weren’t able to propel their success beyond the local level.
Singles
1969 I’m Only Dreaming/Measles (Dominion) 99
Compilation Tracks
2009 “I’m Only Dreaming” and “Measles” on ‘Buried Treasures, Winnipeg Rock Gems 1958-1974’ (Super Oldies) SOCD-9
LYNCH, Barbara
Barbara Lynch picked up her passion for singing and playing piano from her mother. At 11 years old she was playing weddings and high masses with the choir in the church in Ayton, near Walkerton, Ontario where she lived. In high school she began writing songs, but by the time she graduated from Trent University with an honors B.A. in ‘Philosophy and Literature’ she had no idea what she was going to do with her life. So, she set out to play in piano bars in CP Hotels and Holiday Inns where she developed her Tom Waits-styled dark and self-deprecating sense of humor and worked it into her solo act. By the early 1980s, she was a one-person, piano act in rock clubs, was stuck in a cycle of performing in one horse towns. She got out of the Northern Ontario circuit immediately. After a year of working retail on Yonge Street in Toronto, she started to guest for artists like Micah Barnes and David Ramsden and found herself performing in the gay club circuit near Church and Wellesley. She also began recording and her first EP, ‘Don’t Talk to Me’ in 1992, was produced by Roxy Music/Japan producers John Punter in 1992. In 1997 she was signed to Duke Street Records and recorded the album ‘Good Bye and Good Luck’ but it didn’t lead her career much farther so she left the music business. She then became a caregiver for the elderly and for dying AIDS patients for a number of years. She also joined Greenpeace as a full-time staffer at this time running the phone canvass and she started to write again. She met a fellow kindred spirit in John Timmins when he joined Greenpeace in 2007. The two musicians spent a lot of Sundays and vacation days in 2008 recording the album ‘In the Nickelodeon’ which she self-produced. She also brought in additional musicians to fill out the sound like Eric Brown, Christopher Plock, Katherine Wheatley and John Wojewoda.
Albums
1992 Don’t Talk To Me [EP]
1998 Goodbye and Good Luck (Duke Street) DSRMD-31099
2008 In The Nickelodeon (GDA/Maple Music/Universal)
as S.AYTON
2014 Baby Ice Cream Castle [cassette]
Compilation Tracks
1995 “Cracked Hymn” on ‘Stuck On a Cold Steel Pole’ (Duke Street) DSRSD-31097
LYNX
1977 LINE-UP: Mike Swartz (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) / Rob Swartz (lead guitar) / Bob Walker (bass) / Tony Caputo (keyboards) / Rick Haberman (drums); 1978 LINE-UP: Tony Caputo (lead vocals, keyboards, sax, backing vocals) / Norm Paulin (lead vocals, lead guitar, bass, backing vox) / “Zippy” Jim Differ (drums, percussion) / Daryl “Harpo” Peterson (bass)
The origins of Lynx begin in 1970 when Mike Swartz and Bob Walker were in a Toronto high school band together called Black Wheat. After toiling it out at social club and church gigs, the band re-invented itself in 1973 to include Rick Haberman and Mike Swartz’s brother Rob. With the help of manager Steve Taylor, the band rehearsed a flambouyant stage show and original material for the next two years – adding keyboardist Tony Caputo. By the summer of 1975 they had recorded a demo tape at the Mersey Brothers studio in Elmira, Ontario. With tape in hand, Taylor managed to land the band a record deal with Quality Records as part of their new search for an international roster. In short time, the band was recording their debut album, ‘Missing’, at Phase One Studio in Toronto with producer R.A. (Bob) Morten and engineer Brian Bell (Klaatu). Despite showcasing on Global Television’s “Caught In the Act” and through an RPM Magazine conference in 1976, radio play was elusive and gigs were few and far between especially given their penchant for anthemic teen rock – an audience they had few opportunities to play to. After a frustrating year of poor opening gigs and grungy barrooms, Lynx fell apart. Despite this, Quality Records had an agreement to release Lynx material and Tony Caputo, the last to join the group, copped the name and reformed the act with all new members for two more albums — 1978’s ‘Sneak Attack’, featuring producer R.A Morten and co-writer Ian McCorkle (Fludd) and ‘We Are The People'(1979). The band split up for good in 1980; Caputo has been living in Spain & Norway for the past two decades. He’s still playing music full-time in Norway and has also been writing songs with a Norwegian rock band called TNT at their recording facility called “studiostudio”. with notes from Tony Caputo.
Singles
1978 Dollars/Visions (Quality) Q2225X
1978 I Just Wanna Love You/Crazy Lady (Quality) Q2273X
1978 Which Side/Better Together (Quality) Q2300X
1979 We Are The People/Mr. Moon (Quality) Q2356X
Albums
1976 Missing (Quality) SV-1933
1978 Sneak Attack (Quality) SV-1953
1979 We Are The People (Quality) SV-2050
LYROCK
Al Jurgenfeldt / Larry Hughes / Don Beauchamp (lead vocals, keyboards, percussion) / Ritchie Henman (drums) / Tom Rathie (bass, vocals) / Walter Rathie (vocals, keyboards)
From Montréal, Québec featuring four members of Cruiser/Ian Cognito and produced by Jurgenfeldt/Hughes; Beauchamp would go on to Montréal group Moving Targets. [also see CRUISER]
Singles
1982 Come Back/Angel Of Love (Gypsy Gold) GG-3508
© 1998 – 2023 Jaimie Vernon.
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