Dusting Off Mythology

This album is something else - an education package LP prepared by the Ontario Education Communications Authority in 1971 (and re-issued in 1973) which accompanies a television series of the same name which was aired on TVOntario (owned by the OECA).

The album gathers up some local music talent - Perth County Conspiracy, Edward Bear, Dinah Christie, Shoppe (Victor Garber!), and Pepper & Salt who provided tracks related to themes of mythology. The Teacher’s Notes (in Blue below) contain intro material and then divides into 4 mythological themes: The Quest, The Hero, War and finally Creation, each of which has related tracks from the LP and who knows what from the TV show.

The Program Insert which contains the lyrics:

The program gives the last theme (“Creation”) over to the Perth County Conspiracy with “Live To Die”, “Stories of Old” and, linked below, “Angel’s Anthem”.

“Captain”, by good ol’ Edward Bear:

And the somewhat ridiculous “Hercules” by Pepper & Salt:

I contacted TVOntario, and they replied confirming that the video is currently not available, but were able to provide their description of the series broadcast - there were 4 episodes in all:

Series Description: Providing an innovative approach to studies in mythology for Intermediate and Senior students, modern Greek troubadours not only sing of the Greek myths, but also use modern songs to illustrate how we are still following the essential patterns of the Greek stories. Students are invited to draw their own conclusions about our 20th century Western mythology, as well as the place and purpose of mythology in all societies.

Episode 1: The Quest - Using the story of the Golden Fleece as the basic example of the quest in mythology, this program defines the quest and examines illustrations of it in history and literature.

Episode 2: The Hero - Presents the stories of two famous Greek heroes, Hercules and Theseus, considers the hero in history, literature and current society, and asks the question: are all heroes mythical?

Episode 3: War - Tells the story of the Trojan War and draws ironic parallels between it and other wars.

Episode 4: Creation - Considers various mythical versions of the creation of the world, of man and of the seasons.

The Supremes

When the Supremes landed at Toronto, 1966

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RIP Mary Wilson: 1944-03-06 to 2021-02-08

Photo by Boris Spremo, courtesy of Toronto Public LIbrary

Upon Velveatur

“Listen To These Chords I Play” is the lead-off track from Roger Rodier’s 1972 LP “Upon Velveatur” and this one sounds a bit like what Mojave 3 or the Lilac Time were doing in the 90’s. The album has been given a re-issue on both vinyl and digital along with some bonus tracks - it’s an exceptional album.

Here is “Have You?” which is one of the bonus tracks released when the LP was re-issued.

Innovation

The cover of this LP is way better than any of the tracks.

Concert In High Park

That’s a lot of people in High Park.

The High Park Free Festival in 1974 drew a crowd of about 40,000 to see John Mills-Cockell, John Allan Cameron, Cathy Young with Finderwood, Shingoose, Good Brothers and Dave Nicol.

Photo courtesy of Toronto Public Library

Night Music

Here is the entire episode of TVO’s NightMusic featuring FM (Cameron Hawkins and a pre-bandaged Nash The Slash). TVO was a hotbed of some great programming in the seventies (eg. Magic Shadows); NightMusic was the brainchild of DJ Reiner Schwarz and was part talk show, part lecture, part performance art, part concert – all very loosely structured. Enjoy 30 minutes of electronic music greatness.

Jeff Plewman: 1948-03-26 to 2014-05-10

Mary Ellen Carter

Here’s a rousing version of Stan Roger’s Mary Ellen Carter with John Allan Cameron, the Rankin Family, Natalie MacMaster, Dave McIsaac, Scott Macmillan and Bruce Phillips - filmed aboard The Scotia Prince which was docked in Boston Harbor. Rise Again!

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever is a solo abum by Bob Burchill which features a number of members of the Perth County Conspiracy (Does Not Exist). The band was based out of Stratford ON and was a center of the Canadian counter-culture folk music scene. They put out a string of excellent albums from 1970 through 1975 and they were active to about 1977. Here’s “To Be One With You” which is a simply sweet and beautiful song:

Didn't You Hear?

Another one of the recent Mort Garson reissues on Sacred Bones records is his 1970 soundtrack to the movie “Didn’t You Hear” (starring Gary Busey!) which is one of the first all-electronic music scores. The LP was originally only available from the lobby of the theatres when it was screened in Seattle and it went out of print shortly afterwards. Here’s the trailer:

The theme song from the movie is pure Mort loveliness:

The tracks on the LP are named according to scenes in the movie - here’s “Jeep Ride”:

The LP cover:

Music From Patch Cord Productions

Need more Mort! Sacred Bones records has remastered a couple Mort Garson LPs for your electronic convenience and enjoyment. Music From Patch Cord Productions is a collection of rare and unreleased tracks from the Canadian synthesizer pioneer. Pressed on havy vinyl with extensive liner notes, it’s a nice package. Toss the cans on your ears and listen to Dragonfly - just click there below. Zing!

Athenians Of Toronto

Athenians of Toronto was a Greek-Canadian band formed in Ontario in the late 60s who put out one album (Σαν Σκοτεινιάζε) in 1971 which now fetches big bux in collector circles. The LP contains mostly covers of songs (eg “Light My Fire”, “Colour My World, “25 or 6 to 4”, “Proud Mary”) all sung in Greek (except "Light My Fire” which is half English) with a couple originals. Below is their cover of Lighthouse’s One Fine Morning which is super-plus good:

Costas Philippeos (piano)
Nikos Philippeos (drums)
Vangelis Bethanis (vocals)
Denny Fernando (guitar, vocals)
Paul Imo (bass)

The horn section: Pete Schofield, Heather Banks, John Satcho, Al Stanmwyck and Terry Anton.

Track mp3 courtesy of Museum of Canadian Music which is well worth checkin’ out.

Teenage Beer Drinking Party

Quick shout out to those of a certain age - TVO put together a documentary on Teenage Head. Nab some brewskies and enjoy.

A teenage beer drinkin' party
Beer drinkin' party, beer drinkin' party
A teenage beer drinkin' party
They never should have left us alone

Fraser & DeBolt

I ♥ this album cover.

Allan Fraser & Daisy DeBolt met in the summer of 1968 at a Mariposa folk workshop and began writing and working together - in 1969 they became Fraser & DeBolt and started touring the coffee house circuit in Canada and the US. After opening for Tom Paxton at Fillmore East in 1970 they were signed to Columbia Records - their first album (with Ian Guenther) was released in 1971 and their second (with members of band SImon Caine) entitled “With Pleasure” was released in 1973. Recently, a 2-LP set called “This Song Was Borne” was released; a collection of previously unreleased demos, studio outtakes, radio sessions and live recordings spanning their entire career.

Donna Marie "Daisy" DeBolt: 1945-07-19 to 2011-10-04

Maple Music Junket

In 1972, the Canadian Federal government got into the music production business when it contributed $30,000 to the Maple Leaf Junket project, put together by music journalist Richie Yorke along with $50,000 from the Canadian Record Manufacturer’s Association. The plan was to airlift about 100 writers, music journalists, broadcasters and film producers from 14 European countries to an all expenses 4 day trip from Montreal to Toronto to showcase the Canadian music scene, culminating in two shows at Massey Hall - June 6 for folk and the 7th for rock. By all accounts it was a busy hectic schedule of long days and longer nights - the MMJ organizers were so keen to put as many bands on stage that they limited sets to 30 minutes in a multi-hour parade of acts.

In 2018 the CBC put together a short doc on the MMJ with some interviews both then and now as well as a look back at how Crowbar made an impact as last act of the night. Click through to the video here.

On June 7th issue of the Globe, Jack Batten’s “Pop Scene” column titled “Paying people slightly ignored” noted that the event was for the vip’s flown in and not the paying public, quoting one performer calling it a “meat market”. He also said: “… the number of performers and necessary limit on time hardly gave many of the singers much chance to develop a mood or sustain an act“. Lighthouse’s co-founder and drummer Skip Prokop as pretty outspoken about it - here’s the performance of “One Fine Morning” prefaced with an interview clip where he vents:

In the next day’s “Pop Scene” column, Batten stated that Prokop’s intro was a “rebuke to this reviewer for suggesting in the coverage of Tuesday’s folk concert that the 30 minutes allotted each performer isn’t enough to develop a representative act”. The column is almost entirely about the Lighthouse set (”The band was roaring. Then too it was all over. Anti-climax as finale”) and his only take on Crowbar is: “I have to report that Crowbar, a sure-shot crowd-pleaser, appeared last on the bill, far too late for review purposes”.

Part of the plan was to produce two 60 minute radio shows and a 90 minute tv show on the concert - in the Dec 13 1972 Globe, Blaik Kirby writes that the “CBC is busy throwing away about $25,000 worth of program, by slashing its Maple Music Junket pop musical special from 90 minutes to 60.” This meant that some acts ended up with a mere 30 seconds in the documentary - here’s the clip with Fergus (Fergus Hambleton, Peter Lye, Scotty Allan, Jack Merrick):

From the Globe & Mail after the special aired on TV, Blaik Kirby noted “the performances … particularly the disgusting antics of Crowbar, probably helped to confirm the image of pop in adult minds as being mindless, orgiastic and devoted not to music but to noise and complete lack of self-control.” He also mentioned “even Anne Murray did not emerge with credit: she looked overweight and her voice was not at it’s best”.

By the by, check out this advert for Lighthouse from the last page of an issue of RPM magazine:

Gene MacLellan

Gene MacLellan was a singer-songwriter born in Val-d’Or QC - he is best known for writing ‘The Call’ and ‘Snowbird’ (hits for Anny Murray) as well as ‘Put Your Hand In The Hand’ (Ocean) and others. His songs have been covered by Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Loretta Lynn, Nana Mouskouri and a host of others.

His first album was recorded in Nashville and released in 1970 with 2 slightly different versions (self titled and ‘Street Corner Preacher’). Here is Gene’s version of ‘Snowbird’ with slightly different lyrics.

Gene and Anne in 1972:

In 1973 Gene was injured in a car accident (mentioned on the back of his first LP) and in 1974 he moved to Prince Edward Island where he settled. Gene suffered from mental illness throughout his life, and in January 1995 he died by suicide. In 2017, Gene’s daughter Catherine MacLellan, a singer/songwriter herself, put together an excellent NFB documentary on Gene which looks at the legacy of his songwriting as well as the impact of his life on those who knew him.. Catherine also recorded an album of Gene’s songs, from that LP here is her version of “Thorn In My Shoe”:

Here’s a live track from Charlottetown PEI in 1971 with “Bidin’ My Time”:

Gene MacLellan: 1938-02-02 to 1995-01-19

Photos courtesy of Toronto Public Library

Martha And The Muffins

Martha And The Muffins first played at a Halloween party in 1977 at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto - the original lineup was David Millar, Mark Gane, Martha Johnson, Carl Finke and Tim Gane. Shortly afterwards, David Millar left and was replaced with Martha Ladly. The band’s self-produced first single in 1978 (Muffin Music 01) contained “Insect Love” and “Suburban Dream” on the flip side - here’s the latter:

In a hundred wars across the earth
Men and guns are thought to prove their worth
Women stay behind and grow the food
Placing soldiers in a dangerous mood

Women around the world at work
Working, working

There's a man who must be sixty-five
Makes his living running other lives
Tells them when they can't and when they can
They're so busy they don't give a damn

Women around the world at work
Working, working

In The Daily X, May '81
Back-page human interest story runs
"Girls of twelve still sold for love today"
Just so men can have their bloody way

Women around the world at work

[ Photos from 1979 and 1984, courtesy Toronto Public Library. ]

Peaceful

Pat Hervey released her second LP “Peaceful” on CBC/Camden records in 1970. The musicians are the usual cast of CBC studio musicians (Rob McConnell, Peter Appleyard, Guido Basso, Moe Koffman, Ed Bickert, etc). All the tracks are arranged by Jim Pirie, except for “Falling In Love Again” (penned by Jackie Trent and Tony Hatch) which was arranged by Rick Wilkins - it’s on my find-of-the-year list for sure:

And enjoy the Bacharach/David “They Don’t Give Medals”:

Pat Hervey passed away on 2016-08-31.

The Poppy Family

The Poppy Family was formed in Vancouver Canada when Susan Pesklevits met Terry Jacks on the set of the television show Let’s Go - they started singing as a duo and then added Craig MacCaw who brought in Satwant Singh. Their first self-titled album in 1969 contained “Which Way You Goin’ Billy” (#1 in Canada, #1 on Cashbox, #2 on US Billboard top 100) as well as “That’s Where I Went Wrong (#9 in Canada, #29 in the US). Their second album (“Poppy Seeds”) was released in 1971 - it did not include contributions from either MacCaw or Singh and produced hits with "Where Evil Grows” and “Good Friends”. The band performed at Ontario Place Forum July 26 1972 - from left to right is Craig MacCaw, Susan and Terry Jacks and Satwant Singh.

From the first LP, this is “For Running Wild”:

Here is The Poppy Family’s version of “Happy Together” from Vancouver’s “Let’s Go” television show:

And here is the US version of “That’s Where I Went Wrong” which is a different mix than the album version: