Bob and Doug McKenzie- The Great White North

DSCN3519This was $5 and certified by the CCIC to be 100% Canadian content.  I had the cassette of this as a kid so I was amused to read the insert, The Daily Hoser, included in the album.  For record it also came with a merchandise flyer.  $7 USD for a Bob and Doug toque.DSCN3521

I am not sure why the CCIC label is on here as this is clearly marketed to the American audience.  But it is here, letting the media know that this can be broadcast to meet content obligations.  DSCN3520

I liked this album as a kid and it is still kind of funny today although I am kind of tired of the stereotypes associated with Canada. geddy_and_bob_and_doug

There are many comedy gems on this album.  There is also Bob and Doug’s collaboration with Geddy Lee.

This album also includes their Christmas tune, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” which is a classic of sorts.

 

Glamorgan Elementary School Choir- World Today, Hello Tomorrow

DSCN2255This was a dollar.  It had decent songs on it , plus it was Canadian. It was also sealed.bannerGlamorgan Elementary is a public schools serving the Glamorgan community, a south-western neighborhood of Calgary, AB.  It was opened in 1958.

Glamorgan Community Association

This is a collection of songs sung by the school choir augmented with monologues from kids.  While most of the credits on the album go to Mr Kuzmar, the conductor, I wondered more about Mrs Slaught, who I assume is the overworked and underappreciated music teacher who played the piano on this.  Poor Mrs Slaught.

The theme of the album is peace and unity between all people.  It is strange now, just how optimistic this album is.  I am not sure when this came out.  I am guessing late 70’s/ early 80’s.  Regardless, this was made during the Cold War and it sort of makes one misty thinking about the kids’ message of peace.  On the other hand, how could we live thru the threat of nuclear annihilation only to have these current times, where despite the threat of mass extinction being diminished, the dream of unity among people is now further than ever?  That is because there was no internet during the Cold War. If there was, we would most likely have nuked the planet silly.

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For a sample, I went with two popular Broadway numbers which were put together; “Sunrise, Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof and “Impossible Dream” from Man of LaMancha.  These are combined with a monologue from a Valerie Miller and one from a Kathy Buck.  Additionally, “Sunrise” has a solo from Heather Gargan.

This is satisfactory for the price and for a kids record.  I have heard a lot worse.

 

Anne Murray- What About Me

DSCN1502This was $3.00.  This is a Pickwick US reissue of Anne Murray’s first album which was initially released mainly in Canada. Kind of looks like Justin Bieber on the cover.

Screen-shot-2013-04-26-at-1_27_21-PMI understand why Americans hate Bieber and Nickleback. I can also understand why Americans hate Celene Dion.  But why must Americans bash Anne?  That is wrong.  Anne Murray is one of the smoothest voices in pop/country/contemporary.  (For the record,  there are a lot less haters out there now that everyone jumped on the Bieber/ Dion hater bandwagons).

John Lennon, Anne, Harry Nilson, Alice Cooper and Mickey Dolenz
John Lennon, Anne, Harry Nilsson, Alice Cooper and Mickey Dolenz

Anne’s Webpage

This was Anne’s first album.  Starting her career as a teacher at Prince Edward Island, Anne began for singing on TV.  After participating in a cast album for the TV show Singalong Jubilee, the show’s musical director suggested that Anne move to Toronto to cut an solo album.  This album originally was released in 1968 under the Arc label. The album and the title single were successful in Canada.  A year later, she would sign to Capital Records and release her signature song “Snowbirds”.  From there, US and worldwide fame followed as well as Grammys and a record 24 Junos.article_largeThe album itself is pretty good.  It features a good mix of songs by good songwriters.  Anne’s sound on this album is more folky pop than country.  I imagine it was hard to classify her music and she probably got lumped into the country category.  Regardless,  her confidence in her voice shines thru on this record. The title track as well as Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and There Goes my Everything” are pretty good.  For a sample, however,  I went with Tom Paxton’s “Last Thing on My Mind”. DSCN1503

This is a satisfactory record for me.

 

 

 

Irish Rovers- The First of the Irish Rovers

DSCN1235This was $3.00.  I wanted to play something Irish other than the Clancy Brothers.

irishrovers68The Irish Rovers are Canada’s equivalent of the Clancy’s.  Whereas the Clancy Brothers emigrated to New York, George and Will Millar came from Ballymena to Toronto where they met a fellow Northern Irish immigrant Jim Ferguson.  George’s cousin Joe Millar emigrated soon afterwards and the group was born. (Oddly enough, the Clancy’s first came to Toronto before going to the States)  After some work in Toronto, the band would eventually follow each other to Calgary where they played the same folk club as Joni Mitchell. They started playing in California where they were signed to a record deal. However, the Rovers would identify with Canada and eventually became Canadian citizens.

Website

This is their first album recorded at the Ice House in Pasadena, CA and released in 1966.  As far as their albums go, this one is okay.  The Rovers have put out better albums with better songs.  “The Bog down in the Valley” is one of my favorites.  So is “Nancy Whiskey”.  The rest of the songs are ok.   The band’s namesake is ok but as far as I am concerned, the definite version of the “Irish Rover” was done by the Dubliners and the Pogues.

 

For a sample song I chose “Many Young Men of Twenty” which talks about the mass immigration which both the Rovers and the Clancys were caught up in.

 

DSCN1236Satisfactory.  The Irish Rovers have better albums. Good starting point, however.

Triumph- Just a Game

DSCN1220Happy Canada Day. This was a dollar. Sorry to be contrite but I had to write this on my phone as the network is down.

July 1st celebrates the anniversary of the British North America Act of 1867, which merged three colonies into a single country called Canada. Near total independence was granted with the Statute of Westminster in 1931 and full sovereignty came from the Canada Act of 1982. Triumph

This album was the big break in the US for Triumph. Formed in 1975 in Toronto, this was their third album. Released in 1979, it went Gold in the US and spawned their two biggest US hits, “Lay It On the Line” and “Hold On” .229148505_Triumph_band_xlarge

The album is ok. If you don’t like classic rock, it is not going to change your mind. I really liked American Girls but I thought it was not the right choice to play today. So I went with “Hold On”.DSCN1221

Meh. Somehow, I picture Homer Simpson in his car jamming to this. Happy Canada Day. I will be going to The Maple Leaf Pub later to celebrate.