Harper & Rowe 1967

Band: Harper and Rowe
Album: S/T
Year: Circa 1967
Genre: Psychedelic Pop Rock

Connection: Ralph Murphy (Wallaceburg) joins the group Harper and Rowe.

Album Notes: Ralph takes on the name ‘Harper’ along with credits for song writing & production on this album.

Tracks.
A Side
01. Here Comes Yesterday Again
02. The Dweller
03. Picture Me High
04. Where Is She
05. You And Me (Me And You)
06. Love Machine

B Side
01. Keep On Dancing
02. Good Times, Bad Times
03. Strange How People Change
04. Hold Me
05. Wake Me When It’s Over
06. Hello Sleepy Sidewalk

Other Notes:

* 1967 – Ralph also writes the single ‘Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt‘ performed by Billy Fury. Video here.
* 1967 – Ralph wrote ( & co-produced) the song ‘Whatever happened to the 7 Day Week’, released by Belle & Me. (Columbia)
* 1967 – Ralph wrote ‘Along Came pride’ released by Donnie Elbert on CBS.

Video Links:  Working as of Aug. 2013
The Dweller – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvGLlYSiwjM
Picture me high – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVKbQgCJAko
Here comes yesterday again – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf2E34RbKOA
Love machine – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLYEtOG5-Os
_____________

Email your info & pics to:  chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
______________

2nd Nature

Band: 2nd Nature
Home: Wallaceburg
Circa: 1963 – 1978 (Picture taken 1967)
Style: Country; Pop; Polka

Members: (From left to Right)
George Segaert – Lead Guitar and Vocals
Armand Schepens – Cordovox
Rene Schepens – Saxophone
Gene Schepens – Drums

Notes: Armand Schepens formed the band in the late 50’s under the name “Moonlighters”. The band at that time consisted of Armand Schepens, Rene Schepens, John Kazook (drummer) and Jack Murphy (Rhythm Guitar). George Segaert and Gene Schepens joined the group in 1963 when the band became “2nd Nature”.

Prior to 1963, George Segaert played with a group called “The Mondells” of which was formed with high school buddies, Steve VanMeenen on rhythm guitar, Dave Carroll on bass and Cliff Roy on drums, playing at high school dances, special events, etc.
2nd Nature played at local venues, such as The Chec Hall in Dresden, CBD Club Wallaceburg; Kent Belgium Dutch Club in Chatham; Moose Hall Blenheim. This was the era of live music and the band played for numerous Weddings and parties. The band played up until 1978 when George Segaert joined up with brother Rob to form the band “The Relation”.

__________________

Wilf Lancaster Orchestra 1967

 

Wilf Lancaster Orchestra 1967

Thank You to Wilf’s daughter Cheryl, who replied to the archive with this great information.

  My dad began playing the drums in bands in and around Chatham about the mid to late ’30s.  He played at Erie Beach, and in Chatham the band played at a couple of outdoor dance pavilions during the summer and the Pyranon Ballroom as well. 

  This was war time and dances were held most evenings.  As I mentioned to you in an earlier e-mail, big bands were playing in Detroit and the Chatham Musicians’ Union agent would travel to Detroit, meet with the band’s booking agent, and if and when a convenient day was determined, that band would travel to Chatham to play a one-night gig.  The Musicians’ Union rules at the time dictated that if an out-of-country band was playing, an equal number of Canadian musicians had to be on hand at the dance hall and paid according to union wages.  As dad’s band was the house band at the Pyranon Ballroom, he and his musicians were paid to be in attendance and to play during the big name band’s intermission.

Click to enlarge

  In 1966, dad began putting his dream of a band reunion together with several of the old members.  The First Annual Reunion of the Big Band Sound of Wilf Lancaster was held in October, 1966.  The curtain rose to the playing of ‘With A Song In My Heart’ (his theme song chosen in 1938).  The hall was absolutely packed.  I was indeed privileged to be a part of that night, as my dad had included a part for organ in the arrangements.  The band went on to play monthly gigs at the Pyranon and were hired to play at various clubs’ annual dances.

  Due to poor health, he was forced to give up playing.  On Friday, November 13th, 1970, the curtain came down on the band.  As we were playing the theme song for the very  last time, I looked over at my dad and saw one big tear trickling down each cheek.  It was all I could do to keep playing.  On that night, the baton was handed over to Fred Foster (now deceased) and Bill Pritchard.

  Dad passed away in June 1973, but I know he would be so very happy to know that his band continued to play well into the 90s, under the name of ‘The Lancaster Band’.

(The full band picture was taken in 1967 at the Kinsmen Auditorium.)
_________________________________

The Singing Sisters 1967

Group: The Singing Sisters
Release: LP
Year: 1967
Label: Calvary
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada
Style: Religious

 

Members:  Mrs. Mcphail (22) and Virginia Golubov (16)

Above Photo:  Virginia Golubov, Mrs. Paul Mcphail, ‘Singing Sisters’ with Album of Sacred Songs released today, May 5th 1967.

  A few of the songs included are “His Name Is Wonderful”,  “Held By His Hand’,  “Lord, I Need You”, and “It’s In Your Hands”. The album does not contain original material, but the girls hope to someday write their own music.

  The girls also play their own instruments on this album and have been singing and playing organ, piano and accordion for eight years.

Source: CDN May 5th 1967

If you have a copy of this LP, please email us at:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com

________________

Fifth Night – 1967

Click to enlarge

Band: Fifth Night
Year: Circa 1967
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada

Members:
Brian Jones
Irwin Erickson
Rick Chrysler
Tom Lockwood
Lenny Bernard

 Fifth Night was a high school aged band who performed shows at high schools in Chatham and surrounding towns. Of Course, they were too young to perform in the clubs at the time.
  During this time period, high schools had an organization that was known as Teensters. Each Saturday night, High Schools took turns hosting a dance with live bands.
 Most, if not all members of Fifth Night went to Tecumseh High School in Chatham.

__________________

Ian And Sylvia – Lovin’ Sound (1967)

Artist: Ian And Sylvia
Release: The Lovin’ Sound
Date: 1967
Sylvia is from Chatham. Born Sylvia Fricker.

Tracks:
01 windy weather
02 hang on to a dream
03 i don’t believe you
04 where did all the love go
05 mr spoons
06 national hotel
07 sunday
08 pilgrimage to paradise
09 reason to believe
10 big river
11 trilogy
12 lovin’ sound
_
* Watch the album preview below.

_
Review by Richie Unterberger
  The Ian & Sylvia records bridging their folk phase and country-rock period were always uneven folk-rockish affairs, and this one, which remains one of their least-known 1960s efforts, was not an exception. Peg down your expectations a notch, though, and it isn’t bad, and it’s perhaps their most pop-oriented venture into the folk-rock waters.
Paul Harris (keyboards and orchestral arrangements) and Harvey Brooks (bass), both among the most active session players on mid-’60s New York folk-rock records, were both in the band playing on this release. Largely forsaking the traditional folk material that had dominated their first albums, the set was split between original material and covers of contemporary songwriters Bob Dylan, Tim Hardin, and Johnny Cash (session guitarist David Rea contributed “Pilgrimage to Paradise”). Still, the duo never adapted to rock music as well as most of their ex-folkie peers, and the sound of Lovin’ Sound is rather subdued and tentative.

There are some good moody songs here, though, that grow on you, such as the title track (which would not have sounded unreasonable on AM radio) and “Trilogy.” The covers of Hardin’s “Hang on to a Dream” and “Reason to Believe,” as well as Dylan’s “I Don’t Believe You,” are well done as well. “Sunday,” written as a CBC TV theme, is uncharacteristically happy-go-lucky, with a trumpet-mimicking vocal chorus that leaves one with the impression that they were making fun of California sunshine pop; “Where Did All the Love Go?” and Johnny Cash’s “Big River” expressed their growing country leanings. As a lowlight, “National Hotel” was a cruddy goodtime-vaudevillian exercise that didn’t suit the pair at all.

_______________________