Bob Lucier Album Nerves of Steel

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Artist: Bob Lucier
Album: Nerves of Steel
Circa: 1976
Genre: Country
Instrument: Steel guitar
Home: Bob is from Chatham Ontario (Grande Pointe)

Note: Bobby Lucier has been a leader in steel guitar and is world renowned for his unique style and ability.  Bob was the resident Steel Player for “The Tommy Hunter Show” when it aired  on the CBC television network in Canada for many years.

This album contains original works and material by other artists.

1. HEY GOOD LOOKIN’ 
2. YOU AND ME B
3. CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
4. C’MON SON (Bob Lucier)
5. THE HOMECOMING
6. FLOWERS ON THE WALL
7. HAPPY WORLD (Bob Lucier)
8. THE WAY WE WERE
9. JAMAICAN STEEL
10. MY PLEASURE (Bob Lucier)
11. I CAN’T HELP IT
12. TOO HIGH Stevie Wonder

Click on the video below to play the album preview.

If video does not appear, watch it here.

* Bob also plays steel guitar this year on:
Jesse Winchester’s album “Let the Rough Side Drag”, 1976.

Bill Amesbury – Can You Feel It – Bill signed with Yorkville Records in 1973 and made  several singles in 1973-1974. After one non-charting single, the second – “Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do)” – went to #1 in Canada and did well in many countries. In 1999, it received a SOCAN Classic award for 100,000 radio plays. Bill’s success attracted Neil Bogart, who was starting up the Casablanca label. While KISS were the first signing, Bill Amesbury had the first record on the label, with the US issue of “Virginia.” This led to an album, “Jus’ A Taste Of The Kid” (1974). In 1976, Bill signed with Capitol and made one album, “Can You Feel It,” featuring the contributions of some of the finest session musicians in Canada. Bill had great success in England with his records on the Power Exchange label. His songs were discovered by other artists such as Long John Baldry, Natalie Cole and Mitch Ryder, who covered them on their albums. There were no further records by Bill Amesbury. He underwent sex-reassignment surgery and has been Barbara Amesbury for a quarter-century now. Barbara is a patron of the arts in Toronto, a filmmaker and social activist.

Visit Bob, or buy his music online here.
http://www.ambrec.com/boblucier/

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Myers Brothers and the Jubilaires 1978

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Band: The Myers Brothers and the Jubilaires
Year: 1978-1979
Home: Chatham Ontario
Genre: Country.

Members:
Ray Trahan – Drums
Patricia-Gail Lozon – Vocals
Ray Myers – Vocals and  rhythm guitar
Ernie Marchand – Pedal steel
Roland Myers – Bass and vocals
Roland Lozon – Lead guitar, fiddle

  While the band continues to perform at local clubs and events, they have been landing big shows and new experiences to their enjoyment of being musicians.
 
  In 1978 and 1979, the band was on the bill for some of the biggest country music shows in Canada. They were Canadian guests for the travelling “Grand Ole Opry Show. In 1978, they played Halifax, Moncton and Fredericton in (June 16, 17, 18). In March of 1979, they played Kitchener and the London Gardens. The big show included Grant Turner, MINNIE PEARL, Stonewall Jackson, Archie Campbell, Jeanne Pruett, Red Sovine, Jim and Jesse, The Stonemans, Jack Greene, Jeanne Seely, Marie Bottrell, Jimmy C. Newman, Penny DeHaven, Ray Pillow, Charlie Walker, Roy Drusky, Ronny Robbins, Tammy Wynette, The Stoney Mountain Cloggers. Canadian Guests included “Roger Quick and the Rainbows”, and “The Myers Brothers and The Jubilaires”.

  1979 also marked when the guys became involved with the Belle River Singing and Fiddle Contest held annually. The event consistently draws thousands of people and involves musicians from far and wide.
From 1979 to 1981 they performed under their current band name. They would go on to play the event until 1989 under their future band names “Jubilaires II” and “Front Page News”.

Note: The group released an LP in 1968 and many singles (45rpm’s) the following year.

By S.Beaulieu

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Ray Francis The Good Old Days 1975

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Artist: Ray Francis
Release: The Good Old Days
Format: LP Album
Year: 1975
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada
Label: Condor
Number: A-977-1450
Genre: Country Music

    The record includes four original songs by Ray Francis. Rays son Mike (Pepe) Francis is a noted producer on this record and plays guitar on it. Mike is one of Canada’s most accomplished studio musicians.

Discography:
Ray Francis and the Whippoorwills – 1963 – Country Jamboree
The Whippoorwills – 1964 – The Whippoorwills
Ray Francis – 1973 – The Country Way
Ray Francis – 1973 – An Olde Tyme Christmas
Ray Francis – 1974 – Two Sides of Country
Ray Francis – 1975 – The Good Old Days

Cover Photo: Marjon Studios

Tracks
01. Little bit of Heaven (Ray Francis)
02. Movin’ on (Merle Haggard)
03. Never gone to stay (Larry Douglas)
04. Good Old Days (Ray Francis)
05. Hell hath no fury (Shirl Milette)
06. Out of my mind (Ray Francis)
07. Here’s your roses Mary Ann (R. Schiafe/D. Hogan)
08. Only too glad (Ray Francis)
09. Cryin’ every night (Shirl Milette)
10. Before the next teardrop falls (V. Keith/B. Peters)

Producer: Bob Spooner and Mike Francis.

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Ray Francis Two Sides of Country LP

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Artist: Ray Francis
Release: Two Sides of Country
Format: LP Album
Year: Circa 1974
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada

Label: Condor
Distribution: Marathon Music INC.
Number: 977-1404
Genre: Country Music

Notes: Ray Francis was born Feb 9th 1931 in Chatham.

Back Cover Notes:
    Outside the city of Chatham, Ontario, on a small farm, a thirteen year old boy by the name of Ray Francis started strumming chords on his first guitar.
    Ray’s love of country music was greatly influenced by picking up from his radio the famous ‘Grand Ole Opry’ show from WSM Nashville, Tennessee, every Saturday night.
    By the time Ray was in his twenties, he had formed his own band. With his increasing popularity with the fans, Ray was constantly being booked for club and stage appearances. Later the youngster who had only heard the stars of ‘The Grand Ole Opry’ on radio, now found himself appearing onstage with many of these same stars.
    Ray’s versatility as a performer, musician, comedian, and writer has brought him recognition on both sides of the border.
    As a performer myself, I would hate to follow Ray’s show onstage. His ability to impersonate many of the Nashville artists plus come back and sing his own originals, is the true sign of a great overall performer.
    The makings of a great entertainer is like baking a cake. You take a handful of sincerity, a touch of comedy, a warm personality, and a great love for country music and you have my friend, Ray Francis.
 Columbia Recording Artist Dallas Harms

Tracks
01. Forbidden lovers (Stanton-Walker)
02. I knew her then (R. Francis – Doug Springsted)
03. Who’s Julie
04. One nite stand (R.ay Francis)
05. Laura
06. Just let me know (Ray Francis)
07. Margie’s at the Lincoln Park Inn
08. Sweet misery (Ray Francis – Mike Francis)
09. Anita you’re dreaming
10. The downward side of lonesome (R. Francis)
11. If Ginny knew (Ray Francis)
12. In a mansion

Discography as of 1973:
Ray Francis and the Whippoorwills – 1963 – Country Jamboree
The Whippoorwills – 1964 – The Whippoorwills
Ray Francis – 1973 – The Countrey Way
Ray Francis – 1973 – An Olde Tyme Christmas
Ray Francis – 1974 – Two Sides of Country

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Wendy Jenkins Debut Album (1983)

Artist: Wendy Jenkins
Release: Self Titled
Format: Vinyl LP
Genre: Country and Western
Year: 1983

Notes: The CD contains a mix of original music and covers.

  At age 21, Wendy is lucky to live two good lives as one.  By day, she works as a quality control technician after graduating with honors from Ridgetown College. By night, she is a country singer with her single “Look out Love” that is in the top 50 of the country and western Charts.
  Wendy has also been performing in ‘The Melody Ramblers’ for the past two years. They are a popular local country band that originally formed in 1953.
  The new album was recorded in Nashville and Toronto.

Tracks:
01. He’s Cheatin’ On Me
02. One Big Happy Family
03. Walk Softly When You Go
04. (Just) Two Lonely People
05. Look Out Love
06. Turn The Light On
07. Rivers Of My Mind
08. I Did My Best (not to love him)
09. Blame It On The Rain
10. It’s Not Me

Photos: M. Martin

Music Samples in the video below

If video does not appear, watch it here.

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Ghost Town Minstrels (2006)

Artists: Ghost Town Minstrels
Home: Chatham Ontario/ Vancouver BC
Style: Folk/Country/Western
Band:
Po Kadot – Guitar, vocals, banjo, drums etc….
D Trevlon – Guitar, Vocals, Banjo, Bass stc….
Year: 2006 era

Biography
   Lock up your daughters and grease up your goats, because a couple o’ ol’ timey gypsy bandits are staggering yr way! Wanted posters and dime-store novellas tell of two handsome fellers by the names o’ D. Trevlon and Po Kadot (he, of Square Root of Margaret infamy). But, when these peach eatin’, spaghetti western watchin’, dustbowl architects get together, they’re called the Ghost-Town Minstrels.

   You might may be ‘xpectin’ just another night at the local waterin’ hole, but then these fellers stroll in, acoustic guitars in hand. For a dollar and a drink, these glorious b_stards will sing you harmonies so purty, and play ditties so haunting…this music has been known to charm the long-johns off a mountain man whose been standing all day long, knee deep in gopher guts!

   Once the music starts, well…that’s when the magic and mayhem begins. Men-folk are so taken by the tunes, they start to drinkin’ faster, and buyin’ shots for their neighbors! They don’t right off notice how the ladies have gotten to loosening their garments. Even so, loose garments won’t put a stop to the female sweatin’ that takes place at a Ghost-Town Minstrels show! The men-folk get drunker, and the wimmin-folk get looser. Blind beggars’ dogs start to humpin’ on barstools. Next thing ya know, their’s drinkin’, dancin’ fightin’, fussin, – all sorts of goin’s on! And if you find yourself wakin’ up at the crack o’ noon, next to some gap-toothed stranger (that you might not otherwise touch with a ten foot pole)…well then, that sweet melody dancin’ in the fog of your liqour-dented skull has been brought to you courtesy o’ the Ghost-Town Minstrels. Ask for them by name.

Po is best known for his work fronting Square Root Of Margaret

Listen here or here.

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