101 true stories to surprise and delight Canadian music fans.
Did you know that Serena Ryder played the quietest concert ever from the ocean floor during low tide at Fundy National Park? Or that “I’ll Never Smile Again,” the hit that launched Frank Sinatra’s career, was written by Toronto pianist Ruth Lowe? What about 12-year-old Liberty Silver singing in a reggae band that opened for Bob Marley at Madison Square Garden? Did you know that the title of the Tragically Hip’s 1991 album, Road Apples, is not talking about apples?
In 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts, author and historian David McPherson shares these and 97 other tales gathered from his more than 25 years working in the music industry. Music lovers and trivia buffs alike will enjoy perusing this collection of stories — collected from coast to coast — to discover surprising facts and hilarious tales from Canada’s music industry.
Did you know that Serena Ryder played the quietest concert ever from the ocean floor during low tide at Fundy National Park? Or that “I’ll Never Smile Again,” the hit that launched Frank Sinatra’s career, was written by Toronto pianist Ruth Lowe? What about 12-year-old Liberty Silver singing in a reggae band that opened for Bob Marley at Madison Square Garden? Did you know that the title of the Tragically Hip’s 1991 album, Road Apples, is not talking about apples?
In 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts, author and historian David McPherson shares these and 97 other tales gathered from his more than 25 years working in the music industry. Music lovers and trivia buffs alike will enjoy perusing this collection of stories — collected from coast to coast — to discover surprising facts and hilarious tales from Canada’s music industry.
Authors
- Pages
- 264
- Published in
- Toronto, CA
- Rights
- David McPherson
Table of Contents
- Cover 1
- Half Title 3
- Title 5
- Copyright 6
- Dedication 7
- Introduction 9
- 1. Lucky Luthier 12
- 2. Powwow Band Wows Grammys 15
- 3. Opera Saves Hard Rocker’s Voice 19
- 4. Blue Rodeo’s Biggest Fan 21
- 5. Auditioning for a Beach Boy 24
- 6. “Snowbird” Takes Flight 26
- 7. Love by the Lake 29
- 8. Here, Hold my Balloon 32
- 9. Spinning Wheel still Pays Bills 35
- 10. Two Songs for the Price of One 38
- 11. You'll have to Excuse Me... 43
- 12. A staple in the Maple 46
- 13. Song Historian 48
- 14. Stompin' Tom's Stompin' Board 50
- 15. How 'bout them Apples? 52
- 16. Rollin' on a Rollin' Train 54
- 17. Humble Beginnings in "The Hammer" 57
- 18. Canada's No.1 Country Boy 59
- 19. Seacan Studio 62
- 20. Trail-Blazing Wankers from London 64
- 21. Bubblegum Pop or Rage-ridden Ridden Rock? 66
- 22. Nova Scotia's "Gift from Heaven" 68
- 23. Paul anka did it his way 70
- 24. Canada's Polka King 72
- 25. "Beatlemania" Coined by a Canadian 74
- 26. The Maharaja of the Keyboard 76
- 27. Rise of the Pool Singer 78
- 28. Canada's Music Prodigy 80
- 29. Wrestling against Racism 82
- 30. Maple Music Junket 85
- 31. The Greatest "Unknown" Guitarist 88
- 32. Hi-Fi Boom & Bust 90
- 33. Sistine Chapel of Rock 'N' Roll 92
- 34. Hip-Hop Freedom 94
- 35. What the Truck? 96
- 36. A Lesson for Openers 98
- 37. The Montreal Bed-In 100
- 38. Transcribing a "Taupin" Pop Hit 102
- 39. Prince of Blues on Bellair 105
- 40. The Lost Heatwave Tapes 107
- 41. Key to Hello City 110
- 42. Jee Healey's Legendary Record Collection 112
- 43. Much ado about much 114
- 44. Sock it to me 117
- 45. No Sophomore Slump 119
- 46. Sarsstock Rocks 121
- 47. Punk Rock Riot by the Lake 123
- 48. Bad Manors on the Radio 125
- 49. Tent Tingles 127
- 50. Chart Heartbreaker 129
- 51. Recording on the Cheap 132
- 52. Partnership in Song Going Strong 134
- 53. Funny Money to Paper Nickels 136
- 54. Shakespeare... My Butt 139
- 55. Rolling with the Tides 141
- 56. The Name Game 144
- 57. Another Guinness, Please 148
- 58. That New Year's Guy 150
- 59. Toronto Lights Up for Lennon 152
- 60. The Making of an '80s Anthem 155
- 61. Toilet Rockers Take on Free Speech 159
- 62. Farming Life Lessons 161
- 63. When Tears were not Enough 163
- 64. Ode to an Airport 166
- 65. Canadian "Gal" Takes Over 168
- 66. Madd for Soda 171
- 67. A Promoter's Payday 173
- 68. The Crack of Dawn 176
- 69. TV Theme King 178
- 70. A Sign of the Times 179
- 71. What not to do at SXSW 182
- 72. Much Comes Out 185
- 73. A "Sugar-Coated Fellatio Fest" 188
- 74. Take OFF, Eh! 190
- 75. The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever 193
- 76. "Safety" Dance if you Want to 195
- 77. Big Acts, Low Attendance 197
- 78. Square-Dance Singer 200
- 79. The Maple Leaf Forever Guitar 202
- 80. Let's Go to the Hop .... 204
- 81. Heartthrob Hart 206
- 82. Ronnie's Rock 'n' Roll Car 207
- 83. Brunch with Joni 209
- 84. The Endless Roach at the El Mo 213
- 85. Life Imitating Art ... Bergmann 215
- 86. Independent Innovator Gently Rocks to No.1 218
- 87. Full Moon in Montreal 221
- 88. Can I get a Hallelujah 224
- 89. A Handsome and "Happy Accident" 227
- 90. A Woman of Many Firsts 229
- 91. Triumph's Texas Triumph 232
- 92. Youtube Launches the Stratford Kid 234
- 93. Trail-Blazing Transgender Soul Singer 236
- 94. Betting the House on the Guess WHO 238
- 95. Beware the Human Serviette 240
- 96. Dutch Love 243
- 97. Canada's First Country Music Star 246
- 98. The Birth of Mariposa 248
- 99. All Aboard the Young Train 250
- 100. Hairdressers and Big Hair Bands 253
- 101. From Dancing Queen to Billboard Charter 255
- Acknowledgements 259
- About the Author 261
- Back Cover 263
