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Jamie LePage (1953-2002)
http://www.spectropop.com/Jamie.htm
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There are 8 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. Ian Thomas
From: Scott
2. Re: Ian Thomas
From: Bill Reed
3. Re: Ian Thomas
From: Michael Godin
4. Re: The Orchids
From: Ian Slater
5. Re: THE ALLEN SISTERS & THE 2 OF CLUBS
From: simon white
6. The Captains Of Your Ship
From: Will Stos
7. Robin Wilson
From: Stewart Mason
8. Re: the Allan Sisters & Ian Thomas
From: Phoenix Canada
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Message: 1
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 09:41:27 EDT
From: Scott
Subject: Ian Thomas
I believe he's the brother of SCTV's Doug Thomas ...
I know he's recorded a series of LPs, including 1974's
"Ian Thomas" (which has the minor hit you mentioned); 1976's
"Goodnight Mrs. Calabash" and a 1978 self-produced effort,
"Still Here".
There are a couple of others I've never heard: "Slider",
"Riders On Dark Horses" and 1985's "Add Water".
Scott
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 08:40:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bill Reed
Subject: Re: Ian Thomas
For some reason, I seem to recall that Ian Thomas is
the brother of SCTV star, Dave ("Bob and Doug
McKenzie"') Thomas. Thomas is also a popular film
performer. I think Ian was even on SCTV a couple of
times, but I might be wrong about the latter. In fact,
I just might be flatout wrong about all of this. The
way rumors get started!
Bill Reed
communities.msn.com/nickdecaro
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 09:10:17 -0700
From: Michael Godin
Subject: Re: Ian Thomas
Ian Thomas is a Canadian from Toronto and was both a songwriter and
recording artist, plus a comedian. More on the latter on a moment. His
biggest hit was indeed Painted Ladies, and was his only charted hit in the
United States. However, in his home and native land he had other hits
including Long Long Way. In 1984, during a brief comeback, Manfred Mann
scored a top 25 hit with Runner, written by Ian.
Now to the comedian aspect, his brother is Dave Thomas, whose character
Doug McKenzie - one of the McKenzie Brothers (how's it going, eh?) - from
SCTV, the hilarious and highly successful comedy sketch show. Ian as well
is no slouch in the comedy department himself, and appears from time to
time as one of the characters on the comedy series The Red Greene Show.
Ian's records were released in the US on Janus Records, then a division of
GRT Records. In Canada he was signed to and released directly on GRT. That
was quite a great label in its day. They also signed and achieved good
success with Lighthouse and Dr. Music, which featured Brenda Russell, Terry
Black and Laurel Ward, among other artists.
As the former Vice-President of A&R for A&M Records myself, I admired their
signings and success.
Cheers.
Michael Godin
Treasure Island Oldies
www.TreasureIslandOldies.com
Admin Note:
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Agreed, Ian Thomas "is not really Spectropop". Can we therefore now please
consider this discussion thread closed.
Thank you.
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 20:53:02 +0100
From: Ian Slater
Subject: Re: The Orchids
I've uploaded "Love Hit Me" into Musica. I've got "Larry" ready to go too,
but I guess two by the same group might be overdoing it so I'll hold that
back awhile.
To add to the the Juke Box Jury story, the group were later reported as
saying they liked the Beatles, but only after the Hollies and the Rolling
Stones. Valerie Jones said; "We put them third ever since they voted our
record a miss on Juke Box Jury!"
And I missed obvious reissue source in my discography. "Oo Chang-a-Lang" came
out on the following "grey area" sets which I believe are still available:
LP - Girls In The Garage Vol. 2" (Romulan UFOX03) 1987
CD - Girls In The Garage (Romulan UFOX02-2) 1997
Thanks Scott for the help.
Ian Slater
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 21:49:49 +0100
From: simon white
Subject: Re: THE ALLEN SISTERS & THE 2 OF CLUBS
Mick Patrick wrote:
> My copy of the Allen Sisters' "Dream Boy" on Quality 1807 has
> "Devil To Angel" on the B-side, not "Downtown Crowd". I
> suppose that means it's not worth 400 quid!? B#ll#cks!
>
> By the way, Simon, I spotted no Tiny Tim track on your Saturday
> playlist. Wassup, gone off him? I recommend "Little Girl", his
> Blue Cat 45.
Fret not Mick, I have been reliably inform by Ian Chapman [who has asked
not to be named ] that " Downtown Crowd " is not the flip of "Dream Boy".
It is on Quality though.
Tiny Tim was a complete oversight on Saturday mornings playlist, but then
again, somehow I just wasn't in a ' Tiny ' mood. I did however that
afternoon pick up his 'Great Balls Of Fire "................and also Mae
West's version on a 45.
However on the fret front, I do not have and have not heard "Little Girl".
My Tiny Tim collection is relatively recently begun and at the same time
other rekkids have taken precedence.
Where does it end, I arsk myself?
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Message: 6
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 22:04:03 -0000
From: Will Stos
Subject: The Captains Of Your Ship
Featured Artist this week at the Girl Group Chronicles!
Check out their profile at
http://www.geocities.com/williamstos/reparata.html
I know this group has a soft-spot for these girls.
Will : )
www.geocities.com/williamstos
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Message: 7
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 23:12:18 -0400
From: Stewart Mason
Subject: Robin Wilson
Made a record on A&M in 1969. Quite fond of sailor suits. Really cute in
a slightly homely way, if you know what I mean. Record's a bit
overproduced and gloppy in spots, but I like her voice quite a bit, and
it's well worth the 25 cents it cost at Nuggets in Kenmore Square. Anyone
know any more?
S
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2002 02:51:18 -0000
From: Phoenix Canada
Subject: Re: the Allan Sisters & Ian Thomas
Happy to help with any Canadian music facts.... (courtesy of
www.canoe.ca)
Allan Sisters
Coralie Allan (vocals)
Jackie Allan (vocals)
The Allan Sisters were originally from Edmonton, Alberta. Jackie had
begun singing at the age of seven and was later joined by sister
Coralie for shows in Alberta. Eventually the duo would move to
Toronto to try and foster this talent into a career.
Jackie would soon marry CBC TV host Art Snider ('Country Hoedown')
but it would take several years before the duo would start
recording. In 1963 they recorded their first single, "Larry", for
Art Snider's Chateau label. The single hit the Canadian country
charts in 1964.
They would also see some success with follow-up singles on the pop
charts. This chart exposure led to a guest appearance on CTV's 'A Go-
Go 66' (hosted by Mike Darrow) which, in turn, brought them to the
attention of Tommy Hunter. Hunter would feature the sisters on his
own CBC TV show as regulars throughout 1966 and eventually made them
fixtures for 11 years running.
When the duo split up in the mid-70's Coralie retired and Jackie
continued on as a solo act until her death, from cancer, in 1985.
Coralie is married to tenor/actor Peter Glen and the duo still
performs occasionally.
Discography
1964 Larry (Shell)
1965 Remember The Face (Shell)
1966 Dream Boy/Devil To Angel (Quality) 1807
1966 I'm In With The Downtown Crowd/Give It Up, Girl (Quality) 1841
1966 Silly Silly/Drummer Man (Op-Art) 303
1973 Somewhere There's A Mountain (??)
Albums
197? Jackie & Coralie (Sound) 7704
and also....
Ian Thomas
Born: Hamilton, Ontario
Thomas first got his musical start at age six after taking piano
lessons. By the age of 14 he had graduated to guitar and a year
after that he wrote his first original tune. In the mid'60's he
formed the folk trio Ian, Oliver and Nora featuring Oliver McLeod
and Nora Hitchinson. By the end of the '60's they were joined by Bob
Doidge (bass) and Nancy Ward (keyboards, recorder) and called
themselves Tranquillity Bass.
The band would record two singles for RCA and often performed with
the Edmonton Symphony and The Hamilton Philharmonic. They split up
in the early '70's after an album they recorded failed to impress
RCA and remains unreleased. Thomas got a day job as a theatre
manager in Hamilton.
In April 1973, Thomas signed to GRT Records and immediately
released "Painted Ladies" which became a monster hit across North
American; the song reached No.4 in Canada and No.34 in the United
States. He won a Juno Award for 'Most Promising Male Vocalist that
year.
During this period he also produced a two-hour CBC Radio show
called "The National Rock Works" which also featured comedy and
became a showcase for the talents of his brother Dave Thomas --
future SCTV alumnus.
Over the years Thomas has produced some classic albums
including 'Calabash' (1976), which was followed by a U.S. tour with
his band at that time: Mike Oberle (drums), Juno Award winning
graphic artist Hugh Syme (keyboards), Josh Onderisin (guitar), and
David Sawyer (bass). His fourth LP for GRT was 'Still Here' (1978)
and included the hit single "Coming Home". Thomas' final album for
GRT was 'Glider' in 1979 containing the hits "Pilot" and "Time Is
The Keeper".
In 1980 Thomas had been picked up by Anthem Records after the demise
of GRT and took a run at several more gold albums - 'The Runner'
(1981) (they same year he also made a guest appearance on the SCTV
TV show), 'Riders On Dark Horses' (1984) and 'Add Water' (1985).
It was from these album that number of acts would find Ian Thomas
songs to the top, including "Hold On" (Santana), "The Runner"
(Manfred Mann), "Right Before Your Eyes" (America), and "Chains"
(Chicago).
In 1991 Thomas joined forces with three other veteran Canadian
musicians - guitarist Bill Dillon (Daniel Lanois, Joni Mitchell),
drummer Rick Gratton (Rough Trade, Marc Jordan) and bassist Peter
Cardinali (Rick James, Oscar Peterson) - to form the Boomers.
They've become successful in Europe, especially in Germany and have
several gold albums under their belts.
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