cktimes.ca Archives for Classic Vinyl
Classic Vinyl
CANADA'S COPPERPENNY AND MAJOR HOOPLE'S BOARDING HOUSE
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Copperpenny Album
Copperpenny 45 Your Still The One
Major Hoople Album
Major Hoople Photo Gallery 1
Major Hoople Photo Gallery 2
Copperpenny was formed in 1965 in Kitchener, Ontario by Kenny Hollis and Rich Wamil under the name "Penny Farthings". The Copperpenny name originated from the B-side of a Paupers 45--the A-side was "If I Call You By Some Name" the tune "Copperpenny" was the flip side.
In 1968 they recorded a minor his for Columbia Records---"Nice Girl"---then went on to RCA Records and recorded "Stop (Wait A Minute)---after that, they struck gold recording for Sweet Plum Records (a London Records label) 1973's "You're Still The One" was a huge hit along with their follow-up song "Sitting On A Poor Man's Throne" recorded in Detroit. Check out my 45 Sweet Plum record in the photo's section this week.
They toured with big name acts, Led Zeppelin, Bob Seger and Uriah Heep---made television appearances on "Keith Hampshire's Music Machine" (Big Time Operator) and even had their own variety show. In the disco era of the 70's, they recorded "Disco Queen" and "Good Time Sally" that had limited success and then by the time of their final release "The Fuse Album" most of the original members had left---they split up in the late 70's.
Where are they now: Hollis went on to a solo career with a successful single "Goin' Hollywood---then became PR manager a Lulu's Roadhouse in Kitchener---still played at the Copperpenny reunions in the 1980's and sadly passed away in 2002---Hiller spent 1979-1981 in a gospel band called "Sonlight", playing the church scene in Toronto, Muskoka and Kitchener and Waterloo area. The other band members all have day jobs in various cities in Ontario.
What a GREAT CANADIAN BAND in the mid 60's, they played all the Legion's, Beach Pavilions, High schools, Clubs and Bars. I managed to see their dances many, many times in their heyday.
MAJOR HOOPLE'S BOARDING HOUSE---Band Members MANY here are the originals: David Lodge/vocals/bass 67-76, Gail Truscott/keyboards 68-72, Peter Pandalino/rhythm guitar, Rick Riddell/drums, Fred Howell/lead guitar/vocals.
Major Hoople's formed as The Shan-deleers" in the mid 60's with Howell, Pandalino and Riddell---when they added David Lodge 1967, they changed their name to Major Hoople's Boarding House---they took the moniker from the Major Hoople comic strip---like The Copperpenny, they also played all the High School's, Bars, and Legions across Ontario until 1975---the last time this guy saw them was in 1972 at The Masonic Temple in Tillsonburg---Gail Truscott (nee Selkirk) had to be one of the most amazing female singers in the area at the time, and Rick Riddell had to be one of the best drummers in the area at the time also and he had the most amazing drum kits---the first time I had seen drums in the shape of funnels.
In 1970, they signed with MUCH records and released a single "Lady" then moved to Polydor and received some airplay with "Beautiful Morning". When they signed with AXE Records in 1975, they recorded their biggest hit with "Running After You" and "You Girl"
Many band member changes started to happen around 1976 and the band changed their name to---Boarding House---original member Fred Howell, still carried on with the band throughout the 80's and in 1985 charted a Top10 on the Adult Charts with video play on MuchMusic. Hooples have toured over the years with many various players from the 2nd generation band members---they released The Hooples Album in 1981 (check the photo)
This Great Canadian band made every dance exciting, along the lines of The Paupers and The Mandala's---Like I mentioned, i enjoyed them very much and didn't miss them to often when they played in the Hanover area, way back when !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out this weeks youtube's: Copperpenny's visual performance "Poor Man's Throne" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMD0kRTyq5s&feat...ure=related "Stop (Wait A Minute" 1970 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-GmMf05NhE&feat...ure=related Copperpenny's "Annapurna-Everything for Everybody" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PctsfC71hN0&feat...ure=related and their HUGE hit from 1973 "Your Still The One" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg2iJvPyj9g Major Hoople's Boarding House visual "I'm Running After You" 1975 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2oGISCyfZo&feat...ure=related
Help Preserve Canadian Music, log onto http://www.mouseholemusic.com/OttawaBands.htm and you will find an amazing selection of Canadian music for sell on cd's and some waiting to be re released
Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl
Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.
