cktimes.ca Archives for Classic Vinyl


Classic Vinyl

With Allan Day

THE UGLY DUCKLINGS UPDATE

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Live on CHUM CD Metamorphosis CD
 Thump & Twang Bigland Agency Publicity Photo Maple Leaf Gardens '66 Poster Check out the new Duck's 45 – Nothin'

Just made it back from Florida after a few weeks in the sun---I have to say, I can't wait for my partner to retire and look forward to spending a few months in the warmth of the sun each year. My old bones just can't take the cold like they used to, and if Florida is my cure, so be it. The only thing I missed while away, was my "Sirius Radio"---I am totally hooked on this great form of listening to radio. I found while down in Florida, I was constantly changing stations---they would play 2 or 3 songs, then I would have to listen to the long boring rant of a DJ, then 5 minutes of useless commercials, traffic report then topped off with an Obama/McCain endorsement.

It was pure joy tuning in my Sirius Radio to my favourite 60's Vibrations station when I got in the car. Our 3hr. drive home was continuous music, The Human Beinz from '68 (Nobody But Me) Walk Away Renee, Status Quo/Pictures of Matchstick Men, Lovin' Spoonful, Steam (Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him good Bye, Roy Head & the Traits (Treat Her Right) The Rivieras---you just don't get those kind of set lists on regular radio---makes any drive a pleasant one and any long drive just seems shorter, all commercial free---SIRIUS RADIO YOU ROCK

Since my last column, I exchanged a couple of emails with Dave Bingham--lead singer of The Ugly Ducklings. If you happened to have followed the Toronto music scene back in 1966, one of the biggest groups at the top of your list would have probably been a group called The Ugly Ducklings (originally called The Strolling Bones). Formed back in the mid 60's, they had a short 2 1/2 years of huge success playing in all the local coffee houses and bars in the Yorkville district along with hitting all the college, university and high school areas in northern Ontario.

I was very excited to hear from him---he mentioned a few of my facts were slightly inaccurate (he wouldn't tell me which) but he is presently writing a book about The Ugly Ducklings and we will all find out the ultimate truths of the band and their history---Now that is EXCITING, and I hope to get one of the first copies. Other exciting news from The Ducks is that, there are presently 5 NEW CD's available from The Ducks catalog---which I currently have 3 of them and look forward to getting them all. Log onto Dave's site http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/nothin66 you can go under his seller's name "nothin66" if this ebay attachment doesn't work---also mention you found him in the CKTIMES Classic Vinyl Column.

"Live On CHUM" is a must---recorded Jan 22nd 1967 with interviewer Bob MacAdorey---original line up consists of Dave Bingham/vocals, harmonica, Roger Mayne/lead guitar, Glynn Bell/rhythm guitar,vocals, John Read/bass and Robin Boers/drums. This cd is just chalk full of their early songs and tidbits of information---when they formed, Spencer Davis being their Favourite Group, how they got their name etc. JUST A GREAT CD

"Thump & Twang" was recorded in November '67---Mike McKenna is lead guitarist on this cd--they recorded demo songs for their 2nd album, most of the songs from this session were erased and only "The Blues Fell This Morning" survived---on March 17th 1968 they recorded the rest of this cd "live off the floor at Danforth Music"---shortly after this was recorded, the band and the record label split and the songs remained in storage until 2002---this cd is exactly how The Ugly Ducklings sounded in '68----ENJOY

The Ugly Duckings/GNU "Metamorphosis" CD---this cd is recorded at Hallmark Studios, Toronto and "live from The Hawks Nest" under their new name GNU---the fans didn't like the name change, so they changed it back after much debating, but not before these sessions were recorded. Many new members in this band and a different sound. Dennis Pendrith/bass, Ray Nowak/keyboards, Rob Boers/drums, Dave Bingham/vocals and David Kindred/guitar

"Somewhere Outside" (which I haven't got yet) has been mastered from the original acetate of original mixes November 1966----7 additional track and 4 never released tracks---a 12 pg booklet, highlighting The Ducks history and never seen before published photos---THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR THE DUCKS FAN.

Another quick update is for the Mike McKenna fans out there---I received another email from Mike's webmaster and we can all log onto Mike's site at http://www.mikemckenna.ca/main%20menu.html lot's of info, bio, pictures, tour dates, and purchase all of his recent cd's----give it a view.

Not only have these great unreleased older CD's been made available, but Dave has added most of the youtubes of The Ugly Ducklings under Nothin66 and hopefully when the CKtime readers view them, give them a rating and this will help them stay on. He has also added several youtubes of other GREAT Toronto area bands John & Lee & The Checkmates, The Apostles and Kensington Market---give them all a view and rate them.

I know I had these on a few weeks ago, but this weeks column demands them again---The Ugly Ducklings youtubes "Gaslight" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vUuTvLMAoCA&feat....ted"Hangman" from the Eyes of Tomorrow TV show '68 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=88FTIQupOtw&feat....ure=related "You Can't Judge a Book by Looking At The Cover" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuoFKWVsjI8&f......ure=related "Hey Big Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=am7XOv7QizI&feat....ure=related and "Rimb Nugget" http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_vOohGhi0Hc&feat....ure=related

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.