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Saturday, November 10, 2012

David Wiffen - David Wiffen (1971 uk/canada, fabulous blend of country folk rock melted with jazzy tunes, 2014 remaster and expanded)



English singer/songwriter Wiffen moved to Canada at age 16. He started his music career with appearances at the Village Corner club in Toronto. After that he hitch-hiked across Canada where he ended up as manager of the Calgary coffeehouse The Depression.

In 1965 he was invited to perform at Vancouver's Bunkhouse with an ensemble of other musicians for a live album and when none of the other acts showed up the recording was continued. The result was Wiffen's first solo album 'David Wiffen Live At The Bunkhouse'.

He then joined The Pacers who were soon offered a recording contract in Montreal. Wiffen joined the group as they headed to Quebec but when the deal fell apart, Wiffen moved onto Ottawa where he joined the folk act The Children.

The act featured several of Canada's most prominent future artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Sneezy Waters (aka Peter Hodgkinson), and Richard Patterson (The Esquires) among others.

In 1966 another Vancouver folk trio, Three's A Crowd, played the Le Hibou Coffee House in Ottawa where Wiffen met them and was subsequently asked to join the band along with Children drummer Richard Patterson and bassist Comerie Smith from Toronto.

With the new line-up of Brent Titcomb, Trevor Veitch, Donna Warner, Wiffen, Patterson, and Smith they moved to Toronto but Warner dropped out and was replaced by Colleen Peterson who took over lead vocal chores. They began playing throughout North America and played at Expo '67.

Members of the Mamas And Papas soon discovered the act and convinced them to record a demo tape which got them signed to Dunhill Records where they recorded the singles "Bird Without Wings" and "Let's Get Together" which led to the full length album 'Christopher's Movie Matinee'.

They would disband in 1968, but in 1969 TV producer Sid Banks asked the members to appear on a CBC variety show called 'One More Time' and the band reformed with members Cockburn, Patterson, Wiffen, Crawley, Pendrith and Peterson.

Cockburn was picked up and signed to a solo recording deal with True North and the band split up once more. Though this final version didn't record together they did make a promotional music film of Cockburn's "Electrocution Of The Word" that was showcased at the Youth Pavilion of Ottawa's Central Canadian Exhibition.

Wiffen had also been spotted by executives of Fantasy Records during a Three's A Crowd gig at The Bitter End in New York and was signed to a solo recording deal. His eponymous debut was released in 1971 and produced two hit singles.

In 1973 he would shift to United Artists who released his 'Coast To Coast Fever' which gave Wiffen a Juno nomination. 
Tracks
1. One Step (Kaye Lawrence Dunham) - 2:33
2. Never Make A Dollar That Way - 3:24
3. I've Got My Ticket - 2:45
4. What A Lot Of Woman - 2:12
5. Since I Fell For You (Buddy Johnson) - 3:28
6. Driving Wheel - 4:24
7. Mr. Wiffen - 2:50
8. Blues Was The Name Of The Song - 1:34
9. Mention My Name In Passing - 2:20
10.More Often Than Not - 3:30
11.Cry In The Morning Rain - 4:10
12.Lover's Prayer (Randy Newman) - 1:55
13.Blues Was The Name Of The Song - 1:29
14.Mention My Name In Passing - 2:20
Music and Lyrics by David Wiffen except where noted
Bonus Tracks 11-14

Musicians
*David Wiffen - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Organ
*Jerry Corbitt - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
*Ed Bogas - Piano
*John Mcfee - Steel Guitar
*Sandy Crawley - Acoustic Guitar
*Kelly Bryan - Bass Guitar
*Vic Smith - Bass Guitar
*Bing Nathan - Bass Guitar
*Greg Dewey - Drums
*Jeff Myer - Drums
*Jim Stern - Drums
*Jeremy Merrill - French Horn
*Germain Wallace - Saxophone
*Gerry Gilmore - Saxophone
*Bernard Krause - Moog Synthesizer

17 comments:

  1. tremendous album. thank you marios.

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  2. Hi Mario, Link on the blink.....any help gratefully accepted !!
    Niall

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  3. Thanks Marios, Had trouble before wiyh downloading and today is fine and this guy is great !!
    Thanks again !!
    Niall

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  4. I hadnt thought about David Wiffen in a long time, and than a few years ago when Blackie & the Rodeo Kings second album (Kings of Love) came out, Tom Wilson sang a DW song (Skybound Station) on there. And in the liner notes he talked about seeing Wiffen at a concert at McMaster University. Strangely enough I was at that show as well.
    So when I saw this posting, I thought I should grab it up!
    If you've never listened to Blackie & Rodeo Kings, you really owe it to yourself...especially if you get a chance to see them live!
    Thanx for this Marios!
    Al

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  5. Post your e-mail address if you're interested in selling the CD of this.

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  6. .....David...Wiffen...Fixed.....

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  7. I was very impressed with this album. It'd be great to have "Coast To Coast Fever" in lossless too. Thank you very much!!!

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  8. I ripped my LP "Coast To Coast Fever". How can I send you a link, Marios?

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  9. Hi Zuiop,
    Thank you very much,
    add your mail address into the chat room and I will contact with you.

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    Replies
    1. Although, I've already posted it,
      http://rockasteria.blogspot.gr/2016/01/david-wiffen-coast-to-coast-fever-1973.html
      I'll add your vinyl copy along with the CD

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    2. What a surprise! According to discogs it was not released on CD. So my vinyl is not necessary.

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  10. Marios,
    Would greatly appreciate a re-up of both the Wiffen albums. Many thanks in advance.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous, both "David Wiffen's" albums reposted

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  11. what is the password to open rar files thanks

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  12. thank you I saw it after, sounds great

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