Can-Con 45 Of The Day - March 30

Can-Con 45 Of The Day - March 30

Postby radiofan » Thu Mar 29, 2018 10:25 pm

Today's Can-Con 45 is from 1973 ... Keith Hampshire and "Big Time Operator" ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQCVTJTPTHE

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Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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Re: Can-Con 45 Of The Day - March 30

Postby Richard Skelly » Fri Mar 30, 2018 1:41 am

Unlike the Grammys, the Juno Awards devotes no televised segment to honouring deceased musicians and industry figures from the past year. (This year’s Gord Downie tribute was just that: a celebration of one larger than life rock star.) If there had been an In Memorium segment, Gerry Lacoursiere would certainly have been included. He was the first head of A & M Records Canada, handpicked around 1970 for the task by label co-founder Herb Alpert. He died last May, aged 80.

Keith Hampshire was one of the American subsidiary’s first signings. A British emigre, he took deejay jobs in Calgary before catching on with pirate Radio Caroline back in the UK. While there he cut a 45 with King Records before returning to Canada. He deejayed at CKFH Toronto, but was drawn into recording again by Bill Misener. An ex-member Of The Paupers, Misener pitched one of his own songs, Ebenezer, to Hampshire. Released on RCA, the single reached the lower echelons of the RPM 100 chart.

Although Ebenezer was a relative flop, Hampshire’s powerful pipes got noticed by Lacoursiere and A & M Canada signed him to an album deal. Two albums and three Canadian hits ensued (all also charting in the U.S.): Daytime Nighttime, First Cut Is The Deepest and Big Time Operator. The third 45 was written by two members of British band Heads, Hands and Feet. It’s unclear if H,H & F ever recorded the song. Prior to the Hampshire version it was covered by Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band. Zoot was also one of the New Animals supporting Eric Burdon after the original Animals split.

Not long after Big Time Operator, Keith Hampshire was back in broadcasting as the performing host of a CBC TV show called Music Machine. In 1983, he scored his biggest selling Canadian hit as part of a studio creation called The Bat Boys. The group’s Okay Blue Jays was tailor made for Ontario radio and, frequently, for seventh-inning stretch music during games.
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Re: Can-Con 45 Of The Day - March 30

Postby paterson » Fri Mar 30, 2018 10:12 am

Richard, your music knowledge is very impressive. Well done! Good point about the Juno's lack of recognition to those in the industry that have passed every year.
The tribute to Gord was touching and sincere. Happy Easter.
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