I type this through tears. At this moment my old pal Greg Simpson is on life support in a London hospital. And I fear for his life. Suddenly a flood of memories come back to a 20 year friendship all of which involved good times.
Archive for Canadian Music
GREG SIMPSON – RADIO MAN EXTRAORDINAIRE by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in life, music, Opinion, Review with tags Bob Segarini, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Greg Simpson, Jaimie Vernon, music, radio, Records on June 8, 2020 by segariniSUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 6) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags albert Grossman, Bernie Finkelstein, Bob Segarini, Brian Jones, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Eric Burden & The Animals, Fillmore West, Grateful Dead, Jaimie Vernon, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, Martha & The Vandellas, MGM, Monterey Pop Festival, Papa John Phillips, Records, Skip Prokop, The Association, The Paupers, Toronto on April 27, 2020 by segarini
In our previous installment, Yorkville Village heroes The Paupers had effectively ambushed New York City and taken the American music business by storm following their gigs at the Café Au-Go-Go. It landed them both a U.S. record deal with MGM/Verve-Folkways and a deal with Uber-manager Albert Grossman (Bob Dylan, The Band, Odetta, Peter Paul & Mary, Paul Butterfield, Janis Joplin). The wheels were in motion for The Paupers to conquer America. The band did a promotional tour across the U.S. to radio stations in preparation for the release of their debut album ‘Magic People’ and live dates to follow. Skip Prokop continues the story…
SUNNY DAYS: THE SKIP PROKOP STORY (PART 5) by Jaimie Vernon
Posted in Interview, music, Opinion, Serialized Book with tags Adam Mitchell, Al Kooper, albert Grossman, Bernie Finkelstein, Blood Sweat and Tears, Bob Dylan, Bob Segarini, Bobby Columby, Brian Epstein, Cafe Au Go Go, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Greenwich Village, Howard Solomon, If I Call You By Some Name, Jaimie Vernon, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Lovin' Spoonful, Magic People, New York, Odetta, Paul Butterfield, Peter Paul & Mary, Rick Shorter, Simple Deed, Skip Prokop, The Band, The Paupers, The Troggs, William Morris, Wilson Pickett, Yorkville Village on April 20, 2020 by segarini
Adam Mitchell was an integral new addition to The Paupers on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Bernie Finkelstein had come on board as manager and wasted no time getting the band signed to MGM Records stateside. It was a springboard for what was to come. Bernie wanted to showcase the band to their new American label. It meant heading to the USA.
NEW ROCKERS OF THE PEERLESS AGE by JAIMIE VERNON
Posted in Opinion, Review with tags Bleeker, Canadian Music, Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia, Canadian rock, David Baxter, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Green Street Underground, Greg Godovitz, Jaimie Vernon, Kobra & The Lotus, Little Foot Long Foot, segarini, The Trews, Toronto on February 10, 2020 by segarini
I’m updating the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia once again. This time it has a global purpose and will soon be available to music researchers via a data base known as Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale worldwide to Colleges, Universities, and libraries. It is literally my life’s work and is expected to remain available in perpetuity. To that end I’ve been tasked with updating annually until, well, I’m dead. I can just see me now in a senior’s home skipping Bingo and sing-a-long nights while I sit by the glow of the Google engine looking for the elusive catalog number of Whaleman’s 1991 “Sings!” album and gumming a soft-bun and apple sauce for 4.30 dinner.
Bob’s All Time Favourite Canadian Top Twenty
Posted in music, Opinion, Review with tags Bob Segarini, Canadian Music, Canadian Top 20, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, music videos, Records on November 11, 2019 by segarini
After five long columns about Laurel Canyon and the legendary Artists who toked, coked, and stroked their way to fame and fortune in the mythic hills of Hollywood and its Sunset Strip playground, I needed to cleanse my palate and write about some Artists and music that hard-scrabbled its way onto my musical landscape from all over my adopted Country, and did so without the benefit of geographic location and timing, but with their ear-worm worthiness and musical uniqueness and skills. Some were hits, and most were not, but in my personal jukebox, these are all worthy of Number One.
And yes …that was one of the longest Run In Sentences I have written in years. Felt good …. Continue reading
Guest Columnist Barry Teller – The New Elmo
Posted in Fiction, Opinion, Review with tags Bob Segarini, Canadian Music, Cherry Cola's, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, music, Records, Stockton California, The New Elmo, The Rolling Stones, Toronto on April 1, 2019 by segarini
Got this in my email yesterday and thought I’d share it with you. Exciting news about the new Elmo and what we can expect and when.
Barry writes for the new online magazine, Canadian Life. He covers the Canadian Entertainment Industry and has sent this pre-release to a few of us bloggers in advance of the Magazine’s launch next Friday. I’ve added some pictures to this.
Enjoy. – Bob
Bob Stories Opinions and Advice 10 Years On
Posted in Opinion with tags Bob Segarini, Canadian Music, Cherry Cola's, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Indie Artists, Indie Music, Movies, music, music videos, radio, Records, San Francisco, Stockton California, Television, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Toronto on March 29, 2019 by segarini
Don’t Believe a Word I Say has existed as first a column at FYIMusic.com, then in its own self-titled blog for going on 11 years now.
Before this, I dabbled in music, radio, and television for 50 years or so, and feel I have experienced enough to have a fairly informed opinion of my related careers, and the love/hate relationship that comes with a passion and lust for life and its challenging hurdles.
The following has been culled from the first 6 months of this entities existence, which has been updated but not changed in any way, so when I said something stupid then, it remains stupid now. New pictures have been added, and some comments, which will be in italics.
Enjoy the sunshine and the first sign of Spring …mud. Read this when it rains again …or snows …or the cat won’t get off your lap. – Bob
Pat Blythe – Dueling Pianos, February, Upcoming Festivals …and Music!
Posted in Opinion, Review with tags A Girl With A Camera, Aoelian Hall, Beaches International Jazz, Boots and Hearts, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Dueling Pianos, Eddie Bullen, Female eye Film Festival (FeFF), Laugh-In, luvthemusic, Mariposa Folk Festival, Montreal Jazz, NXNE, Ottawa Bluesfest, Pat Blythe, Quincy Bullen, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, SOTC, Sound of Music, Summerfolk Arts and Crafts Festival, Sunfest, TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Thunder Dome Sounds, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Tottenham Bluegrass Festival, Winterfolk XVII, Wolfe Island Music Festival on February 20, 2019 by segarini
Ugh!!! Computer and monitor challenges continue. The good news is I finally got my drums up for sale and I’ve managed to get everything off the troublesome laptop on to a honking big hard drive (although now I have to sort that out). I’m downsizing to a smaller kit….less real estate and I won’t feel so overwhelmed. One of these days…..and now, for your latest weather report…..
Segarini: Canadian, Eh? Happy 150th Canada Day!
Posted in Opinion, Review with tags BB Gabor, Blue Shadows, Cadence, Cameo Blues Band, Canadian Music, Cherry Cola's, Courage My Love, Dala, David Celia, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, july talk, Junkhouse, Moxy Fruvous, music, Pagliaro, Records, Sam Taylor, segarini, The Respectables, The Wackers, Tom Wilson, Toronto on July 1, 2017 by segarini
Have a safe and happy Canada Day…I love you all. And yes…this IS the Greatest Country in the World…even if some of us don’t know it.
Portions of this column originally appeared in FYIMusic, Cashbox Canada, and DBAWIS.
JAIMIE VERNON – INDEPENDENCE IS OUR FUTURE
Posted in Opinion, Review with tags Alex Radeff & Donkey, Barenaked Ladies, Bob Segarini, Bullseye Records, Canadian Music, DBAWIS, Don't Believe a Word I Say, Donkey, Great White Noise Magazine, HMV Superstore, independent, Jaimie Vernon, Tent City, Toronto music, Tribute to the Beatles, Yellow Tape on January 28, 2017 by segarini
As I type this music retailer HMV is either in receivership or heading into it after one of the chain’s creditors called in their chips. The retail giant has been floundering for years and managed to escape an industry crash that took out the likes of Sam The Record Man and Tower Records stateside a decade ago. HMV’s position as one of the last giants standing (Sunrise has rallied to fill in the hole left by Sam’s), was only delaying the inevitable.
