NAME RINGS A BELL

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:41 am

MEDDY'S PEOPLE "SUBSTITUTE" KILLER CAN. GARAGE 129,00 EUR

Can't get the photo to appear but this single presently listed on EBAY France.

Can I have your autograph Brian, at this rate has to be worth something.

Did you see yourself as a garage band Brian.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:51 am

Could you post a link, please? I want to see it, too!
Edit: i've found it - it's here! Cool.

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:59 am

Hahahaha. Yes I have seen a few "Garage" compilations with our old band appearing on a CD.

We were not a "garage" band. We had a bona fide recording contract with what was then a major record label. Quality Records of Canada. The Guess Who were first signed to Quality. Quality Records were at one point affiliated with Atco Records.

Some of the best known Atco artists were Bobby Darin, The Coasters, Ben E. King, Acker Bilk, Nino Tempo and April Stevens, Sonny and Cher, the Bee Gees, Lulu, Blind Faith, Buffalo Springfield, Cream, Iron Butterfly, Vanilla Fudge, Enuff Z'Nuff, Pantera, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, INXS , Pete Townshend, Yes, Michel'le, Peter Gabriel and Genesis.

BTW, my autograph is not worth diddly squat.

Apparently our vinyl singles are though. I saw one (Sha La La La Lee which is the "A" side of Substitute) on a site that if my memory serves me correctly, sold for $250.00 a while back

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:54 am

Hey Sheena I could not get it to do that,you're too smart for me, this was B side of Sha La la Lee that Brian mentions, he's too modest but even $250 Canadian is about £100, a lot of Beatles singles don't go for that.

Meddy's People were a real family affair I gather.
Any other guys or gals who contribute here got anything of their own they want to share with us.

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:04 pm

Sheena if you tell me how to paste a link like that I thought that I might post a copy of the two recordings that we are talking about, if anyone is interested in hearing them?

Not modesty Roy. We squandered our chance at fame and fortune. Opportunity only knocks once in the music business. We had the tools but not the will to stay together...but that's another story.

The other thing that has always perplexed me is that we seem to have been totally forgotten by the writers of musical history here in Canada. That my be due in part come to think of it, because we were always billed as being from England.

That's it! That's my story and I am sticking to it.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:21 pm

I would love to hear them Brian.

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 4:59 pm

I'll post the songs on Monday when I get a chance.

Given the time difference it may be actually Tuesday for you Roy because I need to figure out where it's best to post them.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:04 pm

I'd like to hear them, too. Please?

As far as links are concerned - the info about posting this kind of links is in "Posting -> Coding" section, at the left of the topics list.
(and Roy, may i ask you - please don't tell me i'm too smart cuz i feel stupid. Kiddin'

)

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:25 pm

Hopefully this works.

This is Sha La La La Lee recorded by Meddy's People in 1966. This was the "A" side of the single issued and distributed by Quality Records.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=C508606602921C47

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:29 pm

Here is Substitute which was the "B" side of the record we have been discussing.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=750D6B7960566CFA

I still can't believe that people are paying that much for these recordings. It boggles the mind.

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:35 pm

They are the best I can do in terms of making an mp3. I have the records obviously but they have no centers in them. So I had to try and get the records lined up as best I could on the turntable. That was a job in itself. So if you hear a slight wobble, blame me not the recording engineer.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:33 pm

Thanks for sharing, Brian, albeit i'm a bit surprised you haven't shared them earlier.

As far as "garage" is concerned - well, the term itself may be incorrect, but to me, "garage rock" is more about the overall mood & sound, and if i say: "wow, that sounds like garage rock" - that's a compliment.

Now, back to the recordings... well, i did warn you i have a bad habit to say what i think, didn't i? The quality is pretty good to my ear. As far as the first one is concerned, it's very nice, especially the "heavier" parts, and has a nice "garage" atmosphere about it. As for "Substitute" - to tell you the truth, i've heard quite a few versions of this song, and i'm biased (which means that to me, the Ramones' version is the best one), so... that's definitely nice, but to me, there's something missing about it - something i cannot explain. Sorry. Liked the guitar riffs.

royclough · Post by **royclough** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:29 am

Sha La La Lee is very good, only thing I would have added was harmony on the "going be my baby" which is present on Small faces version but overall Brian a very creditable version had you got in first with this in UK and got the necessary airplay who knows.

Like Sheena I feel the guitar riffs in Substitute were not quite right but then again one compares to original, never heard Ramones version and not a fan of theirs anyway. Thanks for posting Brian but I have to confess I won't be biding at 129 euros but hey I would be "chuffed" that someone is prepared to pay that sort of money for one of your recordings.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:00 am

Thanks Roy and Sheena for your comments. I am relieved that you were not too brutal in your assessment of them. Every time I hear these songs I cringe somewhat, but they are part of my musical history. In fact, when I listen to them, my critical assessment is much harsher than either of yours. But perhaps you are both just being kind.

To put this all in some context I was 17 when we recorded these songs. We did not have the advantage of owning copies of either originals but we did get to hear them long enough to figure out the chords etc.

Thanks again for being so kind.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:13 am

On a side note - why wouldn't you start your own "myspace music" page, Brian? I'd suggest, with the material you have, you'd be popular there (and sure i'd be among the first to send you a "friend request"

).
As far as being 17 is concerned - well, in fact, sometimes (and i don't mean you, of course, just sometimes it happens) people record their best songs at 17-25 and then - of course, they become more experienced and professional as musicians as time flies by, but the atmosphere, innocent (or not-so-innocent) charm of youth just disappears and cannot be reproduced, no matter how great playing/singing skills are. On the other hand, some record their best tracks at the age which is considered to be "old" by rock'n'roll standards (30+). It all depends. You'll never know.
And, as Aitch once said to me, - "we're often our own harshest critics". Personally, i do not cringe when i hear something played/recorded by myself. I just cannot listen to that!!!