Description
First vinyl reissue (incredibly) of the much-loved one and only album by Freedom North, recorded by Brian Chater's Summerlea and released on the Aquarius label in 1970.
RANDOM COLOUR INSERTION - WILL IT BE BLACK, VIOLET, OR SILVER AND BLUE?
Based in Montreal, and known as Freedom, Freedom of Choice (for the US release of their debut single on Wand) -- and finally, Freedom North, the band had success with their first two singles, both released in 1970: 'Doctor Tom', which garnered radio airplay across Canada and attained the #2 spot on RPM's Top 50 Canadian Chart; and 'Losing You' which made it to #47 in the MAPL Top 50 Canadian Chart. Freedom North toured extensively, often with other Montreal bands such as Mashmakhan and April Wine.
There are plenty of options when trying to classify their sound -- if that's your thing. The reviews certainly make that point. Many tracks are clearly in range of being called psychedelic rock, using the current slack mode of declaring what is "psychedelic" (abundant fuzz guitar, in this case) -- while other songs edge towards hard rock/acid rock, and still others are late 1960's-esque pop/rock. Yet the band was tight and full of energy whatever sub-genre they were exploring, and thus the album is excellent throughout it's many phases and faces. The songs are superbly crafted and feature terrific soaring vocals by Franki Hart. As a side note, 'Losing You' somehow recently made an appearance on "Brown Acid: The Twenty-First Trip"... so no doubt quite a few of you have heard one more song by Freedom North than you thought, which hopefully inspires you all to investigate this reissue of their entire LP.
After the band split up, Freedom North members Eddie Kaye, Rick St. Jean, and Les Leroux all ended up as part of Don Graham's band Graham County in 1971. By 1973, Franki Hart was a member of the group, Riverson, which also included Rayburn Blake and Brian Edwards from Mashmakhan - and she somehow also found time to be the backing vocalist on The Wackers' 1973 "Shredder" LP.
Actually, this reissue offers a lot more than we have let on so far, as it also includes four bonus tracks: two B-sides + two other previously unreleased tracks making their vinyl debut. Our reissue of Freedom North comes with a four panel insert with the band's history as told in their own words, and song lyrics too.
A few descriptors: female vocals, fuzz guitar, psychedelic, male vocals, tight, melodic, hard-edged, funky, bittersweet, rocking
File nearby: Neighbourhood's Children, Great Society, Wind in the Willows, Mashmakan.
Format: 180 gram LP + insert
Black vinyl (limited to 200 numbered copies)
Transparent violet vinyl (limited to 150 numbered copies)
Silver and blue color-in-color vinyl (limited to 150 numbered copies)
Right from the horn rockin' opener 'Ordinary Man' through to the psychedelic closer 'Vancouver' (the band were from Montreal incidentally), the album is filled with inventive tunes and excellent instrumentation. Freedom North are sailing way under the radar, and it's high time for them to get noticed." --Ashratom
"A wonderfully varied album with ample doses of fuzz, brass, female/male vocal leads, tempo changes, and stylistic genre hopping (psychedelic, pop, folk, country, jazz, and hard rock). Agree with Tymeshifter, this is an overlooked gem." --recorddigger
"This is kinda the north-of-the-border version of The Insect Trust. It has the same sort of eclecticism. That probably guaranteed that radio programmers wouldn't know what to do with it (though "Gone Forever" sounds tailor-made for the easy listening format), but it makes for an entertaining listen. The female vocals on "Lonely Man" are a particular highlight." --ochsfan
"Excellent post psychedelic pop rock... It was released in 1970 but the whole atmosphere reminds more of 1968
