After the Band came back from Europe in the fall of 1965 everyone went their way for awhile but in late spring 1966 Richard, Ron, Babe and myself reformed as the “Young Fashion Ways” named after the Muddy Waters single, how original eh! We landed a house band gig at a coffee house in Toronto’s Yorkville Village. Thing were groovin’ along okay for two weeks when Richard suddenly announced it was over, he was going to replace Richie Knight as the front man for the Mid-Knights. And that was that.
Although we stayed in reasonably close touch after his move to the Mid-Knight Blues Band and on through his joining the Ronnie Hawkins band, I didn’t get together with Richard again musically until the Christmas 1969.
It was at his parents’ place on Coral Drive on the East Mountain. A bunch of us, friends new and old, got together for a jam session intent on recording some old tunes we did back in the Chessmen days we were all still fond of. In attendance, besides myself and Rich, were drummer Vic Clement a friend from our old pre-Chessmen days, Chessmen alumni drummer Babe Myles, guitarist Ron Copple, Paul Cronkwright sitting down to the Newell family piano and Earl Johnson who was lead guitar in a band I was in at the time Messenger that featured Mike Oddie on vocals and harmonica who also attended. As this musical get together of old bandmates would probably never happen again, we decided to record it. Following are the songs, sung by “Son Richard”, we attempted that day. We played the following: Smiley Lewis’ I Hear You Knockin’ , Lonesome Sundown’s Don’t Go, Cookie & the Cupcakes’ Mathilda, Little Richard’s Miss Ann, Lazy Lester’s You Know I Love You, Muddy Water’s Tiger In Your Tank.
A great time was had by all and the evidence down on tape! By the spring this Xmas holiday event would bear fruit.
Enjoy songs from this session below, play ’em back or download ’em.
Smiley Lewis’ “I Hear You Knocking”
Cookie and the Cupcakes’ “Mathilda”
Little Richard’s “Miss Ann”
Little Walter’s “Everything Gonna’ Be Alright”
Lonesome Sundown’s “Don’t Go”
Lazy Lester’s “You Know I Love You”
Muddy Water’s “Tiger In Your Tank”
These songs were originally transferred from the original 2 track reel to reel tapes to cassette.
All the songs were recorded live and should be considered ‘historical documents’. Best listened to through a sound system where the bass and treble can be controlled.
Blues Rockin' Hamilton 