Liner Notes: Revealing Chats With Canada's Retro Music Makers

This is the 35th episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:

KEVIN SWAIN - songwriter, engineer, producer, vocalist, guitarist, and bassist who has played with Barney Bentall, Idle Eyes, Prism, Lee Aaron, and many others. In this short bit Kevin shares: why and how he got into music; starting his professional career at age 16 with Barney Bentall, why he left that band and more.

MARK DUNN - musician, teacher, and author of the book ‘You Get Bigger As You Go’, a beginners guide to Bruce Cockburn’s music. In this short bit Mark talks about: his own career; why he wrote this book; Bruce’s musical diversity and more.

RONNIE ROBSON - iconic bassist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and mixing/mastering engineer who has worked with, or recorded bass tracks for, the greatest acts in music such as Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Jethro Tull and many, many others. In this short bit Ronnie talks about: his multi-faceted and his busy life; connecting with famous musicians and more.

LISA HARTT - singer songwriter, guitar player and former lead of The Lisa Hartt band. In this bit Lisa shares: her musical adventures in Europe in the ‘60s that included escaping dangerous situations, being in jail, and running for her life in Greece; working with the Vanelli family (including Gino) once she returned to Canada, and more.

LISTEN to the full interview with each guest @linernotes.ca

This is the 34th episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:

ROBERT LAWSON RETURNS - expert on The Guess Who and author of ‘Wheatfield Empire’ the definitive comprehensive history on The Guess Who. In this short clip from his return visit, Robert debates with Dan some points of the lawsuit launched by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings against the usage of The Guess Who name and likeness.

EDMUND PILLING - singer, songwriter, award-winning musician, composer founding member and lead singer of the band Fludd. In this short clip Edmund talks about playing music in England in the 1960s; hanging out with Jon and Robert Plant and joining Cat Steven’s band at the age of 16.

DAN HARE RETURNS - acclaimed entertainer and musician, moves from hosting this podcast to being a guest. In a short clip from his chat with Dusty Discs Radio’s Program Director Lori Dean, Dan shares why he recorded his is new, retro-rock album ‘I Love This Life’at this stage in his career; the trill of working with working with legendary recording engineer/producer Mike Fraser, and more.

JIMI (B) BERTUCCI - singer/songwriter, composer, musician, and founding member, bassist and songwriter for the band Abraham’s Children. In this short clip Jimi reveals his real name and why he goes by Jimi; the impact seeing the Beatles had on his musical career, and a bit about the band’s success.

LISTEN to the full interview with each guest @linernotes.ca

Dave Wanless, singer, songwriter and lead singer for the 1990s hard rock/heavy metal band Sven Gali. In this chat with Dan Hare Dave shares: the story of how the band got together in one night and came up with their name; his connection to some of the biggest artists in Canada; why an accident stopped the band for a period and how that impacted their career; information on new music and video from the band, and much more. Find out about Dave and Sven Gali on Facebook @SvenGaliCanada

Gary Kendall, bassist, vocalist, songwriter and band leader best known as bassist for the Downchild Blues Band. In this in depth chat with Dan Hare Gary talks about: his wide range of musical influences and his love for the blues; being in Downchild Blues Band, insights into it’s main members, and how he feels now that the band is calling it quits after over 50 years; his connections to Paul Shaffer and Dan Aykroyd; what he’s doing now, and much more. Find out about Gary and his projects at both garykendall.com and maplebluesband.com.  And find out more about The Downchild Blues Band, including their upcoming farewell shows @downchild.com

This is the 33rd episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:

CLIFF EDWARDS - musician, composer, former lead male vocalist of the Juno award-winning group The Bells. In this short clip Cliff reveals: why the Five Bells became just The Bells; how they went from a nightclub act to a soft pop group; the famous band his brother was a member of, and more.

CORAL ANDREWS RETURNS - radio broadcaster, journalist and author of the book “The Back Door”. In this short clip from her return visit Cora shares: more tales from her time at The Back Door Bar, Kitchener. Ontario’s underground subculture club of the 1970s to the 1990s; her book tour experience ,and more.

“WILD” BILL RILEY - music Impresario and manager of the ‘60s bands The Churls and The Fringe; In this fascinating short clip Bill talks about: how he ended up in the Yorkville Village area of Toronto in 1966; becoming good friends with David Clayton Thomas; hanging out with Ian and Sylvia, and more.

PETER FOLDY RETURNS - musician, songwriter, photographer, screenwriter, film director, producer, and much more whose first single ‘Bondi Junction’ hit #1 in Canada in 1973. In this clip from his return visit Peter talks about: knowing the BeeGees as their career was just starting; what happened after his musical career ended; how he got into film making, and more.

LISTEN to the full interview with each guest @linernotes.ca.

Cherrill Rae Yates is a singer and recording artist best known as one half of The Raes singing duo which also featured her then husband, the late Robbie Rae. In this very raw and honest chat with host Dan Hare Cherrill reveals: her complicated personal and professional relationship with the narcissistic Robbie; details of the couples wildly successful TV show ‘The Raes’ and why it ended after 2 seasons; the challenges of touring; why her and Robbie split up; her upcoming movie debut and much, much more. Check out Cherrill’s YouTube channe @CMCYATES

This is the 32nd episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:

KEITH SHARP RETURNS, founder of the iconic Canadian music magazine Music Express and author of the book “Music Express: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Canada's Music Magazine”. In this clip Keith recaps a bit of the history of Music Express; talks about the complexities of the late Myles Goodwyn; explains the biggest problem facing legacy rock bands and more.

RICK MASON, composer, musician and drummer of the iconic band The Mynah Birds. In this short clip Rick talks how being friends and bandmates with Rick James; why The Mynah Bird’s record was pulled from radio hours before it’s debut; how Neil Young came to be in the band, and more.

KIM BERLY RETURNS, Juno award-winner, SOCAN lifetime achievement recipient, drummer, singer and songwriter for the Canadian classic rock band The Stampeders. In a clip from this follow-up chat, Kim talks about: what he does to keep in shape; his bandmates; performing live these days, and more. NOTE: since this interview originally aired in September of 2023, bassist/singer/songwriter Ronnie King has passed away. He is missed.

FRANK MARINO, Canadian icon and guitar virtuoso, singer and leader of the band Mahogany Rush. In this short clip Frank shares: the one thing he did that other bands of the time weren’t doing; why planning doesn’t work; his philosophy for life and music, and more.

LISTEN to the full interview with each guest @linernotes.ca

This is the 31st episode of our special series ‘Guest Glimpses’, short bits from longer conversations with previous guests. You’ll hear about 10 minutes of each guest’s 60+ minute chat with show host Dan Hare. Featured guests this week are:

THOR, Canadian and U.S. bodybuilding champion, songwriter, singer, musician. In this bit Thor shares with Dan how he combined bodybuilding, his love of superheroes and music to create his wild, glam rock persona and stage show; insights into his friendship and professional relationship with Frank Soda and more.

SCOTT MERRITT, singer, songwriter, composer, guitar player, and producer with many accomplishments. In this bit Scott talks about being a singer/songwriter at his core, being in the right place at the right time career, and more.

BRIAN MEISSNER, songwriter and lead singer/bassist for North America’s first Beatles cover band, Liverpool, as well as the late ’70s, early ‘80s band Ariel. In this bit Brian talks shares his early musical experiences in rural Saskatchewan; the tremendous success of Liverpool and their U.S. exposure, and more.

RON SAKAMOTO, multi-award-winning music promoter who has represented the biggest names in music including Roy Orbison, the Beach Boys, Kiss, Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Bryan Adams and many, many others. He is the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Juno and, after 17 years of consecutive wins for Canadian Country Music promoter of the year, now has the award named after him. In this bit Ron talks about getting his start in Alberta; why the Mayor of Medicine Hat was his mentor; how a a go-go dance contest kick started his first club, and more.

LISTEN to the full interview with each guest @linernotes.ca

Betty Anne Keller is a retired music promoter, Manager of Arts Culture Festivals and Events for the City of Waterloo, and producer of the acclaimed documentary ’Rock This Town’ which captures how vibrant the Kitchener/Waterloo area was musically back in the ‘60s,‘70s and beyond. In this fascinating chat with Dan Hare, Betty Anne talks about: brining in musicians to the Kitchener/Waterloo region right as they were breaking or about to break, acts such as Chicago, Supertramp, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, The Guess Who, Neil Young, Rush and many, many others; why she wanted to create ‘Rock The Town’ and how other Canadian mid-sized communities will relate to the story, and much more. For more on Betty Anne and to find out how to watch ‘Rock This Town’, email her @[email protected]

Chris Birkett is a multi award-winning singer, songwriter, instrumentalist and producer who has collaborated with many world-renowned artists including Sinead O’Connor, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Quincy Jones, Peter Gabriel, and more. He has a Grammy, four Junos, the Polaris Music Prize and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business. In this chat with Dan Hare, Chris opens up about: the experience that put him on the path to a musical career; being homeless in England; how he came to work with Sinead O’Connor and Buffy Saint-Marie; his spiritual beliefs that influence his music and his life; what makes a good producer and engineer, and so much more. Find out about Chris @chrisbirkett.ca and check out his music on YouTube @ChrisBirkettMusic