http://radio3.cbc.ca/bands/SPOTT-FARM
SO WHY A CHRISTMAS RECORD?
It could have been because of our commitment to the completely non-commercial approach which coloured our whole career as a band. Or it may have been the perception that most pop singles have a radio-active half life of about one month, whereas a Christmas song has a chance to stick around and pop up year after year. It was definitely NOT in any way due to our overwhelming religiosity or Xtian fundamentalism.
The plain truth is that we had been performing a medley of Christmas songs since our first winter together (1970) and people used to ask if they could get a recording of it.
So it came to pass that in 1974, when we were planning to appear at a Music Conference in Kitchener slated for November, we hastily booked the newly-built state-of-the-art Mercey Brother's recording studio outside of Elmira Ont. and prepared to record this piece of Christmas cheer.
None of us had any real studio experience so naturally we decided to produce the thing ourselves. The youngest of the Mercey's was engaged as engineer, as none of the other brothers had the slightest idea how to run the equipment, and on the appointed day we lugged our gear into the studio, set up and began to play live to 16 tracks. It took a few tries with the clock ticking and the $ meter running; but before the night was over we had two sides mixed and mastered and ready to press. I think the only overdubs were the Tympanum (for the transition from "Oh Holy Night" to the Christmas Wish) and probably the harmony vocals were added later.
The A side (remember when records had sides?) was an arrangement of the "Oh Holy Night" carol with other carols melded in as counterpoint, segueing into a Hutt/Jarvis composition: "A Christmas Wish" with music by Rick and words by Jerome. The B side was a group arrangement of the classic K. Davis tune "Drummer Boy" mostly arranged by Rick; but all of us took a kick at it as well.
A label was created "RURAL RECORDS" and hastily registered with the Library of Congress (form E foreign) The design featured a square box around the oversized round hole, and the whole thing was "(C) 1970" (form E foreign again) and came back from the manufacturers just in time for the conference.
We booked a room for our manager Donald Blair at the con hotel over the weekend of the event. Jeff Beckner drew us a poster for the SPOTT FARM CHRISTMAS RECORD. We had a half hour slot to play at the showcase, going on just before Valdy.
After the conference we sat around our picnic table cutting up and taping cardboard sleeves for shipping and hand-adressed 300 copies which we mailed out to radio stations across Canada. Someone must have played it on air since Rick and I each got a ten dollar royalty cheque from CAPAC and that was our brush with fame.
Great Thanks are due to John Gardiner who graciously allowed his (36 year old) copy of the 45 to be loaned out and digitized. Jerome did the re-mastering in November of 2010 and posted it to the Radio 3 CBC web site. Follow the link there and hear this strange artifact from a time gone by.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL !
the back 40 _ NOT_top 40
the beginning: 1970 : Rick Hutt, Nick Paterson, Jerome Jarvis, Bob Mahood, John Lowrie, (left the band shortly after this picture was taken)
from the U of W paper 1974
U of W campus paper 1974 Rick (in shadowland) Dave Bob Jerome Nick Tom (pitzing the violin)
Poster Collage 6 pc Spott Farm: 1973-'75
(Top-bottom L-R) Bob Mahood, Rick Hutt, Dave Scott, Jerome Jarvis, Tom Holmes, Nick Paterson
Monday, November 29, 2010
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At the time, it didn't seem unusual for the band to experiment with some of the most beautiful vocal/instrumental music written.... We were always looking for music that would challenge our technical abilities and inspire our creative spirit... it felt like a natural fit.
ReplyDeleteWhile ignoring the traditional institutional association, we did embrace the message of Peace, Love and Goodwill.... the best of the human condition.
Many thanks to Jerome for remixing and posting...
Peace to all !
nick
Sure brings back memories, I don't think we knew how lucky we were to grow up at a time when you had quality live music in the school gyms and local arenas. No DJ mixes for us.
ReplyDeleteSpott Farm was one of my favorites and after I moved to TO they happened to be playing at a bar on the Lakeshore (it's the only time I can remember seeing them in a bar) shortly before they broke up. We stuck around and helped them with the equipment and saw them one last time the next weekend in the Orangeville high school.
I also saw them open for the James Gang (minus Joe Walsh) in London. I wasn't the only one who thought they out performed the headliners.
Sorry to have taken so long getting around to replying, anon. I had no idea one could reply from the blog page and no other clue who you may be, just wanted to say thank you fro sharing those memories, the James Gang show was a landmark for us. A taste of the almost big time. Dave was a huge fan of Dom Troijano (who missed the sound check) we got to hear him warming up his tely backstage after our set. I recall the James Gang drummer had to "borrow" a pair of sticks from me. I think this was the 1st show where Rick showed off his huge new A100 Hammond organ and some of the sounds were quite new and strange to him. I can't seem to recall playing any TO lakeshore bar unless it was the CN tower, but memories are slippery.
Deletethere were a couple of engagements at the lakeshore club ( Horseshoe) ... filler dates, really. (had to eat)
Deleteregarding the James Gang show, the musicians were great but the back stage squabbles with their road crew got a little heated...
placement of equipment, staging and the sound crew refused to turn on the stage monitors for our segment...
but still, it was a gas.
So that is what happened to it. I'm glad it is in good hands.
ReplyDeletePeace Love Dove,
Herb Burnett
Just a note to acknowledge Spott Farm as an extremely positive influence in my life, both musically and as a way of thinking/living. I will never forget the many, many times I saw them and the great times that followed........
ReplyDeletejeff
you often come into my thoughts when returning to those times...
Deletethe tunnel inn, mime and discussions of the value of a commercial existence.
peace,,,
nick
I've ripped all my CDs and I download lots of other music to dance to in 20 minute segments as my exercise every day. The only Christian religious music in all 330 hours on my playlist is Spott Farm's Christmas music. It is absolutely extraordinary. Back in the day, I kept waiting for you to put out an album that spotlighted your amazing talents. When you didn't, the world lost out.
ReplyDeleteI'm very proud that my Mom's first cousins " The Mercey Brothers " played a small part in getting your fine musical talent out there for the world 🌎 to listen to and remember those years of the band " Spott Farm " and its band members throughout the years. I was saddened to hear that my friends Dad had just passed Robert ( Bob ) Morris Mahood and my girlfriend and I attended his celebration of life yesterday and were very thankful to be invited to attend with all their family, friends, band members I believe, and many members of the paramedics from all over who he had taught throughout the years. My Mom was born with her many brothers and sisters, Mom and Dad ( Carlshrue) and they also had a very musical family ( relatives ) My Grandma, Uncles no longer have the house they grew up in but, I really enjoyed reading all the stories , and listening to the music, and my Mom and all her family totally understand how hard it was to live back then, and then for all of you to produce such great music under such harsh circumstances, you all deserve awards, more funding back then from the government, praise from the music industry in Canada at the very least. BRAVO to you all, and congratulations for all your successes back then, after, and now 👏 😀 👍
ReplyDelete