Ted Daigle "It's Teenage Time" (Banff Records, 1961-?) (LP)
Ted Daigle & His Musicmen "Twelve Million Memories" (Excellent Recording Company, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by Alex Sherman)
Best known as a Canadian rockabilly pioneer, Ted Daigle "went country" for this mid-'Sixties outing, covering a dozen classic country songs, picking one hit for each year from 1955-66, including oldies such as "White Sports Coat And A Pink Carnation," "Walk On By," "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail" and "King Of The Road." The backing band includes Gilbert Glazier and Neil Flanz on guitars, Paul Rusachuk on bass and Byron Stever on drums. Daigle also covers "BJ the DJ," which was a hit for Stonewall Jackson in '64, writing how he could identify with the song since he was working as a deejay at radio station CKOY, Ottawa when he cut this album. Twang on!
Ted Daigle "It's Me T. D." (Countryville Records, 19--?) (LP)
Ted Daigle "Twelve Million Memories" (RCA Camden, 1966) (LP)
(Produced by Alex Sherman)
Ted Daigle "Color Me Country" (RCA Camden, 1968) (LP)
Ted Daigle & His Westerners "Remember Me?" (Masterseal Records, 19--?) (LP)
Ted Daigle "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town)" (Arc Records, 1968-?) (LP)
Ted Daigle & The Musicmen "Tennessee" (London Records, 19--?) (LP)
Ted Daigle & The Musicmen "Bottoms Up" (London Records, 1971) (LP)
Ivan Daines "Rodeo Country" (Westmount Records, 1975-?) (LP)
(Produced by Dave Mitchell)
A real-deal rodeo rider, Ivan Daines burst on the scene in the early 1960s and remained a champion competitor for a long run that spanned several decades. In the late 'Seventies he branched out into a country music career, recording a string of popular albums of which (I think) this was the first. This LP includes two Billy Joe Shaver songs, one by Eddie Raven, alongside at least five originals by Ivan Daines, with backing from Ron Barge, John Berg, Chuck Faas, Larry Kunkel and Rodger Kunkel. Though he had made the move into the music business, Daines remained a strong competitor, still placing or winning championship events throughout the end of the decade. (Note: the dates I've given on these albums are not 100% certain; there's a lot of conflicting information about the Ivan Daines discography, including on his own website... I'll keep looking into it and hopefully straighten everything out eventually.)
Ivan Daines "There's Something 'Bout A Rodeo" (Westmount Records, 1976-?) (LP)
(Produced by Larry Kunkle & Dave Mitchell)
Ivan Daines "Cowboys, Outlaws, & Ladies" (Westmount Records, 1977-?) (LP)
(Produced by Bruce Innes)
Ivan Daines "Spirit Of The Cowboy" (Rodeo Country Records, 1979) (LP)
Ivan Daines "Ivan" (Rodeo Country Records, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Steve Singleton)
Jimmy Dale & The Trailsmen "Authentic Golden Country And Western Sounds" (Countryville Records, 19--?) (LP)
This cheapo, budget label album was a Canadian release, although it says it was recorded in Nashville... Sadly, the musicians are not listed, though their repertoire was definitely old-fashioned, heavy on hillbilly boogie-era songs such as "Guitar Boogie," "Divorce Me COD," and even older sentimental numbers like "Wreck Of The Old 97" and "Wabash Cannonball." I'm sure there's more to the story... so let me get back to you in a while...
Dick Damron "Lost In The Music" (RCA-Canada, 19--?) (LP)
Dick Damron "North Country Skyline" (Condor Records, 19--?) (LP)
Tim Daniels "The Country Side Of Tim Daniels" (Kangi Records, 1974) (LP)
June Davey & The Hackamores "Patsy Cline And Kitty Wells Sung By June Davey" (Point Records, 196-?) (LP)
A set of country covers by Ms. June Davey, who remains a mysterious figure. The Hackamores backed other artists on Point Records and related labels, including a gal called "Miss Red Wing," who may have been June Davey in first-nations drag (though that's just speculation on my part... Looking into it...)
Stu Davis "...Invites You To Saddle Your Worries To A Song" (London Records, 196-?) (LP)
Stu Davis "Rope Around The Sun" (London Records, 196-?) (LP)
Stu Davis "...Salutes The Western Stars" (London Records, 196-?) (LP)
Stu Davis "Have Another Helping Of Stu" (London Records, 1964-?) (LP)
(Produced b Andre Picard)
With backing from his son, Duane Davis, and their band The Pathfinders -- Alfie Myhre playing fiddle and mandolin, and Wally McDonald on bass. Singer George Payne makes a guest appearance on one song, a novelty number called "You're A Real Good Friend."
Stu Davis "Let's Go Back To The Country With Canada's Cowboy Troubadour" (Cattle Records, 198-?) (LP)
Stu Davis "Canada's Cowboy Troubadour" (BACM, 2008) (CD)
Gracie Dee "In A Country Mood" (Rada Records, 1972) (LP)
Canadian country gal Gracie Dee originally hailed from Canora, Saskatchewan, getting her starting her career in the 1960s and working at least through the mid '70s. She and her husband -- fellow Saskatchewanian fiddler/producer Mike Harris -- also spent time in the US, releasing some of their material both on the Canadian-based Rada label and on Harris' own Blaze Records, which was headquartered in Nashville. (The liner notes on this album mention her being signed to Sims Records, though her Sims singles are not included here...) There's no date on the record itself, and though I've seen this listed online as a 1971 release, it was listed as "album of the week" by one of the Billboard country reviewers in December, 1972; maybe it was a sleeper, I dunno. Her second album also is a little mysterious, though it has a later catalog number so I assume it came out sometime between 1973 and some subsequent Blaze singles that came out in '75 (and are not included on either album...) At any rate, some pleasantly twangy material, framed in a roduction style that reminds me of Decca/MCA's bright, punchy sound. Definitely worth a spin!
Gracie Dee "The Many Moods Of Gracie Dee" (Blaze Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Mike Harris & Ron Manning)
Larry Dee & Jack Bailey "In The Style Of Willie And Leon" (Starburst Records, 1979) (LP)
Steel player Larry Dee did a lot of session work in the 'Seventies, though he got "star" billing on this odd budget-label album, along with former rockabilly-gone-country crooner Jack Bailey. Bailey's career seems to have hit a snag sometime in the late '70s, when he recorded a string of these soundalike albums for the slightly sketchy Starburst label. What's odd about this one is that presumably it's some kind of Willie Nelson-esque set, but the songs are country oldies -- really old oldies, like "Detour," "Don't Fence Me In," "Sioux City Sue" and "You Are My Sunshine" -- which had no connection to Willie's career. Oh, well. Whatever. I'm not sure, but I think this might have only come out on 8-Track tape.
Sally Dee "Just Say Hello" (Westmount Records, 1973-?) (LP)
(Produced by P. Bentley)
Jos Desrochers "...Et Ses Chansons Western" (Trans-Canada Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Menard)
Jos Desrochers "Jos Meloche" (Bonanza Records, 1969) (LP)
Jos Desrochers "Couer Solitaire" (Bonanza Records, 197-?) (LP)
Don Devaney "Someone Loves You Honey" (JMI/Boot Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Curt Allen & Bob Webster)
Canadian songwriter Don Devaney (1940-2014) was living in Toronto in the late 'Seventies, but headed to Nashville to cut this album at Jack Clement's JVI studios with a crew that included pedal steel player Lloyd Green and guitar picker Jim Rooney. Some of the songs were released as singles, though this appears to have been Devaney's only full album. Devaney had been plugging away since the early 'Seventies with modest success and he placed songs with a slew of country and bluegrass artists over the years: the title track of this album served as Devaney's Music City calling card after Charley Pride took it to the top of the charts on both sides of the border. Nashville stars such as Jim Ed Brown, Johnny Duncan, Barbara Mandrell also recorded his material as well, and Devaney racked up another #1 hit when Highway 101 recorded his song "Cry, Cry, Cry" in 1988.
The Diamonds "Songs From The Old West" (Mercury Records, 1959) (LP)
A pop vocals quartet from Canada, "going country" for one album, during the height of the western TV show craze of the late 1950s. This is hardly a set of rootsy, rough-and-tumble honkytonk tunes, but the poppy arrangements courtesy of their longtime collaborator Pete Rugolo may delight fans of that era's easy listening scene. The Diamonds were first formed in 1953, and only one of the founding members was still present by the time this album was made, lead singer Dave Somerville (1933-2015), joined here by fellow Canadian Mike Douglas, along with two lads from California, John Felton and Evan Fisher. The repertoire is about what you'd expect: covers of "Beautiful Brown Eyes," "Cattle Call," "Cool Water," "Streets Of Laredo," "Home On The Range," and whatnot. As far as I know, this was the group's only foray into country-oriented material.
Diane (Leigh) "Diane... Country Queen" (Birchmount Records, 1972) (LP)
A Canadian country (and pop) singer who had success on both sides of the border... Although most of her records were issued under her full name, for some reason they issued this one under a mononym... Features a bunch of originals written by Al Rain, a songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. Leigh was the featured vocalist with a group called the Sons Of The Saddle, and recorded with them as well.
Eddy Dietrich & The Rancheros "Old-Time Country Favourites" (Quality Records, 196-?) (LP)
An instrumental set featuring the twin fiddles of Eddy Dietrich from Lethbridge, Alberta and band co-founder Bill Broens, along with Roy Cook (drums), Eldon Graf (bass and steel guitar), Clarence Sirovyak (rhythm guitar). More overtly country material on this one, and less schottisches and polkas than many similar Canadian albums of the era.
The Dixie Flyers "In Just Pickin' " (Boot Records, 19--?) (LP)
Jake Doell/Various Artists "Echoes Of The Canadian Rockies" (Continental Maple Leaf Records, 1963) (LP)
The lone album by bandleader Jake Doell, former lead guitar player for Rudy Hayden's '50s rockabilly band, The Country Boys, and brother of country musician Jack Doell, who was part of Al Oster's early 'Sixties "Yukon Gold Show Tour." Though Jake Doell started out as a radio host and session musician, he later led his own bands and really made his mark as a music publisher and label owner, working on the business side of the music business. This is a fun album, with Doell hosting several different vocalists -- presumably drawn from his own road show? -- and showcasing several different musical styles, ranging from robust, uptempo honkytonk to chirpy, Kennedy-era teenpop and slower country ballads, even a big, long, dopey recitation about the history of the Calgary Stampede. Jake Doell takes a few whirls at hot-guitar instrumentals, and various dudes sing on various tracks, mostly in slightly corny masculine tones reminiscent of guys like Ferlin Husky or Claude Gray, though one vocalist, Ed King, seems to have been the resident teen rocker. I thought this was a pretty fun record, and it's a shame Doell (apparently) didn't pursue a longer path as a recording artist.
Rene Dore "Hommage A Buck Owens" (Montagnard Records, 196--?) (LP)
"Mexican Joe" was the nom-du-ay-caramba of Canadian guitarist Rene Dore, a nickname apparently earned not for covering the old Jim Reeves classic, but rather a Latin-themed French pop song originally recorded by Charles Aznavour. This album of Buck Owens covers cemented his reputation as a twangster, and while there are some poppy touches and goofy overtones, the guitar pickin' is pretty groovy.
Rene Dore & Jimmy James "Trois Dimensions" (Arc Records, 19--?) (LP)
Rene Dore (Mexican Joe) "Au Ranch O" (London Records, 1971) (LP)
Rene Dore "Rene Dore (Mexican Joe)" (Amical Records, 19--?) (LP)
Shane Dorey "Night Life And Country Music" (Marathon Records, 1973) (LP)
Bill Dudley "Nashville Moves North" (Paragon Records, 1968-?) (LP)
Although he was born in Missouri, honkytonker Bill Dudley only hung around Nashville for a few years before sensing that he might have more opportunities up North in Canada. Earlier, Dudley had cut some singles for Capitol Records, but he had to hoof it up to Toronto to get out a full album. This is packed with low-tech twang -- simple arrangements that match his plainspoken vocals. Authorship of most of the songs is credited to Dudley, but many are just thinly-disguised ripoffs of better-known Nashville hits (such as "Poor Poor Me," which is a shameless lift of Don Gibson's "Lonesome Me") while several others, like "Oh Please Mr. Conductor" and "I'm Just Here To Get My Baby Out Of Jail" are hillbilly chestnuts that Dudley didn't even try to gussy up into "new" versions. Like a lot of Canadian artists, he pulls out the regional pride card on the album's opener, "My Nova Scotia Home" (a Hank Snow oldie) while he also makes a brazenly direct appeal for radio airplay with "Top Ten In Heaven," a recitation tune that's kind of like Tex Ritter's "Hillbilly Heaven," except that instead of naming country musicians, he lists a bunch of country deejays -- by name -- in the lyrics of the song. Not very original, obviously, but a fun record nonetheless.
Julie Duguay & Bernard Duguay "Disque D'Or: Edition Limitee" (Bonanza Records, 197-?) (LP)
The Dumptrucks "Songs From Goose!" (19--?) (LP)
Rod Durocher "Pres De Ton Coeur" (London Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Claude Jobin)
French-language Quebequis country music, with all songs Rod Durocher originals...
Duster "Live At Weninger's Post House" (Brothers Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Duster)
A Canadian band from Kelowna, British Columbia, playing mainly covers, with some trucker songs in the mix...
Canada has long had a vibrant love of country music, often tinged with strong regional pride and songs extolling the great Northern expanse. Some artists, of course, became well-known down south, but for every Hank Snow there are literally thousands of other musicians who never made it to Nashville, or never even tried. At any rate, the Canadian country scene is huge, and deserves to be celebrated in its own right. I'm pretty sure I'm only scratching the surface here, and welcome any recommendations, additions or corrections. 
