Harley & Patty Ihm "Cowboys And Lovers" (LCM Records, 19--?)
(Produced by Don Silvers)
A Canadian duo who came to Nashville to record... The songs are all written by Harley Ihm, including the regionally-themed "Canada Cowboy." The backing band doesn't seem to have been Nashville usual suspects -- maybe the Ihms even brought their own band(?) Anyone out there have more info about these two?
Dixie Lee Innes "...Of The Original Caste" (Bell Records, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Rick Gerrard)
A member of the Canadian pop-folk band The Original Caste, Dixie Lee Innes was the lead singer for the original version of "One Tin Soldier," a hippie-era social commentary that was later featured in the classic hippie-sploitation kung-fu flick, Billy Jack. As on the Original Caste albums, Innes works through a mix of rock, pop, folk-rock and twang, backed by a bunch of heavyweight studio musicians -- of note to country fans are lead guitarist James Burton and bluegrass auteur John Hartford Here, she covers Bill & Taffy Danoff, Carole King, Gordon Lightfoot, Fred Neil, Michael Nesmith and Ian Tyson -- not entirely a "country" record, by any means, but still part of the puzzle. She and her husband, songwriter Bruce Innes, continued to flirt with country sounds throughout the 'Seventies, and were pals with numerous folk-rock stars such as John Denver. They divorced in 1980, with Dixie Lee retiring from show biz in favor of a more traditional professional career.
Chuck Irvin & The Plainsmen "San Diego California" (Showboy Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Chuck Irvin & Ray Griff)
Dunno much about this fella... I thought he was from California because of the album title, but it turns out he's a Canadian old-timer -- I'd guess his heyday was in the 1950s or '60s, and much of this album seems like a nostalgic journey. Some cowboy stuff and old-timey western/sentimental tunes, as well as more robust honky-tonkish material, with a debt to fellow northerner Hank Snow... Irvin sometimes sounds a little shaky as a singer, but on the whole, this is a pretty satisfying set... Definitely worth a spin!
Chuck Irvin & Jackie Corbett "Home Coming Time In Nova Scotia" (Showboy Records, 1980) (LP)
This album sticks closely to Irvin's Canadian roots, with duet vocals featuring gal singer Jackie Corbett. Along with classics like "Apple Blossom Time In Annapolis Valley" and "Home Coming Time In Nova Scotia," they sing "A Tribute To Wilf Carter" and several other songs with Nova Scotian themes.
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. 
