line up 1 (1964-65)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

- Gemain Perez --  lead guitar

- Jose 'Tato" Luzardo Gutierrez  -- drums, percussion

- Raphael "Rapha" Izquiderdo Suarez -- bass

  line up 2 (1965-67)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

- Jose 'Tato" Luzardo Gutierrez  -- drums, percussion

- Raphael "Rapha" Izquiderdo Suarez -- bass

NEW- Perez "Herman" Zorilla -- lead guitar (replaced 

  Gemain Perez)

  line up 2 (1967-68)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

NEW - Graham Bircumshaw -- keyboards

- Jose 'Tato" Luzardo Gutierrez -- drums, percussion

NEW - Vincent Maiquez -- sax

NEW - Alvaro Yebenes -- bass (replaced Raphael

   Izquiderdo Suarez)

  line up 3 (1968-70)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

- Graham Bircumshaw -- keyboards

- Jose 'Tato" Luzardo Gutierrez -- drums, percussion

- Vincent Maiquez -- sax

- Pedro Ruy-Blas -- vocals

- Alvaro Yebenes -- bass

  line up 4 (1970-71)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

- Graham Bircumshaw -- keyboards

NEW - Chino -- lead guitar (replaced Germain Perez)

NEW - Alberto Gómez -- drums, percussion (replaced Tato Luzardo)

NEW - Lennox Holness -- bass (replaced Alvaro Yebebes)

- Vincent Maiquez -- sax

  line up 5 (1971-72)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

- Graham Bircumshaw -- keyboards

- Alberto Gómez -- drums, percussion

 NEW- Jean Pierre Gómez -- lead guitar (replaced Chino)

- Lennox Holness -- bass

- Vincent Maiquez -- sax

  line up 6 (1972-74)

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

 NEW-  Salvador Domínguez -- lead guitar  (replaced

  Jean Pierre Gomez)

- Vincent Maiquez -- sax

NEW - Christian Mellies -- bass (replaced Lennox Holness)

NEW - Alain Richard -- drums, percussion (replaced Alberto Gómez)

  line up 7 (1974) as Canarios

- Eduardo Teddy Bautista Garcia -- vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, sax

NEW - Antonio García de Diego -- vocals, lead guitar, keyboards

- Christian Mellies -- bass

- Alain Richard -- drums, percussion

NEW - Mathias Sanveillan -- keyboards, violin

- Adam Group (Alberto Gómez)

- Alcatraz (Alvaro Yebenes)

- Cinco de Espana

- Los Canariros

- Los Idolos (The Idiols)

- The Mode (Graham Bircumshaw)

- Los No (Jean Pierre Gómez)

- Los Top-Son (Alberto Gómez)

Genre: pop

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Flying High with The Canaries

Company: Bubble Puppy

Catalog: BTPS 1007
Year: 1970

Country/State: Canary Islands, Germany

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1684

Price: $200.00

Led by Eduardo Teddy Bautista, Los Idolos (The Idols) had begun to gain some attention in their native Spain.   In 1965 the band was playing in a Seville hotel when they caught the attention of an American tourist by the name of Dudley Cooper.  Cooper happened to own several amusement parks and agreed to help the band get to New York.  Once in the States they were renamed The Canaries and signed a recording deal with Bright Tunes (B.T. Puppy).   Over the next couple of months the band recorded a series of demos and  spent the best part of a year touring the East Coast, opening  for a host of national acts.  By the end of 1966 they decided to head back to their native Spain

Produced by The Tokens, 1970's "Flying High with The Canaires" apparently featured twelve of the demos the band recorded during their 1965 American visit.  Featuring largely original material penned by Garcia and bassist Raphael "Rapha" Izquiderdo Suarez, Beatles-styled rockers like 'Baby Don't Surprise Me' and 'So I'll Tell You Goodbye' would have sounded pretty cutting edge in 1965, but that was no longer the case in 1970.  To their credit, these performances showed The Canaries to be a competent  mid-'60s beat group.  Unfortunately these songs sounded hopeless obsolete by 1970.  Add to that,  while Bautista may have spoken fluent English, his voice wasn't any great shakes; made even less appealing by his heavily mannered accent.  Add in a couple of instrumentals that sounded like unfinished demos ('Mama's Crying' and 'Thursday') and you had an LP that was ...  well, kind of boring.  By the way would you be surprised to learn that two of the best performances were covers of Tokens tunes ?   Their toughed-up cover of 'Be You' was actually the album's best performance while heir version of 'Only My Friend' wasn't far behind.  Ultimately you were left to wonder why BT Puppy bothered releasing the album.  Speculation on my part, but it appears the label was embarked on what was an early tax scam scheme, pressing a limited number of copies that were never intended for sale, while taking massive tax write-offs for the associated production and pressing costs.  

The collection's highly collectible, fetching big dollars, but I'm guessing that demand stems from rarity and the oddball tax scam plotline.

Anyhow, here's what the album liner notes had to say about the group:

"Flying High," marks the American Record Debut of a versatile Spanish musical group known as "The Canaries." Although these singers are very well known in their native Spain, and have had many smash records in Spain and Europe, they are still relatively unknown in America. The name 'The Canaries" was taken from the Canary Islands, (off the coast of Spain), where they were all born.

The group is composed of four seasoned entertainers who are all in their early twenties. They sing, accompany themselves on musical instruments, and also write most of their own songs.
Jose Luzardo Gutierrez, known as "Tato," and Eduardo Bautista Garcia, known as "Teddy," speak fluent Englísh. The other members of the qroup, Raphael Izquierdo Suarez, "Rapha." and German Perez Zorrila, "Hernan," have learned English by singing the lyrics to the songs they perform.

"Teddy", the leader of the group, is also the lead singer. He plays rhythm guitar and harmonica. He speaks and sings equally well in English, French, Italian, and Spanish. All the other members ot 'The Canaries" are musical students, and their knowledge of the classical Spanish melodies flavor the songs they compose and play. Unlike most modern Rock and Roll groups, these young men all have had classical music backgrounds and stem from long-established families of the Canary Islands.

As the number one night club group in Spain, it was only natural for people to compare the Canaríes with the Beatles. When asked to comment, Teddy's reply was, "No comparison! Why, Canaries eat Beatles for breakfast every morning!"

"Flying High" combines the international vocal talents of "The Canaries" with the native production ability of their American Producers, "The Tokens." Together they have created an album with a unique sound and universal appeal. We know you will enjoy it.

"Flying High with the Canaries" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Baby Don't Surprise Me   (Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:31   rating: *** stars

'Baby Don't Surprise Me' sported a nice jangle-rock feel with a surprisingly dark, almost ominous edge.   Nice vocals, though Garcia's heavy accent detracted from the overall effect.  The tune was released as an Australian 45:

- 1970's 'Baby Don't Surprise Me' b/w 'And I'll Cry Again' (B.T. Puppy catalog number BTP-557)

2.) And I'll Cry Again   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia) - 2:26   rating: *** stars

If this had been recorded by an American band, it would have been quickly relegated to the trash heap.  That's not to say this beat tune was bad, rather it was simply hopelessly obsolete by the time it was released in the States.   That said, the track had a nice lead guitar performance.    

3.) Little Snow Ball   (Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) -  2:15   rating: ** stars   

'Little Snow Ball' was a bouncy, pop tune.  I guess they were singing in English, but good luck figuring out what the words were.   You were also left to wonder whether Garcia was going to get through the song without blowing a gasket.    

4.) Mama's Crying (instrumental)   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:41   rating: ** stars   

The instrumental 'Mama's crying' sounded like an incomplete demo.   Some nice 12 string guitar, but not much more than that going for it. 

5.) Feeling All Upset   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:17   rating: ** stars   

'Feeling All Upset' was simply a mess, literally sounding like two or three tunes had been mistakenly mixed together.   

6.) Thursday (instrumental)   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:04   rating: *** stars

Another throwaway instrumental that sounded like an unfinished demo.    This one actually had an interesting, jittery keyboard powered melody.  Shame it wasn't finished.  

(side 2)
1.) You Be   (Mitch Margo - Phil Margo - Hank Medress - Jay Siegel) - 2:19

One of two Tokens covers, 'You Be' was given a tough rock sheen that served to largely cover up Garcia's accent .  It was also the album's standout performance.  rating: **** stars

2.) I Lost You  ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 1:55   rating: ** stars   

Always wondered why so many European bands are attracted to American country sounds.  'I Lost You' wil leave you wondering the same thing.   rating: * stars  

3.) Don't Stay In the Wrong Way  ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:50

I can only conclude Garcia was trotting out his best Elvis impersonation.   Horrible '50s tinged ballad that had nothing going for it other than it was mercifully short.  

4.) Only My Friend   (Mitch Margo - Phil Margo - Hank Medress - Jay Siegel) - 2:20   rating: *** stars

The second Tokens cover, 'Only My Friend' was given a nice Merseybeat feel.  Another album highlight. 

5.) I Fell In Love with An Angel   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:00   rating: ** stars   

Painful and overly sentimental ballad - sounded like one of those late-'50s homicide plotline tunes.   

6.) So I'll Tell You Goodbye   ( Eduardo Bautista Garcia - Raphael  Izquiderdo Suarez) - 2:00   rating: *** stars

Nice Beatles-esque melody and Garcia's vocals weren't as shrill as usual.