The Stampeders
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1964-65) - Kim Berly (aka Kimbal Fox) -- drums, percussion - Rich Dodson -- lead guitar, vocals - Race Holiday (aka Al Meyer) -- lead vocals - Brendan Lyttle -- bass - Len Roemer -- lead guitar - Van Louis -- guitar
line up 2 (1965-68) - Kim Berly (aka Kimbal Fox) -- drums, percussion, vocals - Rich Dodson -- lead guitar, vocals - Race Holiday (aka Al Meyer) -- lead vocals NEW - Ronnie King (aka Cornelis van Sprang) (RIP 2024) -- guitar, bass, vocals - Van Louis -- guitar
line up 3 (1968-77) - Kim Berly (aka Kimbal fox) -- drums, percussion, vocals - Rich Dodson -- lead guitar, vocals - Ronnie King (aka Cornelis van Sprang) (RIP 2024) -- bass, vocals
supporting musicians: 1974) - Mat McCauley -- synthesizers - Zeke Shepherd -- harmonica
line-up 4 (1977-78) - Ronnie King (aka Cornelis van Sprang) (RIP 2024) -- guitar, bass, vocals - Ian Kojima -- saxophone, flute - Gibby Lacasse -- drums, percussion - David Norris-Elye -- sax - Doug Macaskill -- guitar - Gary Scrutton -- guitar, vocals,
line-up 5 (1978-80) - Bob Allwood -- vocals, guitar - Ronnie King (aka Cornelis van Sprang) (RIP 2024) -- guitar, bass, vocals - Ian Kojima -- saxophone, flute - Gibby Lacasse -- drums, percussion - David Norris-Elye -- sax - Doug Macaskill -- guitar - Gary Storin -- vocals, guitar - Roy Van Sprang -- drums, percussion
line up 6 (1992-2024) - Kim Berly (aka Kimbal Fox) -- drums, percussion - Rich Dodson -- lead guitar, vocals - Ronnie King (aka Cornelis van Sprang) (RIP 2024) -- bass
|
- The Cry - Rich Dodson (solo efforts) - The Roundounds
|
|
Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: New Day Company: Capital Year: 1974 Country/State: Calgary, Canada and Holland Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $15.00
|
I'll be the first to admit for most Americans The Stampeders are represented by the hit single 'Sweet City Woman.' End of story. There's nothing wrong with their hit, but the lack of wider recognition is a shame given their recording career stretches back to the mid-'60s and includes at least a dozen albums and countless singles.
Produced
by Mel Shaw, 1974's "New Day" was quite different
from earlier Stampeders releases. With all three members contributing to the
writing chores, this time out the band seemed determined to show critics and
listeners they were more than a disposable pop band. Exemplified by
"New Day" track listing: 1.) Ramona (Rich Dodson) - 3:24 rating: **** stars LOL - Anyone expecting 'Sweet City Woman' Part 2 was in for a major surprise. A taunt rocker, with just a hunt of punk energy, imagine The Sweet hanging out with Bachman Turner Overdrive and you'll get a feel for the opener. Pretty impressive for a three piece. The track was tapped as the album's single:
- 1974's 'Ramona' b/w 'Running Out of Time' (Capitol catalog number 3964)
The video and sound quality are poor, but YouTube has a 1974 clip of the band performing the song on Don Kirshner's' Rock Concert.
2.) Marigold (Rich Dodson) - 4:53 rating: rating: **** stars The rollicking 'Marigold' has always struck me as being one of the album's overlooked standout performances. Technically it wasn't an instrumental, but the vocals didn't kick in until a minute and a half into the tune. It's not "heavy" like much of the album. Well it is, but in a The Sparks-meet-Nederpop kind of way. Imagine The Mael Brothers and Sparks recording with a band like Shocking Blue ... And like most Nederpop bands, this one had a strong melody while showcasing what a overlooked guitarist Dodson was. Once again the video and sound quality are poor, but YouTube has another performance from their appearance on Don Kirshner's' Rock Concert: Stampeders, Marigold (youtube.com) 3.) Running Out of Time (Kim Burly) - 3:53: rating: **** stars The first of two Burly compositions, 'Running Out of Time' started out as a ballad that would have easily slotted on to a "hair band" album. And just as you were getting acclimated to the sound, the tune switched into glistening country-rock mode. Nice double tracked Dodson guitar solo on this one. 4.) It's Your Move (Ronnie King) - 2:55 :rating: **** stars As if you couldn't tell from the prominent bass line, the rocker 'It's Your Move' was the first of two King tunes. Powered by King's nice voice and rumbling bass line, the tune was simultaneously rocking and funky. Once again Dodson contributed a pair of awesome solos including a nice "voice box" effect on the fadeout.. 5.) Wild Eyes (Rich Dodson)- 3:52 :rating: **** stars 'Wild Eyes' was an interesting addition to the album as it had been released as a single a couple of years earlier. Anyone categorizing these guys as a throwaway pop band should check this blazing rocker out. This was as good as anything The Sweet ever did with Dodson' crushing guitar simultaneously taunt and commercial.
- 1972's 'Wild Eyes' b/w 'Carryin' On' (Bell catalog number 45,226)
With Burly on lead vocals and Dodson showcasing his twin neck guitar, YouTube has a clip of the band lip-synching the song for the Dutch TopPop television show: The Stampeders - Wild Eyes • TopPop (youtube.com)
(side
2) Early AOR. Powered by Dodson's lead guitar, once you got through the falsetto vocals, 'In the Shadows' demonstrated these guys could have given a band like April Wine a run for their money. Docked a start for the falsettos. I'm not sure when or where it was recorded, but this audience filmed clip shows the late-inning band could still rock out with energy: The Stampeders - "In The Shadows" (youtube.com) 2.) Words (Kim Burly) - 2:55 rating: **** stars Burly's rocker 'Words' stripped the band down to their essence - no strings; no studio enhancements and was one of the standout performances. 3.) Do It Again (Rich Dodson)- 3:30 rating: ** stars Nah, this wasn't a Steely Dan cover ... Instead, 'Do It Again' offered up a nod to the group's earlier pop and country-rock orientations. More radio friendly than most of the album, though I found it to be the album's worst performance. 4.) Somebody Help Me (Rich Dodson) - 2:05 rating: *** stars Always liked King's jazzy bass lines on 'Somebody Help Me.' One of the album's more melodic tunes, Burly's percussion gave the tune a touch of bossa nova flavor. 5.) Brothers of the Universe (Ronnie King) - 4:47 rating: *** stars Hey did I put a Klaatu album on by mistake? Normally a song opening up with video game sound effects isn't a good thing ... Showcasing Mat McCauley's Atari sound effect synthesizers, 'Brothers of the Universe' found the band taking a stab at progressive sounds. The performance will make you giggle. Imagine Dewey Bunnell and America having overdosed on Star Wars episodes.
© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2024
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
tracks like the single 'Ramona', 'It's Your Move' and 'Wild Eyes' the album
boasted a far heavier rock focus. Not only did the collection show the
band could rock, but it also demonstrated all three principals were capable
writers and singers. Dodson continued to write the majority of
material and handled most of the vocals, but drummer Kim
Berly and bassist Ronnie King were equally impressive when in the spotlight.
Hard to pick favorites since most of the album was enjoyable, but I'd give
the nods to Burly's stripped down rocker 'Word' and the Sweet-styled rocker
'Ramona.' The album wasn't perfect.
Producer Shaw brought in arranger Ian
Guenther who slathered several of the songs with heavy strings, tough to
their credit the band never let the arrangements swallow them.
The easy-going 'Do
It Again' recalled their earlier pop and country-rock roots. The album
closer 'Brothers of the Universe' found the trio stepping into a progressive
direction. Bathed in Mat McCauley's Atari video game inspired
synthesizers the sci-fi theme was guaranteed to make you giggle.
Still, song for song this album was a good way to start exploring the band's
recording legacy. 
