Skylark (Canadian band)

Last updated

Skylark
Origin Vancouver, Canada [1]
Genres Pop rock, blue-eyed soul
Years active1971–1973
Labels Capitol
Past membersB.J. Cook
Donny Gerrard
Flip Arellano
David Foster
Carl Graves
Robbie King
Eddie Patterson
Steven Pugsley
Doug Edwards
Gaye Delorme
Duris Maxwell
Brian Hilton
Kat Hendrikse
Norman McPherson
John Verner
Allan Mix

Skylark was a Canadian pop and rock band active from 1971 to 1973 and based in Vancouver. [2] "Wildflower" is their biggest hit.

Contents

History

Skylark formed in 1971 from one of Ronnie Hawkins's backup groups and signed with Capitol Records, releasing a self-titled album in 1972 which spawned three singles. [3] [4] The group, whose alumni include composer/arranger David Foster, disbanded after the lukewarm reception of their second album. Two of its other members, Donny Gerrard and Carl Graves achieved mixed success in other projects.

Their biggest single, "Wildflower", was a 1973 number #1 hit in Canada on the RPM Adult Contemporary chart; it reached number 10 on the Canadian RPM singles chart and peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 that spring, selling over a million copies. [1] It was written by guitarist Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson, who was a Victoria police officer at the time. [3] [5] The song's popularity was boosted by frequent play on CKLW-AM radio after its initial release. [6]

Donny Gerrard was amongst the Canadian musicians who recorded the 1985 charity single for African famine relief entitled "Tears Are Not Enough". He sang his solo line with Bryan Adams.

Doug Edwards died on November 11, 2016. [3] Donny Gerrard died from cancer in February 2022, at the age of 75. [7]

Former members

Discography

Charted singles

YearNamePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN CAN AC CANCON US US AC AUS [9] NET US R&B
1972"What Would I Do Without You"6077——————Skylark
1973"Wildflower"10115956523—
"I'll Have to Go Away"8354—10639———
"If That's the Way You Want It"———————552
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Albums

1972 - Skylark (Shanachie/Capitol)

(number 53 in Canada [10] )

Track listing

Side 1
  1. "Brother Eddie" – (Howie Vickers, Joe Fahrni, Robbie King) - 4:31
  2. "What Would I Do Without You" - (Ernie Shelby, Phillip Mitchell) - 3:29
  3. "A Long Way to Go" - (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) - 3:46
  4. "Suites for My Lady" - (David Foster, Duris Maxwell) - 2:06
  5. "I'll Have to Go Away" - (Kerry Chater, Renée Armand) - 5:07
Side 2
  2. "The Writing's on the Wall" - (Don Troiano) - 3:01
  3. "Twenty-Six Years" - (David Foster, Donny Gerrard, Linda Patterson) - 4:55
  4. "I'm in Love Again" - (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew) - 3:18
  5. "Wildflower" - (David Richardson, Doug Edwards) - 4:08
  6. "Shall I Fail" - (Carolyn Borsman, Doug Edwards) - 1:27

Personnel

1974 - 2 (Capitol)

  1. "You Remind Me of a Friend" (B.Russell - B.Gordon) 3:20
  2. "Love's a River Flowing" (R.Nichols - J.Bettis) 3:58
  3. "It's a Wonder" (Alexandra Wangberg) 3:14
  4. "Wingless Bird" (D.Edwards - C.Borsman) 5:07
  5. "Wildflower" (D.Richardson - D.Edwards) 4:08
  6. "If That's The Way You Want It" (D.Lambert - B.Potter) 3:38
  7. "Foster Frees" (David Foster) 6:19
  8. "The Love Affair Is Over" (Bob Ruzicka) 3:15
  9. "One More Mountain to Climb" (N.Sedaka - H.Greenfield) 5:04

Personnel

  • Produced and Engineered by Erik The Norwegian.
  • Arrangements and Production Coordination by David Foster

Members of Skylark:

  • Donny Gerrard - lead vocals, backing vocal arrangements
  • B.J. Cook Foster - lead and backing vocals
  • David Foster - piano, electric piano, Moog and pipe organ

Other musicians:

  • Steve Pugsley - bass
  • Alan Mix - guitar
  • Brian Hilton, Duris Maxwell - drums
  • Carl Graves - backing vocals, percussion
  • Gabriel Delorme - acoustic guitar
  • Robbie King - organ (tracks 2,6,7)
  • William Smith - organ (track 9)
  • Bobby Taylor - backing vocals

1996 - Wildflower: Golden Classics Edition (Collectibles)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilliwack (band)</span> Canadian rock band formed in 1970

Chilliwack is a Canadian rock band centered on the singer and guitarist Bill Henderson. They were active from 1970 to 1988; Henderson re-formed the band in 1997. The band started off with a progressive rock sound that incorporated elements of folk, indigenous, jazz and blues, before moving towards a more straight-ahead hard rock/pop rock sound by the mid-1970s. Their six best-selling songs were "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Fly at Night", "Crazy Talk" and "Lonesome Mary". The band's line-up has changed many times.

<i>Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Eric Clapton

Clapton Chronicles: The Best of Eric Clapton is a compilation album by English guitarist Eric Clapton featuring his hits from the 1980s and 1990s. The album was released on 12 October 1999 by the Duck / Reprise Records label. Two new songs are included on the disc, "Blue Eyes Blue" which was previously released as a single and "(I) Get Lost" which Clapton wrote for the soundtrack to the film The Story of Us.

Attitudes was a rock band from Los Angeles consisting of keyboardist David Foster, guitarist Danny Kortchmar, bassist Paul Stallworth and drummer Jim Keltner. Its band members came together while working as session musicians on George Harrison's album Extra Texture . They then recorded for Harrison's Dark Horse record label. The band's 1976 single "Sweet Summer Music" reached number 94 on the Billboard Hot 100. James Taylor's recording of their single "Honey Don't Leave L.A." peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.

<i>Crossroads</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1988 box set by Eric Clapton

Crossroads is a 1988 music collection box set of the work of Eric Clapton released by Polydor Records. The set includes his work with the Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and Derek and the Dominos, as well as his solo career.

<i>Slow Revival</i> 1994 studio album by Bryan Duncan

Slow Revival is the seventh album by contemporary Christian artist Bryan Duncan. Released on Myrrh Records in 1994, the album was nominated in the Best Contemporary Album category at the 26th GMA Dove Awards.

<i>Shot Through the Heart</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Jennifer Warnes

Shot Through the Heart is the fifth album by American singer/songwriter Jennifer Warnes, released on Arista Records in 1979. It peaked at #13 on the Billboard Country albums chart and #94 on the main Billboard albums chart.

<i>Up on the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building</i> 1993 studio album by Neil Diamond

Up On the Roof: Songs from the Brill Building, released in 1993 on Columbia Records, is a cover album and also the twenty-first studio album by Neil Diamond. It contains a duet with Dolly Parton, string arrangements by David Campbell, along with re-makes of tracks associated with the Brill Building, where Diamond had worked in the 1960s.

<i>Blue Lights in the Basement</i> 1977 studio album by Roberta Flack

Blue Lights in the Basement is the sixth studio album by American singer Roberta Flack, released by Atlantic on December 13, 1977. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number eight on the US Billboard 200, becoming her third top-ten album on the chart and reaching number five on the R&B albums chart. On February 27, 1978, the album received a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments over 500,000 copies.

<i>Useful Music</i> 1999 studio album by Josh Joplin Band

Useful Music is a studio album initially released in May 1999 under the SMG Records label by Josh Joplin Band, and again in January 2001 through Artemis Records after the band had renamed itself Josh Joplin Group following a change in its line-up. While the album did not enjoy widespread commercial success, it peaked at #22 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and spawned a moderate hit with its first single, "Camera One", which quickly reached #1 on the Triple A airplay chart, the highest position ever achieved by an independent release at that point. Featuring a more rock-edged, radio-friendly sound than most of the other material on Useful Music, the song was also featured in an episode of the comedy series Scrubs.

<i>Warm Your Heart</i> 1991 studio album by Aaron Neville

Warm Your Heart is a 1991 album released by American R&B/soul singer Aaron Neville. It features the singles "Everybody Plays the Fool", "Somewhere, Somebody" and "Close Your Eyes". The "Close Your Eyes" single also featured album producer Linda Ronstadt on guest vocals. The pair had previously collaborated on the songs "Don't Know Much", "All My Life" and "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby".

<i>Headed for the Future</i> 1986 studio album by Neil Diamond

Headed for the Future is the seventeenth studio album by Neil Diamond, released in March 1986 on Columbia Records. The album went to number 20 on the US Billboard 200. Headed for the Future has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<i>Flame</i> (Patti LaBelle album) 1997 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Flame is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on June 24, 1997, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildflower (Skylark song)</span> 1972 single by Skylark

"Wildflower" is a song written by Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson in 1972. First performed by the Canadian band Skylark, it has been covered by many artists and more recently has been sampled in a number of hip hop songs.

<i>Get Here</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Brenda Russell

Get Here is the fourth studio album by the American singer/songwriter Brenda Russell. Released in 1988, it is Russell's most successful album to date and includes her hit single "Piano in the Dark" as well as the minor hit title track, "Get Here," which became an international success for Oleta Adams three years later.

<i>Whirlwind</i> (Andrew Gold album) 1980 studio album by Andrew Gold

Whirlwind is the fourth album by singer-songwriter Andrew Gold, released in 1980 on Asylum Records. It is Gold's final major label album and last solo album of any kind for over a decade.

<i>Intimate</i> (Smokey Robinson album) 1999 studio album by Smokey Robinson

Intimate is a studio album by Smokey Robinson, released in 1999 on Motown Records. The album rose to No. 28 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Doug Edwards was a Canadian musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist best known for co-creating the hit song "Wildflower" for the pop/rock band Skylark. He was also part of The Hometown Band and later was bassist for Vancouver band Chilliwack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donny Gerrard</span> Canadian singer (1946–2022)

Donald Bradford Gerrard was a Canadian singer. He was a member of the band Skylark in the early 1970s, and in later years performed and recorded as a baritone backup singer for such artists as Mavis Staples.

<i>Thirsty Ears</i> 1981 studio album by Powder Blues

Thirsty Ears is the second studio album by Canadian blues band, Powder Blues, released in 1981. Thirsty Ears was the band's follow up to Uncut, released the year before. Thirsty Ears was certified platinum in Canada for 100,000 copies shipped. The title track, "Thirsty Ears", peaked at number 17 on the Canadian singles chart in 1981.

<i>The Original Disco Duck</i> 1977 studio album by Rick Dees

The Original Disco Duck is the debut album by American DJ Rick Dees, released in 1977, and includes the hit single "Disco Duck".

References

  1. 1 2 "CANOE -- JAM! Music - Pop Encyclopedia - Skylark [usurped] ". Jam!. Retrieved on October 11, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Attic Records will distribute Greedy artists". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 27, 1976. pp. 88–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  3. 1 2 3 "Wildflower Co-Writer Succumbs to Cancer". The Music Express, November 14, 2016, Keith Sharp
  4. ↑ "Billboard Album Reviews". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 29, 1972. pp.  50–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  5. ↑ " West Coast musician Doug Edwards composed Wildflower for Skylark". TOM HAWTHORN, The Globe and Mail, November 28, 2016
  6. ↑ Nat Freedland (September 15, 1973). "Skylark flying on 'flower' power". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 17–. ISSN   0006-2510.
  7. ↑ "Donny Gerrard, lead singer of Skylark's 'Wildflower' has died". Yahoo! News. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Top 11 (OK, 8) One-Hit Wonders — And Why So Many Bands Can’t Follow Up Their Only Hit". Rock Cellar, Frank Mastropolo. January 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums - September 30, 1972" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.