David Wiffen
Encyclopedia
David Wiffen is a Canadian
folk music
singer-songwriter
. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.
, Surrey
, Wiffen first sang with the Kingston upon Thames
-based Black Cat Skiffle
group. Wiffen moved with his family to Canada at age 16, and became part of the burgeoning folk music scene, initially in Toronto
. In 1965, having moved to Vancouver, he was invited to perform at The Bunkhouse club on a live ensemble album. It became Wiffen's first solo album, David Wiffen At The Bunkhouse Coffeehouse, Vancouver BC, on the Universal International label, when the other invited musicians failed to show up.
He was subsequently in several bands, including The Children, whose members included William Hawkins
, Bruce Cockburn
, Sneezy Waters
and Richard Patterson, and 3's a Crowd
, whose members included Brent Titcomb
, Donna Warner and Trevor Veitch
. Wiffen also cohosted a television variety series on Ottawa
station CJOH with Ann Mortifee
, which was produced for a period by William Hawkins.
Wiffen subsequently signed to Fantasy Records
as a solo artist. In 1971, he released David Wiffen
, and had hit singles with "One Step" and "More Often Than Not". The album also contained his most widely-covered song, "Driving Wheel".
Wiffen's second solo studio album, Coast to Coast Fever
(United Artists
, 1973), was produced by Bruce Cockburn, and Wiffen's musical career appeared to be quite promising. He continued to perform regularly in the 1970s, though found his success diminishing and a consequent source of frustration and depression, compared to the success of contemporaries Bruce Cockburn and Murray McLauchlan
. Alcohol abuse compounded the difficulties he was experiencing in his musical career. He eventually ceased performing, choosing to become a limousine driver and later a publicly-funded driver for handicapped persons in Ottawa. Wiffen suffered a serious back injury on the job while moving a wheelchair, which required corrective surgery and impeded any return to performing.
Wiffen's third album, South of Somewhere, was released in 1999, twenty-six years after Coast to Coast Fever. At that time, Wiffen had been sober for ten years and had spent six years in preparation and development for the album's production. The album contained a mix of reworkings of some of his older material, such as "Driving Wheel", plus some new songs. During this period, he returned briefly to performing, but has been inactive for several years. His current circumstances are not publicly known.
(1970), The Byrds
(1971), Roger McGuinn
(1973), Greg Harris
(1982), Cowboy Junkies
(1992), Matt Minglewood
(1999), The Jayhawks (2002), Ray Wylie Hubbard
(2005) and Chris and Rich Robinson
of the Black Crowes (2007).
"More Often Than Not" has been covered by Jerry Jeff Walker
(1970), Ian & Sylvia (1971), and Eric Andersen
(1972).
"Mr. Wiffen (Is Incommunicado Today)", has been covered by Harry Belafonte
.
"Skybound Station", from Coast to Coast Fever
, has been covered by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
.
"Lucifer's Blues", from Coast to Coast Fever, has been covered by members of the Skydiggers
and the Cowboy Junkies
in their side project band, Lee Harvey Osmond
, developed by Tom Wilson
of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
and Junkhouse
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.
Career
Brought up in South London and ClaygateClaygate
Claygate is a village in the English county of Surrey, approximately south west of London and within the Metropolitan Green Belt.It is primarily a residential area but with offices, farms and two shopping areas with a supermarket, five pubs and numerous restaurants...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, Wiffen first sang with the Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
-based Black Cat Skiffle
Skiffle
Skiffle is a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments. Originating as a term in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, it became popular again in the UK in the 1950s, where it was mainly...
group. Wiffen moved with his family to Canada at age 16, and became part of the burgeoning folk music scene, initially in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. In 1965, having moved to Vancouver, he was invited to perform at The Bunkhouse club on a live ensemble album. It became Wiffen's first solo album, David Wiffen At The Bunkhouse Coffeehouse, Vancouver BC, on the Universal International label, when the other invited musicians failed to show up.
He was subsequently in several bands, including The Children, whose members included William Hawkins
William Hawkins (songwriter and poet)
William Alfred Hawkins is a songwriter, poet, musician and journalist, most notable for his contributions in the 1960s to Canadian folk rock music and to Canadian poetry...
, Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Sneezy Waters
Sneezy Waters
Sneezy Waters is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitar player who is best known for his portrayal of Hank Williams Sr. in the play and film The play portrays an 'imaginary concert' that the legendary US country singer might have given New Year's Eve 1952 in Canton, Ohio, had he not died en route...
and Richard Patterson, and 3's a Crowd
3's a Crowd (band)
3's a Crowd was a folk rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that existed from 1964 to 1969. The group is particularly notable for its association with Cass Elliott, who co-produced the group's sole album release...
, whose members included Brent Titcomb
Brent Titcomb
Brent Arthur Titcomb is a Canadian actor and musician. He played the voice of Sleazy, Mok's sidekick, in 1983's Rock & Rule, and additional voices for the The Care Bears Movie in 1985. His son is singer Liam Titcomb...
, Donna Warner and Trevor Veitch
Trevor Veitch
Trevor Veitch is a Canadian musician/record producer who has worked behind the scenes on many pop trends from the 1960s to the present. He is mostly known for his involvement in the popular 60s folk rock group, 3's a Crowd...
. Wiffen also cohosted a television variety series on Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
station CJOH with Ann Mortifee
Ann Mortifee
Ann Mortifee, CM is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter, writer and speaker. After emigrating to Canada in childhood, she spent her youth in Vancouver, British Columbia. At the beginning of her musical career, she joined the cast of the original Vancouver production of The Ecstasy of Rita Joe...
, which was produced for a period by William Hawkins.
Wiffen subsequently signed to Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records
Fantasy Records is a United States-based record label that was founded by Max and Sol Weiss in 1949 in San Francisco, California. They had previously operated a record-pressing plant called Circle Record Company before forming the Fantasy label...
as a solo artist. In 1971, he released David Wiffen
David Wiffen (album)
David Wiffen is the first studio album and second solo album by Canadian Singer-Songwriter David Wiffen. The standout tracks are "I've Got My Ticket", "Driving Wheel", and "More Often Than Not". As one reviewer recently commented, "Its complex arrangements sneak around behind seemingly simple songs...
, and had hit singles with "One Step" and "More Often Than Not". The album also contained his most widely-covered song, "Driving Wheel".
Wiffen's second solo studio album, Coast to Coast Fever
Coast to Coast Fever
Coast to Coast Fever is the third solo album by Canadian singer-songwriter David Wiffen. He is assisted on the album by fellow Canadian folkie Bruce Cockburn, who plays guitar, bass and celeste. The standout tracks are "Skybound Station", "Coast to Coast Fever", "Smoke Rings", "We Have Had Some...
(United Artists
United Artists Records
United Artists Records was a record label founded by Max E. Youngstein of United Artists in 1957 initially to distribute records of its movie soundtracks, though it soon branched out into recording music of a number of different genres.-History:...
, 1973), was produced by Bruce Cockburn, and Wiffen's musical career appeared to be quite promising. He continued to perform regularly in the 1970s, though found his success diminishing and a consequent source of frustration and depression, compared to the success of contemporaries Bruce Cockburn and Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan, CM is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player.-Biography:Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, he emigrated to Canada with his family when he was five years old...
. Alcohol abuse compounded the difficulties he was experiencing in his musical career. He eventually ceased performing, choosing to become a limousine driver and later a publicly-funded driver for handicapped persons in Ottawa. Wiffen suffered a serious back injury on the job while moving a wheelchair, which required corrective surgery and impeded any return to performing.
Wiffen's third album, South of Somewhere, was released in 1999, twenty-six years after Coast to Coast Fever. At that time, Wiffen had been sober for ten years and had spent six years in preparation and development for the album's production. The album contained a mix of reworkings of some of his older material, such as "Driving Wheel", plus some new songs. During this period, he returned briefly to performing, but has been inactive for several years. His current circumstances are not publicly known.
Discography
- David Wiffen At The Bunkhouse Coffeehouse, Vancouver BC (Universal International, 1965)
- Christopher's Movie Matinée (ABC Dunhill, 1968, as a member of 3's a Crowd3's a Crowd (band)3's a Crowd was a folk rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, that existed from 1964 to 1969. The group is particularly notable for its association with Cass Elliott, who co-produced the group's sole album release...
) - David WiffenDavid Wiffen (album)David Wiffen is the first studio album and second solo album by Canadian Singer-Songwriter David Wiffen. The standout tracks are "I've Got My Ticket", "Driving Wheel", and "More Often Than Not". As one reviewer recently commented, "Its complex arrangements sneak around behind seemingly simple songs...
(Fantasy, 1971; CD reissue via Akarma, 2001. Out of print.) - Coast to Coast FeverCoast to Coast FeverCoast to Coast Fever is the third solo album by Canadian singer-songwriter David Wiffen. He is assisted on the album by fellow Canadian folkie Bruce Cockburn, who plays guitar, bass and celeste. The standout tracks are "Skybound Station", "Coast to Coast Fever", "Smoke Rings", "We Have Had Some...
(United Artists, 1973) - South of Somewhere (True NorthTrue North RecordsTrue North Records is a Canadian independent record label. It was founded in Mississauga, Ontario in 1969 by Bernie Finkelstein. On December 17, 2007, True North was acquired by an investment group led by Linus Entertainment...
, 1999)
Covers
"Driving Wheel (Lost My Driving Wheel)" has been covered by Tom RushTom Rush
Tom Rush is an American folk and blues singer, songwriter, musician and recording artist.- Life and career :Rush was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. His father was a teacher at St. Paul's School, in Concord, New Hampshire. Tom began performing in 1961 while studying at Harvard University after...
(1970), The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
(1971), Roger McGuinn
Roger McGuinn
James Roger McGuinn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist on many of The Byrds' records...
(1973), Greg Harris
Live from Tokyo (album)
Live from Tokyo is the second live album by the country rock group The Flying Burrito Brothers, released in 1979. It was originally released in Japan in 1978 under the title Close Encounters on the West Coast.-History:...
(1982), Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
(1992), Matt Minglewood
Matt Minglewood
Matt Minglewood is a Canadian musician whose style can be described as a blend of country, blues, folk, roots and rock.-Career:...
(1999), The Jayhawks (2002), Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Ray Wylie Hubbard is an American Texas Country singer and songwriter.-Early life:Hubbard grew up in southeastern town of Hugo, Oklahoma. His family moved to Oak Cliff in south Dallas, Texas in 1954. He attended W. H. Adamson High School with Michael Martin Murphey, who had his own band at the time...
(2005) and Chris and Rich Robinson
Rich Robinson
Rich Robinson is an American musician and founding member of the rock and roll band The Black Crowes. Along with older brother Chris Robinson, Rich formed the band in 1984 while the two were in high school...
of the Black Crowes (2007).
"More Often Than Not" has been covered by Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker
Jerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
(1970), Ian & Sylvia (1971), and Eric Andersen
Eric Andersen
Eric Andersen is an American singer-songwriter.-Biography:In the early 1960s, Eric Andersen was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene in New York...
(1972).
"Mr. Wiffen (Is Incommunicado Today)", has been covered by Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
.
"Skybound Station", from Coast to Coast Fever
Coast to Coast Fever
Coast to Coast Fever is the third solo album by Canadian singer-songwriter David Wiffen. He is assisted on the album by fellow Canadian folkie Bruce Cockburn, who plays guitar, bass and celeste. The standout tracks are "Skybound Station", "Coast to Coast Fever", "Smoke Rings", "We Have Had Some...
, has been covered by Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a Canadian folk rock/alternative country band with blues and country influences. The band was formed in 1996, in Hamilton, Ontario, by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing, and Colin Linden.-Early Period: 1990s:...
.
"Lucifer's Blues", from Coast to Coast Fever, has been covered by members of the Skydiggers
Skydiggers
Skydiggers are a Canadian roots rock band from Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:Formed in 1987 by singer Andy Maize and lead guitarist Josh Finlayson, the band soon added rhythm guitarist Peter Cash, drummer Wayne Stokes and bassist Ron Macey to their lineup...
and the Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
in their side project band, Lee Harvey Osmond
Lee Harvey Osmond
Lee Harvey Osmond, stylized as LeE HARVeY OsMOND, is a Canadian "acid folk" band, whose core member is musician Tom Wilson.The band first took shape as a collaboration between Wilson, Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers, who wrote, recorded and released the band's...
, developed by Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson (musician)
Tom Wilson is a Canadian rock musician from Hamilton, Ontario.A veteran of the Canadian music scene, Wilson has been a writer and performer for many years. Wilson's eclectic musical style has ranged from the psychobilly sound of the Florida Razors, to the western/roots style of Blackie and the...
of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings are a Canadian folk rock/alternative country band with blues and country influences. The band was formed in 1996, in Hamilton, Ontario, by Tom Wilson, Stephen Fearing, and Colin Linden.-Early Period: 1990s:...
and Junkhouse
Junkhouse
-History:Formed in 1989 in Hamilton, Ontario, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Tom Wilson, guitarist Dan Achen, bassist Russ Wilson and drummer Ray Farrugia....
External links
- Profile of David Wiffen; www.maplemusic.com.
- Profile of David Wiffen; www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com.
- Profile of Sneezy Waters; www.borealisrecords.com.
- Profile of The Children; www.xtrememusician.com.