Simon Caine
Encyclopedia
Simon Caine was a short-lived Toronto funk/soul band, which recorded a solitary album in 1970. Most of the musicians went on to become top session players on the Canadian music scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s working with the likes of Bruce Cockburn
, David Wiffen
and Murray McLauchlan
.
but rejoined that autumn.
The group made a number of appearances on the Toronto club scene throughout the early part of 1967, performing at notable venues like Boris', the Red Gas Room and the Gogue Inn and sharing the stage with local bands like Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
and The Paupers
. By June, Pendrith had moved on to play with Livingstone's Journey and the Catch continued without him for a while.
sideman Danny McBride on guitar; former Luke & The Apostles
and David Clayton-Thomas
Combine drummer Pat Little; and bass player Rick Shuckster, became the house band at the Rock Pile, one of Toronto's top live venues.
Throughout the latter part of 1968, Transfusion opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears
(September 20), Country Joe & The Fish (September 29), Procol Harum
(October 5), the Jeff Beck Group
(October 27) and Iron Butterfly
(November 9) among others. Caine left the band before the year was out and maintained a low profile musically.
The new line up signed to RCA Victor and issued a lone single, “Walked Out The Door”, written by Pat Godfrey and Dave Richardson, which coincided with an appearance at Toronto’s Electric Circus (December 12–14, 1969). The following year, the group gigged intensively throughout southern Ontario and also completed sessions for an album at RCA Recording Studios in Toronto with producer George Semkiw, which was released in October 1970. That same month, the band returned to Toronto’s live scene with a show at the Night Owl, followed by an appearance at Ryerson Great Hall alongside Leigh Ashford
on November 6, 1970.
Simon Caine should have seen the new year in at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, appearing at a prestigious show that also featured Johnny Winter
, Rare Earth
, Poco
, The James Gang and fellow Canadians Chilliwack
, but a disagreement over the fee meant that the band didn't appear.
Despite a positive write-up in the Toronto Telegram in its October 1 issue, the album didn’t sell well. The group started work on a new album in early 1971 with another producer but broke up before the sessions were completed.
Godfrey, Pennycook and Savage also participated in the Wiffen project and appeared as studio session players on an array of other albums throughout the decade.
Savage and Godfrey spent a brief period with Bruce Cockburn while the latter also did sessions for Tom Rush
. Godfrey later moved to Vancouver Island and worked as a film animation composer. He continues to play piano and compose.
Although born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia
and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Palmer returned to the United States to renovate old houses in the Florida Keys. He died of a heart attack
in 2004 in Belleville, Ontario
. Shields became a teacher at a Catholic school and lives in Toronto. Savage also lives in Toronto and was last heard working in the construction/renovation industry. Pennycook lives in Austin, Texas where he teaches in the Department of Composition at The University of Texas at Austin and is a successful composer.
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:...
, David Wiffen
David Wiffen
David Wiffen is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.- Career :...
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...
.
Early years
Singer Peter Shields (aka Simon Caine) first came to prominence during 1966 with the group Simon Caine & The Catch, which included bass player Dennis Pendrith, drummer John Savage, keyboard player Tom Sheret and guitarist Bill Palmer. Pendrith left in the summer for five months to play with Luke & The ApostlesLuke & The Apostles
Luke & The Apostles was a 1960s blues group from Toronto known for their 1967 hit "Been Burnt". Band members included Canadian guitarist Mike McKenna, Luke Gibson, Peter Jermyn, Jim Jones, and Pat Little...
but rejoined that autumn.
The group made a number of appearances on the Toronto club scene throughout the early part of 1967, performing at notable venues like Boris', the Red Gas Room and the Gogue Inn and sharing the stage with local bands like Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
Jon and Lee & The Checkmates
Jon and Lee & The Checkmates are an Canadian music group, best known for containing future members of Elektra band Rhinoceros. Together with Mandala, they spearheaded Toronto's R&B scene during the mid 1960s. As the Jon-Lee Group, the band released a lone single for ABC Records before splitting up...
and The Paupers
The Paupers
The Paupers are a Canadian psychedelic rock band that recorded two albums for Verve Forecast Records in 1967 and 1968 and appeared at the Monterey International Pop Festival.-Origins:...
. By June, Pendrith had moved on to play with Livingstone's Journey and the Catch continued without him for a while.
Transfusion
Around July 1968, Simon Caine and Tom Sheret re-emerged with rock band, Tranfusion. The group, which also included future Chris de BurghChris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
sideman Danny McBride on guitar; former Luke & The Apostles
Luke & The Apostles
Luke & The Apostles was a 1960s blues group from Toronto known for their 1967 hit "Been Burnt". Band members included Canadian guitarist Mike McKenna, Luke Gibson, Peter Jermyn, Jim Jones, and Pat Little...
and David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas
David Clayton-Thomas is a Canadian musician and singer best known as the lead vocalist for the American band; Blood, Sweat & Tears...
Combine drummer Pat Little; and bass player Rick Shuckster, became the house band at the Rock Pile, one of Toronto's top live venues.
Throughout the latter part of 1968, Transfusion opened for Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears
Blood, Sweat & Tears is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles...
(September 20), Country Joe & The Fish (September 29), Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
(October 5), the Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group
The Jeff Beck Group were an English rock band formed in London in January 1967 by former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck. Their innovative approach to heavy sounding blues and R&B was a major influence on popular music.- The first Jeff Beck Group :...
(October 27) and Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly
Iron Butterfly is a US psychedelic rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".Their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is the 31st best-selling album in the world, selling more than 25 million copies.-History:The...
(November 9) among others. Caine left the band before the year was out and maintained a low profile musically.
Simon Caine returns
Peter Shields formed a new version of Simon Caine (dropping The Catch) in October 1969 with original members Bill Palmer, John Savage and Dennis Pendrith, who had spent the interim playing with Olivus, 3's a Crowd and Ugly Ducklings spin-off group, GNU. The new members were pianist Pat Godfrey (born 1948 in Toronto) from The Diplomats and wind instrumentalist Bruce Pennycook (born October 5, 1949 in Toronto).The new line up signed to RCA Victor and issued a lone single, “Walked Out The Door”, written by Pat Godfrey and Dave Richardson, which coincided with an appearance at Toronto’s Electric Circus (December 12–14, 1969). The following year, the group gigged intensively throughout southern Ontario and also completed sessions for an album at RCA Recording Studios in Toronto with producer George Semkiw, which was released in October 1970. That same month, the band returned to Toronto’s live scene with a show at the Night Owl, followed by an appearance at Ryerson Great Hall alongside Leigh Ashford
Leigh Ashford
Leigh Ashford was a rock group formed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and which existed between 1966 and 1974.- History :The group was formed in 1967 by, the guitarist Gord Waszek, drummer Dave Cairns, bassist Joe Agnello and keyboard player Newton Garwood. In 1969, record producer Jack Richardson...
on November 6, 1970.
Simon Caine should have seen the new year in at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens, appearing at a prestigious show that also featured Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
, Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
, The James Gang and fellow Canadians Chilliwack
Chilliwack (band)
Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
, but a disagreement over the fee meant that the band didn't appear.
Despite a positive write-up in the Toronto Telegram in its October 1 issue, the album didn’t sell well. The group started work on a new album in early 1971 with another producer but broke up before the sessions were completed.
Aftermath
Dennis Pendrith subsequently became an integral member of both Bruce Cockburn and Murray McLauchlan’s backing bands and later appeared on David Wiffen’s 1973 album “Coast To Coast Fever”. He currently plays with the Bebop Cowboys and still works with Murray McLauchlan.Godfrey, Pennycook and Savage also participated in the Wiffen project and appeared as studio session players on an array of other albums throughout the decade.
Savage and Godfrey spent a brief period with Bruce Cockburn while the latter also did sessions for Tom Rush
Tom 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...
. Godfrey later moved to Vancouver Island and worked as a film animation composer. He continues to play piano and compose.
Although born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Liverpool is a Canadian community and former town located along the Atlantic Ocean of the Province of Nova Scotia's South Shore. It is situated within the Region of Queens Municipality which is the local governmental unit that comprises all of Queens County, Nova Scotia...
and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Palmer returned to the United States to renovate old houses in the Florida Keys. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in 2004 in Belleville, Ontario
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
. Shields became a teacher at a Catholic school and lives in Toronto. Savage also lives in Toronto and was last heard working in the construction/renovation industry. Pennycook lives in Austin, Texas where he teaches in the Department of Composition at The University of Texas at Austin and is a successful composer.
Discography
- 45 Walked Out The Door c/w Scarlet Skies (RCA Victor 1044) 1969
- LP Simon Caine (RCA Victor 4410) 1970
Sources
- Nick Warburton interviews with Pat Godfrey, Bruce Pennycook, Dennis Pendrith and Danny McBride, 2006
- Album review, Toronto Telegram’s After Four section, October 1, 1970
- Album sleeve notes provided by Ritchie Yorke
- The Toronto Telegram’s After Four section on Thursdays list live dates