Bobby LaLonde "The Bobby Lalonde Band" (Bolab Records) (LP)
Bobby LaLonde "Long Lonely Nights" (Bookshop Records, 19--?) (LP)
Willie Lamothe "...Et Ses Cavaliers Des Plaines" (RCA Victor, 1955) (LP)
Willie Lamothe & Rita Germaine "Willie Lamothe & Rita Germaine" (London Records, 1958) (LP)
Willie Lamothe & Rita Germaine "...Et Ses Cavaliers Des Plaines" (London Records, 1960) (LP)
A different album than the one above, though technically they seem to have the same title...
Willie Lamothe "Willie Lamothe" (London Records, 1963) (LP)
Willie Lamothe "Willie Lamothe" (London Records, 1963) (LP)
Willie Lamothe "Succes Des Annees 40 Et 50, v.1" (RCA Victor, 1965) (LP)
Willie Lamothe "Succes Des Annees 40 Et 50, v.2" (RCA Victor, 1965) (LP)
Lang & Ackroyd Band "Lang & Ackroyd Band" (LAB Records, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Robert B. Gilgan)
The Canadian duo of Marcy Ackroyd and Jim Lang with an outlawish set that includes Rodney Crowell's "Ain't Livin' Long Like This" and a song that namedrops Waylon & Willie...
The Lariats "On Stage..." (Big Chief Records, 19--?) (LP)
(Produced by Gary Buck)
Iris Larratt "Iris Larratt" (RCA Victor, 1980) (LP)
(Produced by Andy DiMartino)
Doug LaValley & Jean Marie "Wheeling Jamboree" (ARC Music, 1963-?) (LP)
Tex Lecor "Mon Plus Recent Lecor" (Gamma Records, 1979) (LP)
(Produced by Jean Robitaille)
Garry Lee "Motel Cowboy" (Rhubarb Recordings, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by Rick Erickson, Garry McDonall & Brian Sklar)
An early album from Albertan bad-boy Garry Lee who later recorded "The Rodeo Song," an oh-so-naughty early 'Eighties cult classic drunkenly sung on both sides of the Canadian border. Mr. Lee seems to have had a bad-boy back in the 'Seventies, too, maybe sorta along the lines of Bobby Bare or Moe Bandy. His band here included Barry Campanelli on piano, Ron Jeffery (bass), Tim Jeffery (guitar), Maurice Marshall (lead guitar), Lorne Pavelick (drums), Bruce Rohn (guitar) and both Garry Lee and Brian Sklar playing fiddle.
Garry Lee & Showdown "Wanted: Loaded, Loose And Rowdy" (Damon Records, 1981) (LP)
I haven't heard this version, but you can also hear the original on the first Showdown album, Welcome To The Rodeo.
Garry Lee & Showdown "Wanted: Loaded, Loose And Rowdy" (Damon Records, 1981) (LP)
(Produced by Garry McDonall & Garry Lee)
Originally a covers band from Canada, Showdown scored a big hit with "The Rodeo Song," a cuss-filled novelty song that was banned from airplay, but made plenty of waves and was recorded several times, by Showdown and numerous other artists... Gaye Delorme's hilariously profane novelty number is written from the perspective of a very pissed off, road-ragey rural driver, and is sort of an obscene take-off on the Hank Snow style of country rapping. When "The Rodeo Song" became an underground classic, the runaway success of the single apparently allowed the dudes in Showdown to go back into the studio and beef up their sound, taking on a more electrified (and mildly disco-y) tone... They also billed singer Garry Lee as the group's star performer. Although they sound more professional and musically accomplished than on their first album, they also sound less rootsy and a lot less fun. They also decided to make crudeness their "thing," giving this album full of songs about one-night stands, girls losing their virginity and saying "no" when they really mean yes, along with plenty of thinly-veiled sexual metaphors, and an unfortunate Alvin And The Chipmunks-style remake of "The Rodeo Song" that features the squeaky-voiced "Canadian Beavers" singing a version that's way less fun that the original. Oh, well. I suppose this was funny at the time, but it doesn't hold up very well. Worth noting: some of the electric guitar twang-banging is courtesy of Redd Volkaert, who had recently moved to Alberta from British Columbia, and would join Merle Haggard's band nearly two decades later. As far as I can tell, this must have been one of his first recorded sessions, in case anyone out there is keeping track...
Garry Lee & Showdown "The Rodeo Song: The Original Hit" (Damon Records, 1994)
Having hit a goldmine with "The Rodeo Song," Showdown doubled down, re-recorded the single and a bunch of others, including the equally bleepable "Awwwwww," and few other rough and risque country novelty numbers. Personally, I find the remakes a little too slick, but maybe subtlety isn't really the point here. Anyhoo, if you want to raise a few eyebrows, here are a bunch of twangtunes with lots of naughty words in them.
Jackie Lee Four "The Death Of Tanker 585" (Vintage Records, 1975) (LP)
(Produced by Art Snider) (?)
This is an odd album, at least in terms of its provenance, more than its content.... Originally released in Canada, this "custom" album may have been part of a tax scam, particularly since it was re-released in the US a couple of years later under a different name (by "The Dave Burns Four") on a different label. The original version includes two tracks that weren't included on the reissue, "Wipeout" and "The Ice Man," though the real fire is on novelty numbers such as "Put All Your Faith In The Pill" and "Canadian Alcoholic," as well as the title track, "The Death Of Tanker 585," which is a trucking song from Canada. Not a lot of info out there about this one, though: anybody have insights about these sessions and who was really on them?
Jeanette Lee "I Can't See You Through My Tears" (Wild Rose Recorders, 1977--?) (LP)
(Produced by Paul Myers, Laurence Pugh & Robert R. Ward)
I could not for the life of me track down any info on when this album was made or about Jeanette Lee's career... Alas! A rootsy singer well-versed in country tradition, Ms. Lee was a very appealing neotrad artist, years ahead of her time... She sounds a bit like Iris Dement, or various modern-day twang-gals, with an imperfect voice but plenty of heart... She has a very modern vibe, and it's easy to imagine her flourishing during the Americana boom of the 1990s, decades after this disc came out. Recording her album in Bonnyville, Alberta Canada, Lee covers some first-rate material from Nashville, including two Dolly Parton songs ("Coat Of Many Colors," "Jolene") as well as Bill Anderson's "Tiny Blue Transistor Radio" and "I'll Get Over You," which was a mega-hit for Crystal Gayle in 1976. She also covers "Testing 1-2-3," an early '70s chart-topper for fellow Canadian Joyce Seamone. Better still, the 20-year old Lee adds four songs of her own to the country canon, "I Don't Believe My Heart Could Stand Another You," "I'll Say Goodbye To You Today," "This Time," and the title track, "I Can't See You Through My Tears." Nice stuff... pleasantly twangy, with sparse arrangements but plenty of country soul.
Larry Lee "...And The Leesures" (Canatal Records, 1965-?) (LP)
Dianne Leigh "Shadows Of Your Heart" (Capitol Records, 1966) (LP)
Diane (Leigh) "Diane... Country Queen" (Birchmount Records, 1972) (LP)
A Canadian country (and pop) singer who had success on both sides of the border... Although most of her records were issued under her full name, for some reason they issued this one under a mononym... Features a bunch of originals written by Al Rain, a songwriter from Toronto, Ontario.
Diane Leigh "Christmas At Home" (Marathon Music, 1973) (LP)
Dianne Leigh "Two Shades Of Blue" (Marathon Music, 1973) (LP)
Rheal Leroux "Rheal Leroux" (London Records, 19--?) (LP)
Rheal Leroux "Western Canadien" (Metro Records, 1963-?) (LP)
James Leroy & Denim "James Leroy & Denim" (GRT/Janus Records, 1973) (LP)
(Produced by Adam Mitchell & Dave Green)
Canadian singer James Leroy (1947-1979) grew up in Ottawa and tried his luck in the coffeehouse folk scene before moving into pop-rock songwriting. He formed the James Leroy Band (later Denim) in the early 1970s, with help from several people associated with the recently defunct rock band Canada Goose, particularly steel player Gary Comeau and singer Valerie Tuck, who helped form the core of Denim. The group enjoyed modest success and made some traction in the United States, though Leroy's momentum stalled out early on, and -- sadly -- he committed suicide while trying to release a second album in 1979. A digital-era reissue included several bonus tracks not on the original album.
Ray Little "The Ray Little Gang" (Arc Records, 196--?) (LP)
Bandleader Ray Little was originally from New Hampshire, although he and his wife Ann (a Massachusetts gal) emigrated up to Canada in 1946, where they led country bands in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. At the time of this album (sorry, no date) they'd been hosting a TV show in Regina for over three years. Unfortunately as is often the case with these old Arc LPs, there's no info about who the backing musicians were on this set.
Floyd Lloyd "Wilf Carter Song Book" (Arc Music, 19--?) (LP)
Not to be confused with the reggae/ska artists who was part of Laurel Aitken's posse, Canadian country singer
Floyd W. Lloyd (1927-1992) recorded several albums for the Arc Music label, specializing in tribute albums such as this one, which I believe was his first... Born in Kaladar Township, Ontario, worked in the rust belt auto industry while also pursuing his musical career, performing on radio station CKDO, as well as touring throughout the Great Lakes region, in both Canada and the US. He certainly had a distinctly Canadian sound: fans of early, pre-Nashville Hank Snow will recognize a similarly plainspoken vocal style here, with stripped-down, minimalist arrangements that mimic those of his idol, Wilf Carter. Perhaps a bit inaccessible to modern country fans, but those of us who dig the older approach might get a kick out of it. (Thanks to the Land O' Lakes website for their info on Lloyd's career!)
Floyd Lloyd "...Sings Ernest Tubb" (Arc Music, 19--?) (LP)
Floyd Lloyd "...Sings More Wilf Carter Song Hits" (Arc Music, 19--?) (LP)
On this second Wilf Carter tribute album, the musicians include Tommy St. James, another Canadian local who recorded some stuff on his own as well...
Country Colman Loftis "In The Arctics" (Arctic Circle Records, 19--?) (LP)
Jack London "Introducing..." (Arctic Circle Records, 19--?) (LP)
Lonnie & Lottie "Country Saturday Nite" (Arc Records, 19--?) (LP)
Lonnie & Lottie "Baby Bye Bye" (Marathon Records, 1973) (LP)
A brother-sister duo from Maniwaki, Quebec, Lonnie and Lottie O'Reilly started out as child performers and worked steadily in local radio and TV, including a gig on Gary Buck's show... I think this was their first album and is mostly cover songs, with one original song credited to each of the siblings: Lonnie wrote "There's Only One You," while Lottie penned "Your Favourite Pastime" (with British-style spelling!) They also cover "Country Roads," "Okie From Musgokee," "Teddy Bear Song" and other early '70s and late '60s hits. It's possible that Lottie sounded better as a child performer, though she's kinda wobbly here... On some songs where she sticks to harmony she sounds kind of like Skeeter Davis. Brother Lonnie's got kind of a Charlie Louvin-esque vocal tone that's not bad and sounds decently country... Fairly rootsy arrangements as well, though again, not necessarily top-flight stuff.
Myrna Lorrie - see artist discography
Andy Lusk "The Pontiac Prowler Sings Ottawa Valley Entertainers" (Paugan Records 1975-?) (LP)
(Produced by Gil Charron & Jan McCambley)
Andy Lusk "Hook, Line And Lusk" (Icicle Records 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Ted Daigle, Ralph Carlson & David Dennison)
Canadian Country... the songs all appear to be regionally themed. The band included Ray Adams on mandolin, Jimmy Allen (fiddle), Andy Angus (bass), Al Bragg (pedal steel and piano), David Dennison (accordion), Sam Henry (drums), Mike Laport (fiddle), Don O'Neill on lead guitar and banjo.
Julie Lynn "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" (RCA-Dominion, 1970) (LP)
Not strictly a twang album, this set includes a lot of pop tunes, but also covers of country hits such as "Don't Touch Me," "Stand By Your Man" and "He Taught Me How To Yodel."
Julie Lynn "Look What They've Done To My Song" (RCA-Dominion, 1971) (LP)
Julie Lynn "The Many Moods Of Julie Lynn" (1980) (LP)
(Produced by Lonnie Salazar & Joe Bob Barnhill)
Canada has long had a vibrant love of country music, often tinged with strong regional pride and songs extolling the great Northern expanse. Some artists, of course, became well-known down south, but for every Hank Snow there are literally thousands of other musicians who never made it to Nashville, or never even tried. At any rate, the Canadian country scene is huge, and deserves to be celebrated in its own right. I'm pretty sure I'm only scratching the surface here, and welcome any recommendations, additions or corrections. 
