Created out of the eccentric mind of group leader Garfield French, this rather largish ensemble released four critically praised progressive pop albums culminating with 1981’s ‘Flights Of Fancy’, but commercial success never came easy for this Canadian band.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Garfield
ALBUM: Strange Streets
LABEL: Mercury
SERIAL: SRM-1-1082
YEAR: 1976
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Garfield French – lead vocals * Walter Lawrence – guitar, electric cello * Paul O’Donnell – guitar, harmonica, banjo * Jacques Fillion – keyboards * Dennis French – drums, percussion * Chip Yarwood – flute, synthesizer * Maris Tora – bass
TRACK LISTING: 01 Strange Streets * 02 Give My Love To Annie * 03 Someday If You’re Lucky * 04 Above Market Street * 05 Old Time Movies * 06 Nanny’s Song * 07 Ride The Waves * 08 Catch You Next Time ‘Round * 09 Eyes
WEBLINKS: MySpace
Background
Catching their big break on a plum support slot for 10cc in 1975, Toronto’s Garfield impressed the power brokers at Mercury Records who were in the audience, enough to land the band a record deal.
Created out of the eccentric mind of group leader Garfield French, this rather largish ensemble released four critically praised progressive pop albums culminating with 1981’s ‘Flights Of Fancy’, but commercial success never came easy for the band.
The group toured Canada extensively and even performed in the States supporting an oddball line up of acts including Sea Level, Horslips and Budgie, but musically Garfield were just too ‘different’ to break out in a big way.
The Songs
How different I hear you ask? Imagine Supertramp and Pavlov’s Dog in an intimate smoke-filled club and you have a good idea of what Garfield sound like. Lead vocals from French are Geddy Lee, David Surkamp and Roger Hodgson wrapped up in one colourful package.
While musically folksy on ‘Give My Love To Annie’ plus the ‘out and out’ prog rock on the title track and ‘Eyes’, the band were nothing short of eclectic and even scored a Canadian hit with the Harry Nilsson influenced ‘Old Time Movies’. A heady mixture and part of why the album succeeds can be laid at the feet of Chip Yarwood who’s well placed keyboard work throughout ‘Strange Streets’ is breathtaking and often quite beautiful – the perfect foil to French’s unusual song writing style and vocals.
In Summary
Never on CD, ‘Strange Streets’ is an acquired taste and not for everyone although as I write this, I find it a pleasant listen on a hazy spring afternoon. For reasons unknown, the band would call it a day after playing their last show opening for Rush, but where Garfield French is these days is a mystery.
Garfield on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
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