Privilege
The Edmonton rock group Privilege started out in the '60s known as The Lords. After changing their name to Privilege they released four singles on Capitol and MCA between 1969 and 1972, but as the article linked to above puts it, "fame was not immediately forthcoming and the group struggled." In '73 they recorded the LP I'm posting today (Cantata Canada), which was based on a stage production dramatizing Canada's history. At this point, the group's lineup was Andy Krawchuk (guitar), Harry Krawchuk (bass), Mel Degen (vocals), Gerry Dere (organ), Al McGee (piano) and Whitey Glan (drums), but throughout the '70s Privilege went through many more incarnations, one of which included Steve Perry, the future lead singer of Journey. One more LP followed in '78 (It's Been A Privilege), but that was pretty much it for the group aside from a reunion concert in 1989.
Cantata Canada (optimistically subtitled "Part One") was recorded at Studio 3 Productions in Vancouver and Century II Studios in Edmonton by producer Doug Hutton, with orchestrations by Gerry Dere and Al McGee. The LP is attractively packaged as a libretto, with pencil drawings accompanying the lyrics for each song. Privilege's sound is fairly standard '70s rock with a few progressive touches here and there, but they tailor each track's style to suit its historical subject matter. "Overture/In The Dawning" (lyrics by Will Wuttunee, music by Gerry Dere) is about the lives of the natives before the arrival of Europeans in North America, while "Beware Of The Heavy Hand" (lyrics and music by Graeme Card) details the first contact between the two societies. "Klondike" (lyrics by Carol Zazula, music by Mel Degan) is, of course, about the gold rush of 1896, and "Bookends For A Nation" (lyrics and music by Marc Jordan) is written from the viewpoint of a European immigrant moving across Canada during the early 20th century.
Beware Of The Heavy Hand
Klondike
Bookends For A Nation
Note: These songs have been archived at It Came From Canada.
posted by DJ Bomarc @ 11:16 PM
3 comments
links to this post
3 Comments:
When I was in junior high (this would be about 1970 or so), Privilege used to do concert versions of Jesus Christ Superstar with guests from other Edmonton bands. They had to be very careful not to use any theatrical elements such as costumes or sets, so as not to get into trouble with the rights holder of the stage production. I saw two of these concerts - one at the Jubilee Auditorium, which was awesome, and one at the Kinsmen Fieldhouse, which, being a running track, was a crappy place to see a band, but nonetheless served as a regular venue for touring acts, including one of Bob Marley's last concerts.
Calling themselves the "American Rock Opera Company" Privilege toured throughout Western Canada & the Western US with their JC show. According to the info I have.. After indifferent early success with the show, the company took a new lease on life after playing before close to 12,000 in Detroit in early 71- a show that was almost closed down by a court injuntion brought by holders of Superstar copyrights. As a result they presented the rock musical as a selection of music without the aids of props & costumes.
Your Edmonton experience mirrors my own in Calgary... They played the Jubilee here in May of 71 & again in October at the Corral.
And again according to info I have this was their last show in NA before embarking on a tour of Australia, New Zealand & Japan...
PLPD !VJ!
Aside from the great assembly of musicians on this LP, it has a fabulous soundscape of styles, and also a harsh but truthful recount of the history of Canada's growth.
I did not know this was members of the Band the Lords..that's fab!
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home