Coming from Toronto, Ontario in the mid Sixties (1965), Ugly Ducklings were a garage rock band. The band mixed elements of The Kinks, Yardbirds, The Who, and The Rolling Stones into their music, but were know for delivering some songs with a high energetic punk delivery. The band consisted of Dave Bingham (vocals/guitar), Rodger Mayne (Lead Guitar), Glynn Bell (Rhythm Guitar), John Read (bass), and Robin Boers on drums. The five piece garage outfit scored some success with their debut single "Nothin'" on CHUM- AM radio in Canada. The song itself was a distorted, fast energetic song with punk elements. The bands second hit for CHUM-AM was "Gaslight" a more psychedelic number. The band even opened for the Rolling Stones at Maple Leaf Gardens.
In 1967 the band released Somewhere Outside their first full length album. The album contained the bands first three singles and other songs such as the dirty garage riff filled "Just In Case You Wonder", and the instrumental "Windy City". By 1968, the band split up. It was ironic that at this time Mick Jagger had said that Ugly Ducklings were his favourite Canadian band, but they were no more. In the 70's Rodger Mayne would manage the Canadian punk act The Viletones. In 1980, the band reformed for another album Off The Wall. The band would get a new drummer former Diode member John Hamilton. In 1982, the band released another album this time it was self titled.
Ugly Ducklings have been featured on countless garage rock compilations. In 1998, the bands material got released on CD with bonus tracks. Ugly Ducklings have been said to have been an influence on Canadian punk and rock acts.
Play List:
1. Bo Diddley – I Can Tell
2. Chuck Berry – Around and Around
3. Small Faces – Understanding
4. Ugly Ducklings – Just in Case You Wonder
5. The Event – Pop Think-In
6. The Jam – But I’m Different Now
7. Yardbirds – Heart Full of Soul
8. Velvet Underground – There She Goes Again
9. King Beez – Little Girl
10. The Haunted – 8 O’Clock This Morning
11. Free-For-All - Show Me the Way
12. Don Norman & The Other 4 – Low Man
13. Hot Nasties – I’m a Confused Teenager
14. Neil Young – Walk On
15. Johnny Cash – Guess Things Happen This Way
16. Bob Dylan – Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window
17. The Clash – London’s Burning (Live From Here To Eternity)
18. Saints – One Way Street
19. Elvis Costello – Welcome to the Working Week
20. Devo – Don’t You Know
21. Magazine – TV Baby
22. Iggy Pop – Success
23. The Stranglers - (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
24. Undertones – Get Over You
25. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers – Get Off the Phone
26. Ex-Boyfriends - Her Fathers Clothes
27. The D4 - Invader Ace
Some Videos:
Ugly Ducklings - Gaslight (1967)
Ugly Ducklings - Can't Judge a Book (1968)
Ugly Ducklings - Nothin' (2000)
3 comments:
You have put together a nice read on a fascinating, underappreciated band here. Nice, nice, nice.
Thanks. I try to put together interesting band histories for people to read.
I really like when people are expressing their opinion and thought. So I like the way you are writing
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