GODDO – Rock Candy Records Remastered (News)

GODDO - Rock Candy Records Remastered (News)
GODDO – Rock Candy Records Remastered

There are many classic rock bands from Canada. If you ask Canadian classic music fans, I would be surprised if someone has not heard of the hard-working band Goddo that formed in 1975. With the first album released in 1977, Goddo put out 5 classic albums till 1981.  After a 9-year break in new material, the band went back to the studio to release an album in 1990. Since then another 4 albums were released up until the final collection of new songs came out in 2008 on the final album Under My Hat – Volume 1. Goddo played one last show in Toronto back in 2018 and then disbanded.

Now Rock Candy Records out of the UK has released remastered versions of the first 3 Goddo albums. Goddo, Who Cares and An Act Of Goddo.

GODDO - Rock Candy Records Remastered (News)The main songwriter, vocalist and bass player Greg Godovitz started the band and was joined by guitarist Gino Scarpelli and drummer Doug Inglis. This outfit played many shows to win over the hearts of music fans. Now thanks to Rock Candy Records you can hear these classic albums fully remastered with bonus tracks and full-colour booklets. Also included is a 3,500-word essay, an interview with Greg Goddovitz, enhanced artwork and unpublished photos.

This is not just for the fans of Goddo, but a collection like this is for any classic rock music fan. If you have not purchased Rock Candy Records releases, you will not be disappointed.

From Rock Candy Records website:

GODDO - Rock Candy Records Remastered (News)

GODDO – Goddo

There’s something quite compelling about Goddo. Like Max Webster, they enjoyed a reputation as one of the most magnetic and quirky Canadian hard rock bands operating in the late 70s. Employing an off-kilter psyche and a penchant for the absurd, Goddo’s high octane brand of tough-guy rock was further enhanced by some of the most amusing lyrics of the era. The man mostly responsible for this intriguing direction was bassist and main songwriter Greg Godovitz. Like a contemporary court jester his brand of wit and wisdom cast an exceptionally warm glow on the Canadian music scene, even if the content failed to secure huge commercial rewards. As a former member of seasoned Canadian rockers Fludd, he departed that band to create a brand new vehicle following his own vision; melodic hard rock with enough lee-way to include quirky detours. Although primarily a supercharged high octane power trio, they also included elements of jazz and crushing blues-rock. Godovitz together with drummer Doug Inglis and guitarist Gino Scarpelli set about recording their debut album in Montreal, unleashing one of the most striking Canadian debut albums of all time. Issued in early 1977, and housed in a superbly illustrated gate-fold cover, the album kicks off with “The Bus Driver Blues” a lyrically hilarious track written about the band’s previous drummer who left the group to drive a school bus. Other tough-nut rockers include “Drive Me Crazy”, “Let That Lizard Loose” and “Hard Years”. Of course the jewel in the crown is the jazz-tinged “Under My Hat”, a song complete with a truly memorable hook and menacing vocals from Greg.

SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION. Fully Remastered Audio, Two bonus tracks, 16-page full-colour booklet, 3,500-word essay, new interview with Greg Goddovitz and enhanced artwork with unpublished photos.

TRACKLISTING: 1. THE BUS DRIVER BLUES 2. DRIVE ME CRAZY 3. LET THAT LIZARD LOOSE 4. I’M LOSING YOU 5. LET IT SLIDE 6. TWELVE DAYS 7. UNDER MY HAT 8. HARD YEARS BONUS TRACKS; 9. THE BUS DRIVER BLUES (remix) 10. UNDER MY HAT (remix)

GODDO – An Act Of Goddo

The great thing about the record business during the 1970s was the fact that labels allowed bands to develop organically, often over several albums. For those of us with an interest in more obscure acts it provides a great education and Goddo were no exception. A predominantly hard rock, Canadian, power trio who’s musical growth was spectacular, chomping their way through crunchy blues-based rock tracks and introducing some highly refined twists and turns such as horns and even an orchestra. An Act Of Goddo, is the culmination of the band’s insatiable appetite for pushing the envelope. Recorded and mixed not in their native Canada but this time in Orlando, Florida, the music is enhanced by a choice selection of tracks, written with one singular intention, to astound the listener. Produced, once again, by Thomas Morley-Turner (actually a pseudonym for bandleader Greg Godovitz) the record benefits from some terrific tracks, including tough nut rockers such as “So Walk On”, “Take Care”, “Work It Out” and arguably the band’s greatest song, the English/French lilting ballad “Chantal”. Most spectacular however is the opening, and closing, instrumental “Anacanapanacana”, a musical palindrome performed by the Florida Symphony Orchestra consisting of a mash-up of melodies found on the rest of the album. It’s a great introduction and one that sets up – and ends – the rest of the record perfectly. There’s no question that this was Goddo’s finest hour, leading us to one singular conclusion, that they were one of Canada’s best kept musical secrets.

SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION. Fully Remastered Audio, 16-page full-colour booklet, 3,500-word essay, new interview with Greg Goddovitz and enhanced artwork with unpublished photos.

TRACKLISTING: 1. ANACANAPANACANA 2. SO WALK ON 3. CHANTAL 4. YOU’RE SO CRUEL 5. THE VERDICT’S IN 6. SIGN ON THE LINE 7. ROSIE (JUST HANG ON) 8. TAKE CARE 9. WORK IT OUT 10. ANACANAPANACANA

GODDO – …Who Cares…

We’ve said it on numerous occasions before but Canadian rock has always offered up something quite unique and impressive. We don’t know if it’s something to do with the water supply or that their musician’s brains are wired differently, but Canadian recordings are, more often than not, overflowing with a depth of complexity that dwarfs similar acts from other countries. It’s a strange phenomenon for sure but entirely true and Goddo are no exception to that rule. Formed as a crushing power trio during the midseventies, led by polymath Greg Godovitz on bass, the band quickly rose to prominence on their debut album; laying down a foundation of meaty riffs and intriguing songs laced with acerbic lyrics and the sort of wit that still raises a chuckle. But let’s not for one moment suggest that Goddo were a comedy act; far from it. The serious musical assault and intense lyrical delivery suggest a band with a keen eye on the bigger prize. …Who Cares…, recorded in Toronto, and issued in 1978, showcases a band on the move. Whilst their debut album made a firm case for pummelling hard rock, …Who Cares… lays down the law in a similar fashion but also pushes the envelope, introducing more complex arrangements and acoustic parts, like the cello accompaniment to “Tough Times”. But if its meat and potatoes rock that you desire look no further than “Cock On”, “Too Much Carousing” and – the could have been hit single – “Sweet Thing”. This album is one of the cornerstones of Canadian rock, make no mistake.

SPECIAL DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION. Fully Remastered Audio, Eleven bonus tracks, 16-page full-colour booklet, 3,500-word essay, new interview with Greg and enhanced artwork with unpublished photos.

TRACKLISTING: 1. TOUGH TIMES 2. COCK ON 3. YOU CAN NEVER GO BACK ANYMORE 4. DROP DEAD (THAT’S WHO) 5. SWEET THING 6. ‘PEOPLE IN THE NEWS’ 7. THERE GOES MY BABY 8. OH CAROLE (KISS MY WHIP) 9. ONCE AGAIN 10. TOO MUCH CAROUSING BONUS TRACKS: 11. TOUGH TIMES (orchestral dub) 12. GREG DISCUSSES WHO CARES 13. ONCE AGAIN (alt mix) 14. SWEET THING (alt mix) 15. TOUGH TIMES (acoustic mix) 16. THERE GOES MY BABY (7” edit) 17. DROP DEAD (THAT’S WHO) (alt mix) 18. TOO MUCH CAROUSING (Instrumental dub) 19. GREENSLEEVES 20.HITCHCOCKIAN OUTTAKE 21. ZOMBAT GREETING

ShawnAnimalizeIrwin

Go to Rock Candy Records to purchase these CDs.

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