Canadian Sound Sells

For the last two years, Toronto-based folk singers have been breaking the international sound barrier by being widely acclaimed in the United States.

In 1966 it was Gordon Lightfoot. Peter, Paul and Mary"s recording of Lightfoot's "For Lovin' Me" made him one of the most in-demand country-folk composers. Then he had good chart success with "Spin, Spin, Spin and Go Go Round".

Joni Mitchell came to the attention of Cadence Records last year with her regular appearances on CBC"s The Way it is. They were impressed enough to give her a $25,000 advance before she had even recorded anything for them.

Now her compositions are in demand by other artists. George Hamilton IV, Dave Van Ronk and Buffy Saint Marie have recorded some of her songs.

Bernie Fiedler, manager of the Riverboat Club in Toronto, was a prime mover in developing the talents of Lightfoot and Mitchell. And he feels that 1968 will be the year that 19-year-old Murray McLauchlan will make it south of the border.

McLauchlan is already becoming known in folk singing circles as a composer. Three"s a Crowd, with Ottawa drummer Ritchie Peterson, recorded a McLauchlan tune for their first release with Dunhill Records in the United States. Other folk groups will be recording his material later this year.

McLauchlan is in Ottawa next week; April 23 to 29 at Cafe Le Hibou called The Sparrows. Three years ago they moved to New York City and later to San Francisco in search of fame - remember the name Steppenwolf.

"Rare Junk" is the title of the latest L.P. by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. If you think that"s weird there"s a group in Montreal called the Tangerine Toilet. Elvis Presley has just received another gold record for his L.P. "How Great Thou Art". That makes a total of 42 - 32 for singles and 10 for L.P.'s.