Friday, January 28, 2011

Artist: The Phantoms, Album: Pleasure Puppets, Song: Home

"Home, son you've got to come back home.  You've been gone away so long.  It's time to lay your burden down."  The Phantoms were a blues rock band originally from Ottawa but made a name for themselves in the bars of Toronto during the mid to late eighties.  Pleasure Puppets was their first studio release in 1990.  The band had developed quite a following in the city and were known for their great live performances.  They were led by their charismatic front man, Jerome Godboo, who as you can see from the album cover above, was a dead ringer for the late Jim Morrison of the Doors.  The band landed a distribution deal with A&M for this record and the single, Home, got some decent radio play on both rock and alternative stations within the city.  They would release one more album as a band in 1992 before Jerome pursued his solo interests.  He continues to perform and produce music today and if you are ever visiting Toronto, make sure you stay at the Delta Chelsea Hotel.  Jerome and his band of Canadian music all stars have taken up residency at the Monarch Pub there for the last two years and you can usually catch him on Thursday nights.  He's a highly respected musician and he's shared the stage with everyone from blues legends like Dutch Mason, Ronnie Hawkins and Jeff Healey to artists like Jimmy Bowskill, Alannah Myles and the Tragically Hip.  He's also jammed with Prince!  His latest release is entitled, Rooting Out My Devils.  You can purchase this album along with the Phantoms' Pleasure Puppets from his website, http://www.jeromegodboo.com/.  His new solo album is also on Itunes.  You Tube has quite a bit of live footage of Jerome and I believe he is the harmonica player in the Dutch Mason, "Who Do You Love" video that is posted there (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcwCXsQLeGo).  It is something worth checking out.  You can hear the song, Home, on You Tube as well (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UXOaWArxk4).  Thanks for reading and enjoy!