Artist: The Wackers, Album: Wackering Heights, Song: Don't Be Cruel

The Wackers were a rock band originally from California but who eventually called Montreal home.  They were Bob Segarini (see blogs 1/8/11, 7/3/11), Randy Bishop, Kootch Trochim, Michael Stull and Spencer Earnshaw.  Many of the members were in previous bands together like Family Tree and Roxy.  The band signed with Elektra Records and released their debut, Wackering Heights, in 1971.  The band toured parts of Canada and the U.S..  The response to their music was likely the greatest in Montreal, where the band had some strong radio presence and made appearances on television.  They befriended many local artists including producer, Andre Perry, who was responsible for recording John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance.  The band would begin recording tracks for their sophomore release in Montreal before Segarini, Bishop and Trochim moved there permanently.  The band would release a total of 3 albums between 1971 and 1973 and actually laid down tracks for a fourth that remains unreleased today.  Segarini and Trochim would migrate to a new band with some future members of April Wine called, The Dudes (see blog 7/3/11), for one album before Segarini began his own solo career.  Segarini would also garner a Juno nomination for Producer Of The Year in 1979 as a result of his solo debut, Gotta Have Pop.  You can check the man out at http://www.myspace.com/segarinimusic.  He has a very cool cover of the Springsteen classic, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, posted there for a listen.  On the topic of cover songs, one of the many outstanding tunes on The Wacker's debut is their cover of the Elvis classic, Don't Be Cruel.  You can check it out on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com/32239246).  You can purchase Wackering Heights on Itunes.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!