Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Artist: Vehicle, Album: Vehicle, Song: Mr. Skin

Vehicle were a rock band from Hamilton, Ontario.  They released their self-titled debut in 1977 with the Skyline record label.  The album was distributed by Quality Records and featured a cover song as the lead off track.  The song was called, Mr. Skin, and it was originally recorded by American band, Spirit, on their 1970 release, Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus.  Interesting fact about this song.  It wasn't released as a single by Spirit upon the album's initial release but rather three years later when their record company issued a Best Of Spirit compilation.  So this song was likely still fresh in every one's ears when Vehicle recorded it in 1977.  In hindsight, with the band's trumpet and keyboard elements, it was a perfect fit for this 6 piece band.  The members were Carlo Dibattista, Bert Garfield, Martin Wall, Owen Thomas Smith, Rick Llewellyn Hawksby and Robert Scott Wilson.  This album was re-released by Unidisc in later years and is available for download on Itunes.  You can check out the song, Mr. Skin, on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D-tUBcKmXA&feature=channel_video_title).  Thanks for reading and enjoy!
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5 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 10, 2020 at 6:49 AM

    Great band saw them many times at Grange Hotel Hamilton Ontario

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  2. UnknownJanuary 4, 2021 at 4:56 PM

    Thank You for posting the album cover. Mr. Love was the first single release off of the album. It is on YouTube. Mr. Love-Vehicle. Carlo Di Battista

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  3. UnknownMarch 14, 2021 at 5:49 AM

    Hi Carlo. Writing a book and filming a PATREON site right now called "THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE CANADIAN BAR CIRCUIT". I would like to interview you if possible. I know you went to Ed as well; so I might have a question or two about that. You can contact me at the email addy: bvollm0656@rogers.com

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  4. XtremefanMarch 27, 2021 at 2:01 PM

    Hi Carlo, I looked up your post for nostalgia reasons, as I used to hang out with the original members of Vehicle (including you), but you don’t mention the original band members in your post. I’m talking about Gary Atkinson, Bill Masney, Fred Reader and Morris. It would be nice from a history of the band point of view, to include them. I dated Bill Masney before he was killed in a car accident. Saw Vehicle in many venues, but primarily at the Grange.

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  5. UnknownJanuary 9, 2022 at 2:47 AM

    I remember this band playing at the Chaudierre Golf Club across the river from Ottawa. They were one of the best musically talented bands then. Love the way they began each set with solos.

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