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49th Parallel
The 49th Parallel
Maverick - 1969
Michael Panontin
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Calgary's torch bearers in the great sixties rock sweepstakes were 49th Parallel, whose 1969 chart success, 'Twilight Woman', garnered them a few deserved rays of limelight.
Starting off as the Shades of Blond, the group eventually re-christened themselves 49th Parallel and landed a record deal with Ontario-based Gaiety Records, releasing a couple of mildly successful forty-fives, the spry 'Laborer' (RCA 3428) and the Monkee-esque 'She Says' (RCA 3447). Around this time their changing line-up had begun to solidify around singer Dennis Abbott, guitarists Dan Lowe and Bob Carlson, and organist Dave Petch, along with Mick Woodhouse on bass and Terry Bare on the drum kit.
A switch to the Venture label in 1968 saw more success with the curious 'Blue Bonnie Blue' (penned by a then unknown Delaney Bramlett about his equally obscure muse, Bonnie). And then the door started to revolve again, with keyboardist Petch replaced by Jack Velker and bassist Woodhouse yielding to Dave Downy.
By the time of their second Venture seven-inch, the radio-friendly 'Twilight Woman', the band's fortunes seemed to be lifting. With MGM affiliate Maverick agreeing to handle US distribution, the single managed to tweak a few charts south of the border. Which of course gave Maverick the leeway to issue an entire LP, The 49th Parallel, an oddly schizophrenic mix of sunshine pop, Anglo lysergia and the gruffer acid-rock sounds of the era.
The gentlest and ultimately most successful tracks on The 49th Parallel were written by a mysterious Don Hockett, like the blithe and sugary opener 'Now That I'm a Man', with its shades of Curt Boetcher at work in the summery orchestration, or the Tomorrow-esque psych of 'Lazerabder Filchy'. 'Missouri' is more acidic, its breezy farfisa sallying along amidst a more caustic - and at times intrusive - guitar solo. Even better is 'The People', with its heftier organ licks and more abrasive guitar. Add to all that the soulful AM fare of 'Twilight Woman' and The 49th Parallel packs quite a punch.
Alas, the constant personnel changes took their toll, and by 1970, unable to capitalize on the success of 'Twilight Woman', 49th Parallel had decided to pack it in.
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