Search - Jack London, Sparrow :: Jack London & Sparrow

A Sought-After Can-Rock Classic

Keltie D. Harding | Russellville, New Brunswick Canada | 09/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally rescued from obscurity (and sadly out of print once more), "Jack London & The Sparrows" features some very good and melodic British-influnced pop with a tinge of blues and jazz. Formed in Oshawa, Ontario by Dave Marden (aka Jack London) and brothers Dennis and Jerry McCrohan (changed to Edmonton in an attempt to sound more "British"), the band rode the wave of Beatlemania in Canada, under the guise that Marden was from England. Signing with Capitol of Canada in September 1964, the band released a number of singles and this, their debut album, which encorporates thier single releases. Tracks like "Our Love Has Passed" and "Dream On Dreamer" echo the sounds of the British invasion, while 2 blues numbers, "Take It Slow" and "Leaving Blues" (both sung by Jerry Edmonton) hints at the increasingly blues-influenced direction the band would persue after parting ways with Marden in mid-1965, and teaming up with John Kay and forming "Steppenwolf". "Glad To Be With You" has a jazz feel, and "Sparrows & Daisies" is a very pretty ballad with a great harmonium line echoing the lead vocal. This CD sounds quite good, given the age of the material. The digital remastering is excellent throughout and the album is presented in its original mono mix (and I still don't know if this was mastered from the master tape or a very clean vinyl source). EMI Canada did well in preserving the integrity of the original material and as a piece of Canadian music history, it stands up very well. Sadly, this CD is now out of print. Get it while you can! I give it 5 stars because this is an essential and important piece of our musical heritage and for the great remastering job."