Riverson were a short-lived folk, psych band from Montr al, Qu bec. They fortunately left us with one hell of an album and three 45 s in very limited quantities and all are highly sought after. The album cracks my top 100 Canadian albums of all time. Due to the high quality, amazing lineup of talent, and rarity, the value of this record has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years - now a NM copy will set you back about 400- 500 if you can find one. A sealed copy sold for 320 back in 03. That copy has likely doubled in value.
The gatefold album was released on Columbia ES 90136 in 1973 and was accompanied by Clear Night b/w Winter Garden on Columbia C4-3077 Eleanor Rigby b/w Can t Live Without You on Columbia C4-3093 and Sittin - Waitin b/w Chances on Columbia C4-4003 the latter featuring two non-album tracks. All album tracks were original tunes, except for the one Beatle cover.
The band members were Frankie Hart Freedom North, Life on piano, acoustic guitar, recorder, lead vocals on Can t Live Without You Rayburn Blake Mashmakhan on Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, lead vocals on Clear Night Brian Edwards Mashmakhan on bass, lead vocals on Stoney Day and Between the Lines and Graham Lear Santana, Paris Black, Truck, Paul Anka, REO Speedwagon on drums. Raymond Blake was with the Qu bec band Le Triangle and released a rare 45 picture sleeve in the mid 1960 s entitled 2 Miroirs b/w Les Montagnes Russes on Gamma AA-1042. Both Rayburne Blake and Brian Edwards played and released Transition on Polydor 2424 071 with Cliff Edwards member of the Five Bells in the same year as the Riverson album, 1973. Rayburn Blake then went on to record with the Lisa Hartt Band, releasing Starwatcher on Rising RRLP 104 in 1976.
The Riverson album was produced by John Williams. It was recorded at Manta Studios in Toronto, Ontario. The engineer was Lee de Carlo. Produced by Riverson and Lee de Carlo. Management was Terry Flood. The album design was by Bob Lemm Promotional Agency Inc. The cover was by Freeman Patterson / Inside - Junior Brunet.
Enjoy this critical piece of Canadian musical history.
-Robert Williston
