Lighthouse – Lighthouse Live! (1972)

One of the finest (Jazz) Rock bands from Canada.

Drummer Skip Prokop formed Lighthouse in 1968 and began adding members soon after: guitarist Ralph Cole (whom Prokop had played with in the Paupers), Grant Fullerton, Pinky Dauvin, saxophonist Howard Shore, cellist Dick Armin, violinist Don DiNovo, keyboard player Paul Hoffert, saxophonist Keith Jollimore, vocalist Bob McBride, trumpeter Peter Pantaluk, trombonist Larry Smith, and bassist Louis Yackniw. The band released two albums on RCA in 1969 and played at the Newport and Monterey Jazz Festivals and the Isle of Wight Festival, though they had turned down Woodstock. In late 1970, RCA released Lighthouse’s third album, Peacing It All Together, then dropped the band, who then signed to GRT. 1971 brought One Fine Morning and Thoughts of Movin’ On, and in 1972, the group released Lighthouse Live! and Sunny Days. The band lost members, beginning in 1973 when Paul Hoffert left, followed by Bob McBride and Skip Prokop in 1974; the group eventually disbanded in 1976.

Lighthouse had released Can You Feel It (1973) and Good Day (1974), and in 1975, The Best of Lighthouse appeared. Original members re-formed for live shows in 1982 and 1993, and another greatest-hits album, The Best of Lighthouse — Sunny Days Again, was issued in 1989. Postcards from Heaven followed in 1998. Both Bob McBride and Skip Prokop had somewhat successful solo careers. Sadly, Bob McBride lost his battle with substance abuse on February 20, 1998. He was 51. (by John Bush)

But the band play on and on …

In April 2013, Skip Prokop suffered from ventricular tachycardia. A device was implanted to regulate his heart. Prokop toured with Lighthouse throughout 2013 but was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, then suffered more heart trouble requiring bypass surgery. He officially retired from music in 2016 and died at the age of 73 on August 30, 2017 from heart complications. He was replaced by his son, Jamie Prokop.

The band’s most recent compilation album, Icon, was released on August 10, 2018.

They continue to perform and tour extensively across Canada. (wikipedia)

And here´s their 8th album, a live double album: This was the first time a Canadian album went platinum.

I have a special place for this album because of two reasons. I listened to the original concert which was broadcasted on a local FM station while I was at a drive-in movie back in ’72. Along with Tom Northcott and magician Doug Henning, they were the first concert I went to at the old Memorial Gardens in Victoria B.C.
This is a stong performance which yields such classic songs as “Eight Miles High”, “Take it Slow (Out in the Country)” and “One Fine Morning”. Lighthouse has great arrangements on all their songs especially the melodic “Sweet Lullabye” and “1849”. They tear a strip off on other notables such as “Insane” and “Rockin Chair”. Bob McBrides voice is powerful and blends well with the symphonic sounds of Canada’s premiere rock orchestra.

If you listen to the introduction, they were hell bent on making the return to Carnegie Hall a triumph and the audience knew they were in for a great evening of music. Although slightly different order of the songs from the original vinyl, nothing is lost in the text. If you like Chicago, you’ll love Lighthouse. (Dale Caudwell)

In other words: Excellent stuff !

Recorded live at the Carnegie Hall, New York,  February 6, 1972

Personnel:
Richard Armin (cello)
Ralph Cole (guitar, vocals)
Paul Hoffert (keyboards, vibraphone, percussion)
Keith Jollimore (saxophone)
Mike Malone (trumpet)
Bob McBride (vocals, percussion)
John Naslen (trumpet)
Don DiNovo (violin)
Skip Prokop (drums, percussion, vocals)
Howard Shore (saxophone, flute, vocals)
Larry Smith (trombone, vocals)
Louis Yacknin (bass)

Tracklist:
01. Intro 0.35
02. I Just Wanna Be Your Friend (Prokop/McBride) 3.09
03. Take It Slow (Out In The Country) 3.34
04. Old Man (Smith) 7.45
05. Rockin’ Chair (Prokop/Cole) 3.51
06. You And Me (Shore) 9.15
07. Sweet Lullaby (Prokop) 5.18
08. 1849 (Prokop/Cole) 6.49
09. Eight Miles High (McGuinn/Crosby/Clark) 18.10
10. Insane (Prokop/McBride) 4.48
11. One Fine Morning (Prokop) 5.19

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“Been on the road 15 days all over the south. I all want you do is have one good hot shit time, man.” (Great opening banter for a great LP!!!!)

The official website:

Lighthouse – Same (1969)

Lighthouse is a Canadian rock band formed in 1968 in Toronto, Ontario. Their sound included horns, string instruments, and vibraphone; their music reflected elements of rock music, jazz, classical music, and swing. They won Juno Awards for Best Canadian Group of the Year in 1972, 1973, and 1974.

Lighthouse was formed in 1968 in Toronto by vocalist/drummer Skip Prokop (formerly of the Paupers) and keyboardist Paul Hoffert. The two met on a flight from New York City to Toronto, and discussed forming a band structured around a rock rhythm section, jazz horn section, and classical string section. Prokop had admired Ralph Cole’s playing when they shared the bill at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit, so he invited him to Toronto to be the band’s guitarist. Prokop and Hoffert assembled the rest of the group from friends, studio session musicians, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra members, and proceeded to make a demo recording.

Prokop and Hoffert took the demo to MGM Records in New York, who signed the band. Two days later they had a manager, Vinnie Fusco, from Albert Grossman’s office, who overturned the MGM contract and made a deal with RCA Victor.

Lighthouse made its performing debut on May 14, 1969, at the Rock Pile in Toronto, introduced by Duke Ellington with the words, “I’m beginning to see the Light…house”.[3] The band originally consisted of 13 members.

One of the first Lighthouse concerts was at Carnegie Hall, and in its first year the band also played at Fillmore East, Fillmore West, Toronto, Boston, the Atlantic City Pop Festival, and the Monterey and Newport Jazz Festivals. A free concert at Toronto City Hall in the summer of 1969 drew a reported crowd of 25,000. Their first album, Lighthouse, was released in 1969 by RCA from RCA’s Toronto Eastern Sound Studio.

Their next album, Suite Feeling, was also recorded in 1969 at Toronto Eastern Sound Studio. It featured two cover songs: The Band’s “Chest Fever” and The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life”. Their third and final album for RCA was also the last one for original lead singer Pinky Dauvin. The album Peacing It All Together was recorded in RCA’s Music Centre of the World Hollywood Studios. The songs “Feel So Good”, “If There Ever Was a Time”, and “The Chant” were minor hits in Canada during the band’s time with RCA. Lighthouse was invited to perform at Woodstock that year, but turned it down.

In the summer of 1970, Lighthouse represented Canada and Ontario at Expo ’70 in Japan. The band appeared at the Strawberry Fields Festival in August 1970, followed by the Isle of Wight Festival where they performed two nights, along with The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Chicago, Miles Davis, and The Who. (by wikipedia)

Lighthouse had a big big sound for its time, it seemed to be all things to everyone: serious arrangements/fun grooves,pop/folk, harmonies/stinging leads, sweeping granduer/hard-ass rock. You could take your mom to the show, but feel none the geekier for it. It was truly a Canadian institution, but this raw almost unknown record is where it all started. Still, I bet there are few Canadians who have heard this particular record let alone know who Pinky Dauvin is. At the time of this LP, their first release, there were few bands as democratic as Lighthouse, regardless of the seemingly huge size of the group. I was shocked and excited when they played our Highschool Auditorium back in the fall of 1969. As far as my buddies and I were concerned there had never been a band like this before. They wailed, they chirped, they blasted, and besides, these thirteen guys barely fit on the stage together.

Mountain Man, the opening track, is a true hippy anthem, and might just be Lighthouse’s finest tune. Not to say it was all downhill from there by any means, but this tune shows a balanced band, earnestly working together to create a beautiful cacaphony. Just listen to the way Ralph Cole’s guitar screams amid the honking sea of horns. At this time Lighthouse was like a highschool band, but the best one you have ever heard in your life. Lighthouse before Bob Mcbride was a far less poppy affair and Mountain Man really shows off Lighthouse’s collective chops. You may want to note however that this old RCA release does suffer from muddy production values at times. Some of the tunes sound very dated today. (by vingaton)

Consequently, you might think that The Byrds’ Eight Miles High would be innapropriate for such a large-scale group. However, Lighthouse tears it up in a bold punchy rendition that must have surely given fellow Toronto boy David Clayton Thomas and his song- stealing BS&T crew some pause for thought. On the flip-side of this bombasity, Marsha Marsha is a pleasant little ditty. The real barnburner on this groundbreaking record is their version of Richie Havens’ No Opportunity Necessary.

The first Lighthouse record has been largely ignored, even by fans, but I would suggest that they pull it out and give it a spin for old times sake. I bet you will be surprised. Seeing this awesome band live back in the late sixties was a thrill, and it made my Torontonian heart proud as a young lad. I am very glad to see them recognized here in these amazing archives.

Lighthouse in the studio

Personnel:
Arnie Chycoski (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Ralph Cole (guitar, vocals)
Pinky Dauvin (percussion, vocals)
Grant Fullerton (bass, vocals)
Ian Guenther (violin)
Paul Hoffert (keyboards, vibraphone)
Russ Little (trombone)
Don DiNovo (violin, viola)
Skip Prokop (drums, vocals)
Leslie Schneider (cello)
Howard Shore (saxophone)
Freddy Stone (trumpet, flugelhhorn)
Don Whitton (cello)

Tracklist:
01. Mountain Man (Prokop/Devereux/Cole) 4.22
02. If There Ever Was A Time (Prokop) 4.54
03. No Opportunity Necessary (Havens/Williams/Price) 3.03
04. Never Say Goodbye (P. Hoffert/B.Hoffert) 3.21
05. Follow The Stars (Prokop) 4.04
06. Whatever Forever (Hoffert/Prokop) 5.00
07. Eight Miles High (McGuinn/Crosby/Clark) 5.11
08. Marsha Marsha (Prokop) 3.24
09. Ah I Can Feel It (Prokop) 4.45
10. Life Can Be So Simple (Prokop/Devereux) 3.58
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11. Chest Fever (Single A side, 1969) (Robertson) 5.05

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This is another item I got from Mr. Sleeve … Thanks a lot !!!

Ronald Harry “Skip” Prokop (December 13, 1943 – August 30, 2017)