“I Believe In Sunshine” taken from the CD ‘A Passing Fancy’ (Flashback 11) 1998
A Passing Fancy | I Believe In sunshine | (Columbia) 1967 | A Passing Fancy were a Canadian band from Toronto, Ontario, active from the mid-1960s fronted by the singer-songwriter and guitarist Jay Telfer and Brian Price.
At Downsview Secondary School, Brian Price (organ, vocals) formed his own band, the Dimensions with brothers Jay (rhythm guitar) and Ian Telfer (bass guitar), Phil Seon (guitar) and Greg Hershoff (drums) in July 1965.
The Dimensions were managed by Bernie Finkelstein, (future president of True North Records and Bruce Cockburn’s longstanding manager), who had also been a student at Downsview. After playing dates at many high schools across Ontario, the Dimensions became the house band at Cafe El Patio in the Yorkville Village through Finkelstein’s connections.
The band changed name to A Passing Fancy in January 1966 when Finkelstein left to take over the management of The Paupers.
By this stage, Rick Mann (aka Fruchtman) had replaced Jay’s brother on bass. The new line-up began to gig extensively on the local scene. Through the band’s fan club president, Barb Young, A Passing Fancy was introduced to record store owner Walter Honsberger and partner Dan Bartollini, who began to shape the band’s sound and image as Wal-Dan Management.
A Passing Fancy | I Believe In sunshine | (Columbia) 1967
Within a few months, the management team had wrangled a three-single deal with Columbia Records. The first single under this deal, “I’m Losin’ Tonight” was very successful and charted across Canada.
In September 1966, Steve Wilson came in to replace Greg Hershoff on the drums. Aside from playing regularly at clubs like the Night Owl, the Gogue Inn and Club 888, A Passing Fancy also worked extensively at the Blue Fox and established a local following throughout late 1966 and early 1967.
The band’s debut single, Telfer’s “I’m Losing Tonight”, released in February 1967, reached No. 22 on the CHUM chart the following month. While its follow up, “You’re Going Out Of Your Mind” only made No. 37 in June, the group’s third single for Columbia, “I Believe in Sunshine” restored some faith by reaching No. 28 in September.
By then, Steve Wilson had left and Louis Pratile joined on drums.
During the summer of 1967, A Passing Fancy played at Expo ’67 in Montreal where they jammed with local band, Les Tetes Blanches. The moderate success of the singles, prompted Columbia to finance a fourth single, “People In Me”, was listed at No. 48 and failed to chart higher when it was released in December.
Telfer’s insistence on practice was resisted by Price who was completing his third year in university and wanted to pursue a career in dentistry.
In March 1968, Price quit. Although Telfer was recognized as the musical leader of the group, Price was the founder and spiritual and business leader. His leaving the band had a major impact on Seon and Mann.
A Passing Fancy | I Believe In sunshine | (Columbia) 1967
A Passing Fancy carried on by replacing Price with Fergus Hambleton on organ and vocals and Brian Smith who contributed a third folky guitar but the chemistry of the band was never the same.
After shooting at the CBC, playing the first Let’s Go TV show in colour and performing that same night at the Granite club, Telfer was told by the Wal-Dan management that he would no longer be in the group.
Unhappy over the new direction Seon and Mann left shortly thereafter. A few months later, in June 1968, the remaining members of the band also left.
The Wal-Dan management decided to reform the band around Hambleton and in July 1968 brought in new members, Ron Forster (guitar), Dan Troutman (bass) and Wally Cameron (drums) and Glenn Brown (lead vocals).
The new line up recorded four tracks, which the management took to John Irvine of Boo Records. Irvine helped piece together an album’s worth of material and released a lone single, “Your Trip”, but it sold poorly.
The self-titled album, which featured all of the Columbia singles, (including an alternate mix of “I’m Losing Tonight” with no lead guitar) was released in November 1968. Like the single, the album failed to make an impression despite the band holding down a residency at the El Patio throughout the latter part of 1968 and early 1969. By June 1969, the band had broken up.
A Passing Fancy | I Believe In sunshine | (Columbia) 1967
A Passing Fancy 1968 (Boo 6801)
A Passing Fancy 1988 (Breeder 570, Austria)
A Passing Fancy 1998 (CD Flashback 11, UK)
A Passing Fancy 2002 (CD Pacemaker)
This album (released in November ’68) compiles tracks from four earlier singles, along with four new tracks. As such the LP is quite diverse with the band showing an almost chameleon-like adaptability.
The slashing “I’m Losing Tonight” and a version of the Music Machine‘s “People In Me” are first-rate garage rock. The title track, the annoyingly catchy “I Believe In Sunshine” and “Island” showcase a Top 40 pop feel, while a few other tracks display light psychedelic ambitions.
Frequent diversity equates to lack of focus, but in this case it simply makes the album even better. The only real disappointment is the bland and tame ballad “Sounds Silly”.
Our editor is less impressed with this LP, but points out that the front cover looks like a gigantic acid blotter.
The Pacemaker CD comes from tapes but is mastered far too slow, enough to render it near unlistenable. (The Acid Archives)
Discography:
“I’m Losing Tonight” c/w “A Passing Fancy” (Columbia 2729) 1967
“You’re Going Out of My Mind” c/w “Sounds Silly” (Columbia 2755) 1967
“I Believe In Sunshine” c/w “She Phoned” (Columbia 2767) 1967
“People In Me” c/w “Spread Out” (Columbia 2772) 1967
“Island” c/w “Your Trip” (Boo 684) 1968
A Passing Fancy LP (Boo 6801) 11/68
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