Lost In Tyme Blog

Kensington Market - 1968 - Avenue Road

Tracks:
1 I Would Be The One
2 Speaking Of Dreams
3 Colour Her Sunshine
4 Phoebe
5 Aunt Violet's Knee
6 Coming Home Soon
7 Presenting Myself Lightly
8 Looking Glass
9 Beatrice
10 Girl Is Young

Yes, Kensington Market were one of the most well-respected groups on the scene in late-1960s Canada; yes, this album came out on a big label (Warner Brothers); and yes, it was produced by a major figure, Felix Pappalardi, then hot with Cream. This doesn't mean, though, that this is anything more than a very ordinary late-1960s rock LP, leaning towards the gentle pop/rock side without being too mainstream. In keeping with the times, a lot of attention was paid to varying the styles and arrangements, from airy-fairy pop-psychedelia ("Looking Glass") and jugbandish good-time rock with echoes of the Lovin' Spoonful ("Beatrice") to folk-rock-pop ("Speaking of Dreams" is rather like 1966-1967 Elektra-produced folk-rock with a poppier slant) and somberly orchestrated, introspective tunes that never lost sight of pop harmonies and vague psychedelic sentiments. The tunes just weren't outstanding, though, from either vocal or compositional perspectives, and the group didn't have a personality to set them apart from much similar middling pop/rock on the market in 1968. Kensington Market were artier, more ambitious, and somewhat more melancholic than the typical good-time group of the era, but not so much so that the album demands rediscovery.
~by Richie Unterberger

Kensington Market - 1969 - Aardvark

Tracks:
1 Help Me
2 If It Is Love
3 I Know You
4 The Thinker
5 Half Closed Eyes
6 Said I Could Be Happy
7 Ciao
8 Ow-ing Man
9 Side I Am
10 Think About The Times
11 Have You Come To See
12 Cartoon
13 Dorian

Keith McKie - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (1967-1969)
Alex Darou - Bass Guitar (1967-1969)
Jimmy Watson - Drums, Percussion, Sitar(recording only) (1967-1969)
Eugene Martynec - Lead Guitar, Piano (1967-1969)
Luke Gibson - Backup Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica (1967-1969)
John Mills-Cockell - Synthesizer (1969)

Bio :
Kensington Market was a Toronto, Canada based rock band, active from 1967-1969. Named after a downtown Toronto neighbourhood, it was formed by singer/songwriter and guitarist Keith McKie (born November 20, 1947 in St Albans, England, immigrated to Canada in April 1953), formely with The Vendettas, with guitarist and pianist Eugene Martynec (born March 28, 1947 in Germany) from Bobby Kris & The Imperials. The original line up was completed with former Vendettas' bass player Alex Darou (born January 6, 1943 in Sault St. Marie, Ontario) and drummer Jimmy Watson (born August 23, 1950, Belfast, Northern Ireland). Former Luke & The Apostles frontman, singer/songwriter Luke Gibson (born November 5, 1946 in Toronto) was added later in 1967, and the synthesizer player John Mills-Cockell (born May 19, 1943 in Toronto) was a member in 1969.

Brought together around May 1967 by musical entrepreneur Bernie Finkelstein, the Market debuted at the Night Owl on June 4 and performed initially in Toronto coffeehouses like the Red Gas Room and high schools. In mid-August, after the dissolution of "Luke And The Apostles", the Market recruited Luke Gibson by which time they had already released two singles for Stone Records. These singles achieved minimal success but Finkelstein was able to sign them to Warner Brothers in New York City. In 1968, the Market did the soundtrack to the NFB film "The Ernie Game." Later that year, they released the album Avenue Road(Produced by Felix Pappalardi), followed by a tour of the United States. In 1969, keyboardist John Mills-Cockell joined, and their follow-up, 'Aardvark', was released, once again produced by Pappalardi, followed by their second US tour. However, this wasn't done in enough time to save the splintering band who split that same year.