Category Archives: Apex

The Canadian Squires / Levon and the Hawks

The Canadian Squires evolved from Ronnie Hawkins’ backing band the Hawks. Hawkins and his drummer Levon Helm were from Arkansas, but finding huge success in Ontario, they started recruiting local musicians as original members of the Hawks returned to the U.S.

After leaving Hawkins in 1964, the group toured on their own, usually billed as Levon and the Hawks. Personnel changed periodically, but by the time of this recording, all the members of the group that would go on to become the Band was in place, four of the five from southern Ontario.

Hawkins’ producer at Roulette, the legendary Henry Glover brought them into Bell Studios in New York to record two fine Robbie Robertson originals, “Leave Me Alone” and “Uh Uh Uh”, in the spring of 1965. Glover released these on the Ware label in the U.S., and on Apex in Canada.

In September they recorded two further Robertson originals, the soulful “He Don’t Love You” and “The Stones I Throw” that made it to the Atco label, but all this was overshadowed by their meeting Dylan in late summer of ’65. In late 1968, Atco dug up one further song, “Go Go Liza Jane”, recycling “He Don’t Love You” for the flip.

Thanks to Ivan for the scan of the Apex 45.

45 releases:

Ware 6002: Canadian Squires – Leave Me Alone / Uh Uh Uh (1965)
Apex 76964: Canadian Squires – Leave Me Alone / Uh Uh Uh (1965)
Atco 6383: Levon and the Hawks – He Don’t Love You / The Stones I Throw (1965)
Atco 6625: Levon and the Hawks – He Don’t Love You / Go Go Liza Jane (1968)

The Witness Inc.

The early Witness, Inc. (l-r): Craig Kaleal, Les Bateman, Kenny Shields, Ed Clynton and Dennis Tremeer
The early Witness, Inc. (l-r): Craig Kaleal, Les Bateman, Kenny Shields, Ed Clynton and Dennis Tremeer

Witness Inc, second and longest-lasting lineup, l-r: Ed Clynton, Dave Tupper, Kenny Shields, Allen Ayers and Les Bateman (kneeling).
Second and longest-lasting lineup, l-r: Ed Clynton, Dave Tupper, Kenny Shields, Allen Ayers and Les Bateman (kneeling)
The Witness Inc. came out of Saskatoon in the central Canadian province of Saskatchewan and immediately became a touring sensation in the western provinces. They released a series of 45s which became increasingly pop after the second. The band finally caught on in Ontario after several years and many personnel changes.The original band consisted of Kenny Shields vocals, Ed Clynton guitar, Dennis Tremeer bass, Les Bateman organ and piano, and Craig Kaleal on drums. I was surprised to learn that the band traveled to New Mexico to record their first 45, probably at Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis.

“I’ll Forget Her Tomorrow”, is a fine pop song, backed with “Girl Before You Go”, an original by Dennis Tremeer (listed as Doug Tremeer in the BMI database). The picture sleeve features a different band lineup than the group on the recording, with new members Dave Tupper on drums and Allen Ayers on bass.

The Witness Inc. (Witnesses) and the Guess Who at the ManhattanThe A-side of their second record, “Jezebel”, is a cover of the old Frankie Laine standard. As good as the Teddy Boys version, it was probably their biggest hit, reaching #1 on CKXL in Calgary in February, 1968.

Younger fans like myself generally prefer the flip side, “Not You Girl”, an original by Ed Clynton and Les Bateman, which speeds by in a hasty 1:46 with a great scream from Shields and an nifty organ solo by Bateman.

The January 13, 1969 issue of RPM Weekly announces that the band had dropped the ‘Inc.’ from their name for their fifth single, “So Come With Me”, recorded at Sound Canada studios in Toronto. Surprisingly the article says this was their first Canadian session!

The Witness Inc. Apex 45 Not You Girl

45 releases:

I’ll Forget Her Tomorrow/Girl Before You Go (Apex 77044) Sleeve
Jezebel/Not You Girl (Apex 77063) Sleeve
Harlem Lady/I Put A Spell On You (Apex 77077, & in U.S., Decca 32328) Sleeve
Visions Of Vanessa/Another Side Of Her (Apex 77087) Sleeve / Reverse
So Come With Me/I’ve Got To Go (Apex 77093)

Saskatooon Musician's Association Annual Social 1967
Thank you to Ivan Amirault for providing scans of the sleeves, and to Peter Studer for the clip of I’ll Forget Her. Very special thanks to Cory for the photos and clippings of the original lineup from his father Dennis Tremeer’s scrapbook.

Witness Inc., first lineup at the Saskatoon Musicians Social, l-r: Craig Kaleal, Kenny Shields, Dennis Tremeer, Les Bateman and Ed Clynton
First lineup at the Saskatoon Musicians Social, l-r: Craig Kaleal, Kenny Shields, Dennis Tremeer, Les Bateman and Ed Clynton
RPM Weekly, January 13, 1969, now simply 'The Witness'.
RPM Weekly, January 13, 1969, now simply ‘The Witness’. Thanks to Chris Smith of the Factree for the clipping
Witness Inc. news item from Jan. 13, 1969 RPM Weekly
news item from Jan. 13, 1969 RPM Weekly