The Collectors - The Collectors & Grass And Wild Strawberries (1967-68) [Remastered] (2004)

When one thinks of Canadian prog rock, the 70's Quebec scene (Harmonium, Maneige etc.) pops up first to mind along with the Toronto scene (Rush, Saga, Max Webster etc.) and one can eventually think of the Guess Who/BTO connection from the central Prairie Provinces (not really prog but classic anyway), but never of the west coast. Alongside Ptarmigan (one sole stupendous hippy prog folk), The Collectors (hailing from Vancouver) might just be the first full-blown progressive group of the country, but they are also Canada's best-kept secret.

These guys started recording a few singles (managing modest but real national success) as soon as 66, but really came on their own when they recorded their first Lp (self-titled) with a superb Art-Nouveau psychedelic artwork. Simply put, this is a masterstroke and they managed with an astounding aplomb and self-confidence that was highly unusual for 68. The only way to describe this incredible record is a mix of THE MOODY BLUES, sprayed with a good dose of VANILLA FUDGE and a cloud of HP LOVECRAFT. Sounds intriguing? Ya betcha!!!! Five tracks on the first side of the vinyl as a starter and the piece de resistance, the 19min+ What Love to finish (no need of desert, you've had enough with that).

Their second album is a full-blown ecological concept album called Grass And Wild Strawberries and the tracks are all linked and the lyrics written by writer George Ryga. The group has for a spine Claire Lawrence on winds and vocals and Bill Henderson on vocals, guitars and keyboards. But the Lead singer was Howie Vickers.

Feeling that their name was not doing them any favour (cannot blame them as it sounds like an early RnR group), they changed their name to Chilliwack, producing a few albums - gradually less progressive and more mainstream, before calling it a day by the end of the 70's. By that time almost everyone had forgotten their superb progressive start.