JOHN & LEE & THE CHECKMATES - BRING IT DOWN FRONT

[MyHGE]

I met Mike last week at a Latin music bar in TO. What a joyless asshole he is. If you read this Mike, please know that you were rude to many people that night for no reason at all. Learn the art of small talk and know that now in your old age the best is to enjoy meeting people and forget the old days when the little bit of fame you had gave you the excuse to be an asshole.

[awoosoul]

@MyHGE Hey relax, one meeting is no measure of a man. I don't know if other things were bothering Mike that night or if there were other influences, but the Mike I know is a complete gentleman and if (as you say) he was out of sorts, my suggestion is to approach him again and you'll see he is a true Canadian legend and a truly nice person.

[kitkovaleish]

go larry!

[literatibuff]

God, I loved to watch Jon & Lee and the Checkmates. This brings back so many memories, not the least of which was going out with Jon a couple of times. He was a really nice guy. Awesome tune, performed with their usual soul.

[PaulMiil]

Great song.  Don't understand why we don't hear this on the radio.

[mckenzie818]

So you know, the three Rhinosceros albums are available on CD. The first - with Apricot Brandy, That Time of Year, and When You Say You're Sorry is absolute classic... and sounds incredible even today. Albums two and three - Satin Chickens and Better Times Are Coming - is available as a 2-on-1. It's interesting to note that as Rhinoseros lost members, they were replaced by those from the Checkmates. I saw Jon, Mike, Peter, and Larry with Mike Sloski drumming a couple years back. Great stuff!

[tynertyner]

Gotta be a Toronto Soul classic. Good shot of the Friars back drop. A moving cut that really ages well.

[PadreMDB]

Brings us down front where it all happened. Mike, John were dynamic and forerunners. TO scene was cookin back then.

[jeffkahl]

ah yes! another killer J/L CM performance! John Findlay and Mike Fonfara are still playing around the GTA. Mike's playing with Downchild these days and John's got his own eponymously named band that plays the club scene.

[dougvarty]

Yeah! I loved this song when I was in my first band - these guys were the most intense performers around Toronto, and that still comes through after all these years.

Thanks for posting this classic! Jon & Lee rule!

[uncledooley]

Love this song reminds me of all the clubs they played in Toronto back in the 60's

[sinecure45]

Thanks for uploading this. Great memories. I used to see J&L in Newmarket. It was an impressive show, in spite of the histrionics, and those VOX amps with the organ seemed like the ultimate in sonic power. I also played hockey with John's brother. If you have the flip side of the disk with the bass solo I would love to hear it. My band tried to do a version of the song.