Lisle - Shelly Made Me Smile

Issued in Canada September 1973 on Bronco 2715.

Lisle was formed in 1967 by Bill Chambers (guitar, lead vocals), Brian Mathias (bass, vocals) and Dan Stephens (drums, vocals), from the Barrie and Orillia area. They played the club circuit six nights a week through 1974. The following information is contributed by the man responsible for their records, Bud Crosgrey:

"I was the producer and the label owner. "Shelly Made Me Smile" was was recorded on Good Friday of 1973, but because of the initial lyric line "Summer's come and gone," we didn't release it until September. The recording was made at Captain Audio Studios in Yorkville, Toronto. The bed tracks were recorded on 4 track and mixed down to 2 track stereo, then transferred back to 4 track where vocals were then added.

It was on the Bronco label here in Canada BR 2715 (distributed by London Records) and on the Bell label in the states. The American company showcased it on "Dick Clark's Battle Of The Bands" and it won. Bell immediately wanted the band to start touring the states, but as two of the guys were married, they didn't want to leave their families behind to tour the states.

Prior to "Shelly," they had a small hit with "Goin Away" (an old Fireballs song), and they made an album, "Smile with Lisle." They also released a single titled "I Believe," and some solo singles after the group disbanded."

Research in the RPM charts shows that they had a 1972 single titled "You're Why Baby" on Bronco BR 2703, which charted AC November 11 at #47, reaching #40 on November 25th. They were in the Country chart on June 9, 1973 with "Sweetheart" on Bronco BR 2710, which spent 20 weeks there, with two weeks at #28 in September. "Shelly Made Me Smile" entered the RPM Adult Contemporary chart on December 1, 1973 at #98 and hit #31 on February 16, 1974; meanwhile it entered the RPM 100 on December 22, 1973 at #100 and reached #37 on April 13. The record did better at radio, where it made #16 on the CHUM chart.
That's the extent of Lisle's life on the charts - any other records they made failed to make an appearance there.

Currently, this is the largest amount of information on Lisle on the entire internet! My thanks to Bud Crosgrey, and to ausman58 for asking Bud about the group for this synopsis, and passing it on to me.

With the new information, the date shown in the video's opening credits is wrong, but I can't change it now, and I would not like to give up the large number of views to repost the video. Sorry!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lisle
• Shelly
• Made
• Me
• Smile
• 1974
• Canadian
• pop

[lacreas]

I used to play in a band called backwater from Owen Sound and new Brian and Danny for years before that. Thay were my insiration to play

[mojofilter02]

Cool! It would seem that they aren't too hard to contact. You might look into it, and rekindling some old friendhips. I'm sure they would welcome the opportunity, and be glad to know that they inspired you to become a musician.

[bandr21]

Danny and Brian of Lisle are playing at the Dakota Sports Club in Barrie,(it's on Anne St.) on Sept. 12 2008 at 9pm.

[mojofilter02]

I'd go if I were not 1500 miles away!

[mojofilter02]

August 3, 2008 - I have updated the bio and discographical information on Lisle in the Video Information section. If I get further data on them, I'll add it there.

[smilewithlisle]

Hey Everybody

This is Brian Mathias from Lisle

Thanks to everyone for the hits on youtube

Thanks MOJO for posting it

On behalf of Danny, Bill and myself i would like to thank you for the interest and its great to see all u old fans still tuning in

PS EI EI O and keep on rocking

[RobbLand13]

Great memories of Lisle at the Pembroke Hotel! Last time I saw them was on my birthday, they made fun of the cops and got escorted out of town

[tibbsa]

Anyone know where I might get a copy of "Rain is Fallin On my Window"? My parents have been searching for some time and I just stumbled across this ... (not sure that that ever made it onto a recorded album, though)

[ronj72]

saw this band in espanola ontario back in the early 80's

[303Thalia]

Like tomswayn, my friends and I were regulars for Lisle's shows at the Paddock. A couple of them even joined the guys on stage for Hand Jive one night. We were there for the taping too - had a mike hanging right over our table. I think I still have those tapes somewhere. Good times.

[spoazone6]

can someone post the flip side of Shelly I think the song is called Going Away

[Whammer79]

@mitts61 It's pronounced Lie L, like the name LYLE. The S is silent.

[mitts61]

How do you pronounce the name of the band?

[Steacy783]

Wow ! 60's Ontario (Campbellford) brat reeling at all these former sitter tunes. Thanks very much for all the postings !!!

[MegaCrowman]

my dear friend and former co-worker whose name was Shelly passed away this week. she will be missed by all of us at work. R.I.P Shelly.

[allcanadianmusic]

Very nice song, touching lyrics. thank-you !

[GoddessPrincess]

OMG Danny Stephens is my uncle. I love him so much we use to play saga when i was a kid.