Major Hoople's Boarding House - Someone (Chris' Extended Pop Mix).wmv

A great Canadian pop ballad from 1980-81 that deserves to be heard again. The original timing was RIDICULOUSLY short - just over 2 minutes and change - so here's a version you don't have to hit "repeat" on as often!

David Lodge (vocals, bass; 1967-1976)
Gail Truscott [nee Selkirk] (keyboards 1968-1972)
Peter Pandalino (rhythm guitar)
Rick Riddell (drums)
Fred "Rocky" Howell (lead guitar, vocals)
James Leroy (vocals; replaced Stahlbaum 1976-1979)
Peter Beacock (keyboards; replaced Selkirk)
Keith Stahlbaum (bass; replaced Lodge)
Jack Byrne (drums; replaced Riddell)
Ed Miller (drums; replaced Byrne)
Grant Heywood (drums, vocals; replaced Miller)
Gary Hintz (bass; replaced Leroy)
Ralph Hetke (keyboards; replaced Beacock)
Jack Kalenderian (keyboards)

Major Hoople's Boarding House began in mid-1967 at Cambridge's Galt Collegiate Institute as a trio called The Shan-de-leers featuring Rocky Howell, Peter Pandalino, and Rick Riddell. Following high school the troop decided to take the bull by the horns and go professional with the addition of David Lodge on bass and vocals under the watchful managerial eye of Dan Manbourquette.

In November 1967 they received permission from the makers of the Major Hoople comic strip to use the name and became Major Hoople's Boarding House. In 1968 they added female keyboardist and vocalist Gail Selkirk. They worked the southern Ontario bar circuit from Kitchener to Kingston which helped solidify their first label signing to MUCH Records in 1970 where they released the non-charting "Lady" single.

A move to Polydor later that year allowed them some radio exposure with the song "Beautiful Morning", but subsequent singles in for the label did not phaze radio.

The band found itself in a frenzy of activity through 1975-1976. The tide finally turned after being signed to Greg Hambleton's to Axe Records allowing for the release of their first and biggest hit in August 1975 called "I'm Running After You".

After the loss of Dave Lodge and Peter Padalino, they added Keith Sahlbaum (bass), David Gregg (trombone) and David Gooding (saxophone/flute) and loss no time in capitalizing on their new radio success with a tour from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia and a second hit single "You Girl".

But the group changed its lineup again with the addition of James Leroy (formerly of James Leroy & Denim) and the departure of Gregg and Gooding. The band also truncated its name to Hooples.

By the '80s, the group was being led by Howell and another succession of singles and even performed with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in 1982. In 1985 after the release of the 'New Adventures Of Hooples' album, the group made the Top-10 on the Adult Contemporary charts in Canada with the Heywood/Lodge penned song "Late Night Invitation" on the Major Records label. The single was also released as a video receiving medium rotation on MuchMusic.

Original bass player/singer David Lodge was also working as a songwriter for Peermusic/Southern International during this time and was a co-writer of the international hit by Peter Schilling, "Major Tom", as well as "Lifetime Guarantee" both from the album 'Error In The System'. Lodge toured with Hooples in 1985 and 1986 but passed away suddenly at the end of 1986.

Hooples then re-grouped in late 1987 with Rocky Howell, Grant Heywood, Gary Hintz and Ralph Hetke. They continued playing festivals, one-nighters and corporate shows into the early 1990's and then disbanded.

However, a new incarnation of Hooples, under the name The Fossilz was formed in 2008 featuring original Hooples members Peter (Moss) Beacock and Keith Stahlbaum, as well as former Gaslight lead guitarist Brian Tozer, former Trollie drummer John Rankin, and former Eddie & The Edsels drummer/vocalist Ron Duke.

Heywood carried on with the group Desert Dolphins which had a CD released in 1995 featuring two Top-10 hits on the country charts in Canada as well as two CMT released videos; Leroy died from a suicide in 1979 at age 32.

With notes from Ed Miller, Keith Stahlbaum, Austin Guerin, Greg Simpson, Nick Busigin, Hope Stone, Brian Tozer, John Rankin, David Gooding and Jim Lyttle

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Major
• Hoople's
• Boarding
• House
• Someone
• Chris'
• Extended
• Pop
• Mix
• Canada

[1rickjon]

I ran a booking agency called Image Artists' Representatives back in the late 60's and early 70's and I had the privilege of booking Major Hoople's Boarding House on several occasions. I was also honoured to be considered a friend. I have recently been in e-mail contact with Gail Selkirk. The lead vocal here is by an incredible singer, Rocky Howell and the song was written by the late David Lodge, who was the bass player. How this song was not a huge hit I have no idea. Great memories here.

[leftatalbuquerque]

@1rickjon Hi! This was a hit on CHUM, CHFI and CFTR in Toronto in 1982... that's how I knew of the song! Too bad so many Canadian acts didn't crack the US market - I can't help but think of so many (Carole Pope, Stampeders) that could have been huge hits there...

[bigpianoguy]

The band has a facebook page; and the guys have their own pages, as well.

[2bottlebetty]

I just saw these guys last night at the Tent at the Cocordia Club in Kitchener. Wow they were great!! I almost forgot about them. Only disappointment was that they didn't have any cd's for sale. Boo Hoo.:( They are a rare gem to the music industry.

Way to go for still touring.

[2bottlebetty]

I just saw these guys last night at the Tent at the Cocordia Club in Kitchener. Wow they were great!! I almost forgot about them. Only disappointment was that they didn't have any cd's for sale. Boo Hoo.:( They are a rare gem to the music industry.

Way to go for still tourning.

[rmk1960]

This was a huge hit in Yellowknife on CJCD...thank you for posting. This is now my favorite song in the universe!!!

[RetroCaptain]

Good day,

Someday hope to find a copy of Hooples album..

This and other hits by them on

98.5 CKWR playlist.

I think they sound great, (as well as Denim/James Leroy)

Thanks for adding all the info eh!!

I remember seeing all the posters for their concerts in 1980's but was too young to go!