Edward Bear - You Can't Deny It (1970)

Edward Bear
You Can't Deny It
1970
Toronto

interview @ http://www.mjq.net/interviews/edwardbear.htm

Larry Evoy (drums, vocals)
Danny Marks (guitar)
Paul Weldon (keyboards)
Bill Loop (bass)
Roger Ellis (guitar; replaced Marks in 1972)
Bob Kendall (keyboards; replaced Weldon in 1972)
Barry Best (keyboards; replaced Kendall in 1974)

Edward Bear (named after the real name of literature's Winnie The Pooh) was formed in the late '60's featuring Evoy, Marks, and Weldon. They struggled through the Yorkville scene in Toronto until finally landing a recording deal with Capitol Records in 1969.

Their first single, "You, Me & Mexico", was released in February 1970 and was a smash hit in Canada, reaching No.3 on the international charts and No.68 in the U.S. They embarked on a disastrous tour of Canada to support their first album 'Bearings'.

Their follow-up LP, 1970's 'Eclipse', failed to find a substantial audience with the single "You Can't Deny It" showing poorly on the charts.

However, the band was hitting its stride with their third album in 1972, 'Edward Bear', with back-to-back charting singles: "Fly Across The Sea" and "Masquerade" but the new commercial sound wasn't the direction that Weldon and Marks had come to expect from the band's earlier outtings and both gents left before their biggest selling single, "Last Song", was released in 1972. The song went to No.1 in Canada, No.3 in the U.S. and Top 5 in Australia; it sold more than 2 million copies worldwide. The American arm of Capitol re-issued "You, Me & Mexico" as the follow-up and it re-entered the U.S. charts. The group won the Outstanding Performance By A Group Juno Award in 1972.

Album No.4, 1973's 'Close Your Eyes' - loosely based on Evoy's embrace of Scientology - featured a new line-up (Ellis and Kendall had replaced Weldon and Marks) and was augmented with the help of fellow Capitol Records act The New Potatoes. The title track hitting No.3 in Canada and Top 30 in the U.S.

With another line-up change in 1974, Edward Bear finally split that year and Larry Evoy went on to a semi-successful solo career but is currently retired; Danny Marks has continued a very successful career as a blues guitar veteran; Weldon performs with a jazz combo and teaches at Seneca College in Toronto; Loop resides in South Western Ontario and plays locally with various session musicians. He also teaches guitar.

In 1990 the original line-up were rehearsing under speculation they would re-unite for a record, but what ended up being released was a 'best of' compilation with several new songs.

with notes from Jimi Bertucci and Andy Summerlin.

Singles:
1970 You, Me & Mexico/Sinking Ship (Capitol) 72603
1970 You Can't Deny It/Toe Jam (Capitol) 72622
1971 Spirit Song (short version)/Spirit Song (long version) (Capitol) 72638
1972 Fly Across The Sea/Four Months Out Of Africa (Capitol) 72653
1972 Masquerade/Pirate King (Capitol) 72662
1972 Last Song/Best Friend (Capitol) 72677
1973 Close Your Eyes/Cache County (Capitol) 72692
1973 Walking On Back/I Love Her (Capitol - US) 3683
1973 Coming Home Christmas/Does Your Mother Know (Capitol) 72715
1974 Same Old Feeling/Fool (Capitol - US) 3804
1974 Freedom For The Stallion/Why Won't You Marry Me? (Capitol) 72734
1975 On And On (Capitol)
1984 God Bless Us Now

Albums:
1969 Bearings (Capitol) SKAO-6328
1970 Eclipse (Capitol) SKAO-6349
1972 Edward Bear (Capitol) ST-6387
1973 Close Your Eyes (Capitol) SKAO-6395
1984 The Best Of The Bear (1969-1984) (Capitol)
1995 Collection (EMI Music Canada) 077772658524

Category:

Music

Tags:

• edward bear
• you can't deny it
• 1970
• 70's
• canadian rock
• music
• canada
• toronto

[jkfpilot]

Bob's father Tom and my grandfather St. Clair Kendall were brothers - you are of course speaking of Aunt Mildred. Nice to hear about somebody from the old 'hood...the woman you are speaking of was Doris - she was a real sweetheart (at least to me) and was pretty HOT - nice taste there cuz!

Just wish he was still around - but his sister Donna and her husband Bill, and their kids Brad, Janet, Cort, Lianne and Paula are still around the TO area!

[SherryLewis62]

Bob Kendall (keys) lived on my street in Clarkson Ingersoll Ct.(now Mississauga) He has left us of Kindney Disease...such a shame,I used to drive his Mom crazy asking if he was home!!!

He had begun a new life with a lady that had a small child...I know that he was as happy as he had ever been!!

Thank You Bob!!!

Sher.

[ChadJHachey]

wicked pipes on this feller

[adric137]

good sound

[MrSlingerland]

Hi my friend,

You Can't deny It .............

Great TUNE from the 70's

Thank you for your neat postings !!!

Musician from Canada.

[guitarcheologist]

The original Edward Bear had a very quiet backyard reunion last summer, Larry Paul and Danny, along with producer Terry Brown and mentor Ritchie Yorke. As always, there were plans discussed to play again but it does not look like that is in the cards anytime in the future.

[wmbrown6]

In the U.S., this single was issued on Capitol 2955.

[JenniferMarnier]

I had their first 2 LPS - Bearings and Eclipse - which were great. I'm hoping that they will have a reunion in the future cause I'm sure there are many people such as myself who would love to see them again.

[jason75]

I still got the same record..It's stored away

[dchoiceisalwaysrs]

I met Larry Evoy twice once in Vancouver and one in Aylmer, Quebec.

Has anyone heard him do the song "far side of the moon" or possibly the "back/other side of the moon" or "dark side of the moon" I know he performed it in Vancouver live in a small coffee/bookshop.