Canadian Talent Library

The Canadian Talent Library (CTL) is the manifestation of Lyman Potts' "Canadianization" of Canadian radio broadcasting.

Created primarily to bring a measure of truly Canadian programming to private (commercial) radio stations, CTL became a unique showcase for Canadian singers, musicians and song-writers that especially attracted easy-listening program producers in other English-speaking countries. CTL also served to kick-start a Canadian recording industry.

CTL was conceived by veteran broadcaster J. Lyman Potts and was founded and largely funded as a non-profit trust by Standard Broadcasting Corporation, then the owner of CFRB Toronto and CJAD Montreal, with mounting support that reached 240 radio stations. In a span of 23 years, 1962 to 1985, CTL produced 268 stereo LPs with over 3,000 selections. The first 79 were made as electrical transcriptions, and could be used only by CTL subscribers. Beginning with #5080, they were made under the A F of M's record license and leased to conventional record companies under their labels.

But CTL records were produced originally for broadcasting in Canada where they helped radio stations meet and exceed the CANCON 30% regulation. They were used extensively by the BBC in England and to various degrees on U.S. stations and by radio music suppliers that had discovered them.

After CTL was closed down in 1985, Doug Peck and Derek Au compiled a discography of 268 at: https://www.broadcasting-history.ca/canadian-talent-library-complete-discography

Robert Williston at The Museum of Canadian Music has so far found 445 titles (including stereo and mono), 11 singles, and several compilations.

So far, 81 CTL albums have been uploaded here with more to come. keep checking back!

Tracks