Canadian music veteran, Bob Bryden (‘Reign Ghost’, ‘Christmas’) has two new releases coming in 2023. One is a 5 song electric EP entitled ‘Transcendental Misinformation’ and the other is a full double album called ‘No Song Left Behind - The Acoustic Album’. The former release features Bob once again working with Long Day Journey (AKA Rory Quinn) and Katie Iarocci. Bryden has been partnering with psychedelic musican Rory Quinn (who named his band after Bryden’s Reign Ghost song, ‘Long Day Journey’), the two released their first album together, ‘Abandoned Songs and Living Room Jams’ in 2018. In 2021 Bob and Rory have returned with a second offering - a double album entitled, ‘Love in the Atomic Age’. That album is psychedelic in every respect. From beginning to end there are constant surprises as styles and tonalities shift constantly with eccentric abandon.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, but raised in Oshawa, Bob Bryden has had a multi-layered professional and artistic life. As a child he became fascinated with music through the medium of film. In the 1960’s he began to compose, play and perform in various pop groups. His first album of original music, Reign Ghost, was released in 1968. Many of Bob’s subsequent record release go for exorbitant prices on the collector’s market. He recorded 5 albums with the band, Christmas.
When that band dissolved in 1975, Bob set out with guitar in hand and travelled the length and breadth of Canada. Returning to Oshawa, Bob spent several years pursuing a career as an actor. Then after living in Toronto for two years, Bob was given the assignment of taking over the reins of Star Records store in Hamilton, Ontario.
Arriving in Hamilton in July of 1978, Bob quickly formed a record label and signed The Forgotten Rebels. Bryden produced The Rebels’ first EP, their two subsequent albums and one single. Bryden also produced Oshawa’s Durango 95 first Lp, ‘Lose Control’. A a pioneer of the ‘indie’ bug, Bob also soon recorded his first solo album, ‘See This Brick’; a notorious single with the band Benzene Jag and 2 albums with Age of Mirrors. Bob has ever stopped producing music and his total number of original music albums has now reached 21 with 4 solo albums including ‘Polaroid Verite’ and ‘Yorkville Days’. Most of which are available at bandcamp.com.
In 2020 Bob was honoured was indicted into the Oshawa music hall of fame with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to musical culture in the Durham, Ontario region with his bands Reign Ghost, Christmas and the spirit of christmas.
Artist | Track | Title | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christmas | April Mountain | Heritage | 10:54 | |
Bryden, Bob | Winds of Hope | See This Brick | 05:05 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Day That John Wayne Died | See This Brick | 02:55 | |
Age of Mirrors | Orange Blossom Special | Mirage | 04:00 | |
Reign Ghost | Black Ode | ST | 03:29 | |
Reign Ghost | Solar Nice | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:33 | |
Christmas | Jungle Fabulous | ST | 20:59 | |
Christmas | Zephyr Song | Heritage | 13:20 | |
Age of Mirrors | Talk of the Crowd | Mirage | 04:13 | |
Bryden, Bob | Say Sleep Tight to Me | Polaroid Verité | 03:14 | |
Bryden, Bob | Feels Like Far | Polaroid Verité | 08:42 | |
Reign Ghost | Travels of Blue Paradox | ST | 05:00 | |
Christmas | Point Black | Heritage | 02:21 | |
Bryden, Bob | Last Christmas in Retail | Polaroid Verité | 03:25 | |
Age of Mirrors | Civilian of Discipline | Mirage | 04:47 | |
Age of Mirrors | Somewhere in Arabia | Screenplay | 03:37 | |
Bryden, Bob | Van Gogh On Meds | Transcendental Misinformation | 02:30 | |
Reign Ghost | Long Day Journey #1 | ST | 03:09 | |
Christmas | Sorry I Bore You Victoria | ST | 02:58 | |
Bryden, Bob | Fire Away Now (For Ukraine) | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:11 | |
Bryden, Bob | Einstein Shoulda Gone Fishin' Instead | Theatre Like This | 03:41 | |
Bryden, Bob | More Every Day | Theatre Like This | 04:00 | |
Bryden, Bob | Theater Like This | Theatre Like This | 03:36 | |
Bryden, Bob | I'm Looking Forward To You | Theatre Like This | 03:48 | |
Bryden, Bob | Subtitles | Polaroid Verité | 02:58 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Beyond The Fields We Know | Lies to Live By | 11:13 | |
Christmas | Just Suppose | ST | 04:29 | |
Reign Ghost | Long Day Journey #2 | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:02 | |
Christmas | Something Borrowed | Heritage | 03:00 | |
Reign Ghost | Eyes Knows, So Does Ears | ST | 09:11 | |
Christmas | Your Humble Suitor | ST | 04:18 | |
Bryden, Bob | Leopard Skin Cadillac | Polaroid Verité | 05:15 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Seasons (Will Not Change) | See This Brick | 04:38 | |
Bryden, Bob | Occult Man | See This Brick | 02:42 | |
Age of Mirrors | Wave About Her | Mirage | 04:33 | |
Age of Mirrors | Crazy After Dark | Screenplay | 04:56 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | All The Wrong Roads | Lies to Live By | 03:19 | |
Christmas | Goin' to Oklahoma | Heritage | 04:01 | |
Age of Mirrors | This Double Life | Screenplay | 03:43 | |
Reign Ghost | Curio Shop | ST | 03:26 | |
Christmas | Zenith | Heritage | 01:07 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | War Story | Lies to Live By | 09:09 | |
Reign Ghost | Southern Hemisphere Blues Legacy | ST | 04:11 | |
Christmas | Bustin' Out Tonight | Heritage | 04:46 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Voice in the Wilderness | Lies to Live By | 04:19 | |
Age of Mirrors | Everything Looks The Same | Mirage | 03:38 | |
Christmas | Heritage | Heritage | 02:29 | |
Reign Ghost | Ain't it Great | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:56 | |
Bryden, Bob | Who Are They Shooting At Now? | Theatre Like This | 03:31 | |
Bryden, Bob | Keep It Together | See This Brick | 04:10 | |
Bryden, Bob | Now You're Leaving | Polaroid Verité | 02:55 | |
Age of Mirrors | She Says Hello | Mirage | 04:02 | |
Bryden, Bob | Racing For Tomorrow | See This Brick | 03:58 | |
Reign Ghost | Reaching | ST | 09:12 | |
Bryden, Bob | Everything's Coming Up Rosebud | Polaroid Verité | 04:16 | |
Age of Mirrors | Reunion | Screenplay | 04:14 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Girl With the Luminious Eyes? | Theatre Like This | 04:10 | |
Bryden, Bob | Grandma's House (Inundation Day) | Transcendental Misinformation | 03:23 | |
Bryden, Bob | Mona Lisa With the Dishpan Hands | Polaroid Verité | 03:43 | |
Christmas | Rise Up | Heritage | 03:12 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Factory | Lies to Live By | 08:50 | |
Age of Mirrors | The Day the Earth Stands Still - Breathless | Mirage | 05:44 | |
Reign Ghost | Standing Room Only, Mr. Mars | ST | 03:47 | |
Benzene Jag | Love Recession | Fuck Off 1984 b/w Love Recession | 03:06 | |
Reign Ghost | Pudsy's Parable | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:13 | |
Age of Mirrors | Glass and Crystal Lives | Screenplay | 04:16 | |
Bryden, Bob | Settler's Prayer (Time To Break Camp) | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:16 | |
Age of Mirrors | Don't Let Your Love Slip Away | Screenplay | 03:54 | |
Christmas | Oasis | ST | 06:10 | |
Reign Ghost | The Gum Wrapper Song | ST | 01:51 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Song of All Space | Polaroid Verité | 03:21 | |
Age of Mirrors | Simple Gift of Love | Mirage | 03:05 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Ballad of Star Records | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:51 | |
Reign Ghost | Breadbox | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:05 | |
Age of Mirrors | Raiders of the Heart | Screenplay | 03:39 | |
Bryden, Bob | Eleanor Dusa | Theatre Like This | 02:57 | |
Christmas | Blues on an Iceberg | Heritage | 06:01 | |
Christmas | Beyond the Fields We Know | Live at Massey Hall | 16:59 | |
Bryden, Bob | To Find the Light | See This Brick | 08:15 | |
Bryden, Bob | Saturday Night in No Man's Land | Theatre Like This | 03:29 | |
Age of Mirrors | Still Life in Radio | Screenplay | 04:09 | |
Bryden, Bob | Seven Arrows | See This Brick | 09:11 | |
Age of Mirrors | Juliet's Dancing | Mirage | 04:49 | |
Reign Ghost | More Than I | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:36 | |
Bryden, Bob | Set a Guard | Theatre Like This | 03:23 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Partisan Rock | Theatre Like This | 04:34 | |
Age of Mirrors | Columbus Discovers America | Screenplay | 03:12 | |
Reign Ghost | Breast Stroke Blues | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 04:24 | |
Age of Mirrors | She Cracks Me Up | Screenplay | 03:39 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Stay Dead Lazarus | Lies to Live By | 04:07 | |
Benzene Jag | Fuck Off 1984 | Fuck Off 1984 b/w Love Recession | 03:38 | |
Christmas | Point Blank (It Scares Me) | Live at Massey Hall | 02:53 | |
Reign Ghost | Enola Gay | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 08:26 | |
Christmas | Blues on an Iceberg | Live at Massey Hall | 05:17 | |
Christmas | When Night Falls | Live at Massey Hall | 09:10 | |
Reign Ghost | Mother's Got Troubles | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:32 | |
Bryden, Bob | Orphan Town | Polaroid Verité | 04:12 | |
Bryden, Bob | Welcome Back to the Human Race | Polaroid Verité | 05:57 |
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