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 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bryden, Bob | Theater Like This | Theatre Like This | 03:36 | |
Age of Mirrors | She Cracks Me Up | Screenplay | 03:39 | |
Christmas | Bustin' Out Tonight | Heritage | 04:46 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Day That John Wayne Died | See This Brick | 02:55 | |
Bryden, Bob | Leopard Skin Cadillac | Polaroid Verité | 05:15 | |
Christmas | When Night Falls | Live at Massey Hall | 09:10 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Ballad of Star Records | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:51 | |
Christmas | Point Black | Heritage | 02:21 | |
Age of Mirrors | Don't Let Your Love Slip Away | Screenplay | 03:54 | |
Bryden, Bob | Occult Man | See This Brick | 02:42 | |
Reign Ghost | More Than I | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:36 | |
Bryden, Bob | Seven Arrows | See This Brick | 09:11 | |
Bryden, Bob | Van Gogh On Meds | Transcendental Misinformation | 02:30 | |
Reign Ghost | Solar Nice | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:33 | |
Bryden, Bob | Now You're Leaving | Polaroid Verité | 02:55 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | War Story | Lies to Live By | 09:09 | |
Christmas | Point Blank (It Scares Me) | Live at Massey Hall | 02:53 | |
Bryden, Bob | Set a Guard | Theatre Like This | 03:23 | |
Christmas | Jungle Fabulous | ST | 20:59 | |
Reign Ghost | Breadbox | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:05 | |
Bryden, Bob | Settler's Prayer (Time To Break Camp) | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:16 | |
Bryden, Bob | To Find the Light | See This Brick | 08:15 | |
Christmas | Blues on an Iceberg | Live at Massey Hall | 05:17 | |
Reign Ghost | Reaching | ST | 09:12 | |
Bryden, Bob | Welcome Back to the Human Race | Polaroid Verité | 05:57 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Voice in the Wilderness | Lies to Live By | 04:19 | |
Age of Mirrors | Orange Blossom Special | Mirage | 04:00 | |
Age of Mirrors | Columbus Discovers America | Screenplay | 03:12 | |
Bryden, Bob | Subtitles | Polaroid Verité | 02:58 | |
Reign Ghost | Enola Gay | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 08:26 | |
Bryden, Bob | Mona Lisa With the Dishpan Hands | Polaroid Verité | 03:43 | |
Age of Mirrors | Talk of the Crowd | Mirage | 04:13 | |
Bryden, Bob | Orphan Town | Polaroid Verité | 04:12 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Girl With the Luminious Eyes? | Theatre Like This | 04:10 | |
Christmas | Goin' to Oklahoma | Heritage | 04:01 | |
Christmas | April Mountain | Heritage | 10:54 | |
Age of Mirrors | Somewhere in Arabia | Screenplay | 03:37 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Beyond The Fields We Know | Lies to Live By | 11:13 | |
Age of Mirrors | Crazy After Dark | Screenplay | 04:56 | |
Reign Ghost | Standing Room Only, Mr. Mars | ST | 03:47 | |
Reign Ghost | The Gum Wrapper Song | ST | 01:51 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Partisan Rock | Theatre Like This | 04:34 | |
Christmas | Heritage | Heritage | 02:29 | |
Christmas | Oasis | ST | 06:10 | |
Age of Mirrors | Raiders of the Heart | Screenplay | 03:39 | |
Christmas | Zenith | Heritage | 01:07 | |
Bryden, Bob | Racing For Tomorrow | See This Brick | 03:58 | |
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 | Rise Up | Heritage | 03:12 | |
Age of Mirrors | Everything Looks The Same | Mirage | 03:38 | |
Bryden, Bob | Saturday Night in No Man's Land | Theatre Like This | 03:29 | |
Age of Mirrors | Still Life in Radio | Screenplay | 04:09 | |
Age of Mirrors | Reunion | Screenplay | 04:14 | |
Christmas | Just Suppose | ST | 04:29 | |
Bryden, Bob | More Every Day | Theatre Like This | 04:00 | |
Age of Mirrors | Juliet's Dancing | Mirage | 04:49 | |
Reign Ghost | Eyes Knows, So Does Ears | ST | 09:11 | |
Reign Ghost | Long Day Journey #1 | ST | 03:09 | |
Christmas | Blues on an Iceberg | Heritage | 06:01 | |
Age of Mirrors | Simple Gift of Love | Mirage | 03:05 | |
Reign Ghost | Long Day Journey #2 | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:02 | |
Christmas | Zephyr Song | Heritage | 13:20 | |
Age of Mirrors | Civilian of Discipline | Mirage | 04:47 | |
Christmas | Beyond the Fields We Know | Live at Massey Hall | 16:59 | |
Reign Ghost | Breast Stroke Blues | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 04:24 | |
Age of Mirrors | She Says Hello | Mirage | 04:02 | |
Bryden, Bob | Last Christmas in Retail | Polaroid Verité | 03:25 | |
Reign Ghost | Mother's Got Troubles | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:32 | |
Christmas | Your Humble Suitor | ST | 04:18 | |
Bryden, Bob | Keep It Together | See This Brick | 04:10 | |
Christmas | Sorry I Bore You Victoria | ST | 02:58 | |
Bryden, Bob | Feels Like Far | Polaroid Verité | 08:42 | |
Christmas | Something Borrowed | Heritage | 03:00 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Seasons (Will Not Change) | See This Brick | 04:38 | |
Reign Ghost | Curio Shop | ST | 03:26 | |
Bryden, Bob | Who Are They Shooting At Now? | Theatre Like This | 03:31 | |
Bryden, Bob | Fire Away Now (For Ukraine) | Transcendental Misinformation | 04:11 | |
Reign Ghost | Ain't it Great | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 03:56 | |
Age of Mirrors | This Double Life | Screenplay | 03:43 | |
Reign Ghost | Black Ode | ST | 03:29 | |
Age of Mirrors | The Day the Earth Stands Still - Breathless | Mirage | 05:44 | |
Bryden, Bob | Winds of Hope | See This Brick | 05:05 | |
Age of Mirrors | Wave About Her | Mirage | 04:33 | |
Reign Ghost | Travels of Blue Paradox | ST | 05:00 | |
Reign Ghost | Southern Hemisphere Blues Legacy | ST | 04:11 | |
Bryden, Bob | Say Sleep Tight to Me | Polaroid Verité | 03:14 | |
Bryden, Bob | I'm Looking Forward To You | Theatre Like This | 03:48 | |
Reign Ghost | Pudsy's Parable | Reign Ghost Featuring Lynda Squires | 02:13 | |
Benzene Jag | Love Recession | Fuck Off 1984 b/w Love Recession | 03:06 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | Factory | Lies to Live By | 08:50 | |
Christmas (Spirit of) | All The Wrong Roads | Lies to Live By | 03:19 | |
Age of Mirrors | Glass and Crystal Lives | Screenplay | 04:16 | |
Bryden, Bob | Eleanor Dusa | Theatre Like This | 02:57 | |
Bryden, Bob | Grandma's House (Inundation Day) | Transcendental Misinformation | 03:23 | |
Bryden, Bob | The Song of All Space | Polaroid Verité | 03:21 | |
Bryden, Bob | Everything's Coming Up Rosebud | Polaroid Verité | 04:16 | |
Bryden, Bob | Einstein Shoulda Gone Fishin' Instead | Theatre Like This | 03:41 |
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