The Yorkville Sound

“A city within a city — a way of life.”

Step into the cafés, basements, and smoky clubs of 1960s Toronto, where a cultural and musical revolution was brewing on every corner. Long before gentrification transformed it into a luxury address, Yorkville Village was alive with defiance, creativity, and possibility. It was where a generation of Canadian musicians — folk singers, soul shouters, psychedelic rockers — gathered to find their voices and light the fuse of a new national sound.

By day, Yorkville was a countercultural magnet: poets, protesters, draft dodgers, mystics, and misfits lined the sidewalks. By night, it erupted into a sonic free-for-all. On any given block, you’d see mods in paisley and go-go boots, rockers in leather and denim, hippies in hand-stitched vests, and bikers revving Harleys outside The Night Owl — all drawn to the music pouring from legendary venues like The Riverboat, El Patio, The Purple Onion, The Mynah Bird, and The Penny Farthing.

The Yorkville Sound wasn’t just one style. It was a collision of folk, blues, R&B, protest music, and psychedelia — and it echoed the social tensions of its time. Within these few city blocks, you could hear:

Joni Mitchell debuting haunting originals at The Riverboat

Jackie Shane belting soul classics with fierce charisma

Shirley Matthews carrying the torch from pop stardom to clubland

The Paupers and The Ugly Ducklings cranking up the fuzz

Bonnie Dobson, Fraser & DeBolt, and David Wiffen crafting poetic, personal truths

Neil Young and Rick James jamming with The Mynah Birds

3’s a Crowd, The Churls, The Magic Cycle, and more pushing boundaries with psychedelic flair

It was a movement without a manifesto — just a shared hunger for freedom, for change, for noise. Many of its artists went on to national or international acclaim: Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bruce Cockburn, Murray McLauchlan, David Clayton-Thomas, and Leonard Cohen, among others.

This playlist brings together over 50 artists, around 150 records, and more than 650 tracks — an unprecedented dive into the heartbeat of Toronto’s Yorkville scene. From fuzzed-out rarities to iconic debuts, many of these sides were originally released on now-obscure Canadian labels like Allied, Yorktown, Columbia Canada, and Red Leaf. These aren’t just songs — they’re sonic time capsules. Together, they trace the arc of a cultural uprising, when a few electrified blocks of Yorkville lit up as one of the most musically alive places in North America.

Welcome to Yorkville.
Light some incense, drop the needle — and listen to a revolution.

3’s a Crowd, A Passing Fancy, The Amen, Leigh Ashford, Lenny Breau, Terry Black, The Big Town Boys, Bonnie Dobson, Bruce Cockburn, David Clayton‑Thomas, Leonard Cohen, The Churls, TheCycle (Magic Cycle), Dee and the Yeomen, Edward Bear, Fraser & DeBolt, Influence, Ian & Sylvia Tyson, Jackie Shane, Jay Telfer, Jon‑Lee Group, Just Us, Joni Mitchell, Kensington Market, Bobby Kris and the Imperials, Gordon Lightfoot, Lords of London, Luke & the Apostles, Mandala, Shirley Matthews, Murray McLauchlan, Susan Taylor, Mynah Birds, Nucleus, Rabble, Ritchie Knight and The Mid‑Knights, Rising Sons, Ronnie Hawkins, The Paupers, The Quiet Jungle, The Shays, The Stitch In Tyme, The Sugar Shoppe, Smith, Grant & the Power, The Ugly Ducklings, Two Tones, David Wiffen

150

Ugly Ducklings - ST

652

Jack London & the Sparrows - ST

791

Dee and the Yeomen - Say Baby (Who Am I) b/w You Should Know It (picture sleeve)

889

Sugar Shoppe

942

Rising Sons - The Land of 1000 Dances b/w Don't Look Away

1089

Bonnie Dobson - ST

1096

Two Tones (Gordon Lightfoot and Terry (Thomas Phillip) Whelan) / Live at the Village Corner (with Terry Whelan)

1274

3's a Crowd Dunhill promo

1275

3's a Crowd RPM Weekly

1276

3's a Crowd with Mama Cass

1277

3's a Crowd promo

1279

Bobby Kris and the Imperials - She Belongs to Me b/w A Year From Today

Tracks

Artist Track Title
Dobson, Bonnie I'm Your Woman ST
McLauchlan, Murray Lady Soul ST
Mynah Birds Go On & Cry Lost Motown Tracks & Studio Outtakes
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia Red Velvet Early Morning Rain
Majestics Sad Song The Soul King Otis Redding A Tribute
Edward Bear Cinder Dream Bearings
Kensington Market Girl Is Young Avenue Road (version 2)
Influence Sir Archibald ST
Knight, Ritchie & the Mid-Knights Somebody Somewhere Needs You Soul Man b/w Somebody Somewhere Needs You
Luke & the Apostles Not Far Off You Make Me High b/w Not Far Off
Dobson, Bonnie You Never Wanted Me ST
Majestics I'm Puttin' You On Funky Broadway
Knight, Ritchie & the Mid-Knights Charlena Charlena b/w You've Got The Power
McLauchlan, Murray Lose We ST
Cockburn, Bruce Musical Friends ST
Last Words It Made Me Cry I Symbolize You b/w It Made Me Cry (picture sleeve)
Sainte-Marie, Buffy Poor Man's Daughter Little Wheel Spin and Spin
Lightfoot, Gordon Intro to The Players Live at Le Hibou, Ottawa, Ontario, Jan 27, 1966
Breau, Lenny Music to Watch Girls By Guitar Sounds From
Steel, Ivy Robbin’s Nest Reincarnation
McLauchlan, Murray I Would Call You My Friend Songs From The Street
Lightfoot, Gordon Intro to 'Changes' Live at Le Hibou, Ottawa, Ontario, Jan 27, 1966
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia You Were on My Mind Northern Journey
Matthews, Shirley Is He Really Mine He Makes Me Feel So Pretty b/w Is He Really Mine
Sainte-Marie, Buffy Lady Margaret Little Wheel Spin and Spin
Lightfoot, Gordon The Way I Feel Live at Le Hibou, Ottawa, Ontario, Jan 27, 1966
Kensington Market Side I Am Aardvark
Clayton-Thomas, David Walk That Walk And The Shays À Go-Go
Jon-Lee Group Pork Chops Bring it Down Front b/w Pork Chops
McLauchlan, Murray Billy McDaniels ST
A Passing Fancy She Phoned ST
Sugar Shoppe The Attitude The Attitude b/w If I Were a Carpenter
Sugar Shoppe Canada Canada b/w Thoroughly Modern Millie
Sainte-Marie, Buffy Sir Patrick Spens Little Wheel Spin and Spin
McLauchlan, Murray One Night By My Window Songs From The Street
Paupers It's Your Mind Magic People
Kensington Market The Thinker Aardvark
A Passing Fancy Island ST
Cohen, Leonard Master Song Songs of Leonard Cohen
Knight, Ritchie & the Mid-Knights You Hurt Me Think It Over b/w You Hurt Me
McLauchlan, Murray Do You Dream of Being Somebody Sweeping The Spotlight Away
Compilation The Sugar Shoppe - Attitude Yorkville Evolution: Sonus Evolvens
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia Tomorrow is a Long Time Four Strong Winds
Lightfoot, Gordon For Lovin' Me Live at Le Hibou, Ottawa, Ontario, Jan 27, 1966
McLauchlan, Murray No Time Together Today ST
Dobson, Bonnie I Got Stung ST
London, Jack & the Sparrows Take it Slow (vocal by Jerry Edmonton) ST
Hawkins, Ronnie I Still Miss Someone ST
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia When First Unto This Country ST
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia Marlborough Street Blues Early Morning Rain
Cockburn, Bruce The Thirteenth Mountain ST
Breau, Lenny Cold, Cold Heart Guitar Sounds From
Majestics Mr. Pitiful Here Come Da Judge
Mitchell, Joni Deportee (Plane Crash at Los Gatos) Live at The Half Beat, Yorkville, Toronto, Canada Oct 21, 1964
Lightfoot, Gordon Ribbon of Darkness Live at Le Hibou, Ottawa, Ontario, Jan 27, 1966
Ugly Ducklings I Know What to Say I Know What To Say b/w Epilogue
Young, Neil I've Loved Her So Long Live at the Riverboat 1969
Edward Bear Everyday I Have the Blues Bearings
Mitchell, Joni Night in the City Song to a Seagull
Rising Sons Don't Look Away Don't Look Away b/w The Land of 1000 Dances
Paupers Oh, That She Might Ellis Island
Matthews, Shirley If I Had it All to do Again Stop the Clock b/w If I Had it All to do Again (promo)
Edward Bear Toe Jam Bearings
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia The Greenwich Sidie Four Strong Winds
Clayton-Thomas, David I Got a Woman Sings Like It Is!
Mandala From Toronto - '67 Give and Take b/w From Toronto - '67
Majestics Crow Suey Instrumental R&B
Two Tones We Come Here to Sing Live at the Village Corner
Clayton-Thomas, David Lucy Sings Like It Is!
Kensington Market Presenting Myself Lightly Avenue Road (version 2)
Dobson, Bonnie Elevator Man ST
McLauchlan, Murray Big Bad City ST
Wiffen, David Times are Getting' Hard Live at the Bunkhouse
Mitchell, Joni Every Night When The Sun Goes In Live at The Half Beat, Yorkville, Toronto, Canada Oct 21, 1964
Lightfoot, Gordon Home From the Forest The Way I Feel
Two Tones Lord I'm So Weary Live at the Village Corner
Clayton-Thomas, David Want You I Don't And The Shays À Go-Go
Tyson, Ian & Sylvia Texas Rangers Northern Journey
McLauchlan, Murray Carmelita ST
Rabble Butter Cups Blue Give Us Back Elaine!
TheCycle (Magic Cycle) It Was You Give Me The Right b/w It Was You
Matthews, Shirley He Makes Me Feel So Pretty He Makes Me Feel So Pretty b/w Is He Really Mine
Ashford, Leigh Good Day Kinfolk
Breau, Lenny Don't Think Twice, It's All Right Guitar Sounds From
Majestics Soul Serenade Here Come Da Judge
Edward Bear Woodwind Song Bearings
Edward Bear Mind Police Bearings
Lightfoot, Gordon The Auctioneer Live at La Cave, Cleveland, Ohio, May 8, 1965
Clayton-Thomas, David Good Lovin' And The Shays À Go-Go
Rising Sons The Land of 1000 Dances Don't Look Away b/w The Land of 1000 Dances
Sainte-Marie, Buffy Waly Waly Little Wheel Spin and Spin
McLauchlan, Murray Shoeshine Workin' Song Sweeping The Spotlight Away
Knight, Ritchie & the Mid-Knights Soul Man Soul Man b/w Somebody Somewhere Needs You
Rabble There's So Many Things Give Us Back Elaine!
Kensington Market Speaking of Dreams Avenue Road (version 2)
Paupers Yes I Know Ellis Island
Breau, Lenny Blues Theme The Velvet Touch Of Lenny Breau-Live!
Two Tones Sinnerman Live at the Village Corner
Clayton-Thomas, David Take Me Back Take Me Back b/w Send Her Home
Ugly Ducklings Nothin' Nothin' b/w I Can Tell

Comments

No Comments