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