Jet Records

Jet Records (Canada): The Montreal Underground Imprint That Captured a Nation’s Sound
Jet Records was a fiercely independent Canadian record label founded in 1967 by Montreal-based promoter, DJ, and music entrepreneur Don Wayne Patterson. Operating at a grassroots level but with national ambition, Jet became a short-lived yet vital imprint documenting the raw, regional energy of late 1960s Canadian music—spanning garage rock, soul, R&B, and blue-eyed pop.

Patterson, a seasoned radio and TV figure who began his career selling R&B records in Montreal in the early ’60s, brought a deep knowledge of street-level music culture to Jet. Having toured with Dick Clark’s rock ‘n’ roll caravans and contributed to Teen Screen magazine in the U.S., he returned to Canada with industry connections, business savvy, and a passion for showcasing Canadian talent on vinyl.

A Label Born in the Basement
Jet's early sessions were recorded in an unassuming but historic basement studio in Montreal’s South Shore—engineered by none other than future studio legend André Perry. This same space would later birth recordings by John Lennon, but for Jet, it was where Canadian garage and soul came alive.

Jet Records’ flagship single was Jet 4002 by The Original Haunted, Patterson’s own protégés and one of Montreal’s premier garage bands. Recorded after their more commercial ventures with Quality and Amy Records, Jet gave them an outlet for rawer material like “Mona” and “I’m Just Gonna Blow My Little Mind to Bits.”

A Diverse and Regional Roster
Jet’s catalog, though limited in quantity, was rich in musical and geographic diversity. Here’s a closer look at the label’s key acts and singles:

Mike Jones Group (Jet 4001) – “Each and Every Day” / “Funny Feeling”
Jet’s rarest and most valuable release. “Funny Feeling,” written by bassist Joey Campelone, is widely regarded as one of Canada’s best fuzz-punk screamers. The group, fronted by Michel Lachance (aka Mike Jones), was a real working band—not a studio concoction—and included George Legrady on keys. They played French-Canadian dancehalls and disbanded when Lachance became a recording engineer.

The Original Haunted (Jet 4002) – “Mona” / “I’m Just Gonna Blow My Little Mind to Bits”
Raw, garagey follow-up to their earlier Quality hits. The Jet release gave them more creative freedom under Patterson’s direction.

Dennis Lepage + The Persuaders (Jet 4003) – “Taking Inventory” / “Song for My Father”
Hard-hitting Montreal soul with a jazz edge. Recorded in André Perry’s basement studio. Lepage would later find international success as half of the disco group Lime.

The Persuaders (Jet 4004) – “I Found a Love” / “Don’t Fight It”
Gritty soul covers from a group described by Patterson as one of the finest R&B ensembles in Quebec during the '60s.

The Flower Garden (Jet 4005) – “Understanding” / “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”
Garage-pop meets soul. One of Jet’s more obscure entries. Patterson noted he has photos and information from a band member in his archives.

Leeroy Preston & The Inn-Crowd (Jet 4006) – “Every Day I Have to Cry” / “Without You”
Fronted by Patty Knight of Halifax. A charismatic CN rail employee and nightclub singer backed by a tight horn section. Patterson confirmed more unreleased material exists.

Dennis Lepage + The Persuaders (Jet 4007) – “With These Hands” / “Out in Left Field”
Powerful soul ballads recorded in the same Perry basement sessions. These tracks also appeared on the Lotta Soul EP alongside Lotsa Poppa.

King Beezz (Jet 4008) – “Wine Is Fine” / “Sean’s Song”
From Edmonton. Stayed in Montreal during Expo ’67 and recorded a full LP’s worth of material—most still unreleased.

Eight Point Five (Jet 4009) – “Casey's Mail Order Bride” / “Were We Wrong”
Bathurst, NB-based group connected via local radio DJs. Reflects the regional garage-folk energy of the time.

The Thanes (Jet 4010) – “So Alone” / “If She Were Here”
From Kitchener, Ontario. Patterson confirmed the band came through a DJ contact. Rare and highly collectible.

Lotsa Poppa (Jet 4011) – “Tennessee Waltz” / “She Ain’t Gonna Do Right”
The Atlanta soul singer known as “350 Pounds of Soul.” Backed by The Persuaders. Also issued on Patterson’s Lotta Soul imprint with a deluxe EP pairing him with Lepage.

Jet 69000 – Joe Di Dodo – “Attsa My Boy” / Instrumental
A novelty Italo-American lounge 45 recorded with Montreal session players. Sourced from Boston and Atlanta.

Amy/Jet 4001 – The Haunted – “1-2-5” / “Eight O’Clock This Morning”
Initially issued on Quality; Amy Records handled the U.S. version. The original pressing infamously misprinted the band’s name as “The Hunted.”

A Label Built on Relationships
Jet Records operated less like a label and more like a music family. Don Wayne Patterson often worked directly with bands, DJs, and venue owners, trading promotion for studio time and pressing support. Through personal hustle and vision, he got regional artists into the studio and onto vinyl.

Legacy
Though it issued just over a dozen 45s, Jet Records is now revered by collectors worldwide. Don Wayne Patterson’s pioneering DIY spirit—alongside André Perry’s production and Montreal’s scene energy—gave voice to a formative moment in Canadian music history.

Patterson continues to archive, share, and reflect on this era. Many tapes, acetates, and band stories remain under his care, waiting for the right moment to resurface.

Select Discography (Jet Records)
Catalog # Artist Tracks
Jet 4001 Mike Jones Group “Each and Every Day” / “Funny Feeling”
Jet 4002 The Original Haunted “Mona” / “I’m Just Gonna Blow My Little Mind to Bits”
Jet 4003 Dennis Lepage + The Persuaders “Taking Inventory” / “Song for My Father”
Jet 4004 The Persuaders “I Found a Love” / “Don’t Fight It”
Jet 4005 The Flower Garden “Understanding” / “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”
Jet 4006 Leeroy Preston & The Inn-Crowd “Every Day I Have to Cry” / “Without You”
Jet 4007 Dennis Lepage + The Persuaders “With These Hands” / “Out in Left Field”
Jet 4008 King Beezz “Wine Is Fine” / “Sean’s Song”
Jet 4009 Eight Point Five “Casey’s Mail Order Bride” / “Were We Wrong”
Jet 4010 The Thanes “So Alone” / “If She Were Here”
Jet 4011 Lotsa Poppa “Tennessee Waltz” / “She Ain’t Gonna Do Right”
Jet 69000 Joe Di Dodo “Attsa My Boy” / Instrumental
Amy/Jet 4001 The Haunted “1-2-5” / “Eight O’Clock This Morning” (U.S. release via Amy)

Tracks

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