About
A
JOKER'S
MEMORY
A Joker’s Memory was recorded in the mid-70’s at Marc Studios in Ottawa. It was written and produced by songwriters Christopher Arthur Ellis and James Arthur Holt. With only 250 copies pressed and only on one side, the home-spun indy LP found a place in Canadian music history as a rare sample of progressive rock in Canada.
On July 21, 1976, Ellis and Holt walked into NYC’s Brill Building on Broadway where they showcased A Joker’s Memory for music publishers. And, while their elaborate 20-minute homage to progressive rock which took years to write and months to record got them in the door, it was a pop song named Birthday Boy, which took them less than 15 minutes to write and a day to record, that landed them a song publishing deal.
In the fall of 1977, Birthday Boy was featured on album by Buzz Cason called Buzz, released in North America and released in Canada as a 45, relegating A Joker’s Memory to become a lingering testament to progressive rock’s brief foray into the Canadian music scene.
After nearly a half century, Ellis and Holt returned to A Joker’s Memory with material for the B-side. On Oct. 8, 2022, the songwriters emerged from a week-long recording session at Clear Lake Recording Studios in Burbank, with 3 new songs collectively referred to as, Hippyland Lost.
After nearly a half century, Ellis and Holt returned to A Joker’s Memory with material for the B-side. On Oct. 8, 2022, the songwriters emerged from a week-long master mixing session at Clear Lake Recording Studios in Burbank, Los Angeles, with 3 new songs collectively referred to as, Hippyland Lost. (see videos here)
In the fall of 1977, Birthday Boy was featured on an album released in North America and released in Canada as a 45, rendering A Joker’s Memory a lingering testament to progressive rock’s brief foray into the Canadian music scene.