3's a Crowd (band)
Encyclopedia
3's a Crowd was a folk rock
band from Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada, that existed from 1964 to 1969. The group is particularly notable for its association with Cass Elliott, who co-produced the group's sole album release. The album remains one of Elliott's rare associations as a record producer.
and Brent Titcomb
. In 1966, the group moved to Toronto
, released two singles, and acquired new members Richard Patterson, David Wiffen
and Comrie Smith. Smith was later replaced by Ken Koblun. In 1967 and 1968, 3's a Crowd played the folk music clubs in Southern California, including the Ash Grove in West Hollywood and the Ice House in Glendale
, sometimes bringing Jim and Jean
as an opening act.
In 1968, they recorded Christopher's Movie Matinee, their only album. The band broke up shortly after its release. The album was produced by Cass Elliot
and Steve Barri
. Bruce Cockburn
, who briefly joined a later version of the group, does not perform on the album, though four of his songs are included. Donna Warner was the primary singer, but other band members, particularly David Wiffen and Brent Titcomb, also sang lead. They did a slow, military rendition of "(Let's) Get Together" by Chet Powers
, and had a minor hit with their own song "Bird Without Wings". A signature tune at their concerts was their song "Wasn't It You". Noted reviewer Richie Unterberger
considers the album to be "an average, melt-into-the-crowd pop-folk-rock album, somewhat similar to The Mamas & the Papas
and We Five
(though closer to the We Five)." He also notes the presence on the record of Ken Koblun, Canadian bass player, associate of Neil Young
during his early career and sometime bass player with Buffalo Springfield
. Koblun had chosen to join 3's a Crowd rather than continue with an early version of the Buffalo Springfield.
A related documentary, Christopher's Movie Matinee, under the sponsorship of the National Film Board of Canada
, was released in 1968,using some of the same songs and some of the same musicians. The film is about 1960s Canadian counterculture.
The band reformed briefly in 1969, and appeared on a Canadian variety television program entitled "One More Time". By this point, however, none of the three original members remained in the group; the lineup consisted of Bruce Cockburn
, Richard Patterson, David Wiffen
, Colleen Peterson
, Sandy Crawley and Dennis Pendrith. Cockburn soon left to pursue his solo career, and the group disbanded permanently in 1969. Since then, Bruce Cockburn has had significant success as a solo act, as did Colleen Peterson and, for a time, David Wiffen. Sandy Crawley and Brent Titcomb also developed solo careers, while Richard Patterson, Dennis Pendrith and Trevor Veitch continued their careers as accompanists for many years after the breakup of the group. Donna Warner did not continue her music career after her departure from the group. Comrie Smith's subsequent involvement as a professional musician does not appear to have been documented, although he was quoted extensively by "Mojo" magazine in a feature article about the release of Neil Young's "Archives" CD boxed set - because Smith had backed Young on some of the early recordings. (Young's associations with the group create their own fascinating web, what with both Smith and Koblun playing with him in his early days, and Donna Warner having sung with him in Toronto.)
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
band from Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada, that existed from 1964 to 1969. The group is particularly notable for its association with Cass Elliott, who co-produced the group's sole album release. The album remains one of Elliott's rare associations as a record producer.
History
The group was formed in 1964, and was originally called the Bill Schwartz Quartet (though no one named Bill Schwartz was actually in the group.) The group consisted of Donna Warner, Trevor VeitchTrevor Veitch
Trevor Veitch is a Canadian musician/record producer who has worked behind the scenes on many pop trends from the 1960s to the present. He is mostly known for his involvement in the popular 60s folk rock group, 3's a Crowd...
and Brent Titcomb
Brent Titcomb
Brent Arthur Titcomb is a Canadian actor and musician. He played the voice of Sleazy, Mok's sidekick, in 1983's Rock & Rule, and additional voices for the The Care Bears Movie in 1985. His son is singer Liam Titcomb...
. In 1966, the group moved to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, released two singles, and acquired new members Richard Patterson, David Wiffen
David Wiffen
David Wiffen is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.- Career :...
and Comrie Smith. Smith was later replaced by Ken Koblun. In 1967 and 1968, 3's a Crowd played the folk music clubs in Southern California, including the Ash Grove in West Hollywood and the Ice House in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
, sometimes bringing Jim and Jean
Jim and Jean
Jim and Jean, composed of Jim Glover and Jean Ray were an American folk music duo, who performed and recorded music from the early to the late 1960s....
as an opening act.
In 1968, they recorded Christopher's Movie Matinee, their only album. The band broke up shortly after its release. The album was produced by Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot
Cass Elliot , born Ellen Naomi Cohen and also known as Mama Cass, was an American singer and member of The Mamas & the Papas. After the group broke up, she released five solo albums. Elliot was found dead in her room in London, England, from an apparent heart attack after two weeks of sold-out...
and Steve Barri
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
. Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, who briefly joined a later version of the group, does not perform on the album, though four of his songs are included. Donna Warner was the primary singer, but other band members, particularly David Wiffen and Brent Titcomb, also sang lead. They did a slow, military rendition of "(Let's) Get Together" by Chet Powers
Chet Powers
Chester William Powers, Jr. was an American singer-songwriter, and a member of the rock group Quicksilver Messenger Service. He was also known by the stage name "Dino Valenti" and, as a songwriter, as Jesse Oris Farrow...
, and had a minor hit with their own song "Bird Without Wings". A signature tune at their concerts was their song "Wasn't It You". Noted reviewer Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger
Richie Unterberger is a US author and journalist whose focus is popular music and travel writing.-Life and writing:Having worked as a DJ at WXPN in Philadelphia, he started reviewing records for Op magazine in 1983...
considers the album to be "an average, melt-into-the-crowd pop-folk-rock album, somewhat similar to The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas
The Mamas & the Papas were a Canadian/American vocal group of the 1960s . The group recorded and performed from 1965 to 1968 with a short reunion in 1971, releasing five albums and 11 Top 40 hit singles...
and We Five
We Five
We Five was a 1960s folk rock musical group based in San Francisco, California. Their best-known hit was their 1965 remake of Ian and Sylvia's "You Were on My Mind", which reached #1 on the Cashbox chart, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart...
(though closer to the We Five)." He also notes the presence on the record of Ken Koblun, Canadian bass player, associate of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
during his early career and sometime bass player with Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
. Koblun had chosen to join 3's a Crowd rather than continue with an early version of the Buffalo Springfield.
A related documentary, Christopher's Movie Matinee, under the sponsorship of the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
, was released in 1968,using some of the same songs and some of the same musicians. The film is about 1960s Canadian counterculture.
The band reformed briefly in 1969, and appeared on a Canadian variety television program entitled "One More Time". By this point, however, none of the three original members remained in the group; the lineup consisted of Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Richard Patterson, David Wiffen
David Wiffen
David Wiffen is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.- Career :...
, Colleen Peterson
Colleen Peterson
Colleen Susan Peterson was a Canadian country and folk singer, who performed both as a solo artist and as a member of the band Quartette.-Career:...
, Sandy Crawley and Dennis Pendrith. Cockburn soon left to pursue his solo career, and the group disbanded permanently in 1969. Since then, Bruce Cockburn has had significant success as a solo act, as did Colleen Peterson and, for a time, David Wiffen. Sandy Crawley and Brent Titcomb also developed solo careers, while Richard Patterson, Dennis Pendrith and Trevor Veitch continued their careers as accompanists for many years after the breakup of the group. Donna Warner did not continue her music career after her departure from the group. Comrie Smith's subsequent involvement as a professional musician does not appear to have been documented, although he was quoted extensively by "Mojo" magazine in a feature article about the release of Neil Young's "Archives" CD boxed set - because Smith had backed Young on some of the early recordings. (Young's associations with the group create their own fascinating web, what with both Smith and Koblun playing with him in his early days, and Donna Warner having sung with him in Toronto.)
External links
- Richie Unterberger,[ Profile of 3's a Crowd]; www.allmusic.com.
- Profile of 3's a Crowd The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia; www.jam.canoe.ca.
- Detailed history of 3's a Crowd during period of Brent Titcomb association; www.brenttitcomb.com.