The Fringe

Token For My Mind

From studio sessions in 1967-1968, The Fringe recordings are finally being re-issued just prior to their 50th anniversary in their original mono glory. This Toronto based pychedelic garage rock band, popular in the late 1960s commercially released 4 songs on 2 singles. Eleven tracks are available here as MP3 downloads mastered from the original analog tapes.

The Fringe formed in 1967 and are mostly remembered for having as a founding member the late Chuck Cadman, a thrice-elected Member of Parliament who died of cancer in 2005. Cadman (guitar & keyboards), Doug Daniel (bass), John Murkin (lead vocals & guitar) and Chris Thomas (drums) signed with producer Greg Hambleton and laid down thirteen tracks, some of which Greg licensed to Quality Records, a major distributor at the time. The energetic and enteprenurial Bill Riley, who also later managed A&M heavy rocker “The Churls”, became their manager and booked them in many Yorkville clubs in 1968. The cover photo was taken by Greg on the steps of the Night Owl in Yorkville .

The Fringe’s first release was “Flower Generation” b/w their chart success “Token For My Mind” – a trippy psych-rocker written by John Murkin and Chuck Cadman. Murkin and Cadman also wrote the more acid-rock follow-up “Plastic People”.

Bill Riley booked a tour accross Canada in the spring of 1968 without Doug Daniel and with new member Wayne Leslie. Sadly, Doug passed away shortly after. Successful shows in many cities promoted their single, including Winnipeg, where they taped the CBC show “Let’s Go” along with the newly minted Guess Who and host Chad Allen. While still in Alberta, in a Calgary club, the band finally broke up. Chuck Cadman headed for Vancouver, got married and evenually entered politics. Dr. John Murkin settled in at Western University in London, Ontario. Chris Thomas became a deep-sea diver, successful commercial photographer, photojournalist and artist in Vancouver and recently married Dona, widow of Chuck Cadman.

Credits

Vocals & Guitar: JOHN MURKIN
Guitar & Keyboards: CHUCK CADMAN
Drums: CHRIS THOMAS
Bass: DOUG DANIELS

All songs published by AXE MUSIC (except “Inside Looking Out”)
Production: GREG HAMBLETON
Recorded at SOUND CANADA 1967-1968
Available on CD: “The Fringe – Token For My Mind”
YouTube video: “Token For My Mind”
ⓟ & © 2017 Greg Hambleton
Axe Records DL-A545