Kangaroo Hash by The Swingin' Canadians
Saskatoon Saskatchewan Pierogi Punk!
That’s the sound of these Canadian rockers: a mixture of lots of punchy horns, some jangle and the energy combined with a certain flavor of angst that could only come from a band run by siblings. Previously featured on our Heated Garage comp, it includes 5 unissued tracks & their Bangar singles!
In the 1950s Gene led a big band with his brothers as the CBC Happytimers, then in the '60s he and his brother Reg led the Swinging Canadians, who at one time became the house band at the Trade Winds in Calgary, Alberta (where at the time they were based).
Gene's vocals had a range that had him swing from smooth vocals to a raspy bark when he wasn't propelling the band with his sax or solid metronomic rhythm guitar playing. The band typically featured a tight combo of fiddle, steel guitar, upright bass, and sometimes accordion—delivering toe-tapping two-steps and lively polkas alongside swing standards and country hits. Their sound was clean, melodic, and dance-friendly, perfect for the community halls and rodeo events that defined rural entertainment in Western Canada.
Gene Dlouhy & The Swingin' Canadians were a regional success in Saskatchewan and didn't seem to tour too much outside of that. However, sometimes the tours came to him, as he opened for Roy Orbison on some Canadian dates. The band would ultimately turn down a recording contract in the US so that they could stand firm in their Canadian roots. He continued performing for decades up until 2020 when he reunited with his late brother Reg at the age of 93. His musical legacy is carried on by his son Guy, who sings and plays guitar in the Hard Labor Band.
Includes:
Kangaroo Hash • Baby I Need Your Love • Hooka Tooka • Kiss Me Sweet • Whirlybird • I Want To Go With You • Pretty Little Cha Cha • Boney Maronie • Drinking Wine • Mexican Market Days • Since I Met You Baby • Long Tall Texan • Autumn Leaves • French Canadian Twist* • Broken Hearts* • Yakety Sax*
*CD Only
Tracklist
| 1. | Kangaroo Hash | 2:06 |
| 2. | Baby I Need Your Love | 3:09 |
| 3. | Hooka Tooka | 2:30 |
| 4. | Kiss Me Sweet | 2:47 |
| 5. | Whirlybird | 2:11 |
| 6. | I Want To Go With You | 3:20 |
| 7. | Pretty Little Cha Cha | 2:03 |
| 8. | Boney Maronie | 2:28 |
| 9. | Wine, Wine, Wine | 2:37 |
| 10. | Mexican Market Days | 2:15 |
| 11. | Since I Met You Baby | 3:53 |
| 12. | Long Tall Texan | 2:28 |
| 13. | Autumn Leaves | 4:25 |
| 14. | French Canadian Twist | 1:37 |
| 15. | Broken Hearts & Empty Arms | 1:56 |
| 16. | Yakety Sax | 0:34 |
