Buckstone Hardware
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = Buckstone Hardware
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| origin = North Bay, Ontario, Canada
| genre = Rock music
| years_active = 1969 - 1970
| label = Apex
| spinoffs = Aaron Space
| spinoff_of = The Riffkin
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Buckstone Hardware was a Canadian rock group who had a hit in 1969 with "Pack it In". It did well on the RPM 100 chart as well as the Canadian Content chart.
Background
The group's origins go back to 1967, with a four-piece North Bay band called The Riffkin. They added a fifth member and moved to Toronto. In 1969, they changed their name to Buckstone Hardware.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - [https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/b/#Buckstone_Hardware BUCKSTONE HARDWARE]
In the summer of 1969, Buckstone Hardware appeared at a concert that was opened by Motherlode. The Guess Who were also at the event. When Buckstone Hardware came on to do their set, guitarist Jake Thomas broke the high E string of his guitar within the first minute. He didn't have a spare guitar and had to finish the song. After the song finished, he had a tap on his shoulder and it was Randy Bachman offering him the use of his guitar. After the next song Bachman returned his guitar to him with the new string installed. After the show, he wanted to thank Bachman and went to the tent where the Guess Who were in but he was stopped by security.Bay Today, Jul 30, 2004 - [https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/when-jake-met-randy-updated-62794 When Jake met Randy
Local blues guitarist Jake Thomas meets rock legend Randy Bachman 36 years after the former Guess Who guitarist helped him out.]
During their time they shared billing with acts such as Manchild and Brutus.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - [https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/b/#Buckstone_Hardware BUCKSTONE HARDWARE] They were referred to by Billboard as one of Toronto's leading bands.
Their manager was Michael Watson.Billboard, May 30, 1970 - [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_fSkEAAAAMBAJ/page/n91/mode/2up?q=Buckstone Page 71 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO]
Career
=1968 to 1969=
In 1969, the North Bay group, having appeared recently on the Sunday Morning Show on CBC-TV and their week run at Electric Circus, along with appearances local and further afield had set a good scene for their record release. The single, "Pack it In" which was cut at Sound Canada Studios was released on Apex 77098.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 8 Week of April 21st. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-04-21.pdf Page 6 YES! BUCKSTONE HARDWARE ARE ON APEX!]RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 8 Week of April 21st. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-04-21.pdf Page 6 APEX RELEASE FOR BUCKSTONE] It was recorded by Greg Hambleton for Meatworm Productions.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 18 Week of June 30th. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-06-30.pdf Page 11 PACK IT IN BY BUCKSTONE HARDWARE]
; Hit single
For the week of May 19, 1969, the group's single, "Pack It In" entered the RPM Canadian Content Chart at #9.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 12 Week of May 19th. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-05-19.pdf Page 4 RPM WEEKLY Canadian Content Chart] The following week (week of May 26, 1969) "Pack It In" entered the RPM 100 chart at #99.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 13 May 26, 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-05-26.pdf Page 19 RPM100]
By June 9, the single got to #2 on the Canadian Content Chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 15 Week of June 9th, 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-06-09.pdf Page 10 RPM WEEKLY Canadian Content Chart] On June 20, the single was in the "Hit Bound category on the CKLG Boss 30 chart.Vancouver Top 40 Radio - [http://www.vancouvertop40radio.com/Station%20Selection/CKLG/1969/cklg062069.html CKLG 73 B O S S 30, Vancouver's Official Radio Record Survey, CKLG BOSS 30 - JUNE 20, 1969] It was still holding the Canadian Content position of #2 until June 23.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 17 Week Of June 23rd. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-06-23.pdf Page 4 RPM WEEKLY Canadian Content Chart]RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 18 Week of June 30th. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-06-30.pdf Page 4 RPM WEEKLY Canadian Content Chart] That week the CHUM report had the record as the third voted for simultaneous play by the Maple Leaf System.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 17 Week Of June 23rd. 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-06-23.pdf Page 9 LAST MINUTE REPORT]
It peaked on the RPM 100 at #33 on July 21.RPM Weekly, Volume 11 No. 2 July 28, 1969 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/60s/1969/RPM-1969-07-28.pdf Page 5 RPM100]
;Further activities
The group along with The Mid-Knights and The Five Shy appeared at Toronto's El Zorro discotheque on July 25.Billboard, August 9, 1969 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=jSgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=Buckstone+Hardware&pg=PA96 Page 96 From The Music Capitals of the World]
They were booked to appear at the "Freak Out" festival. A 72-hour event that ran on the Labor Day period from August 29 to September 1, held at Rock Hill, 16 miles north of Orangeville. Other acts booked to appear were Lighthouse, Motherlode, The Guess Who and Life etc.Billboard, August 16, 1969 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=qSkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Buckstone+Hardware%22&pg=RA1-PA76 Page 71 Canadian News Report, 'Freak Out' In Toronto]
Also, that year the group appeared at the Wonderland Pavilion in London, Ontario to open up the show for Muddy Waters.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - [https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/b/#Buckstone_Hardware BUCKSTONE HARDWARE]
=1970=
They were booked to play at the Transcontinental pop festival 70 fest. that ran from June 27 to June 28. Other groups to appear were, The Band, Janis Joplin, Delaney, Bonnie & Friends, The Grateful Dead, Cat, Eric Andersen, Ten Years After, Traffic, Ian & Sylvia, The Great Speckled Bird, Sha Na Na, Buddy Guy, Tom Rush, James & The Good Brothers and Sea Train.Digital Archive Ontario - [https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/373773/transcontinental-pop-festival-70 Transcontinental pop festival 70]
The group was having differences in ideas musically and by May 1970 they had broken up.Billboard, May 30, 1970 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=fSkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Buckstone+Hardware%22&pg=RA1-PA71 Page 71 Canadian News Report, From The Music Capitals of the World, TORONTO]
Post Buckstone Hardware
Jake Thomas would later become a member of Aaron Space.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 15 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/70s/1971/RPM-1971-05-29.pdf Page 2 Capricorn shows booking gains] Manager Michael Watson would later do well as a promo rep for CBS and then Capitol.I Am Tommy: On Stage and Backstage, By Tom Wilson, FriesenPress 2018, {{ISBN|978-1-5255-2908-5}} - [https://books.google.com/books?id=ncl7DwAAQBAJ&dq=Buckstone+Hardware&pg=PA144 Page 145 CHAPTER 20 Alvin Munch. Let the games begin]
Members
- Russell Franklin - drums
- Charlie “Jake” Thomas - lead guitar
- Ralph Wiber - drumsThe Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - [https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/b/#Buckstone_Hardware BUCKSTONE HARDWARE]
- Jocko Chartrand (Jacques Chartrand)
Further reading
- Burton Cummings Facebook - [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150400048434991 Post 12 May 2014]
- Stehe Hoffman Music Forums - [https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/every-rpm-canadian-content-1-single-discussion-thread-1964-2000.987585/page-60 Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000 Post by bekayne, Dec 9, 2020]
References
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External links
- 45Cat - [https://www.45cat.com/artist/buckstone-hardware Buckstone Hardware - Discography]
- iHeartMedia, Inc., April 19, 2022 - [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-tommy-solos-famous-friends-61770833/episode/episode-84-jake-thomas-guitar-talk-95754648/ Episode 84 Jake Thomas guitar talk (Audio 40 min)]
- [https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/8361929/library-and-archives-canada-music-section-bibliotheque-et- File containing: sound recording of the Toronto-area rock. group Buckstone Hardware (Russ Franklin, leader; Jack. Chartrand; Jim Thomas; Ralph Wiber; ...]