Yorkville - The 1960’s Music MECCA
HIKE OF THE WEEK
This week’s hike took me to an area that has always fascinated me. As an avid music fan and one of Canadiana in particular, I was always amazed that Toronto never seemed to get the respect it deserved for its impact on the music scene of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Yorkville was the centre of that music scene. I love The Guess Who out of Winnnipeg, but too often that band was given kudos for being the trailblazers for Canadian music on the International scene. Us Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot and The Band fans all know that Toronto was the launching pad for an entire movement in rock and roll history.
The 19th century Victorian homes like this were much more common in the 1960’s and were overflowing coffee houses. Much of the area has become modern glass skyscrapers but there is still some of the original buildings left.
Yorkville wasn't just music. It became the centre of Canada's hippie movement, a gathering place for artists and a haven for poets, writers, and musicians. Long-haired teenagers, folk singers, bikers, artists, and intellectuals packed these streets. Photo Credit - HeritageYorkville
The legendary Riverboat Coffee House at 134 Yorkville Avenue was arguably the most important music venue in Canadian history. Legend Joni Mitchell first performed there in 1966 and she reportedly first performed "Both Sides Now" there. Neil Young played Riverboat "Hoot Nights" as an unknown folksinger and Gordon Lightfoot called it his "first taste of the big time." Today, the site is occupied by the luxury Hazelton Hotel.
A young Joni Mitchell was a regular at the Riverboat. Photo credit - HeritageYorkville
Today, where the once magical venue stood, is now an upscale hotel.
Although born in Toronto, Neil Young moved away but returned and was a regular in Yorkville before heading to Los Angeles. It was here that he developed his identity as a songwriter. Years later, he would reference the Riverboat in his song "Ambulance Blues” singing "the Riverboat was rockin' in the rain." Photo credit HeritageYorkville
The Penny Farthing became one of Yorkville's most famous gathering spots. It featured folk music downstairs, blues and jazz upstairs with musicians mingling with fans. The venue became a symbol of Yorkville's free-spirited music culture. Joni Mitchell began playing music in the basement of the Penny Farthing (known as the Dungeon) but would later frequent the main stage as the venue switched to more folk offerings. The Penny Farthing was also notable for bringing Leonard Cohen into the limelight as the owners were the first to allow him to perform his own songs.
The Penny Farthing today.
The Mynah Birds Club - 87 Yorkville Ave. Neil Young and Rick (Super Freak) James played here regularly as the Mynah Birds and were often the in-house band. The band included Bruce Palmer and Goldy McJohn who went on to help form Buffalo Springfield and Steppenwolf.
The "Rock" in Yorkville is a massive 650 ton, billion-year old boulder from now the Canadian Shield that serves as the centrepiece of the Village of Yorkville Park. It was transported from Gravenhurst, Ontario, in 135 pieces on 20 flatbed trucks and reassembled to honour Ontario's diverse landscapes.
Other interesting historical sites in Yorkville that no longer exist include:
The Purple Onion which was at 35 Avenue Road which operated from 1960-1965 and is considered the birthplace of the Yorkville movement.
Eastern Sound Studio was located at 48 Yorkville Avenue. This is where Gordon Lightfoot, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Rush all recorded. The studio would became one of Canada's most important recording facilities.
This is where the Purple Onion once stood proudly
Here was the rest of the day’s hike. The tracker did not seem to record the walk home.
Interesting Vintage Find This Week
As many of you know, I am an unapologetic vintage hunter. When I am hiking on my own, I also incorporate thrifting as if the two functions were meant to go hand in hand.
I wan an enormous Dukes of Hazzard fan when I was a kid in the 1980’s. Friday night at 8p.m. was mandatory viewing for me and my friends. It was often the centrepiece of our sleep overs. Hockey card trading and mini sticks hockey in teh basement always took a backseat to Bo and Luke Duke on a Friday night.
This Dukes of Hazzard watch still in the original packaging has been a sentimental thrift score for me.
The digital watch was such a novelty in the 1980’s. The push button light was such a “wicked” feature as a child.
Happy Hiking!
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This is where The Purple Onion once stood.
At 48 Yorkville Avenue Eastern Sound Studio stood which is where Gordon Lightfoot, Elton John, Cat Stevens and Rush all recorded. The studio became one of Canada's most important recording facilities.
