Big Sugar

A biografia da banda, que segue, em tradução livre do inglês, é de autoria de Jason Ankeny e foi extraída do site allmusic.
A eclética banda de blues rock Big Sugar, oriunda de Toronto, foi, originalmente, um projeto do cantor e guitarrista Gordie Johnson, que fechou o trio com o baixista Terry Wilkins e o baterista Al Cross para gravar o LP homônimo de estréia do grupo em 1992. Na época em que saiu o disco “Five Hundred Pounds”, de 1993, Wilkins tinha saído da banda; um grande número de convidados participou da gravação do álbum, dentre eles o multi-instrumentista Kelly Hoppe, que, juntamente com o novo baixista Garry Lowe, foi fixado como um membro permanente da banda a partir do EP “Dear Mr. Fantasy”. O baterista Walter “Crash” Morgan substituiu Cross durante a turnê subseqüente da Big Sugar pelos Estados Unidos; infelizmente, enquanto tocava num show em Iowa, Morgan morreu no palco e, no seu lugar, entrou Paul Brennan, ex-Odds, a tempo de tocar no disco lançado em 1996, “Hemi-Vision”. Depois, Gavin Brown assumiu as funções de Brennan no disco “Heated”. A banda manteve–se ocupada nos anos 2000, com álbuns como “Brothers & Sisters, Are You Ready?” e EPs, como “Dear M.F.”.

As fichas dos discos foram extraídas dos sites da Big Sugar, allmusic, Discogs e Wikipedia .

Os EPs e os singles, que geralmente apenas reproduzem músicas de discos longos, no caso da Big Sugar trazem algumas músicas inéditas; por isso vão aqui postados, à exceção do EP “Ride Like Hell”, de 1995, que, embora contemple duas músicas originais, se encontra fora de catálogo e indisponível na rede (no site da banda, noticia-se que o EP era apenas promocional, com edição limitada).


Discos, em ordem de lançamento:




(1992) Big Sugar

1. Sleep In Late (Wall, Whiteman) 3:23
2. Come Back Baby (Arnold) 3:43
3. Motherless Children (Traditional) 3:36
4. So Many Roads [For Clive] (Paul) 5:25
5. Bemsha Swing (Monk, Best) 5:26
6. Stardust (Carmichael) 5:11
7. Groundhog Day (Johnson) 4:06
8. Just About Sunrise (Johnson) 2:42
9. Goodbye Train (Johnson) 3:44
10. Nowhere To Run (Linden) 3:00
11. ‘Round Midnight (Monk) 6:05
12. Devil Got My Woman (James) 5:20

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
Terry Wilkins: Bass, Vocals
Drums: Al Cross
Patrick Ballantyne: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Andrew Whiteman: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Kate Fenner: Vocals
Molly Johnson: Vocals
David Wall: Vocals
Johnny Lee "Jaimoe" Johnson: Saxophone
Gene Hardy: Saxophone
Nic Gotham: Saxophone
Gregor Beresford: Percussion

(1993) Five Hundred Pounds

1. Ride Like Hell (Wise, Johnson) 4:45
2. Standing Around Crying (Morganfield) 3:54
3. I’m A Ram (Green) 3:30
4. Sugar In My Coffee (Traditional) 5:06
5. All Over Now (Johnson, Walsh) 3:36
6. AAA Aardvark Hotel (Johnson) 2:10
7. How Many Times (Traditional) 4:00
8. Deliver Me (Wall, Johnson) 4:12
9. Still Waitin’ (Johnson) 5:28
10. Wild Ox Moan (Traditional) 5:36
11. Ride On (Johnson) 6:45

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Al Cross: Drums
Dave Wall: Drums (track 2)
Kelly Hoppe: Harmonica, Saxophone
Patrick Ballantyne: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Gene Hardy: Saxophone
James Monrose: Trombone
Chris Brown: Trombone (track 11)
Michael Johnson: Trumpet (track 7)

(1995) Dear M.F. (EP)

1. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Winwood, Capaldi, Wood) 5:05
2. Goodbye Train (Johnson) 4:45
3. Motherless Children (Traditional) 4:18
4. A Night In Tunisia (Gillespie, Paparelli) 4:02
5. Leadbelly (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe, Wynston) 7:36

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Bass, Guitar, Vocals
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Kelly Hoppe: Harmonica, Guitar (Steel), Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals, Melodica
Al Cross: Drums
Patrick Ballantyne: Guitar (Acoustic)
Stich Wynston: Drums

(1996) Hemi-Vision

1. Diggin’ A Hole (Johnson, Curran, Gallagher) 4:37
2. Gone For Good (Johnson, Ballantyne) 3:58
3. If I Had My Way (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:14
4. Skull Ring (Johnson, Whiteman) 4:25
5. Joe Louis/Judgement Day (Johnson) 8:58
6. Tommy Johnson (Johnson, Wall) 4:13
7. La Stralla (Johnson, Whiteman) 4:16
8. Tired All The Time (Johnson, Hoppe) 4:27
9. Empty Head (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:12
10. Opem Up, Baby (Johnson, Gallagher) 5:12
11. Rolling Pin (Johnson) 6:46
12. Tobacco Hand (Johnson) 8:55

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Vocals, Guitar
Garry Lowe: Bass
Kelly Hoppe: Saxophone
Matt DeMatteo: Drums (track 12)
Paul Brennan: Drums (tracks 1 to 3, 6 to 11)
Raffa: Drums (tracks 4, 5)
Ashley MacIsaac: Fiddle (track 12)

(1998) Heated (*)

1. Where I Stand (Johnson, Johnson, Hoppe) 5:58
2. Better Get Used To It (Gallagher, Wall, Brown, Johnson) 2:55
3. The Scene (Whiteman, Wall, Johnson) 4:16
4. Cop A Plea (Johnson, Ballantyne) 4:54
5. Girl Watcher (Johnson, Ballantyne) 4:09
6. Round And Round [For CJ] (Johnson, Johnson) 4:43
7. Kickin’ Stones (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:16
8. Hammer In My Hand (Johnson) 4:21
9. 100 Cigarettes (Gallagher, Johnson) 4:05
10. Turn The Lights On (Lowe, Johnson) 3:54
11. Let It Ride (Turner, Bachman) 5:51
12. Heart Refuse To Pound [For Alex] (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:27

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Kelly Hoppe: Harmonica, Melodica, Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals
Gavin Brown: Drums
All Cross: Drums (tracks 3, 7)
Paul Brennan: Drums (track 8)
Raffa: Drums (tracks 5, 6, 9, 11, 12)
Chris Johnson: Backing Vocals
Dave Wall: Backing Vocals
Jeff Ireland: Backing Vocals
Patrick Ballantyne: Backing Vocals
(*) O álbum foi lançado em 1998 no Canadá e em 1999 nos Estados Unidos, com uma alteração: a faixa 5, na versão canadense, era a música “Girl Watcher”; na versão americana, era a música “Diggin’ A Hole”; o disco aqui postado é a versão canadense

(1999) Chauffe À Bloc (EP)

1. (Pas) Envie D’allumer (3:54)
2. Je Suis Cool (2:53)
3. C’est Moi Qui Règne (4:16)
4. Better Get Used To It [Version Française] (Gallagher, Wall, Brown, Johnson) 2:56
5. Ouvres-toi Bébé (11:43)
(Não há informação a respeito da autoria das músicas com título em francês)

Personnel (provável):
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Kelly Hoppe: Harmonica, Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals
All Cross: Drums

(1999) Live At Paradise Rock Club Boston (Bootleg)

1. I’m A Ram (Green) 7:11
2. Better Get Used To It (Gallagher, Wall, Brown, Johnson) 3:05
3. Turn The Lights On (Lowe, Johnson) 5:32
4. Diggin’ A Hole (Johnson, Curran, Gallagher) 5:14
5. Cop A Plea (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:20
6. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Winwood, Capaldi, Wood) 7:04
7. The Scene (Whiteman, Wall, Johnson) 4:11
8. Round And Round (Johnson, Johnson) 5:17
9. Sun Is Shining (Marley, Perry) 2:47
10. When The Levee Breaks (Bohnam, Jones, Page, Plant) 8:06
11. Ride Like Hell (Wise, Johnson) 8:25

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
Garry Lowe: Bass
Kelly Hoppe: Harmonica
All Cros: Drums

(2001) Brothers & Sisters, Are You Ready? (versão em inglês)

1. Red Rover (4:57)
2. Nashville Grass [For Woody] (APJJ, Johnson, Lowe) 3:49
3. She Left Ashes (4:04)
4. Nicotina [She’s All That] (APJJ, Johnson) 4:02
5. So Not Over (3:33)
6. Butterball (4:06)
7. Bump On The Head (APJJ, Johnson) 4:12
8. Lost And Found (Ballantyne, Johnson) 3:55
9. Bad Old Days (3:36)
10. We Could Live (4:10)
11. Pretty Bird (3:12)
12. All Hell For A Basement (4:00)
13. O Canada (Traditional) 2:17

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals, Bass
All Cross: Drums
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Molly Johnson: Vocals
Joe Public: Horn
Mojah: Guitar, Vocals
(*) Não há informações a respeito da autoria das músicas, salvo sobre aquelas que se encontram repetidas na versão em francês ou lançadas na coletânea “Hit & Run”, devidamente registradas acima

(2001) Brothers & Sister, Êtes Vous Ready? (versão em francês)

1. Le Vainqueur (APJJ, Don, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 4:57
2. Nashville Grass [For Woody] (APJJ, Johnson, Lowe) 3:49
3. Elle Est Passée (Ballantyne, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 4:04
4. Tina Gasolina [Elle Est Tout Çà] (APJJ, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 4:02
5. [Loin d'Être] Over (Ballantyne, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 3:32
6. La Bombe (Dufour, Johnson, Plante, Wall) 4:06
7. Bump On The Head (APJJ, Johnson) 4:12
8. Lost And Found (Ballantyne, Johnson) 3:56
9. Busté (Dufour, Johnson, Plante, Wall) 3:58
10. Harmonie (Benn, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 4:12
11. L’ Oiseau Reggae (APJJ, Dufour, Johnson, Plante) 3:14
12. À Nu [Pom Pom] (Benn, Johnson, JP) 4:06
13. O Canada (Traditional) 2:17

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals, Bass
All Cross: Drums
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Molly Johnson: Vocals
Joe Public: Horn
Mojah: Guitar, Vocals

(2003) All Night ‘Til Daylight/Leave My Guitar Alone (Singles)

1. All Night ‘Til Daylight (3:53)
2. Leave My Guitar Alone (3:04)

Personnel (provável):
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
All Cross: Drums
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Kelly Hope: Harmonica, Saxophone

(2003) Hit & Run

Hit

1. Sleep In Late (Wall, Whiteman) 3:20
2. Ride Like Hell (Wise, Johnson) 4:47
3. I’m A Ram (Green) 3:32
4. Dear Mr. Fantasy (Winwood, Capaldi, Wood) 4:59
5. Diggin’ A Hole (Johnson, Curran, Gallagher) 5:23
6. If I Had My Way (Johnson, Ballantyne) 5:14
7. Opem Up, Baby (Johnson, Gallagher) 3:51
8. The Scene (Whiteman, Wall, Johnson) 4:16
9. Better Get Used To It (Gallagher, Wall, Brown, Johnson) 2:57
10. Turn The Lights On (Lowe, Johnson) 3:55
11. Red Rover (APJJ, Johnson, Don) 4:58
12. Nicotina [She’s All That] (APJJ, Johnson) 4:04
13. All Hell For A Basement (Johnson, Ballantyne) 3:58
14. I Want You Now [previously unreleased] (Johnson, Ballantyne) 3:43
15. Trouble In The City [previously unreleased] (Johnson, Mojah, Nelson) 2:58
16. Three Minute Song [previously unreleased] (Mack, Read, Johnson, Kehayas, Hope) 2:46

Personnel:
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals, Bass (tracks 2 to 5, 7 to 14, 16), Keyboards (tracks 6, 8, 9), Organ (track 10), Banjo (track 13), Tin Whistle [Pennywhistle] (track 13)
Garry Lowe: Bass (tracks 6, 15), Vocals (track 10)
Terry Wilkins: Bass (track 1)
Al Cross: Drums (tracks 1 to 4, 8, 11 to 13)
Eric Paul: Drums (tracks 14 to 16)
Gavin Brown: Drums (tracks 9, 10)
Paul Brennan: Drums (tracks 5 to 7)
Tyler Stewart: Drums (track 5)
Gene Hardy: Saxophone [Tenor] (track 3)
Patrick Ballantyne: Acoustic Guitar (track 4), Backing Vocals (track 4)
Kelly Hope: Harmonica (tracks 5 to 7, 12), Keyboards (track 12)
Dave Wall: Backing Vocals (tracks 8, 9)
Mojah: Guitar [Rhythm Guitar] (track 11), Vocals (track 15)

Run (Live) [Bonus Tracks]

1. Goodbye Train (Johnson)/Hammer In My Hand (Johnson) 9:06
2. Skull Ring (Johnson, Whiteman)/Joe Louis (Johnson)/Nashville Grass (APJJ, Johnson, Lowe) 15:54
3. I’m a Ram (Green)/Rambo [Featuring Whitey Don] (Green, Hodges, Johnson, Don) 9:14
4. Groundhog Day (Johnson)/Armagideon Time [Featuring Willy Williams] (Dod, Williams) 7:40
5. Where I Stand (Johnson, Johnson, Hoppe)/In My Time Of Dying (Traditional) 10:38

Personnel:
Desconhecido

Extra (recomendado apenas para quem gosta de reggae):



Alkaline (2000) Extra Long Life (*)

1. Headlights (Johnson) 3:54
2. Maximum Judgement/Brown Bomber (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe) 9:30
3. Tief Da Bike (Johnson, Brennan, Lowe, Don) 7:57
4. ‘Nuff Sugar (Johnson, Lowe) 4:45
5. Set Around [previously unreleased rhythm] (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe, Sibbles) 5:25
6. Strictly Got To **ill [previously unreleased rhythm] (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe) 5:24
7. Deliverance (Johnson, Lowe, Don, Cross) 4:49
8. Maximum Version (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe, Don) 5:53
9. Johnny Thompson (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe) 4:31
10. Rambo (Green, Hodges, Johnson, Don) 4:28
11. Skull Dubbery (Johnson, Hoppe, Lowe) 4:51
12. Alka Lights (Johnson, Lowe, Don) 4:01

Personnel (presumível):
Gordie Johnson: Guitar, Vocals
Garry Lowe: Bass, Vocals
Kelly Hope: Harmonica, Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals
Al Cross: Drums
Whitey Don: Mixer, Vocals
(*) Disco de dub reggae, composto de músicas da Big Sugar, compreendidas no período de 1992 a 1998, conforme referido no site da banda; o texto meio dúbio, porém, não permite concluir se as músicas foram gravadas especificamente para o disco ou são remixes de gravações anteriores