Best of Barkerville : original cast recording
12” 33.3 rpm
Call number SD9:16

The BC Government established Barkerville Historic Town as a heritage site and tourist attraction following the 1958 BC centennial. That decision ensured that Barkerville, established during the Cariboo Gold Rush, would be preserved for future generations.

Best of Barkerville consists of early musical highlights from the Theatre Royal music hall in Barkerville. This particular performance includes historical figures such as Judge Begbie.

Ballads of British Columbia
7” rpm 33.3 rpm
Call number SD9:4

This recording was made for the 1966/67 joint centennials. These centennial celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1866 union of the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia and the 1867 creation of Canada.

The cover is noteworthy since Century Sam, Century Sue and the SS Beaver all appear and are the focus of three of the songs. The liner notes note that Century Sam and Century Sue “symbolize the spirit of fun and frolic throughout British Columbia.”

There are several records produced for this centennial including “Evergreen Playground” (a tribute to Vancouver).and “Jewel of the West, Beautiful BC” (4 versions of the song in the styles of Bossa Nova, Rock’n’ Roll, Choral and Folk).

Go, British Columbia
7” rpm 33.3 rpm
Call number SD9:1

The BC Government 71” committee hired Bobby Gimby to write and record British Columbia’s 1971 centennial theme song.

Bobby Gimby gained fame when he wrote the 1967 Canadian centennial theme song “CA-NA-DA.” As with most Gimby recordings, this one was recorded with children.

There are two recordings of “Go, British Columbia.” The Pied Piper and the BC Kids recorded the A-Side and the Centennial 71 Band recorded the B-Side.

The collection is lucky to have an autographed copy in its collection.

The Sound of Victoria / Netherlands Carillon
7” rpm 33.3 rpm
Call number SD12:51

The Netherlands Carillon opened in 1968 and is located next to the Royal BC Museum. The Netherlands provided it as a gift to BC.

This record contains 11 exciting songs performed by Herman Bergink and Leen ‘t Hart.

Billy Vanderzalm [sic] here’s your shovel / Basement Faith
7” rpm 45 rpm
Call number SD9:2

I do not know much about the artist Basement Faith. I do know that this record is likely a response to Bill Vander Zalm’s comments as Minister of Human Resources. Vander Zalm was reported to have stated that “if someone is able to work and refuses to do so, they had best pick up a shovel or I’ll give them a shovel.” This comment made the headlines and apparently led to the creation of this record.

This is an interesting historical record but one should not underestimate the 1986 tribute to Expo ’86 recorded by Minister of Tourism Claude Richmond and his band. That record is sadly not part of our collection.

The wonder of it all : a musical based on the life of Emily Carr
7” rpm 45 rpm
Call number SD52:1

Emily Carr’s records and paintings are one of the most important collections at the RBCM. The RBCM also has a number of Emily Carr related items in its holdings such as this record.

This 1980 musical, based on the life of Emily Carr, was performed by the Four Season’s Musical Theatre. I am not sure if there have been any recent productions of this musical but this record provides a sense of the musical.

The Grey Fox (soundtrack)
12” 33.3 rpm
Call number SD117:6

The Grey Fox soundtrack is taken from a 1982 film by Canadian director Phillip Borsos. The film is about the exploits of train robber Bill Miner.

The BC Archives acquired the Phillip Borsos fonds in 2007 following his death. The fonds is quite extensive and includes film material, correspondence, scripts and many other items.

Silent Space

12” 33.3 rpm
Call number SD120:1

The collection includes a variety of sound effect records (e.g. Vancouver Landscape project, Orcas, H.R. McMillan Planetarium shows). This is the strangest.

The liner notes describe this as “forty minutes of guaranteed silence” and an answer to “all that Jazz and Hard Rock.” This is the first (only?) release on Silent Records Co.

I know very little about this record but this is one case where the sound (or lack thereof) tells the story.

Musical Highlights, 1975-1976 / Lillooet School District, no. 29
12” 33.3 rpm
Call number SD9:16

The collection has a variety of recordings of high school bands and in one case a recording of a high school performance of the Pirates of Penzance.

This record is representative of most of these school band recordings in the collection. The album includes a wide range of students from grades one to twelve. This record is similar to the Langley Schools Project since many of the songs are covers of contemporary pop and rock songs.

Na na hey hey kiss him goodbye b/w King Richard / King Richard’s Army
7” rpm 45 rpm
Call number SD47:1

The Vancouver Canucks have been celebrated in song several times during in their history. This record is at least the second such recording and celebrates the goaltending of “King” Richard Brodeur who backstopped the Canucks to the 1982 Stanley Cup final.

He is everything / The Voices of Victory
12” 33.3 rpm
Call number SD28:2

The collection has a number of faith records and this is a good one. The Voices of Victory performed on this record and it was released on Faith Records.

Ashcroft on my mind / by Serge Plotnikoff
7” rpm 45 rpm
Call number SD9:3

There are several records that pay tribute to the many cities, towns and regions of British Columbia. This is one of them.