Talk:Ritchie Yorke

Plagiarism

This article is plagiarism as it's an almost word for word copy of Yorke's own website http://ritchieyorke.com/site/index.php and you should also check his copyright section too http://ritchieyorke.com/site/copyright.php — Preceding unsigned comment added by 165.69.13.114 (talk) 07:01, 29 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for the link. Fixed now. BlackCab (TALK) 00:20, 18 January 2015 (UTC)

The addition of a long list of liner notes claimed to be written by Yorke suggests (once again) this article is turning into a vanity piece written by someone with a close connection to the subject of the article. I have some concerns about the notability of this list of albums to which Yorke is said to have written liner notes, and there is also no easy way to verify that he actually did so. Wikipedia has policies against autobiographies and does not exist to provide resumes. BlackCab (TALK) 05:02, 24 April 2015 (UTC)

I have removed more unsourced material that appears to be written by the subject of the article or someone close to him. It should not be reinstated. BlackCab (TALK) 07:16, 31 July 2015 (UTC)

Hey BlackCab, I've put some sources below for verification. Cheers.Douglasgh (talk) 00:54, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

Thanks, I'll return to it as time permits. BlackCab (TALK) 02:42, 30 August 2015 (UTC)

Biographical Details

Here are two reliable English-language sources that could act as a reference in Yorke’s biographical section. The following is direct quotations from:

Bari, M. A. (2007). Mass media is the message: Yoko Ono and John Lennon's 1969 year of peace.

• Thousands of volunteers covered the walls of the major cities in “War Is Over!” posters, and rock musician Ronnie Hawkins and music writer Ritchie Yorke, both of whom became friends with Ono and Lennon while they were in Canada, carried the posters around the world in 1970 in a “52,000 mile world tour” (figure 4.23). (PG 148) [1]

Concannonm, K. (2005). “War Is Over!: John and Yoko’s Christmas Eve Happening, Tokyo, 1969,” in Review of Japanese Culture and Society). Available to read here

• The campaign continued in earnest throughout 1970 with the help of friends Ronnie Hawkins and Ritchie Yorke, who traveled the globe, including Asia, carrying War Is Over! placards and otherwise spreading the peace message (Fig. 10). Among several British newspapers that reported a notable incident in Hong Kong (then under British control), the Northern Echo reported (Pg. 79):

• “John Lennon’s peace campaign nearly started a border incident with Communist China recently—with the help of former American rock star Ronnie Hawkins. Hawkins and a friend [music writer Ritchie Yorke] were on a world peace tour, and while in Hong Kong it was suggested China should be told “War is over—if you want it.” So off they went, barged through the first barrier in their car to the hilltop police station and waved two signs, one in English, one in Chinese, at the Red border guards. Naturally the police were upset and rushed to tell Hawkins to leave immediately, or be arrested. They left. 32 (Charles Westberg, “Pop,” Northern Echo (Darlington, Durham, U.K. 19 February 1970). (Pg. 79-80)

• Hawkins and Yorke returned from their “52,000 mile world tour” representing the War Is Over! campaign in early March of 1970 —or Year One A.P. (After Peace), as Lennon and Ono dubbed it. (Pg. 80)

Douglasgh (talk) 07:02, 24 August 2015 (UTC)

These details corroborate with NME's article published at the time; Express, N. M. (1970, 1970 Feb 14). Craziest Pop Pic Of Week? New Musical Express (Archive: 1952–2000), 15. I accessed this article digitally via ProQuest, through the Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. It reads:

• “Ronnie Hawkins and NME writer Ritchie Yorke took placard messages (above) to the Chinese border (25 miles from Hong Kong), where they were stopped by Red Gaurds and warned they would be shot if they didn’t leave.” (Pg 16)

Douglasgh (talk) 07:22, 24 August 2015 (UTC)

Here are more sources. The following is from Billboard magazine, through the Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. It is also available here. It makes mention of Yorke being award a Juno award, his instigation of the Maple Music Junket and that he was Billboard's Canadian correspondent. Billboard, (1972, Mar 18). General news: Ritchie Yorke gets Can.'s Juno award. Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), 84, 3.

• Billboard’s Canadian correspondent Ritchie Yorke was named journalist of the year at the annual Juno awards ceremony, given by the Canadian Raidio Television Commission. Yorke was cited for his contributions to the Canadian music industry through is recently published book “Axes, Chops and Hot Licks,” a survey of the Canadian music industry, his instigation of the Maple Music Junket and magazine writings.Douglasgh (talk) 23:53, 27 August 2015 (UTC)

Here are more primary sources from Billboard magazine from the Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive.

Canada: Print rock history. (1976, Oct 16). Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), 88, 64. Retrieved from ProQuest. Also available here

• Methuren Publications will publish a new book by rock author Ritchie Yorke titled the “History of Rock ’n’ Roll.” The book represents the summarised account of Yorke’s original quarter-million word script for the 60-hour CHUM-produced documentary which premiered on CHUM AM on Sept. 26. The show will run in three-hour segments for 20 weeks. (Pg 64)

General news: Massive 64-hour hour rock special set. (1977, Feb 05). Billboard (Archive: 1963-2000), 89, 63. Retrieved from ProQuest. Also available here

• The most thorough rock radio documentary - covering 64 hours of radio programming has just been completed by the CHUM group, Toronto, and will be syndicated around the world. Titled “The Evolution of Rock: The Music That Made The World Turn ‘Round,”... The CHUM Group documentary has been three years in composition. The show was written by Ritchie Yorke, who typed 250,000 words on the show, which was then adapted for radio by Bill MacDonald with Tom Brownlie and Pat Withrow. Chuck Riley, an American air personality, hosted the show, which was produced by Waren Cosford, assisted by Bob McMillan, Zeke Zdebiak, and Gary Milmine.Douglasgh (talk) 01:48, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

Johannson, P. R. (1972). Canada's rock music industry: Counterweight or component of continentalism? American Review of Canadian Studies, 2(2), 35-60. doi: 10.1080/02722017209481339. Accessed through ProQuest, via Taylor & Francis Online.

• Another matter which deserves mention in this regard in the "Maple Music Junket," which was organized by an Australian-born Toronto promoter, Ritchie Yorke. The plan was to increase Canadian record sales in Europe, by inviting a number of continental writers, radio and tv programmers, editors and film makers, to visit Montreal and Toronto during June, 1972. A series of five concerts (three in English, two in French) was staged in Montreal and Toronto so that the Europeans could see and hear Canadian talent. The significance of this promotion tour lies in the fact that the Canadian government became involved in helping to finance the venture. Whether or not the effort is justified in terms of expanding Canadian record sales, it is clearly a change from an earlier period, when Canadian artists lacked even a stage upon which to perform for their neighbours. Government involvement at the promotional level, as well as at the level of broadcast regulations, marks an important shift in the Canadian music industry. (Pg 48)

In 'Making canadian music industry policy' Sutherland discusses figures like Walt Grealis and Yorke in regards to the CanCon legislation. Yorke's participation at the CRTC hearings is also mentioned. Sutherland, R. (2009). Making canadian music industry policy 1970-1998. McGill University (Canada). Available here.

• Journalist Ritchie Yorke acted as the major advocate of the policy from a music industry point of view, testifying both to the adequacy of the supply of Canadian music, as well as to the necessity of radio support to create a viable Canadian music industry. (Pg 110).

Mitchell, G. (2007). The north american folk music revival: Nation and identity in the united states and canada, 1945-1980. GB: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Ebook accessed via ProQuest:

• Australian journalist Ritchie Yorke became something of a crusader on behalf of Canadian musicians. In 1969 he published a lengthy exploration of the shortcoming of the the industry in Canada in Billboard magazine, conveying a picture of gifted aspiring Canadian musicians at the mercy of unsympathetic music corporations and heartless, unsupportive disc jockeys. (Pg 150) Douglasgh (talk) 02:07, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

The Q Music Biography states the following:

• 'Born in Brisbane, Yorke departed Australia for the UK in 1966 and served as International Operations Manager for Sunshine Records, responsible for launching Normie Rowe in the European market. He relocated to Toronto, Canada the following year. In 1968-70, he worked as International Peace Envoy with John and Yoko Lennon on their War Is Over If You Want It peace campaign." Douglasgh (talk) 04:20, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Musical Involvement

Here are a few sources which outline Yorke's involvement in various projects.

Billboard. (1965, 1965 Apr 03). International News Reports: U.S. to 'Reverberate' With Aussie Sound. Billboard (Archive: 1963–2000), 77, 16. I accessed this from ProQuest but it can also be viewed here

• The Reverbs were discovered by 21-year old Ritchie Yorke, also a native of Brisbane, who produced the record and wrote both songs, as well. He also manages the group... Whether Arlen Records starts an Australian trend still remains to be seen. Arlen, hover, is breaking new ground with the release of the Reverbs' disk. It marks the first time that an Australian group has been signed by an American label. (Pg 16)

Laird, R. (2000). The Sixties: Australian Rock & Pop Recordings 1964-1969 (Screensound Collection Guide). Pg 248.

• In 1966 Yorke contributed lyrics to Normie Rowe's song "Mary, Mary", consequently sharing a writing credit for the song. This is substantiated by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s holding guide and Discogs

This also corroborates with what appears here on Pop Archives:

• "Robin Shaw and Micky Keene (also spelt Mickey Keen) also co-wrote Mary Mary (with Ritchie Yorke), another product of Normie Rowe's London sessions."

Performance credits for Crowbar's Bad Manors appear on Allmusic. Douglasgh (talk) 03:02, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Axes, Chops & Hot Licks

There are a few academic sources which refer to Axes, Chops and Hot Licks. I have listed them and the relevant quotes below:

Capel, G. M. D. (2007). 'Damned if they do and damned if they don't': The inferiority complex, nationalism, and maclean's music coverage, 1967--1995 Accessed through the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Also available here.

• Although Ritchie Yorke's Axes, Chops, & Hot Licks: The Canadian Rock Music Scene provided the earliest coverage of Canada's music culture and the development of the Canadian Content laws, the work, published in 1971, is outdated. (Pg 14)

• John MacFarlane's review of Ritchie Yorke's seminal book on Canadian music, Axes, Chops & Hot Licks, was highly critical of that work, foreign and domestic music, and the development that year of the Canadian Content regulations. (Pg 48)

Daley, M. (2007). A historiography of rock music, 1955--1976. York University (Canada). Accessed through ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. https://www.library.yorku.ca/find/Record/2334836

• Nineteen seventy-one saw the publication of the first rock history devoted entirely to a music scene outside of the United States and England. Ritchie Yorke’s Axes, Chops and Hot Licks was the work of an expatriate Australian who settled in Canada in the 1960s and set to work documenting the development of the tiny Canadian rock scene, mostly in newspaper articles. (Pg. 143)

Moore, S. J. (2002). Re-articulating canadian popular music through a local lens: Examining "great big sea" and issues of locality, regionalism and nationalism. Carleton University (Canada). Accessed through ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Also available here.

• In Ritchie Yorke’s groundbreaking book "Axes. Chops and Hot Licks." Bruce Cockbum described the Canadian music industry as "not yet as rotten as the US scene. (Pg 46)

Henderson, S. R. (2008). Making the scene: Yorkville and hip toronto, 1960—1970. Queen's University (Canada). Accessed through ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global database. Also available here

• For a lively, journalistic account of this early period in Yorkville’s folk music scene, see Nicholas Jennings, Before the Gold Rush: Flashbacks to the Dawn of the Canadian Sound (Toronto: Penguin Books, 1997) 7-53. See also Ritchie Yorke’s view of the Toronto music scene, written as a reconnaissance-style journalistic exercise at the time, Axes, Chops and Hot Licks (Edmonton: M.G. Hurtig, 1971) (Pg 18)

Film

Here are sources that refer to Yorke's involvement in various filmic projects. In 1986 he and Mark Hall wrote The Real Patsy Cline. He appears in the documentary John & Yoko's Year of Peace. In 2010 he appeared as a guest panellist on music quiz show Spicks and Specks.Douglasgh (talk) 02:07, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Procol Harum

Here are two sources that refer to Yorke's part in coupling them with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra with Procol Harum. The first quote comes from the official Edmonton Symphony Orchestra website. The second comes from a recent biography on the band.

Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. (ca. 2015). Retrieved from http://www.edmontonsymphony.com/about/recordings/procol-harum-live-with-the-edmonton-symphony-orchestra

• "Ever an orchestra to go where angels fear to tread, the ESO had previously collaborated with Canadian band Lighthouse for what had been an extremely successful show. Hunka was eager to find another group with which to collaborate. He said as much to legendary rock writer Ritchie Yorke at a chance meeting. Yorke immediately suggested Procol Harum."

Scott-Irvine, H. (2013). Procol Harum: The Ghosts Of A Whiter Shade Of Pale. Omnibus Press, London. Available here

• “The idea germinated in early 1971 when one Holger Pedersen suggested to Bob Hunka, the assistant general manager of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, that Procol Harum were a natural choice for an orchestral collaboration. Allied to this Ritchie Yorke, dean of Canadian rock critics, Rolling Stone contributor (and a big Procol Harum fan) heard about the ESO’s history of collaborating with pop groups and made a separate approach to Hunka at a rock competition that April. Although Hunka didn’t immediately act on the suggestion, on August 7, while Procol Harum were on a Canadian tour, a meeting was arranged between Hunka, Sutton and Brooker at the Edmonton Inn, where the idea for the concert crystallised and a date was set for November 18."Douglasgh (talk) 02:07, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Publications

Here are some sources that mention the magazines and newspapers Yorke wrote for. The following is from a biography published by Q Music for Big Sound in 2009. Available here

• “He was Canadian Editor of Rolling Stone (1969-70) and Canadian Editor of Billboard (1970-80).He was the Senior Music Writer for the Brisbane Sunday Mail for 20 years (1987-2007). He has contributed to a host of music publications including Mojo, New Musical Express, Circus, Go-Set, The Toronto Globe and Mail and the L.A. Free Press" Douglasgh (talk) 02:55, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Yorke's involvement/contributions to Go-Set magazine are mentioned in the following sources.

• Kent, D. (2002). The Place of Go-Set in Rock & Pop Music Culture in Australia, 1966 to 1974. Retrieved from http://www.anddum.com/ozmusic/goset/gosetthesis.pdf. Cover story credit appears on page 242.
• Glenn A. Baker - The Dimming Of A '60s star (2007). Available here — Preceding unsigned comment added by Douglasgh (talk • contribs) 03:53, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Books

The following refers to other books which Yorke has contributed to, but are as of yet unlisted.

A Little Bull Goes A Long Way (contributor), Pennon Publishing, 2001.

• This is substantiated by the National Library of Australia's catalogue, viewable here. It also appears on Google Books here and goodreads here

Hendrix On Hendrix: Interviews And Encounters with Jimi Hendrix (contributor), Chicago Review Press, 2012.

• This is substantiated by the National Library of Australia's catalogue here. He contribution is also mentioned in chapter breakdowns of the book here, here and here.

Led Zeppelin On Led Zeppelin: Interviews And Encounters (contributor), Chicago Review Press, 2014.

• This is substantiated by the National Library of Australia's catalogue here.

Rock Country, Hardie Grant Books, 2013. (ISBN 978-174270521-7).

• This is substantiated on Hardie Grant Books' website — Preceding unsigned comment added by Douglasgh (talk • contribs) 03:36, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

Liner Notes

I have found two good sources that verify the liner notes Yorke has written. Firstly, there is Allmusic. On Allmusic there are 8 liner note credits, 1 "Quotes Researched & Compiled" credit, and also a musical credit. Secondly, Discogs lists additional liner notes credits that don't appear on Allmusic. Douglasgh (talk) 03:08, 9 September 2015 (UTC)— Preceding unsigned comment added by Douglasgh (talk • contribs) 11:36, 18 August 2015 (UTC)

Here are the credits that appear on Allmusic:

• B.B. King - The Electric...Best Of (1968)
• Tony Joe White - ... Continued (1969)
• Big Mama Thornton – The Way It Is (1969)
• Ronnie Hawkins - Ronnie Hawkins (1970)
• King Biscuit Boy & Crowbar - Official Music (1970)
• The Beatles - In the Beginning (1970) (quotes and research compiled)
• Neil Sedaka – Emergence (1971)
• José Feliciano – At His Best (2000)
• Tony Joe White - Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings (2009)

Here are the credits that appear on Discogs that don't appear on Allmusic:

• King Curtis - The Best Of (1968)
• Kim Fowley - Good Clean Fun (1968)
• Aretha Franklin - Soul ’69 (1969)
• Jerry Butler - Ice On Ice (1969)
• The Cycle – The Cycle (1969)
• The Five Bells – Dimensions (1969)
• Carla Thomas - The Best Of (1969)
• Simon Caine - Simon Caine (1970)
• Waldo De Los Rios – Sinfonias (1970)
• Miguel Ríos - A Song of Joy (1970)
• Edward Bear - Bearings (1970)
• Etta James - Peaches (1971)
• Pepper Tree – You're My People (1971)
• King Biscuit Boy - Gooduns (1971)
• Leigh Ashford - Kinfolk (1971)
• Various – Maple Music Vol.1 (1972)
• Frank Mills - Reflections Of My Childhood (1972)
• Cathy Young – Travel Stained (1973/2009)
• Miguel Ríos – Memorias De Un Ser Humano (1974)
• The Sweet – The Ballroom Blitz & More Sweet Hits (1992)
• The Mamas And The Papas – All Time Greatest Hits (1994)
• Tina Charles – Tina Charles (1996)

Douglasgh (talk) 00:51, 28 August 2015 (UTC)

The Q Music Biography states the following:

• "He has written album liner notes for a host of legendary artists including The Beatles, Aretha Franklin, Buddy Holly, King Curtis, Jerry Butler, Big Mama Thornton, Neil Young and Kim Fowley." Douglasgh (talk) 03:08, 9 September 2015 (UTC)

The National Library of Australia also attributes the liner notes for Jerry Butler's Ice on Ice to Yorke here. Douglasgh (talk) 04:09, 9 September 2015 (UTC)