Winston George-ANY DIRECTION 1969-London Ontario Canada PRIVATE FOLK PSYCH

All time classic folk psych private press from Canada . 1969 London Ontario.

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PLAYERS :

Winston George: vocals, guitar, harmonica.
Bill Pigram: drums.
Rob Connor: guitar
Bill Gunn: organ
Ron Kilgour: bass.

A personal favorite, in the vein of introspective, political, moody, sparse folk psychedelia. So rare, because it was only released in Ontario, distributed by hand by Winston where he played or passed onto friends and associates.

On the small indie label Ergo, which is also a book publishing venture. For those in the know, he was a keystone of culture in Southern ontario, and his best friend was Roy MacDonald of London Ontario, the street busker/philosopher/free spirit. Virtually unknown for this material in his own city of London Ontario, he played the coffee house circuit and bars in this time period, this is a stone classic, and very important document of canadian music. Unfortunately Winston passed away in late 2003 and is missed dearly by friends and family. A month before he passed, he invited me over to his house for a home made Beer, but we both did not connect and as fate would have it, I missed my chance to have more intimate conversations with him. I am grateful of the very easy exchanges via email I had with 'win' schell.

TRACKS : Any direction, a secretary song, alone with a shadow, Resignation, channel 19, Danger U.,Long time leavin', Smoky mountain grey, Great Waterfall, Neither a lender, Reason or rhyme, Nobody died, So long gone, Mornin' lookin' free

See his second album CITY WILDERNESS here :

Following (edited from :https://crossover.bureau42.com/winschell.html)

Winston George : 1942-2003

He played the southwestern Ontario folk circuit in the late 1960s and early 70s. His two albums never became best-sellers, but they maintained enough of a following to make the leap to the
digital world and on the want list of many record collectors who seek out original vinyl pressings of his first 2 albums.

Any Direction, first released in 1969, featured fourteen of Winston George's original songs. It is the moodier and, in many people's opinion, stronger of the two records, marked by his distinct folk vocals and Bill Gunn's dramatic organ. There's a hint of period mysticism here, and psychedelia. The cover sports a black and white image, created by Gil Moll, that looks like a Rorschach blot running asymmetrical.

Winston George: vocals, guitar, harmonica.
Bill Pigram: drums.
Rob Connor: guitar
Bill Gunn: organ
Ron Kilgour: bass.

The second album, 1976's City Wilderness, features more conventional folk. It's easily recognized by its cover, a Robert Crumb-influenced drawing of downtown London, Ontario with Win and various real-life city characters transformed into cartoon animals. Roger Baker, a friend of Win's, created the image.

Winston George: vocals, guitar
Bill Pigram: drums, vocals, autoharp
Rita Christie: vocals
Phil Blackler: guitar, harmonica
Dave Atwood: sax Larry Weir: bass

While he still played occasionally, he had always had to balance his music with his career as a high school teacher; he even co-authored texts which were used in Ontario for many years. City Wilderness would prove his final contribution to folk music. His life as Win Schell, however, remained a dynamic one.

Ergo Press, founded by Win and wife Linda in 1977, published fiction and non-fiction relating to southwestern Ontario. Its catalogue includes work by lesser-known names, and more widely-recognized local authors, such as James Reaney. Ergo also produced Souwesto Words, a CD of local writers reading their work. Win counted among his close friends local legend Roy McDonald. Ergo introduced Mcdonald's writing to a wider audience, and Win helped bring the eccentric writer's house-- which lacked many modern amenities-- into the modern era.

Win also wrote, producing an impressive number of published articles, essays, poetry, and works of short fiction.

He played folk music, published other people's writing, raised a family. Recently, he had taken up painting. He kept a garden and brewed his own beer. He amassed a large and diverse collection of unusual beer bottles, which he finally intended to sell.

He is survived by Linda, a son, Michael aka "Freedom," Elaine (ex-wife), a granddaughter, a sister and brother-in-law, some nieces and nephews, and many, many good friends whose lives will be less rich.

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from : http://www.execulink.com/~osstf11/EMO3-1/EMO3-1-WinSchell.htm


Education Matters Online
Recognitions
Volume 3, Issue 1: November 10, 2003
In Memoriam: Winston George Schell

Winston George Schell
For many teachers, retired and otherwise, the end of the Labour Day Weekend took on a different mood this year. On September 6, friends, family and colleagues gathered to honour the life of Win Schell. Win will be greatly missed. Because his funeral occurred on the first day of school, many people were unable to attend. Win�s friends and family are planning to hold a celebration of his life in the new year to allow everyone to come together to remember. We are seeking remembrances of Win from all who knew him. He belonged in so many different worlds. Win was a brilliant teacher, a gardener, an able administrator, a musician, a cook, a song writer, a championship golfer, an editor, a professional radio announcer, an author, a record producer, a political activist, a loyal friend, a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, a brother, a scholar, an important local publisher, a cat lover, and most of all, a person given to spontaneous acts of generosity and kindness.
Please share your favourite memories of Win. Long or short, we welcome them all. A selection will appear in later editions of this newsletter and/or at his memorial in the spring. Send them to: AfterWords Editor, Susan Cassan or (R.R. 1 Lucan, Ont. NOM 2J0). Stay tuned for information on when and where we will gather to remember and celebrate a wonderful friend.