Canadian Rock Theatre - ST

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Anthem (We The People)	03:48
	2	Simon Zealotes	02:56
	3	Pilate's Dream	01:33
	4	O Bless the Lord My Soul	03:48
	5	Changing Day to Day	05:11

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Sweet Jesus	03:57
	2	Save the People	02:41
	3	Every Living Thing	05:33
	4	By My Side	01:54
	5	Sinner Man (Don't Let Him Catch You)	03:38
	6	Anthem (We The People)	03:21

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Information/Write-up

Canadian Rock Theatre was a dynamic and ambitious musical ensemble formed in Toronto, Ontario, in the early 1970s. With a lineup nearing 30 members, the group featured a full rhythm section, horn players, multiple lead vocalists, and a choir of backing singers, creating a rich, uplifting sound that blended rock, gospel, and theatrical elements.

Their self-titled album, released in 1972 on Lion Records, captured the spirit of the era with a mix of original songs and covers of contemporary rock musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. The ensemble was produced by Peter Mann and Perry Botkin Jr., with arrangements by Steve Brundage and engineering by Ed Greene and Steve Smith, recorded at MGM Recording Studios in Hollywood, California.

Canadian Rock Theatre was more than just a band—it was a collective of rising Canadian talent. Among its members were Victor Garber (later a celebrated stage and screen actor), Avril Chown, Doug Billard, Danny McBride, Karen Silver, Laurie Hood, P.M. Howard, Paul Ryan, Tabby Johnson, Peter McGraw, Steve Brundage, Ted Bettany, and Glenn Morrow. Many had already made names for themselves in Toronto’s vibrant musical theatre scene, including landmark productions of Godspell, while others would go on to notable careers in pop, disco, jazz, and film.

The ensemble’s performances were characterized by soaring vocal harmonies, jammy jazz-rock interludes, and tight, polished musicianship. Songs like "Changing Day to Day" showcased their versatility—shifting from energetic, horn-driven bursts to gentle, layered vocal arrangements. Their style drew comparisons to groups like Up With People, Lighthouse, and The Sugar Shoppe, blending messages of hope, change, and social unity with a secular professionalism that made their music accessible to a broad audience.

Though their time together was brief, Canadian Rock Theatre embodied a unique moment when the worlds of rock, theatre, and spiritual optimism converged in Canada. Their lone album remains a remarkable artifact of that hopeful, musically adventurous period.
-Robert Williston

Danny McBride: electric guitar, vocals
Steve Brundage: electric guitar
Victor Garber: acoustic guitar, vocals
P.M. Howard: acoustic guitar, vocals
Peter Bodkin Jr.: percussion
Peter McGraw: percussion, vocals
Peter Mann: percussion, piano, vocal arrangements
Pentti J. Glan: percussion, drums
Ted Bettany: bass
Glenn Morrow: organ
Rocky Howell: trumpet
Jean-Pierre Galipeau: trumpet
Jim Hanton: trombone
Sandy Forrester: trombone
Doug Billard: vocals
Avril Chown: vocals
Dorian Clark: vocals
Valentina Davis: vocals
Nancy Dolman: vocals
Laurel Hood: vocals
Faith Jansen: vocals
Cathy Johnson: vocals
Paul Ryan: vocals
Karen Silver: vocals
John Stainton: vocals

Produced by Peter Mann and Perry Botkin Jr.
Band arrangements by Steve Brundage
Recorded at MGM Recording Studios, Hollywood, California, USA
Engineered by Ed Greene and Steve Smith
Executive producer: Michael Ames Viner

Cover photography by Tony Steele and Robin Robin
Cover collage by Ron Raffaelli
Art direction by Saul Saget

Special thanks to Tony Mastrull and Laurie Hood

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Lyrics
ANTHEM (WE THE PEOPLE)
I believe in livin', God and children
I believe in freedom, peace and givin'
I fight no wars and I carry no guns
I wave no flags but now I must run

(Chorus)
We the people of the world
March on and on
We the people of the world
Sing on and on

United I stand, soul, mind and body
A divided land where love’s been forgotten
I worship no one and I live by the sun
I carry a cross, the cross of the young

Bread is on my table for passing strangers
Music fills my world with joy, happiness and love
I live by laws, the laws that built this land
I believe in change, and change is at hand

© 1970 Stratus Music / Detus Music, Inc. (ASCAP)

O BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL
O bless the Lord, my soul
His grace to thee proclaim
And all that is within me join
To bless His holy name

O bless the Lord, my soul
His mercies bear in mind
Forget not all His benefits
The Lord to thee is kind

He will not always chide
He will with patience wait
His wrath is ever slow to rise
And ready to abate

He pardons all thy sins
Prolongs thy feeble breath
He healeth thy infirmities
And ransoms thee from death

He clothes thee with His love
Upholds thee with His truth
And like the eagle He renews
The vigor of thy youth

Then bless His holy name
Whose grace has made thee whole
Whose loving kindness crowns thy days
O bless the Lord, my soul

© 1971 Valando Music, Inc. & New Cadenza Music Corporation

CHANGING DAY TO DAY
You know it’s changing day to day
You know it’s changing every way
And when I turn to you I see my brother
And now it’s time we turned to one another
You know it’s changing day to day
You know it’s changing every way
We have to find a way to come together
The time to show our love is now or never

© 1971 Lovely Lisa’s Music

SWEET JESUS
Sweet Jesus—Salvation
Armies marchin’—Liberation
Freedom wears a heavy chain today

Sweet Jesus—Salvation
Preachers preachin’ liberation

One hand gives and one hand takes away
Angry words and blinded eyes
And yesterday’s leftover lies
That kind of rain don’t make the flowers grow

Empty men patrol the street
And yesterday’s mistakes repeat
I seem to find them everywhere I go
I see the scars of those who turned
And turned again—the other cheek
Sweet Jesus—don’t you know now?
Don’t you know?

Sweet Jesus—Salvation
Armies marchin’—Liberation
Freedom’s always worn a heavy chain
Sweet Jesus—Salvation
Grace be granted liberation

Jesus makes his promise once again
I am not a prophet or a preacher
And I cannot speak in tongues
I only ask for visions
But they very seldom come
I’m not accusing anyone
But promises were made
Too long delayed!

© 1971 Afternoon Music

SAVE THE PEOPLE
When wilt Thou save the people
Oh, God of mercy when?
Not kings and lords but nations
Not thrones and crowns, but men?

Flowers of Thy heart, O God, are they
Let them not pass like weeds away
Their heritage a sunless day
God save the people

Shall crime bring crime forever
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it Thy will, oh Father
That man shall toil for wrong?

No, say Thy mountains, no, say Thy skies
Man’s clouded soul shall brightly rise
And songs be heard instead of sighs
God save the people

When wilt Thou save the people
Oh, God of mercy when?
Not thrones and crowns, but men?
God save the people, for Thine they are
Thy children as Thy angels fair
Save the people from despair

© 1971 Valando Music, Inc. & New Cadenza Music Corp.

EVERY LIVING THING
He put us here, upon this land
He gave us loving brothers for our backs
He gave us everything and took nothing in return
I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!

Every living thing has a place in God’s heart
Every living thing has as much as you and me
Every living thing has a place in God’s heart
We wiped out horses, just a few things from me

His seed of hope, just a few things from me
We piled up, mountains and damned all his streams
His rivers, his plains until it sank in
I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!

They call me savage, yet we see
A land God created, the way He meant it to be
Free from man’s ignorance and totality
I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it!

© 1971 Stratus Music

SINNER MAN (Don’t Let Him Catch You)
Sinner man watch your foolishness
And your wicked desire
Next time cometh this way
He’s comin’ with fire
Oh sinner man He’s comin’
Like a thief in the night
You will be lost
If you don’t live right!

Don’t let him catch you
Slippin’ and slidin’
(You shall not enter unless you see the Father)
Only believers (who see the son!)

Sinner Man your days are numbered
Now’s your chance to walk away
For you know that you got to
Repent and change today

Somebody asked me where to run
When the sky is blowin’
But there’ll be no hiding place

Sometime in the midnight hour
He’ll look down and wipe out the power
He’ll give you strength to carry on

© 1971 Jobete Music Company, Inc., Detroit, Michigan

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