Information/Write-up
In 1969, Lynda Layne collaborated with singer Larry Lee to release the single "Most Peculiar Girl" backed with "Magnificent Out-Pouring" on Nugget Records (catalog number NR-1039). This duet marked a distinctive entry in Layne's discography, showcasing her versatility and willingness to explore unconventional pop arrangements.
The A-side, "Most Peculiar Girl," was penned by Fred F. Carter Jr., a respected session guitarist and songwriter known for his work with various artists. The B-side, "Magnificent Out-Pouring," was written by Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada's most esteemed singer-songwriters. The single was produced by Fred F. Carter Jr.
This release was issued in Canada and later in the UK on Beacon Records. While it did not achieve significant commercial success, the single remains a notable example of Layne's adaptability as an artist.
Born Hazel McKirdy in 1949 in Kitchener, Ontario, Lynda Layne emerged in the early 1960s as one of Canadaâs most promising teen pop vocalists. At just 14 years old, she released her debut single in 1963 on Arc Records under her birth nameâa cover of Skeeter Davisâs âEnd of the Worldâ backed with âMama Didnât Lie.â These recordings, though modest in reach, hinted at a budding star with poise well beyond her years.
Soon adopting the stage name Lynda Layne, she quickly found her footing in the Canadian music scene through television. She became a regular on CBCâs Music Hop beginning in 1964 and appeared on programs like Juliette, Teen â67, and CHCH-TVâs Jamboree. That same year, she was named âMost Promising Female Vocalistâ by RPM WeeklyâCanadaâs premier music industry journal.
Her early recordings with labels like Tartan and RCA Victor International helped define her sound: bright, emotionally honest, and perfectly suited to the melodic contours of early-â60s pop. As she matured, Layne took on more soulful and dramatic material, including the Tamarac-produced single âHang On to Me Now Babyâ, released in 1966 on Red Leaf Records. The track earned rave reviews from DJs and critics across the country and entered RPMâs national chart that December.
In 1967, Layne was once again recognized by RPM, winning âMost Promising Female Vocalistâ a second timeâoutpacing other rising stars like Debbie Lori Kaye. She remained a fixture in the Canadian teen scene, touring with the Bigland Agency, performing at teen dances and exhibitions from Edmonton to the Maritimes, and receiving consistent airplay from stations like Torontoâs CKFH, which listed her among the core of their Canadian talent programming.
In 1969, she briefly teamed up with singer Larry Lee to record the quirky and theatrical duet âMost Peculiar Girlâ b/w âMagnificent Out-Pouringâ, issued by Nugget Records in Canada and later by Beacon Records in the UK. Though the collaboration was a one-off, it demonstrated Layneâs versatility and willingness to step outside of conventional pop formulas.
She returned in 1971 with a brassy, orchestrated version of the Rolling Stonesâ âOut of Time,â released on Tuesday Records. The track stands as a bold reinterpretationâbringing a rich pop-soul sensibility to the Jagger-Richards original and further solidifying Layneâs vocal strength and stylistic range.
In 1979, Layne released one final single: âLove Is Suppose to Beâ backed with âThe Best I Canâ, issued on Sound Path Records (SP-015). The single was produced at Zaza Sound in Toronto and was co-written by Nancy Ryan and Louie Innis.
After stepping away from music, she resumed life under her birth name and established a successful career in real estate in the PickeringâAjax region of Ontario. Though she never released a full-length LP, her run of singlesâfrom early teen ballads to soul-pop maturityâremains preserved through digitized archives and original 45s.
Today, Lynda Layneâs music can be heard and explored in depth at CitizenFreak.com, the Museum of Canadian Music, where her full catalog, scans, and credits are maintained. Her legacy is that of a trailblazer in Canadian popârepresenting a generation of homegrown talent that flourished in the first great wave of national music broadcasting and teenage stardom.
-Robert Williston
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