Docks of Dover (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Docks of Dover were an American psychedelic rock group active from 1967-1970 and again for a reunion concert in 2004. They were named for a chapter in a 1932 Edgar Parks novel, "Edgar Parks Examines the Art of Ship Manufacturing". They toured again throughout 2006 and gained a reputation throughout Eastern Canada as a reputable jam band.
Contents |
[edit] 1967-1969
| (March-June 1967) | |
|---|---|
| (June-August 1967) | |
| (August-September 1967) | |
| (September-December 1967) | |
| (December 1967-January 1968) | |
| (January 1968-August 1969) | |
| (August 1969-Mid 1970) | |
| (2004) | |
| (2005 Reunion) | |
| (2006 Touring Band) |
They released four albums and never toured. Their first album, Thirty Four Bibles, was released in June 1967. It was frequently compared to another album released the same month, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In December of that year, they released a critically acclaimed rock opera, Samsonfeld's Suite. In 1968, they released "North Wind", an 2 LP set consisting of one continuous track, "Military Man". A completely alternate recording of "Military Man" was released two years later as "South Wind".
[edit] 1969-Present
[edit] Demise of the Band
In late August 1969 band members Richard L. Ross and James Landry were killed in a boating accident while traveling the Mississippi River. Arthur Timothy then took control of the band and hired members of his former band, The Blackstaffs, to replace Ross and Landry. The replacements, John Pagerson and Tim Lanfield were often involved in spats with Bernard Samsonfeld and Leon Tanner, and this led to the eventual break-up of the band
[edit] 30 Pop Songs
In 1970, they released a 3 LP set of their unreleased material over the past 3 years, including the big hits "Listen People", a jazzy number written by Leon Tanner, and "You Know What I Want", an old-style classic rock number written by Arthur Timothy. They called the collection, "30 Pop Songs", evn though there were only 23 songs and they were hardly defined as "pop".
[edit] Post-Existence
In 1975, Tanner, Samsonfeld, and Timothy formed a blues group called "The Wailin' Wailers". Along with Kenny Santos on bass, they recorded one album, "This Was Our Band", before disbanding in 1976.
On July 15, 2004, Bernard Samsonfeld died of a drug overdose at the age of 64. At his memorial service, Leon Tanner Jr., Arthur Timothy, John Pagerson, Tim Lanfield and Bernard's brother Joseph performed "Samsonfeld's Suite" in its entirety.
On October 13, 2005, Arthur Timothy died after a long struggle with cocaine addiction. A collection of Timothy-composed songs is expected to appear some time in 2006.
On December 15, Uli Sardan announced the reformation of the band with himself on guitars and Joseph Samsonfeld on pianos.
[edit] Discography
 1. Thirty Four Bibles (1967) |
 2. Samsonfeld's Suite (1967) |
 3. North Wind (1968) |
 4. South Wind (1970) |
 5. 30 Pop Songs (1970) |
 6. Greatest Hits (1999) |
 7. Common Oddities (2003) |
- Thirty Four Bibles (1967)
- Samsonfeld's Suite (1967)
- North Wind (1968)
- South Wind (1970)
- Americana Shell (1975). Recorded 1967.
- 30 Pop Songs (All Previously Recorded But Unreleased Material) (1970)
- Greatest Hits (1999)
- Common Oddities (30 More Pop Songs) (2003)
All of their album covers were originally designed by Uli Sardan and their CD reissues were designed by Anthony Lewis, stepson of Leon Tanner. The reissues are noted for having low quality covers, and it is considered by many a shame that the original covers are now almost obsolete.
In 1975, Uli Sardan briefly released a Punk EP by Marques Felicio, Arthur Timothy, and Jim Landry that had been recorded in 1967. It was quickly pulled off shelves after stores discovered the track "Fuck" contained objectionable lyrics. The EP is known as "Americana Shell".
