Perth County Conspiracy (folk, folk rock, psych. folk / Canada

A folk-music group, known also by the full name Perth County Conspiracy (Does Not Exist) based in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. It formed in 1969 and was active until at least 1977. The music is characterised by its message-oriented lyrics and unconventional arrangements. The 1970 self-titled album features Shakespearian dialogue and audio collage elements that might place it in the genre of Psych folk. 

Over its career PCC(DNE) recorded several albums of material including at least two on the Columbia label.”

The band was founded by singer-actor Cedric Smith and Richard Keelan, ex of the Spikedrivers. 

Various backing vocals were also provided by hippie communards from the Stratford area.

After two major label albums for CBS, the group went independent and released a string of records on their own. Bob Burchill (guitar, vocals) joined the group in 1973. They lived together as a commune, similar to the Grateful Dead. The music is characterised by its message-oriented lyrics and unconventional arrangements. The 1970 self-titled album features Shakespearian dialogue and audio collage elements mixed with folk and folk rock music that might place it in the genre of psych folk.



'Mushroom Music' on Rumour Records before being signed to Columbia Records and releasing their self-titled album 'Perth County Conspiracy Does Not Exist' in 1970. 

Their third release, in 1971, was the double live album 'Perth County Conspiracy...Alive' (recorded in the Batthurst Street United Church in Toronto) featuring "You Ain't Got Nothing" which was edited for radio. 

 In 1973 and another live album, 'What School Bus Tour' was recorded from performances in Ottawa, Sudbury, Winnipeg in February of that year. 

Because the band made rare and infrequent stage appearances, another live album followed in 1976 called 'Break Out To Berlin'. After the album the band split up leaving Cedric Smith to carry on. Smith collaborated with Terry Jones on 1977's 'Ten Lost Years - And Then Some'. 
The album did nothing and Smith moved into a career as an actor. 

('Rumour ll (aka What School Bus Tour)' and 'Ten Lost Years And Then Some' were re-issued on CD in 2008) 

Albums:


1969 Mushroom Music (Rumour) RUMOUR-I
1970 Perth County Conspiracy Does Not Exist (Columbia) EKL-375
1971 Alive (Columbia) GES-90037
1973 What School Bus Tour (Rumour/Mushroom) RUMOUR-II
1975 Kanada (Rumour) RUMOUR-IV 1976 Breakout To Berlin (Rumour) RUMOUR-V 
1977 Ten Lost Years - And Then Some (Rumour) 



Personnel:


Cedric Smith - vocals, guitar
Richard Keelan - guitar, vocals
Michael Butler - bass
Terry Jones - guitar, vocals
George Taros - piano, vocals
Bob Burchill - guitar, vocals, fiddle (1973-1975) 

Sources:  http://www.last.fm/music/Perth+County+Conspiracy
                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perth_County_Conspiracy
                 http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/P/Perth_County_Conspiracy.html