Discography

The Action, 1977 – The legendary self-titled punk rock EP on Montreco records (Montreal). Ted Axe, vocals, John Fenton guitars, vocals, Paul Fenton guitars, vocals, Michael Fenton bass, Scott “Shot” MacDonald drums. Songs included original hits “Do the Strangle”, “TV’s on the Blink”, “Downtown Boy, Downtown Girl” and a hellacious version of Lou Reed’s “Waiting for my Man.” A cult hit in New York, sold thousands of copies in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa etc. Collectors covet both the ‘plain’ and coloured vinyl releases which sell to this day! Montreco Records.

The Action EP, 1978 – Second (but never-released) studio follow-up to their classic debut EP. Four songs: “Seafood Mama”, “Let You Down”, “Press Pig”, “Zona Rosa”. Same personnel as previous record. Had it ever seen release, it may well have broken the band internationally. It was an incendiary combination of the sounds of The Stones, Rory Gallagher, Status Quo, Sex Pistols and the Vibrators. Amazing. “Zona Rosa” was once described as “punk meets blues” and accurate or not, it’s one of the best things Paul’s ever recorded.


The Fentons, 1985 – Initially called the Fenton Brothers Band, again a four-song EP, featuring a heavy, Stonesy-Gallagher-esque blues rock: “Nasty Boy”, “Jealousy”, “Donna” and “Long Distance.” Self-produced, independent label. Recorded at 16-trk Marc Studios in Ottawa. Some very minor A&R; and production ‘advice’ from Tony McLean. Engineer Peter Burns.

The Fentons, “Whatever It Takes”, 1987 – Four-song EP “D.W.I. (‘Way Down in Georgia)”, “I’m Never Leavin'”, “Down So Long” (their version of the classic “Houseboy”, long a Fenton standard) and a brilliant cover of Rory Gallagher’s “Shadow Play” which Rory himself really liked and praised the slide playing on. Produced by Tony McLean and the band. Also recorded at 24-trk Marc Studios.


The Fentons, 1988 – Self-titled, “Behind Locked Doors”, “Houseboy”, “Radio Has No Sound”. Nevessa Studios, Woodstock, NY, Produced by legendary Mick Ronson, who also played rhythm guitar on some cuts. Engineered by Chris Andersen of “Todd Rundgren and Utopia” fame. Unreleased/bootleg, was to have seen commercial release on Torrid Records of NYC.

Dozens of demo sessions 1985-90 (some available as bootlegs to ‘insiders’), producers Tony McLean, Mike “Scruff” Tagney, Dave Bignall, the band and several others.

Rory Gallagher Tribute cassette, 1995 – Five Gallagher songs interpreted by successive Fenton bands contributed on this sweet emotional tribute to Paul’s main mentor and hero.


The Bleedin’ Hearts, 1995 – Self-titled CD. Independent label (“Crosscut”). Produced by Ross Murray and the Bleedin’ Hearts (the band was named after the Elmore James song). Personnel: Paul Fenton guitars, Pat Killen lead vocals, harp, kazoo; Rob Bennett, guitars, vocals, mandolin; Gord Wagner drums; Jeff Monette, bass guitar.

Songs: Resurrection Special (Fenton/Killen); Resurrection (Fenton/Killen); Ball and Chain (Fenton/Cohen); Show’n’Tell (Fenton/Killen/Cohen); Torch is Out (Fenton/Cohen); As the Crow Flies (Tony Joe White); All Over You (Fenton/Killen/Cohen); Hard to Get (Fenton/Killen); Soldier (Fenton/Calford); White Light / White Heat (Lou Reed); Vampire Blues (Fenton/Cohen); Get Thru to You (Fenton/Cohen); Way Down in Georgia (Fenton/Cohen); Can’t Get That Stuff No More (Hudson Whittaker [Tampa Red]).


The Bleedin’ Hearts, “Seconds to Go”, 1996 – European release only, on the Continental Record Service label. The record sells to this day in England, Germany and the Netherlands! You can buy it at many sites, here is a link to one in the UK. Only personnel change was Ted Caine in on drums replacing Gord Wagner. The band broke up acrimoniously almost to the day the CD was to be released in Canada, citing the proverbial ‘irreconcilable artistic differences.’ (They had been booked on an eight country European tour opening for Walter Trout.) Several outstanding cuts, including Paul’s unbelievable re-interpretation of Blind Willie Johnson’s “God Moves on the Water”, about the Titanic sinking. Worthy of Zeppelin or Gallagher at their most inspired and one of Paul’s finest studio moments ever, a shame it disappeared on this side of the ocean (the CD, not the ship!). Songs: “Intro”; “The Wheel”; “Hard Lovin’ Woman”; “God Moves on the Water”; “Underground Song”; “Shouldn’t Say That” (Casey Bill Weldon); “In My Arms”; “Seconds to Go”; “Twister”; “S.O.S.” (Stuck on Send). The CD was “Dedicated to the memory of Rory Gallagher” on the inner liner sleeve.


Paul Fenton, “Binson’s Blues,”  1997 – His debut solo recording. Original blues rock/rock and roll songs with crying slide guitar. Songs: “Binson’s Blues” (Fenton [instrumental]); “Can’t Help You” (Fenton/Cohen); “Underground Song” (Fenton/Calford); “The Haze” (Fenton/Innes); “House of Cards” (Fenton/Cohen); “Rattle Snaken’ Daddy” (Blind Boy Fuller); “Locked Doors” (Fenton/Cohen, arranged by Mick Ronson); “Get Off My Phone” (Fenton/Cohen); Leaving Blues (Leadbelly, arranged by Rory Gallagher); “Dance of the Spiderwoman” (Fenton/Cohen); “Stella” (Fenton [instrumental]); “Ball and Chain” (Fenton/Cohen). Guests Larry “The Bird” Mootham on harmonica and Julian St. Martin on Hammond organ. 1997.


Paul Fenton, “Worldwide Slide,”  1999
“Luddite Blues” reeks of Louisiana, the Stranglers and Johnny Winter, proceeding to “In My Arms” with its crazed “David Lindley on speed” solo, the beautiful psychedelic “Find My Mind” with its awesome solo, the luscious Doors-y treatment of Tampa Red’s “If You Want Me to Love You”, the heavy Cream – Gallagher octave divider solo-driven interpretation of “Spoonful”. “Get My Name” is one of the more “pop” numbers; “Gypsy Woman” is a sweet 12 string acoustic Stella tribute to Muddy Waters with fine vocals; “Watch What You Say” is a topical tongue in cheek diss’ of political correctness; “Trouble Is My Business” is Paul paying lyrical tribute to Rory Gallagher and his affection for the likes of Dashiell Hammett and that genre of mystery writer. “Roswell Blues” is another tongue in cheek rocker written from perspective of an inhabitant of a freaky tourist trap in New Mexico and the CD’s send off “Crazy Crying Blues” is a lovely lullaby, another of Paul’s takes on the acoustic Delta blues, written by the great Memphis Minnie.


Paul Fenton, Vancouver Blue
The Winnipeg Sun CD review of Vancouver Blue:
“From the title, you might take Paul Fenton for some sensitive B.C. sop with an acoustic guitar and a folkie bent. Not even close, chump. Fenton’s from Ottawa, his guitar is electric and he’s a dark-voiced, barn-burning blues-rocker in the mold of Johnny Winter and T-Bone Walker. In fact, on this EP, his third release, Fenton pays tribute to the Texas tornado on the smouldering T-Bone Walker Blues. But don’t get the idea that he’s just another one-dimensional 12-bar belter, either. On this six-tune set produced by Greg Godovitz, Fenton also proves he knows his way around country boogie (Hank Sr.’s Mind Your Own Business) and jangly roots-pop (Girl Next Door). We wouldn’t be surprised if he shows a few more sides of himself when he plays the Zoo this weekend, backed by the Goddo rhythm section of Godovitz and Doug Inglis.”
– Darryl Sterdan, Winnipeg Sun