John Lyle - Hard-Cover Virgins (1978)

Headed for a career as an English professor in the mid 1960’s, John Lyle was ‘broadsided’ by Bob Dylan and The Beatles. His degree went out the window, and so did he, playing in a series of bands and then performing on Canadian network television and radio as a solo act. He was also signed to two record labels during this era, but realized that because of his highly sensitive nature he was not cut out for the performing life. John returned to his home in the Vancouver area, and devoted himself to his family, supporting them with a career that may have been more dangerous than the perfomance stage. He became a postman.

John Lyle’s wonderful body of work is evidence of a life lived on the streets and in the home, filled with all the love and loss and joy and despair that are part and parcel of being alive. The songs are vital, not written to imitate a commercial trend or to fulfil a contract, but to reflect the intensity of experience and to remain sane.

John Lyle has recorded a total of thirteen albums. Lost John Lyle and the Lonesome Ornery Polecats released the rare folk psych album "Bootleg Powerhead" in 1971. John Lyle's next album was "Humors" released in 1985; He went onto record "Beauty Looks Away" in 1995; "Too Late to Panic" in 2000; "Down The Road And Far Away" in 2002; Cool Fire in 2005; "Known Corners" in 2007 - all on his own Cactus Records label.