Trim Crusts if Desired

A Short History of Cinnamon Toast

In 1991 BC (Before Cinnamon), realizing that they knew virtually no one who owned a turntable, Colin, Lee Anne, Walter, Shawn, and Robert pooled their modest savings to release vinyl singles by their talented friends. Taking the profits—a term used loosely—from each record to fund the next, they cheerfully continued their quest to market the waxiest of wax.

By 1994 AC (After Crust), Robert had departed, and the collective had endured three harsh Nova Scotian winters. Still, they pressed on with the help of a new member, Miro. All seemed hopeful. As turntable sales soared nationwide, Cinnamon Toast found itself venturing into new territory: CDs.

They extend a massive bundle of “Thank Youse” to everyone who helped along the way, especially Robert Jeans, Greg Ash, Jayn Ritchie (Cinnamon Toast UK), Yvette Ray, Bill Baker and everyone at Mint, Denon Records, Randy Kaye at Genius, CKDU and campus and community radio across Canada, Amy Pfeiffer, Kevin, Patti, Howard and Genevieve at Derivative (Montréal), Dana Walsh, Chris Waters, Tim Arsenault, Sub Pop, Greg Clarke, and most of all, the bands.

And one final note: No thanks to UPS!

Cover credits: Photos by Colin MacKenzie; archival research and documentation by Penny; art misdirection by Miroslav Wiesner.
To contact any of the still existing bands or their members, write to Cinnamon Toast Records, P.O. Box 2665, Halifax Central, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3P7.

Hardship Post (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, 🇨🇦)

‘Won’t You Come Home’

Musicians
Sebastian Lippa: guitar, vocals
Mike Pick: bass
Matt Clarke: drums

Production
Recorded at Stereo Mountain
Engineered by Rick White
First appeared on ‘NM† Chart flexi disc’, February 1994

Quahogs (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Them’

Musicians
Todd Calder: guitar
John MacKenzie: bass
Scott Tappen: vocals
Gerard Watters: drums
Leonard Wooley: guitar

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘Glaze’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT003, March 1993

Bubaiskull (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Eel Monkey’

Musicians
Chris Logan: guitar, vocals
Allison Outhit: guitar, vocals
Tim Stewart: bass, vocals
Adam Caville: drums

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘Insex’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT001, October 1993

Skreech (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Theme Song’

Musicians
Charles Austin: guitar, vocals
Allison McLeod: drums, vocals
Marta Swannie: bass

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘Skreech flexi disc’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT007a, September 1993

Jale (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Brother’

Musicians
Jennifer Pierce: guitar, vocals
Allison McLeod: drums, vocals
Laura Stein: bass, vocals
Eve Hartling: guitar, vocals

Production
Recorded at CBC Montréal
Engineered by Kevin Komodo (Derivative Records)

Leonard Conan (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Frightened Of…’

Musicians
Andy McDaniel: guitar, vocals
Dave MacDonald: bass
Andrew Townsend: drums
Mike MacKinnon: guitar

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘PubSlop’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT004, March 1993

Rebecca West (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Sick’

Musicians
Allison Outhit: guitar, vocals
Stephen Outhit: bass
Dale Hussey: drums

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
Demo release

Thrush Hermit (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Pink Is The Colour’

Musicians
Joel Plaskett: guitar, vocals
Rob Benvie: guitar, vocals
Ian McGettigan: bass, vocals
Mike Catano: drums

Production
Recorded at Adinsound Studios
Engineered by Steve Comeau
First appeared on ‘Ammo’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT006, March 1993

Plumtree (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Dog Gone Crazy’

Musicians
Amanda Braden: guitar, vocals
Carla Gillis: guitar, vocals
Nina Martin: bass, vocals
Lynette Gillis: drums

Production
Recorded at Roach Motel
Engineered by Marc Costanzo
First appeared on ‘Green Mitten’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT009, March 1994

Eric’s Trip (Moncton, New Brunswick, 🇨🇦)

‘Laying Blame’

Musicians
Rick White: guitar, vocals
Julie Doiron: bass, vocals
Chris Thompson: guitar, vocals
Mark Gaudet: drums

Production
Recorded at Stereo Mountain
Engineered by Rick White
First appeared on ‘CKDU Single’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT010, April 1993

Songwriting
Written by Sloan

Cheticamp (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Coincidence’

Musicians
Mike Belitsky: guitar, vocals
et al

Production
First appeared on Cinnamon Toast Records CT012, December 1994

Les Gluetones (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Reincarnated’

Musicians
Paul Hogan: guitar, vocals
Meg Hogan: guitar, vocals
Lucas Pearse: bass
Carl Gosine: drums

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘Ugly 45’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT005, April 1993

Jale (Halifax, Nova Scotia, 🇨🇦)

‘Twisted’

Musicians
Jennifer Pierce: guitar, vocals
Allison McLeod: drums, vocals
Laura Stein: bass, vocals
Eve Hartling: guitar, vocals

Production
Recorded at Sound Market Recording
Engineered by Terry Pulliam
First appeared on ‘Aunt Betty’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT002, November 1992

Strawberry (Prince Edward Island, 🇨🇦)

‘Buried Treasure’

Musicians
Deirdre Smith: vocals
Craig MacPherson: percussion
Pat Deighan: guitar, bass, vocals
Mike MacDougall: drums, percussion

Production
Recorded at Roach Motel
Engineered by Marc Costanzo
First appeared on ‘Me’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT009, March 1994

Hardship Post (St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, 🇨🇦)

‘Rock Is My Life’

Musicians
Sebastian Lippa: guitar, vocals
Mike Pick: bass
Matt Clarke: drums

Production
Recorded at Adinsound Studios
Engineered by Steve Comeau
First appeared on ‘HP/Randy Bachman Split Single’, Cinnamon Toast Records CT011, April 1994

Songwriting
Written by R. Bachman