Summerlong

In the early 1980's, along with Eric Rosser and the "human video", Rudi McToots, Robert Priest formed The Boinks, a musical group for children, which took its name from the sound of an idea happening "Boink!". (It might be easier if you imagine the light bulb going on over someone's head.) For two seasons Robert and Rosser were resident topical song writers on the CBC radio show "Is Anybody Home". Here they wrote two children's songs a week dealing with the news of the day.

The Boinks also appeared on the cover of Quill & Quire in acknowledgement of their innovative Artists in the Schools Program. Getting students to invent fantastical, lyrical or satirical products and then write "commercials" for them, an approach which the Boinks invented to stimulate music, poetry and art in young children, has since gone on to be a standard in teacher training manuals "Boink!" after all, is the sound of an idea happening. The group went on to make several very popular "appearances" on CBC radio's Morningside, where they wrote and performed "commercials" for listener inventions such as "Tasty plates", "Hardhats for Seals" and "The All White Rubic's Cube".

In 1984, the Boinks' album, Summerlong, was produced by Alan Guettel to rave reviews and serialized on CBC Radio's Morningside. The album has yet to make it to CD, and is sadly only available in used record stores.

"Wonderful exercises for the imagination. The Boinks' Summerlong L.P. is sensational."

- The Toronto Sun

Bongo Herbert [aka Eric Rosser] (vocals, piano)
Robert Priest (vocals, trumpet)
Neil Chapman (guitar)
Ben Cleveland-Hayes (drums)
David Thompson (synthesizer, piano)
David Woodhead (bass)
Rudi McToots (VJ)
Entertaining hip children's recording act featuring CBC radio's Robert Priest and Eric Rosser from 'Is Anybody Home?'. The duo collected the songs they'd written for the show and compiled them into an album called 'Summerlong' in 1984. The album features third member Rudi McToots and special guest Neil Chapman (Pukka Orchestra).

"The Boinks are smart and witty and hip kids love their songs. Their space-punk shows are wonderful exercises for the imagination. The Boinks' Summerlong L.P. is sensational."

- The Toronto Sun

"a zany new wave band that tickles the imagination with its space-age lyrics and fanciful imagery."

- Toronto Life

"No other group does what The Boinks do and I can't imagine another one that does it with such care or imagination."

- The Toronto Star

"The record has a science fiction fantasy theme, and is exceptionally well conceived and performed. It may even appeal to any adults within hearing."

- The Globe & Mail

"The songs on Summerlong do not condescend to the little ones lyrically or musically - instead they draw from a broad range of musical styles and poetic imagery to create a delightful and whimsical, yet instructive set that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike."

- Now Magazine

"Playful, sensual and fanciful."

- Quill & Quire

"Delightful entertainment for children of all ages"

- Music Express

"The most inventive entertainment for kids to appear in Toronto in years...All in all this is wonderful, slightly wacky stuff as sophisticated as kids and as naive.

- Performance Magazine

"a special kind of orchestrated mayhem designed to stretch kids' already limber imaginations and tickle their funny bones...The Boinks are providing something unusual in the genre of kiddie pop: A broad spectrum appeal..."

- The Toronto Star