Poor Souls was a Scottish band who had a hit in the UK, broke up and then re-emerged as a Canadian band who recorded for the Quality Records label, and two hits in 1970 with "Lookin’ Round", and "Comin' Round". They also had another with "Land of the Few".

Background The group's history goes back to Dundee, Scotland when a group called The Johnny Hudson Hi-Four aka The Hi-Four was formed. When another musician, Chick Taylor came on board, the name was changed to The Poor Soul. The UK line up consisted of John Moran (aka Johnny Hudson) on guitar & vocals, Doug Martin on bass & vocals, Chick Taylor on guitar & keyboards and John Casey on drums & vocals.

After signing with Decca in 1965, they recorded the single, "When My Baby Cries" which was released in June that year on Decca F 12183. The song was a climber for the week ending, Sunday 11 July 1965.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, TheRadio London - The Early Radio London Fab Forties, Sunday 11th July 1965, Climbers:

In 1966, they were signed to ALP Records. In July, they had chart success with "Love Me". The group toured the US military bases in East Anglia. In late 1966 the label went into receivership.

The group later went to Rome and played there for a while before breaking up in 1967. Three members, John Moran, Chick Taylor and John Casey went to Canada and settled in Toronto, recording for the Quality label.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The

Career Recordings In 1970, the Canadian group had the single, "Lookin’ Round" backed with "Scarecrow" released on Quality 1959X.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The, Singles, as The Poor Souls (Canada) For the week ending 4 July, the single peaked at #3 in the Top 50 MAPL Canadian chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 13 No. 20 4 July 1970 - Page 9 TOP 50 MAPL Canadian ChartRPM Weekly, Volume 13 No. 21 - Page 9 TOP 50 Canadian ChartRPM Weekly, Volume 13 No. 22 18 July 1970 - Page 9 TOP 50 MAPL Canadian Chart It also peaked at #28 on 11 July in the RPM 100 singles chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 13 No. 22 18 July 1970 - Pages 11 - 12 RPM 100 Singles

They followed up with the similarly-titled single, "Comin’ Round" by "Workin’ Man" on Quality 1980X.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The, Singles, as The Poor Souls (Canada) The group was pictured with CKFH's John Donabie in 20 June issue of RPM Weekly. At that time their single was at #73 in the RPM 100 chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 13 No. 18 20 June 1970 - Page 14 The single, which was produced by Barry Keane, had the label behind it in an interesting promotion. In a promotion that was described as an attention-getter, Canadian radio personalities were sent an engraved tin cup and pencils with "give to the poor souls" on the cup. Don O'Neil, the program director of CHEX contacted Lee Farley of Quality Records to let him know that it worked. This exercise paid off for the group in the charts.RPM Weekly, Volume 12 No. 19 27 June 1970 - Page 4 Poor Souls Promotion Paying Off For the week ending 31 October, the single peaked at #14 on the Top 30 MAPL Canadian chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 14, No. 11 31 October 1970 - Page 7 RPM Top 30 MAPL ChartRPM Weekly, Volume 14 No. 12 7 November 1970 - Page 9 Top 20 MAPL Canadian Chart, Recommended singles meeting CRTC requirements for AM radio. It also entered the RPM 100 Singles chart at #76.RPM Weekly, Volume 14, No. 11 31 October 1970 - Page 9 RPM100 Singles

In 1971, "Land of the Few" by "No More" was released on Quality 1998X.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The, Singles, as The Poor Souls (Canada) On the week ending 5 June, it was at #71 in the RPM 100 Singles chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 17 12 June 1971 - Page 9 RPM100 Singles

Venues Along with Rotary Connection, Brutus and Chimo!, they were booked to appear at the Midsummer Night's Rock Fest which ran from Friday 26 June 1970 to Sunday 5 July 1970 in Michigan.Festival - Midsummer Night's Rock Fest 1970 Later that year they were booked to appear at the Rock Hill Rock-In festival that ran from 5 September to 6 September that year. Other groups that were booked to appear there were Sound Spectrum from London, Ontario, Mud Flat from Toronto, Madrigal from Hamilton and April from Orangeville.Space City vol 2 no 6 Aug. 22 - sept. 4, 1970 - Page 24 ROCKDufferin County Real-estate Guide, 29 October 2013 - 365 Things To Do In Orangeville, ON Rock Hill Rock-In The BigFun Week end, The ‘Freak Out’ Festival Of 1969 – Rock Hill Park by David Waters, Poster

In 1971, Poor Souls along with Leigh Ashford, Bruce Cockburn and Tim Hardin were the acts to play an 4 April benefit concert for group Srynx who lost most of their equipment in a fire.RPM Weekly, Volume 15 No. 8 10 April 1971 - Page 12 International benefit for fire-struck Srynx

Break up The group broke up after John Moran's wife died in an automobile accident.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The

Later years By 1973, John Moran was signed to Columbia Records. He had recorded an album, Come Join Me and had released a single of the same name which was in the progressive rock mode.RPM Weekly, Volume 20 No. 13 10 November 1973 - Page 6 Columbia Reception for Moran-Egerton's 17 Oct.

Discography + UK group singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes # Poor Souls "When My Baby Cries" / "My Baby's Not There" Decca F 12183 1965 Poor Souls "Love Me" / "Please Don’t Change Your Mind" Alp Records 595004 1966 The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The, Singles, as The Poor Souls (UK)

+ Canadian group singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes # Poor Souls "Lookin' Round" / "Scarecrow" Quality 1959X 1970 Poor Souls "Comin’ Round" / "Workin’ Man" Quality 1980X 1970 Poor Souls "Land of the Few" /" No More" Quality 1998X 1971 The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - Poor Souls, The, Singles, as The Poor Souls (Canada)

Members

UK John Moran (aka Johnny Hudson) – guitar, vocals Doug Martin – bass, vocals Chick Taylor – guitar, keyboards John Casey – drums, vocals

Canada John Moran – guitar, vocals Mike McDonald – guitar Martin Soldat – keyboards John Slorach – bass Tommy Frew drums Ron Ray – drums (replaced Tommy Frew)

Further reading Of the World, 11 April 2010 – Poor Souls 45RPM 7" Single-1970-Canada-Quality Lookin' Round / Scarecrow References

External links Discogs: Poor Souls (Scotland) Discogs: Poor Souls (Canada)