John Driscoll is a former music executive and record producer. He was associated with the Canadian record labels Quality Records and Ampex Records.

Background In the late 1970s, Driscoll was the A&R director for Quality Records. He worked with disco singer Karen Silver and her band Star City, and also with the studio group The Poppers.Quality Records 30 Anniversary 1949–1979 – Pages 20, 23: John Driscoll, Director of A&R

In the 1970s Driscoll formed the Skyline record label which was closely associated with Quality Records. It served as an outlet for some of his projects which included disco singer Karen Silver and rock band Vehicle.

In addition to being head of A&R, Driscoll was also staff producer at Quality Records.Quality Records 30 Anniversary 1949-1979 - Page 7 Skyline Records - special part of Quality's family

Career Working with Robert Martin, Driscoll produced the single, "Smiles and Kisses" / "You" for the group Aurora Borealis which was released on the Itco Stereo Records label in 1969.Discogs - Aurora Borealis (12) – Smiles And KissesCanadian Cult Classics channel, Jan 19, 2025 - Aurora Borealis - Smiles And Kisses/You (1969)Billboard, January 3, 1970 - Page 48 For You "Smiles and Kisses"

Driscoll produced the single "Hang on Girl" for the band Wednesday, which was released on the Ampex label. Although the label struggled to secure sufficient airplay outside the Eastern provinces, the song became a minor hit and helped the band undertake a successful East Coast tour.Canveyisland.org – Page 4, Canadian Recording Artists Wednesday

Working with the Canadian band Young, Driscoll produced the single "Goin' to the Country", which was released in 1971.The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia – Young45Cat – Young Discography, CanadaRPM Weekly, Volume 15, No. 8, April 10, 1971 – Page 7, New MAPL Releases, Young – "Goin' to the Country" The song became a chart hit, reaching No. 37 on the RPM singles chart during the week of May 22, 1971.RPM Weekly, Volume 15, No. 14, May 22, 1971 – RPM100 SinglesRPM Weekly, Volume 15, No. 15, May 29, 1971 – Page 9, RPM100 SinglesRPM Weekly, Volume 15, No. 16, June 5, 1971 – Page 9, RPM100 Singles

In late 1972, Driscoll produced Wednesday's single "Last Kiss".Billboard, November 10, 1973 – Page 20, Canadian News, "Last Kiss Gets Big Hug" He took the recording to Toronto radio station CFTR, where it reportedly began receiving airplay almost immediately.RPM Weekly, Volume 20, No. 6, September 22, 1973 – Page 6, "Ampex Releases 'Last Kiss' by Wednesday" The song later reached No. 1 on the Canadian chart and remained there for six weeks. It also earned the band an RPM Maple Leaf Award and a gold record in 1973.Cash Box Canada, September 16, 2022 – JUNO Award Nominated Wednesday Named Lifetime Achievement and Hall of Fame Award Recipient at Oshawa Music Awards

Driscoll worked with rock band Vehicle that was made up of Owen Smith on vocals, Carlo de Battista on trumpet, Burt Garfield (aka Gary Pratt) on guitar, Richard Hawksby on bass and Scott Wilson on drums. They recorded some demos for Driscoll and within a year they had been signed to the Skyline label. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1977. They also released their first single, "Mr. Love" bw "Da-Nite Shuffle" on Skyline SKY-015X that year. The song got to No. 25 on the RPM Top Singles chart.Quality Records 30 Anniversary 1949-1979 - Page 7 Skyline Records - special part of Quality's familyThe Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia - VEHICLE The group were pictured on the front cover of the 27 August 1977 issue of RPM Weekly.RPM Weekly, Volume 27 No. 22 August 27, 1977 - Page 1 Front cover

Driscoll produced the album and single for the Toronto-based five-piece rock group, Madcats.Discogs - Madcats – Madcats, CreditsRPM Weekly, Volume 28 No. 25 March 18, 1978 - Page 24 RPM ROCK PICKS, MAPL TOO LATE FOR LOVERPM Weekly, Volume 28 No. 25 March 18, 1978 - Page 3 Quality releases 45 from Madcats Skyline LP debut The single "Too Late for Love" bw "Take All the Love" was released on Skyline SKY-019X-M in 1978. It was an RPM Rock Pick in the 18 March issue of RPM Weekly.RPM Weekly, Volume 28 No. 25 MArch 18, 1978 - Page 24 RPM ROCK PICKS, MAPL TOO LATE FOR LOVE It was reported in the RPM Hitmakers section of the 8 April issue of RPM Weekly that the single was seeing action on CHED in Edmonton.RPM Weekly, Volume 20, No. 2 April 8, 1978 - Page 31 RPM HITMAKERS, LEN THEUSEN CHED EDMONTON Too Late For Love-Madcats It was also at No. 43 on the Radio Fanshawe chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 20, No. 2 April 8, 1978 - Page 36 RPM CAMPUS ADDITIONS, LONDON RADIO FANSHAWE CHARTED, • (43) Too Late For Love-Madcats As noted in the 5 August issue of RPM Weekly, the album was getting recognition in the United States.RPM Weekly, Volume 29 No. 19 August 5, 1978 - Page 15 Imports & critical acclaim in U.S. for Skyline's Madcats By 24 June it was at No. 47 in the RPM 100 Album chart.RPM Weekly, Volume 29 No. 12 June 17, 1976 - Page 36 RPM 100 Top Albums (51-100), 53 53 (10) MAPL, MADCATS Madcats (Skyline) SKY 10166 MRPM Weekly, Volume 29 No. 13 June 24, 1978 - Page 24 ALBUMS ALPHABETICALLY, 47 MadcatsRPM Weekly, Volume 29, No. 14 July 1, 1978 - Page 30 RPM 100 Top Albums (51–100), 57 47 (12) MAPL, MADCATS Madcats (Skyline) SKY 10166 M

Driscoll produced Karen Silver's album Hold On I'm Coming. The title track, "Hold On I'm Coming", which was released in 1979 reached No. 15 on the Canadian disco chart.Museum of Canadian Music – Karen SilverCanadian Pop Encyclopedia - SILVER, Karen, 1979 Hold On I’m Comin’/Hot Stuff (12″) (Skyline/Quality) SKYD-103Canadian Bands, April 11, 2022 – Karen Silver

References

External links

John Driscoll at Discogs