Oliver Klaus
Rare 1970 Independent Psychedelic Rock Trio Release
Formed in Quebec’s Eastern Townships in the late 1960s, Oliver Klaus was founded by brothers Bryan and Maurice Singfield, along with bassist Jerry Cushen. In 1970, the trio independently recorded, pressed, and distributed The Oliver Klaus White Album—a landmark DIY LP that blends psych-folk storytelling with electrified power trio rock. Side A offers acoustic nuance and sun-baked introspection, while Side B captures the trio’s live performance at the Waterloo Arena in full psychedelic force. Collectors now prize the album as a rare artifact of Canada's underground psych-rock movement. Maurice and Bryan continue to record and archive their music from Waterloo, QC—keeping the legacy vivid and self-powered.
Project details
This page stands as a curated window into the album that sparked everything—and the legacy that still resonates in dusty crates, collector forums, and radio waves. And the documentation is ongoing: more tracks, stories, and archival discoveries will be added to the band's website as we continue preserving the spirit of Oliver Klaus. What started as a rare vinyl artifact is now becoming a full digital archive—and there’s more to come.
This self titled independently pressed LP captured a raw, haunting spirit that resonates with collectors and curators more than fifty years later. The album has been formally catalogued by Library and Archives Canada as part of the nation’s recorded heritage.
🔗 View Official Listing in Library and Archives Canada
The full Oliver Klaus White Album is presented below in its original sequence, combining studio psych-folk reflections on Side A with live, electrified trio energy on Side B. Side A—originally mixed in mono—is now featured here as a stereo remaster, bringing subtle warmth and texture to songs like Here Comes the Sun and Sunny Day, without losing the analog soul. Side B preserves the raw spirit of Klaus' 1970 Waterloo Arena performance, closing with the slow-burn punch of Season of the Witch. The playlist offers a dynamic arc—rural introspection to live psychedelic grit—capturing both sides of the band's DIY identity.
Oliver Klaus White Album Liner notes
Oliver Klaus – 1970 LP Liner Notes (PDF)
Explore the origin story of Canada’s first indie psych-folk & rock trio with this archival insert. Includes historical context and recording notes of the 1970 self-pressed LP—officially preserved by Library and Archives Canada. 267 KB
Explore the origin story of Canada’s first indie psych-folk & rock trio with this archival insert. Includes historical context and recording notes of the 1970 self-pressed LP—officially preserved by Library and Archives Canada. 267 KB
The Oliver Klaus Story (PDF)
The story of Oliver Klaus is one of perseverance and DIY spirit. In 1970, the band built their own studio, recorded their original songs, and self-pressed a fully independent vinyl release—a groundbreaking achievement in Canadian music history. This account was written by Frank Manley and Alex Taylor for No Exit Records.
2.93 MB
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For the Boys 3:080:00/3:08
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Walk in the Night 2:120:00/2:12
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Here Comes the Sun 2:250:00/2:25
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Sunny Day 2:400:00/2:40
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Feeling Groovy 2:500:00/2:50
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Traveling Song 2:080:00/2:08
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Kentucky Woman 10:350:00/10:35
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Season of the Witch 8:360:00/8:36
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Break Song 3:460:00/3:46
Press / Reviews
“The Oliver Klaus album is arguably the first ‘do-it-yourself’ rock and roll LP in Canada and possibly the US—a herald to the DIY punk rock attitude that became prevalent much later in the decade.” - Klemen Breznikar
“"Oliver Klaus' 1967–1970 is a priceless artefact from a bygone era... a mélange of 60s pop, folk, rock, and psychedelia... Arguably, Oliver Klaus was the first do-it-yourself band in Canadian music history." ” - Ryan Wugalter
Press photos
