Lost Dakotas
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Paul Dakota, Greg McConnell |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
| Products | Alternative country music albums |
Lost Dakotas was a Canadian band specializing in alternative country music during the 1990s. The group was established in 1989 by singer Paul Dakota alongside bassist Greg McConnell, who had previously played with Absolute Whores. Initially, the pair performed as street musicians at the intersection of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto, Ontario.
The lineup grew to include guitarist Adam Faux and drummer Ron Duffy for their debut release in 1990, Love to Play. This album first appeared as a limited-run cassette that sold out within just two days. Artist Erella Vent was responsible for creating the band's promotional visuals and music video artwork.
Their 1991 record, Last Train to Kipling, named after a Toronto subway stop, enjoyed over 100 weeks on campus radio charts. It featured a distinctive country rendition of AC/DC's "Back in Black." In 1992, Adam Faux departed to concentrate on his earlier project, Pig Farm. He was succeeded by Rick O'Brien and later Tim Bovaconti. The band embarked on their inaugural nationwide tour in the spring of 1993.
The third album, Sun Machine, released in 1993 through Cargo Records, marked their final studio effort. It included a cover of Ned Sublette’s "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other," which preceded Willie Nelson’s well-known version by more than a decade. During the 1993 Kumbaya Festival, Lost Dakotas performed this song live with guest vocalist Lee Aaron. For the subsequent tour in 1994, J.C. Orr—formerly of King Apparatus—joined as an additional guitarist.
Their concluding recording contribution was a rendition of Bob Snider's "You" featured on the 1996 tribute compilation Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider. Following McConnell’s passing in 1999, Scott Bradshaw (known as Scott B. Sympathy), who had previously provided vocals on some tracks, took over his role. Erella Vent (now Erella Ganon) continues her professional career as an illustrator and author, while Adam Faux leads two musical groups: Hot Fo Gandhi and The Tiny Specks.
Albums
- Love to Play (1990)
- Last Train to Kipling (1991)
- Sun Machine (1993)
Other appearances
- Kumbaya Album Nineteen Ninety Four (1994) – contains a live version of "Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly"
- Poetreason: The Songs of Bob Snider (1996) – features a live rendition of "You"