History:

The Toners are a one year off-shoot group of The Hilltones. The Hilltones were a glee club for The Hill School, a predominantly male student based preparatory school located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The Hilltones made many albums over a decade period from 1968 onwards. Two different groups spawned from The Hilltones: The Toners and The Universal Ignorants. The Toners were simply a more folk rock based version of The Hilltones with a different name. The Universal Ignorants were four or five members of The Hilltones that formed a heavy psych rock band in 1968. They had a split album with The Hilltones in 1968 that is quite valuable. Otherwise, The Hilltones albums are pretty unpopular and undesired. 

The Toners affair features the entire glee club backed by a trio of folk musicians and two other tracks that were oddly recorded separately from the rest. These feature Hilltone George Hedges (pictured above, far right) leading the backing band through two Neil Young covers. It is unclear why Hedges was afforded the opportunity to showcase two solo tracks with the backing band. The lineup for The Toners’ backing band is provided below. It features Universal Ignorants member Dave Tipson:

George Hedges: Lead Vocals (1, 10), Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

James Hutchinson: Lead Vocals (5, 6, 9), Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Jon Masland: Lead Vocals (5, 9), Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

Kevin Ward: Lead Vocals (5), Upright Bass, Vocals

Dave Tipson: Flute (1), Vocals

Review:

Toners (1970, Vantage)

Rating: 4/10

I read some great reviews for this album online which surprised me (including a brief but not negative mention in The Acid Archives). I was horrified to learn this was actually The Hilltones and instantly regretted my purchase until I put it on my turntable. Hedges' haunting cover of “Down By The River”, including long breaks and a flute solo is worth the price of admission alone. His contributions are the only real bright spot on the album though. The Toners butcher up their five songs as a glee club  (except for “Yes It Is” which has good harmonies and is tolerable) while the other three by solo artists are just okay. Hedges' closer “Round And Round” is great and similar to his other contribution. Lots of cool dialogue and commentary in between tracks too including some chatting about Woodstock.