Oak Island Treasury Department - Oak Island Treasury Department (2026)

The self-titled debut album by Oak Island Treasury Department, issued by the Canadian branch of Columbia Records in 1972 under catalogue number ES 90074, is a characteristic example of the early-1970s Ontario studio pop scene. The group was a purely Canadian Ontario-based outfit working at the intersection of vocal sunshine pop, light jazz, and orchestral easy-listening — a school of Toronto pop arrangement from that era which Canadian archivists are only now beginning to reappraise.
The recording was overseen by a seasoned Toronto-based team: arrangements were handled by Johnny Cowell — a well-known Canadian trumpeter, composer, and CBC arranger — together with Dave Woods, while Vern Kennedy directed the vocals. Engineering took place at Toronto Sound (Peter Houston, assisted by Paul Regan and Dave Slagter) and at Audio Atlantic (remix engineering by Al Feeney, assisted by Bill Richards), with Mas Kikuta credited as sound consultant. The repertoire blends original material with pop standards of the day, notably a cover of Hubert Giraud's "Mammy Blue," an international hit of 1971–1972 that frequently turned up in vocal-group setlists.
The album saw little distribution outside Canada, has never been officially reissued, and today ranks as a collector's rarity, with original copies typically valued at around $150 or more. The group released a second LP on Columbia Canada ("2," 1973) and a handful of singles through 1974 before going silent. The record is absent from digital streaming services and from the current catalogue of the rights holder (Sony Music).

Tracklist:
1-1 Oak Island Treasury Department - Glory Glory [2:49]
1-2 Oak Island Treasury Department - Mammy Blue [3:08]
1-3 Oak Island Treasury Department - It's Gotta Be Love [2:31]
1-4 Oak Island Treasury Department - Reach Out [2:36]
1-5 Oak Island Treasury Department - Love Is Just A Memory [2:13]
1-6 Oak Island Treasury Department - I'm Alive [2:33]
1-7 Oak Island Treasury Department - His Girl [2:55]
1-8 Oak Island Treasury Department - Messin' Around [2:01]
1-9 Oak Island Treasury Department - The House With The Mandarin Doorway [2:06]
1-10 Oak Island Treasury Department - Thunder, Lightning And Rain [2:32]