Originally, we had only the liner notes in terms of information about the all-girl country band The Rhythm Sweethearts (not to be confused with The International Sweethearts of Rhythm):

"Take four talented gals who've entertained most everywhere from here to there, add two guitars, drums and a bass, and you have a great sounding group called The Rhythm Sweethearts.

These four lasses have toured coast to coast with the Wilf Carter Show, have appeared with Stoney Cooper, Wilma Lee, Slim Whitman and Mac Wiseman to name just a few. In addition, they've entertained troops in Goose Bay, Labrador, and Thule, Greenland, and the boys in uniform shook the quonset huts with their applause.

The Sweethearts are Lorrie Gale, who was born Lorraine Gallant in Moncton, N.B. and who plays rhythm guitar and sings in English and French, Patricia Hennesey of Digby, N.S., whose show name is Patti Jo. This is the drummer gal, and she really beats up a storm. Then there is Myrtle Gifford, the group's M.C. and leader who hails from Marmora, Ontario, and who sings and plays bass. The lead guitarist is Bessie Brunette who also does harmony vocals and yodelling. Bessie comes from Pembroke, Ontario. Put them all together and you have some country music worth shouting about by the Rhythm Sweethearts.

Production and A & R Direction: Ben Weatherby."

"She Taught Me To Yodel," which a bit of Googling revealed to be a yodeling staple, is my favourite track of the four and features some serious vocal gymnastics by Brunette. The cover of "Wheels" has a nice flamenco spin on it, and "Le Voleur de Pervenches," which seems to translate as "The Robber of Periwinkles", is a nicely-sung country/folk tune. And "Loving You" is a full-on country rave-up: short, sweet and to the point.

She Taught Me To Yodel
Wheels/Never On Sunday
Le Voleur de Pervenches
Loving You

Bessie Brunette, who lives in Toronto these days, recently got in touch with me and we met up for a short interview. She told me about her days in the band and lent me a few photos:

Left to right: Myrtle Gifford, Patricia Hennessey, Lorrie Gale, Bessie Brunette

The Sweethearts on stage (left to right): Myrtle, Patricia, Lorrie, Bessie

Bessie's first group, The Silver Pine Sweethearts (Bessie is second from the right)