Jan Haust:

The fact was, Bob, that while it was Mary Martin (Albert Grossman’s secretary, from Toronto, and future Leonard Cohen manager) that PLAYED the tape in the office for everyone, it was actually DUFF ROMAN that had recorded it here in Toronto in Oct., 1964 @ Hallmark Studios. It helped make Dylan’s mind up about hiring the HAWKS to take him electric, resulting in his trip to Toronto during the week of Sept. 12-17th, 1965 for rehearsals with them @ Yonge Street’s FRIAR’S TAVERN.

OPM Inc. has the entire Roman Records archive as part of the forthcoming HOGTOWN R & B Series (documenting T.O.’s rich R’n B heritage) including the early DC Thomas & The Shays from 1965, all the un-released Levon & The Hawks, 1964, and the early Paupers singles. We did in fact license 5 studio Hawks tracks to EMI for the BAND Box Set, 2 of them from Roman Records; the rest from our HENRY GLOVER Archive, & 6 songs derived from the original Basement Tapes as recorded by Garth Hudson in 1966-67.

In my presentation, I had contemplated using the reel as a prop to help demonstrate the efforts DUFF ROMAN, as a producer, had on the course of modern music. Duff until last night, was totally unaware of the effect. It was DUFF who produced the reel, MARY MARTIN who acted as musical emissary; and that New York folk singer who ruined a perfectly good rhythm & blues band!

Al Kooper:

Just to combat revisionism, May Martin was employed by Albert Grossman as his assistant. She took Dylan & Albert to a show the Hawks played in New Jersey on her say so. It all started there. Trust me…..