Doug: Let's give a big "thanks!" to our musical friends from the Great White North today. So often when focusing on music, at least around here, it's of those sweet notes from American or British artists. We've made mention just a time or two of strolling minstrels from north of the States, but today it's All Canada, All the Time.Doug: Just off the top of my head (and you're going to do the rest of the heavy lifting today), three Canadian acts that I really liked back in the Bronze Age and just beyond were Rush, Loverboy, and to slow it down a bit -- Gordon Lightfoot.
Doug: Please don't feel like you have to stick to artists who were active only in our narrow little window. If you have some favorites from the 1960's or on up and into today's music scene, well then by all means we'd love to hear about it. And thanks in advance!
27 comments:
Love the Bob and Doug MacKenzie album, I still play it from time to time.
Is William Shatner still one of the noteable Canadian recoarding artists currently standing....?
Yes, Rush was definitely a cool band.
Sorry, meant 'recording artists'..
Love Rush! Greatest band ever! So glad they FINALLY got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week. Doug, you chose my personal fav album cover for the post. The Permanent Waves tour was the first time I saw them live. I remember buying the t-shirt that looked just like it.
David_b, I also have the Great White North album and played it to death. Take Off, eh!
As to others - how about a little love for the Guess Who and the follow-up BTO.
Tom
Does the Buffalo Springfield count? They were 3/5 Canadian, including a young Neil Young.
I enjoy Rush, but to me they've always been a "greatest hits" band to me. I've never been crazy about their concept albums, but I can listen to 'Tom Sawyer', 'Working Man' or 'Closer To The Heart' (among other Rush songs) any day. I even own some Rush karoake tracks. 'Bastille Day' is a personal favorite Rush song, since my birthday falls on Bastille Day.
Other Canadian bands I like:
Are there any punk/hardcore fans who frequent BAB? I was always a fan of DOA and Nomeansno, both bands hail from British Columbia.
I was a big Spirit of the West fan, celtic party song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPJD3qcIL7s
I always like the Guess Who, and learned guitar playing Gordon Lightfoot. In the '70s...April Wine, Five Man Electrical Band. As a wee tyke, I remember listening to The Irish Rovers! Newer bands...Finger Eleven, Bedouin Soundclash. The Sheepdogs are the new hit with the old sound.
I just a saw a good rock band called Monster Truck a couple days ago--they won breakthrough group at Canada's Juno awards this year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5MujSumsV0
How about Steppenwolf, the Stampeders, Joni Mitchell?
Another great new band, Bend Sinister, with keyboard/organ sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--GudihGP5k
I just watched a film called Festival Express, about a train tour of musicians across Canada in 1970. It shows the performances by Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band and others, but also their non-stop party on the train ride that was a continuous jam session. Many problems came up for the promoters, but the music and party were a success...whole film is up here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtYSpSbcW4M
The Arrogant Worms have some fun comedy songs.
How about rock chick Bif Naked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWuddKPLXSw
And rap dude Classified, with Inner Ninja:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGhyL8zg3_I
Feels like there's a lot of overlap between Rush fans and comics fans. Think that's a fair statement?
(And I'm like J.A. - I'm not a diehard Rush fan by any means, but I do enjoy a lot of their songs).
Matt already noted Neil Young, so I'll point to another, the Band. Everyone in that group except for singer/drummer Levon helm was Canadian, right?
Best songs: "The Shape I'm In' and their cover of Dylan's "When I paint My Masterpiece."
Neil Young.
I'm Canadian, so I grew up inundated with all the bands. I'm thinking Garrett must be a Canuck too, since he seems to know quite a few bands. (I definitely agree on Bif Naked..I absolutely love her!)
A few other names that come to mind: Bryan Adams, Corey Hart, Alannis Morissette, Triumph. Tragically Hip are huge up here, but I don't know how well-known they are south of the border. Metric has a new album out...I liked their older stuff. Tegan and Sara are Canadian...Paul Anka for the older crowd...Guy Lombardo for the REALLY older crowd...Billy Talent...k.d. lang...the list is almost endless.
Mike W.
Its kinda like there's Rush, and then there's everyone else. So setting Rush aside, how about going with April Wine? I always liked "Sign of the Gypsy Queen", "Just Between You and Me", and especially "Enough is Enough".
Or maybe Triumph with "Lay it on the Line" or "Rock n Roll Machine"?
Or how about Aldo Nova? One of my favorite songs back when I was a budding wannabe rocker was "Fantasy". You know, I actually think that song did better in the States that Canada.
Yep, pretty much all of my favorite Canuck bands have already been mentioned: Rush, The Band, Guess Who, BTO... Mike W., I've only heard of Tragically Hip, mentioned quite frequently by Canadian friends, but I know none of their songs. You're right, they're pretty much unknown south of the border.
Although not my favorite, a rather obscure (I wonder if even some of our regulars from the Great White North have heard of them) Canadian band I only learned about 6-7 years ago and really like is the Plastic Cloud. A friend passed me along an MP3 copy of their one and only album from 1968 - they have a really solid psychedelic sound, and the great guitar work is outstanding. Here's a link with some more info:
http://therisingstorm.net/the-plastic-cloud-the-plastic-cloud/
Unlike the blogger there, however, I liked the album well enough just after one listen. The whole thing has been uploaded on YouTube as well.
Mike, don't know how well "Fantasy" did in Canada, but I remember it was a really, really big hit for a few months when I was in 8th grade - it got so much airplay back then that I still remember most of the lyrics today.
I like the idea of Rush, and their philosophy, but god help me I can't get into their music. I think a lot of it is the singing voice. It's like the opposite extreme from Tom Waits.
Lurker here....
HUGE Rush fan! Even back when we were just nerds and Drum core fanatics. I'm glad their still going after almost 40 years and selling out venues as big as the Tom Sawyer days.
Not a very big Loverboy fan. They were great for parties and cruising though.
They are still out there touring somewhere.
That headband still fits.... Barely
Being 100% Canadian and being born and raised in Toronto, and still living in Ontario, plus having been a child in the '70s and a teenager in the '80s, I feel more than qualified to comment here. Rush is the ultimate Canadian band. Groups like Triumph and Max Webster were great as well. There were so many great Canadian acts during those days. The Guess Who, BTO, Red Rider, Trooper, Loverboy, April Wine, Crowbar (Oh, What A Feeling!) Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Bryan Adams, Streetheart, Harlequin, Aldo Nova, Rough Trade, Jeff Healy, there is way too many too list.
never even heard of half those guys 'n' gals!
Hi Mike W. I have no idea what you mean, I'm from Trinidad and Tobago. ; ) Yes Metric, I like but don't know that well...Combat Baby is a good song.
Hey Edo, very interesting, The Plastic Cloud! Never heard of them, but I listened to the sample Dainty General Rides Again--sounds pretty good, then bam! Electrifying guitar solo! I'm going to check out the rest on youtube. Thanks!
Hey Tony, yes Trooper was all over during the Bronze era, many good tunes. Do people here at BAB know Trooper? Every Canadian knows the words to Here For a Good Time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qFIaI1M5kU
The Kings had a hit with This Beat Goes On...great song to crank up when driving in the summer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxkjvKBPQjo
Another summer song, Len's Steal My Sunshine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1fzJ_AYajA
WTF Garett youz a Trini too????? Geezanages man I thought I was the only Trinidadian here! Small world ......
Well, all I can think of are Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Avril Lavigne, Anne Murray, Alanis Morrisette, Neil Young and Sarah McLachlan!
- Mike 'Canada eh!' from Trinidad & Tobago.
Heheh, just kiddin' Mike. I'm indeed a Canuck. : ) But I'd love to visit T+T sometime. I'm not sure if you caught the end of an earlier thread on Flags--
http://bronzeagebabies.blogspot.ca/2013/04/whos-best-flag-wearer.html
I did a report in school on Trinidad and Tobago, and since then have always liked your country.
Jim Byrnes is a great Canadian artist (albeit transplanted, via St. Louis). If you're not familiar with him, he's also an actor, played Lifeguard on the late 80's series, Wiseguy. He's a great singer/songwriter in the blues/soul/roots traditions....very versatile and worth a listen.
I'm just so happy that over 20 comments have appeared and nobody has mentioned a certain Quebecoise crooner who's now a Vegas lounge singer. That's the way it should be...
Garett, I think you'll like the Plastic Cloud - like I said, a really solid pysch band.
By the way, "Steal My Sunshine" is a really cute song, but that video always creeped me out a bit when I learned that the two singers are not boyfriend and girlfriend but brother and sister.
And if there's ever an international BAB convention, I think it should be held in T&T.
Edo--Robert Goulet?? Haha, no I won't even say who you really mean. : )
Thanks, now I will never enjoy that Len video again! Ha, no I'd never heard that before. The other trivia on Steal My Sunshine is the musical riff is taken from porn star Andrea True's '70s disco hit, More More More.
And I heartily agree that Trinidad and Tobago is the place for the BAB convention. When are tickets available, Doug and Karen? ; )
Garett...glad you mentioned The Kings. I happen to know the guys pretty well, and I have probably seen them perform over 50 times. Great song by them, and they are still going strong today.
Edo- Rene Simard?
I was never a big Rush fan. My favorite Bronze Age Canadian band was Trooper, for their music (especially Baby Woncha Please Come Home)but also because of the local connection. When I was in junior high they were starting out and called Applejack, and they played our high school dances a few times.
The fact the Bieber hasn't been mentioned is a travesty! Just kidding - I'm a been big Rush fan from when I was young and loved their induction last week. Also dig Neil Young and didn't realize until Tony mentioned it that Leonard Cohen was Canadian. I also love Mike's shout out to April Wine (Sign of the Gypsy Queen!).
Some other favorites from north of the border include Arcade Fire, Stars, and the New Pornographers.
Hi J.A., coming to this super-late but yes, I am a punk/hardcore fan and rate both Nomeansno and DOA highly (esp. Nomeansno) also worth a mention are the Subhumans (Canadian version) and Dayglo Abortions. My first post on this excellent blog - you flushed me out.
Colin.
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