Five-by-Five: Canadians of the 80s

I'm a Canadian, living in Canada and I grew up on Canadian radio and video stations that had to play 30% "Canadian content". So that, combined with the fact that we have some amazingly talented musicians here in the great white north, means that I like a lot of Canadian music. Here are some of my favourites from back in the 1980s.

This has got to be one of my all-time favourite tunes. It's from Markham Ontario band Blue Peter. It's called "Don't Walk Past".

Stream "Don't Walk Past"

Here's an intense tune from Dalbello called "Gonna Get Close to You". I'm not even gonna mention the cover version by metallers Queensryche.

Rough Trade were a provocative band that were breaking down the walls of prejudice 30 years ago. Here's one of my favourites, "All Touch".

Images In Vogue had Robert Smith-influenced haircuts but produced their own magnificent brand of pop music, as evidenced by the amazingly catchy "Call It Love". I wish I could find the backwards version "Evol Ti Llac" on-line.

Teenage Head with two versions of "Picture My Face". The first from their self titled début (which technically came out in 1979, but whatever) and the second from their 2008 album with Marky Ramone on drums.

Favourites: Teenage Head with Disgusteen

One year ago today, I started putting up one post a day. If nothing else, it forced me to have a goal and some discipline. It forced me to listen to lots of cool music to keep up the string of posts. So I guess if that's the only thing that comes from having this blog - discovering lots of cool music - then that's enough. If someone else finds something cool, too, then that's awesome.

Here's a great song from a classic Canadian band. One of the original Toronto (well, they're from Hamilton, aren't they?) punk bands. The song is "Disgusteen", it's from their 1980 album Frantic City, and it features Frankie Venom doing lots of Exorcist voices/quotes.

"Nice day for a party, isn't it?"

If you're new to these guys, I'd suggest starting with their Teenage Head with Marky Ramone album, pictured below. It features songs from across their career, re-recorded with the legendary Marky Ramone on drums, and it sounds a lot more like the band sounded live - with those guitars right up front.

Favourites: Childhood memories

When I was less than 10 years old, my dad bought me a radio. My parents listened to classical music and CBC AM radio. The only pop or rock music I heard was on our old black and white TV with 3 channels (Do you remember Solid Gold or the Kenny Everett Video Show or The New Music?) or on this new radio. I discovered stations like CHUM-FM and CILQ-Q107 and my ears were opened. I heard songs like:

"Sausalito Summernight" by Diesel

Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light" as done by Manfred Mann

"Mama Let Him Play" by Doucette

"A Million Vacations" by Max Webster


"Surface to Air" by FM


"Something on my Mind" by Teenage Head


And since almost all these artists are Canadian, I'll say this is a great post for Canada Day.

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians! Hope you have a great day. Here's a shot of classic Canadian music for you from two long-time favourites from years gone by - Teenage Head and The Pursuit of Happiness.