Band: Platinum Blonde, Album: Standing In The Dark, Song: Not In Love

"Are You Sitting Comfortably?"  The familiar phrase used on this album before the band launched in to it's new wave assault on the listening public.  This was 1983, and at the time of it's release, video was becoming a prominent vehicle for exposure with the creation of Much Music in Canada.  Platinum Blonde were put on heavy rotation and by the time their second album broke in 1985, entitled Alien Shores, they were a household name.  Not to mention the #1 hit, Crying Over You that came from that album as well.  Standing in the Dark was a strong debut for this Canadian band that allowed it to stand alongside it's international peers such as Duran Duran.  It's a very strong record with at least 4 singles including the one I have chosen here, Not In Love.  I remember buying this 45 actually when it came out.  There is a certain darkness to the song and I really like how it builds up to the chorus.  Some interesting facts about Platinum Blonde.  They started out as a Police cover band.  The original line up on Standing in the Dark was a 3 piece.  Mark Holmes, Sergio Galli and Chris Steffler.  They added the late Kenny Maclean to the band in 1985 for the album Alien Shores.  If you live in Toronto and are familiar with the live music venue, the Mod Club, then you should know that Mark Holmes opened it.  At the time of this blog, there were vinyl copies available on Ebay and Discogs ranging from $4-$25.  There was one Cd copy on Ebay for $112.  The band has released a greatest hits compilation entitled, Seven Year Itch, that includes this song and is available for download from Itunes.  You can watch the video on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1_PM5nLZeI).  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Band: Bootsauce, Album: Bull, Song: Whatcha' Need

Bootsauce were formed in the late eighties in Montreal.  They blasted on to the scene with their debut cd entitled the Brown Album.  I remember the orange cut out packaging on the cassette version.  Their sound, reminiscent of the Red Hot Chillipeppers maybe even early Faith No More, was something truly unique for Canadian music at the time.  One of their earliest hits was a cover of the Hot Chocolate tune, Everyone's A Winner.  They were equal parts funk and rock and pulled it off quite well.  Check out the tune Masterstroke if you can as well.  To this day, I have the ending of the Everyone's A Winner video etched in my brain.  Not sure what the heck was going on there with the lead singer.  The track Whatcha' Need is more of a downtempo tune.  I just think it's a great pop song.  It was off the album Bull.  Unfortunately, no Bootsauce songs are available for download on Itunes.  At the time of this blog there were copies for sale on Amazon, Ebay and Discogs ranging from $1-$16.  You can watch the video for this track on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=367ED6tcNXo).  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Artist: Bill Amesbury, Album: Can You Feel It?, Song: I Remember

Can You Feel It                                

"And I remember the bands an' the one night stands.  Making love in the back of a Chevy van.  And I remember the nights in the Holiday Inns.  Four to a bed and stinking of gin.  I remember the road it was so damn cold.  With the feeling of bein' bought and sold.  I remember.  I remember the road."

Bill Amesbury's, "Can You Feel It", was released in 1976.  He was already known to most Canadians thanks to the success of his debut release, "Jus'a Taste Of The Kid" and the Top 10 song it spawned, Virginia (Touch Me Like You Do) in 1974.  "Can You Feel It" had some minor hits including the track I have selected, I Remember.  He also received some success in the UK with this release and it likely also explains the two different album covers as well.  A friend of mine who I had met while living in Calgary had put this song on a mixed cd for my drive back to Ontario.  I have fond memories of listening to this song as I travelled back to Ontario.  I was able to find a copy on ebay years later.  The record is very difficult to find and unfortunately his Top 10 hit Virginia is the only track ever included in Canadian Music retrospective releases.  At the time of this blog, there were copies for sale on Discogs, Music Stack and Ebay ranging from $10 -$100+.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Band: Dream Warriors, Album: Subliminal Simulation, Song: Day In Day Out

The Dream Warriors exploded on to the International hip hop scene in 1991 with their debut, "And Now The Legacy Begins".  This debut was a critical album in the growth of jazz influenced rap already pioneered by De La Soul's "3 Feet High And Rising" two years earlier.  The song, Day In Day Out, is from their second release Subliminal Simulaton which was released in 1994.  The song has more of an edge perhaps than some of their earlier hits like Ludi or Wash Your Face In My Sink.  The band also expanded by two members with rapper Spek and DJ Luv (aka LA Luv & Michie Mee).  I love Spek's flow on this track.  It remains to this day, one of my all time favourite hip hop tracks.  I don't think this particular album did as well as their debut but thankfully, it is available on Itunes for download.  The band also released an Anthology which includes the track.  Both are available on Amazon in new and used condition between $1 and $40 depending on the vendor.  There were also copies trading on Ebay and Discogs at the time of this blog under $10.  You can watch the video for this track on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaNE06Ug1YQ).