Old Enough to Forget

Time for a little Canadiana. Funny how some acts can be so influential and yet be totally unknown to the rest of the world. Then again, to be fair some of these albums weren't well known at home either. You pays your money you takes your chance. I didn't have any of these albums back in the day, so it's been an interesting trip down memory lane. With Harlequin and Trooper I knew some of the songs, but on the others they were brand new to me. Sometimes that's awesome, sometimes it makes me sad to be so later to the party. I suppose it's better late than never. Harlequin - One False Move (1982) Lava Hay - Lava Hay (1990)  The Front - Gina's at a Party (1983) The Kings - Amazon Beach (1981) Trooper - Thick as Thieves (1978) Harlequin - One False Move (1982) - Harlequin's third album, and the last of their records to be produced by the legendary Jack Douglas. I still have no idea why I never got this album at the time as I liked the songs I heard on the radi...

Here we are, five months in and holding steady. I'm not sure this is worth continuing, but for me these little snack size tidbits are perfect when I don't have a lot to say, but there was something worth jotting down. Whether it was worth your time or not is a separate issue, and I make no guarantees this will be a worthwhile. For all you know, this is a cheese shop, or I could just be deliberately wasting your time, and I don't have any cheese. Five for Fighting No.5 Dave Loggins - Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) (1974) Rick Derringer - Sweet Evil (1977)  Cliff Richard - I'm Nearly Famous (1976) Little River Band - First Under the Wire (1979) Harlequin - Harlequin (1984) Dave Loggins - Apprentice (In a Musical Workshop) (1974) I still find it strange looking at cover pictures from the early '70s, everyone looked so wise and world weary - and old. Looking at the stylized photo of Dave Loggins on the cover you'd think you were looking at an elder statesman...

One of the first albums I bought was Harlequin's 1979 debut mainly because my friend Andrew, who was a great guitar player (this is how I remember him), wanted me to learn "You are the Light" so we could play it together. Victim of a Song would become one of my favourite albums, and I did learn how to play "You are the Light". The combination George Belanger's distinct vocals, and Glen Willows' searing guitar work was a one - two punch that seemed to deliver over and over on that album. When the band dropped their new album in 1980 I was primed and eager to hear what the band had to offer. They didn't disappoint - the legendary Jack Douglas produced the album, and the first cut "Innocence" perfectly encapsulated everything that Harlequin brought to the table. Killer vocals, a killer guitar solo, and a killer hook. It was, and remains probably one of the best songs the band ever recorded. The bar was immediately set pretty freakin' high...