I’ve never heard any of their other songs but this one’s fantastic! It appears on disc 2 of the second of three “Oh What A Feeling” 4-CD box sets of Canadian music. If you don’t have those I’d highly recommend checking them out as they’re jam packed with classics. Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_What_a_Feeling:_A_Vital_Collection_of_Canadian_Music
Nice article on Vallance and Fairbairn, names I remember from '80s-era liner notes. I particularly recall Fairbairn as being a producer who consistently brought a brightness, or a sheen (dare I say "poppiness"?) to his records. His clients must've wanted that, an interesting note when thinking of hard rock (they'd love to have us believe) bands like Aerosmith, Scorpions, INXS, Loverboy, KISS, and others. I know that element of "radio-readiness" was eagerly sought after by these artists....hence, Fairbairn's busy work schedule! Another uniquely talented studio maestro few know of, but he's responsible for an awful lot of more commercially viable airplay! Well done!
BTW, I'll not sully your pretty blue page with the links, but speaking of Canadian artists, I've written about (at least) two: Chilliwack and their "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)", and These Kids Wear Crowns, who recently did a cover of Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"! Feel free to hunt 'em down...they're both free! Enjoy!
One thing that really plays into the work Fairbain did was around the time he started producing, regulations came into effect forcing Canadian radio stations into playing 35% Canadian content. There was a hunger for Canadian artists who had radio-ready music and that must have shaped his approach to producing. He's really well known in Canada but like you said, not really much known outside.
Yes. It came out of a study done in the late 60s about how to nurture a distinct Canadian culture in the face of overwhelming USian influence, a policy that is still in place today. There had been the occasional Canadian act who had broken through in the US but the policy created the recording industry we have today and I'm grateful for it.
Yes. It came out of a study done in the late 60s about how to nurture a distinct Canadian culture in the face of overwhelming USian influence, a policy that is still in place today. There had been the occasional Canadian act who had broken through in the US but the policy created the recording industry we have today and I'm grateful for it.
I’ve never heard any of their other songs but this one’s fantastic! It appears on disc 2 of the second of three “Oh What A Feeling” 4-CD box sets of Canadian music. If you don’t have those I’d highly recommend checking them out as they’re jam packed with classics. Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh_What_a_Feeling:_A_Vital_Collection_of_Canadian_Music
Oh, I have them all!
Ha! Good one.🇨🇦 Happy New Year, MK...
Nice article on Vallance and Fairbairn, names I remember from '80s-era liner notes. I particularly recall Fairbairn as being a producer who consistently brought a brightness, or a sheen (dare I say "poppiness"?) to his records. His clients must've wanted that, an interesting note when thinking of hard rock (they'd love to have us believe) bands like Aerosmith, Scorpions, INXS, Loverboy, KISS, and others. I know that element of "radio-readiness" was eagerly sought after by these artists....hence, Fairbairn's busy work schedule! Another uniquely talented studio maestro few know of, but he's responsible for an awful lot of more commercially viable airplay! Well done!
BTW, I'll not sully your pretty blue page with the links, but speaking of Canadian artists, I've written about (at least) two: Chilliwack and their "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)", and These Kids Wear Crowns, who recently did a cover of Whitney's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"! Feel free to hunt 'em down...they're both free! Enjoy!
I love My Girl so please sully away!
One thing that really plays into the work Fairbain did was around the time he started producing, regulations came into effect forcing Canadian radio stations into playing 35% Canadian content. There was a hunger for Canadian artists who had radio-ready music and that must have shaped his approach to producing. He's really well known in Canada but like you said, not really much known outside.
OK.....thanks! I love "My Girl," too....such an unusual song structure! I sang it in karaoke several times, and got looks.....more so than usual! Here 'tis: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/dynamism-defined-canadas-chilliwack
And, the lads in These Kids Wear Crowns are hilarious! They're like grinning kids! https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/audio-autopsy-2011-canadas-these
That's amazing about Canada's airplay edict! That certainly would influence everyone from content creators to radio!
Yes. It came out of a study done in the late 60s about how to nurture a distinct Canadian culture in the face of overwhelming USian influence, a policy that is still in place today. There had been the occasional Canadian act who had broken through in the US but the policy created the recording industry we have today and I'm grateful for it.
Yes. It came out of a study done in the late 60s about how to nurture a distinct Canadian culture in the face of overwhelming USian influence, a policy that is still in place today. There had been the occasional Canadian act who had broken through in the US but the policy created the recording industry we have today and I'm grateful for it.