Artists
Not bad for a bunch of kids from Burlington, Ontario...
Spoons
Formed in 1980, an intrepid young band from Burlington Ontario would soon make “Spoons” a different kind of household word.
Together with Derrick Ross and Rob Preuss, Gord Deppe and Sandy Horne would help define the sound of pop and New Wave in the 80’s, with hits including “Nova Heart”, “Romantic Traffic”, “Old Emotions” and “Tell No Lies”.
Their album “Arias & Symphonies” would go on to be named one of the 20 Most Influential Albums of The 80’s by “the Chart” Magazine, and their song “Nova Heart” was recently included in Bob Mersereau’s book “the Top 100 Canadian Singles of All Time”…
Not bad for a bunch of kids from Burlington, Ontario.
"New York City" was named the greatest Canadian song of all time...
DEMICS
By the fall of 1977, London, Ontario was experiencing its own nascent punk scene when transplanted Mancunian Keith Whittaker started rehearsals with guitarist Rob Brent, bassist Iain Atkinson and drummer Nick Perry as the Demics
By late 1978, they had recorded their first EP, the gritty Talk’s Cheap, issued the following year as the first release on the newly-formed Ready Records. The EP’s single, “New York City” released on Ready Records, was the band’s breakthrough hit on CFNY in 1979.
Blue Peter would become one of Canada’s most popular and influential bands of the New Wave era...
blue Peter
When Blue Peter formed in 1978 dinosaurs still ruled the earth. Monster rock bands in tight spandex, long scarves and shaggy hair, controlled the airwaves and the clubs. But around the world a musical revolution had started – a “storm-the-ramparts” movement that declared anyone could play and everyone could participate. Punk turned the world on its ear and opened the door to the New Wave. Blue Peter would become one of Canada’s most popular and influential bands of the New Wave era.
Signing with new Indie label Ready Records in 1979, the young band released it’s EP “Test Patterns for Living”. Recorded in one day, this album captures the explosive energy of the times.
In 1984 they broke into the top 10 nationwide with the smash single “Can’t Stand Still.”
The Extras
The Extras hailed from Toronto, when Mississauga high school friends Dennis Keldie and Leon Stevenson decided to put their group Sneakers on the shelf and try something new.
They released BIT PARTS with producer David Bendeth in ’81, which churned out a pair of singles. However it wasn’t until 1984 with EXTRAPOLIS that the band finally cracked the top 10 nationwide with the smash single “Can’t Stand Still.” The video got heavy airplay on MuchMusic and was one of the first ever animated Canadian music videos.
The band`s music continues to be released on new formats in countries around the world.
Santers
“Can’t Shake You” the video and single, received rotation on over 200 Rock Radio and TV stations across North America. Santers remake of Free’s classic “All Right Now” cracked the CHUM Top 40 reaching lucky #13 in Toronto. The band`s music continues to be released on new formats in countries around the world.
Steve Blimkie and The Reason was one of the first groups to ink a deal with Ready Records.
Steve Blimkie and The Reason
Originally from Chalk River, Steve Blimkie had spent the mid ’70s singing in different groups before enrolling in college where he met guitarist Angus Mackay, bassist Doug Ruston and drummer Dave Betts, who were all a year ahead of him in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario.
Around the same time Mackay was also setting up his own label, Ready Records, with another Fanshawe student, Andy Crosbie, and they were looking for acts to sign. Steve’s style was very different from most of the other musicians at Fanshawe, which naturally caught their attention. Steve Blimkie and The Reason was born, one of the first groups to ink a deal with Ready.
“I Got This Feeling” became their first single, and decent reception warranted a second – “You Can’t Hold Me Anymore,” then a third – “Can’t Say I’m Sorry.” Produced by MacKay and Crosbie, their debut album, simply billed as BLIMKIE, was in the stores in the fall of 1980. Reception was good and things were looking up, and the band landed some great gigs which included opening for XTC at Massey Hall in Toronto and being the opening act on a Martha and The Muffins‘ cross-Canada jaunt that fall/winter.
Due to his full time commitments at Ready Records, Mackay backed out of the group, replaced by another Fanshawe student, Derry Grehan.
