54-40
| 54-40 | |
|---|---|
|
Dave Genn, Neil Osborne & Brad Merritt at the Vancouver ShoreFest in 2009 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Rock, alternative rock |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Reprise, True North |
| Website |
5440 |
| Members |
Neil Osborne Matt Johnson Brad Merritt Dave Genn |
| Past members |
Phil Comparelli Darryl Neudorf Ian Franey |
54-40 is a Canadian alternative rock group from Vancouver, British Columbia.
The band takes their name from the slogan Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!, coined to express the unsuccessful expansionist agenda of James K. Polk's presidency, intent upon controlling a contested U.S.-Canada border area in the Oregon boundary dispute.
History
The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey (drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals/guitar). They made their recording debut that same year, with four tracks on the independent compilation LP Things Are Still Coming Ashore, which also featured music by Vancouver bands Animal Slaves and Junco Run. The following year, the band issued the EP Selection.
In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar, trumpet and vocals and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Neudorf subsequently was replaced by drummer Matt Johnson in 1986.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the single "Baby Ran" gaining significant college radio airplay. Musician Dave Osborne (keyboards, harmonica), toured and recorded with the band from 1987 to 1993. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Day in Your Life" and "One Gun".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough — 1992's Dear Dear was their first album not to have a U.S. release. It was, however, their best-selling album in Canada up to that time, leading to a new U.S. contract for the follow-up, Smilin' Buddha Cabaret, which had a significant hit in "Ocean Pearl".
The band's song "I Go Blind" was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish, and was featured on the first soundtrack to the TV series Friends. The song also appears on two compilations released by the band: 2000's Scattered, Smothered and Covered and 2003's The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish (1993 Thru 2003). Royalties from the Hootie and the Blowfish cover enabled the band to build their own recording studio in Vancouver.
The band announced in March 2005 that long-time member Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
In 2010, to celebrate the band's 30 years together and almost 25 years since their first commercial album "The Green Album", the band went on a promotional concert tour with a two set act. The first set was "The Green Album" from start to finish. The second set was one song from every album since, with the exception of Dear Dear where they played two songs. 54-40 also performed a new song from their upcoming record, "Lost In The City" which was released on June 14, 2011. The Green tour was during the first few months of 2010.[1]
In late 2015 the band announced they would be releasing a greatest hits album titled La Difference: A History Unplugged. The new effort is said to feature ten of their biggest hits such as One Day In Your Life, I Go Blind, Ocean Pearl and many more. The album was released on January 8, 2016 through eOne Music with a month long theater tour across Canada to commence January 14, 2016.
Members
Current Members
- Brad Merrit - bass (1981–Present)
- Neil Osbourne - vocals, guitar (1981–Present)
- Matt Johnson - drums (1986–Present)
- Dave Genn - guitar (2005–Present)
Former Members
- Ian Franey - drums (1981-1983)
- Phil Comparelli - guitar, vocals, trumpet (1983-2005)
- Darryl Neudorf - drums (1983-1986)
Timeline
Discography
EPs
| Year | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||
| 1982 | Selection | — |
Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [2] |
CAN [3] | ||
| 1984 | Set the Fire | — | — |
| 1986 | 54-40 | 91 | — |
| 1987 | Show Me | 66 | — |
| 1989 | Fight for Love | 36 | — |
| 1992 | Dear Dear | 22 | Platinum |
| 1994 | Smilin' Buddha Cabaret | 47 | Platinum |
| 1996 | Trusted by Millions | 28 | Platinum |
| 1998 | Since When | 19 | Gold |
| 2000 | Casual Viewin' | 24 | — |
| 2003 | Goodbye Flatland | — | — |
| 2005 | Yes to Everything | — | — |
| 2008 | Northern Soul | — | — |
| 2011 | Lost in the City | — | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak Chart Position | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [4] |
CAN Alt. [5] |
CAN Content (Cancon) [6] | |||
| 1984 | "Set the Fire" | — | — | — | Set the Fire |
| "What To Do Now" | — | — | — | ||
| "Broken Pieces" | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Baby Ran" | — | — | — | 54-40 |
| "I Go Blind" | — | — | — | ||
| 1987 | "One Day in Your Life" | 90 | — | — | Show Me |
| "One Gun" | — | — | — | ||
| "Walk In Line" | — | — | — | ||
| 1989 | "Fight for Love" | — | — | — | Fight for Love |
| "Miss You" | — | — | — | ||
| "Baby, Have Some Faith" | — | — | 1 | ||
| 1992 | "Nice to Luv You" | 30 | — | 4 | Dear Dear |
| "She La" | 38 | — | — | ||
| "Music Man" | 40 | — | 5 | ||
| 1993 | "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" | 52 | — | 7 | |
| 1994 | "Blame Your Parents" | 45 | — | — | Smilin' Buddha Cabaret |
| "Assoholic" | 56 | — | — | ||
| "Ocean Pearl" | 22 | — | — | ||
| 1995 | "Radio Luv Song" | — | — | — | |
| 1996 | "Love You All" | 20 | 7 | — | Trusted by Millions |
| "Lies to Me" | 19 | 5 | — | ||
| "Crossing a Canyon" | 30 | — | — | ||
| 1997 | "I Love Candy" | 61 | — | — | |
| 1998 | "Since When" | 11 | 2 | — | Since When |
| "Lost and Lazy" | 87 | 8 | — | ||
| 2000 | "Casual Viewin'" | 48 | 3 | — | Casual Viewin |
| "Unbend" | — | — | — | ||
| 2001 | "Blue Sky" | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | "Love Rush" | — | — | — | Radio Love Songs: The Singles Collection |
| "Plenty Emotion" | — | — | — | ||
| 2003 | "Take Me Out" | — | — | — | Goodbye Flatland |
| "Animal in Pain" | — | — | — | ||
| "Ride" | — | — | — | ||
| "Wish I Knew" | — | — | — | ||
| 2005 | "Easy to Love" | — | — | — | Yes to Everything |
| "Golden Sun" | — | — | — | ||
| 2008 | "Snap" | — | — | — | Northern Soul |
| "Lucky" | — | — | — | ||
| 2010 | "Lost In The City" | — | — | — | Lost In The City |
Live Albums
| Year | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||
| 1999 | Heavy Mellow | - |
Compilations
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Certifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAN [7] |
CAN [3] | ||
| 1981 | Things Are Still Coming Ashore | - | - |
| 1991 | Sweeter Things: A Compilation | 39 | Platinum |
| 1997 | Sound of Truth: The Independent Collection | - | - |
| 2001 | Casual Viewin' USA | - | - |
| 2002 | Radio Love Songs: The Singles Collection | - | - |
| 2005 | The Essentials | - | - |
| 2016 | LA Difference: A History Unplugged | - | - |
DVDs
- 2006 - This Is Here This Is Now
References
- ↑ http://5440.com/index.php?view=article&catid=1:latest-news&id=71:5440-celebrates-30th-anniversary-by-going-qgreenq-again&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=
- ↑ Peak positions for 54-40's albums in Canada:
- For "54-40" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 44, No. 18, July 26, 1986". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Show Me" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 47, No. 15, January 30, 1988". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Fight for Love" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 50, No. 23, October 02 1989". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Dear Dear" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 55, No. 26, June 27, 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Smilin' Buddha Cabaret" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 59, No. 14, April 25, 1994". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Trusted by Millions" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 63, No. 15, May 27, 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Since When" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 17, July 20, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Casual Viewin'" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 71, No. 20, September 18, 2000". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- 1 2 "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved 2011-07-09.
- ↑ Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Singles Chart:
- For "One Day in Your Life" "Top Singles - Volume 48, No. 3, May 07 1988". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Nice to Luv You" "Top Singles - Volume 55, No. 26, June 27, 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "She La" "Top Singles - Volume 56, No. 13, September 26, 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Music Man" "Top Singles - Volume 56, No. 25, December 19, 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" "Top Singles - Volume 57, No. 11, March 27, 1993". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Blame Your Parents" "Top Singles - Volume 59, No. 15, May 02 1994". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Assoholic" "Top Singles - Volume 60, No. 7, September 05 1994". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Ocean Pearl" "Top Singles - Volume 60, No. 22, December 19, 1994". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Love You All" "Top Singles - Volume 63, No. 20, July 01 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Lies to Me" "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 8, October 07 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Crossing a Canyon" "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 26, March 03 1997". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "I Love Candy" "Top Singles - Volume 65, No. 11, May 19, 1997". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Since When" "Top Singles - Volume 67, No. 18, July 27, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Lost and Lazy" "Top Singles - Volume 68, No. 13, January 11, 1999". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Casual Viewin'" "Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 19, September 11, 2000". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ↑ Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Rock/Alternative Chart:
- For "Love You All" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 63, No. 18, June 17, 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Lies to Me" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 64, No. 5, September 16, 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Since When" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 67, No. 19, August 03 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Lost and Lazy" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 68, No. 6, November 02 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Casual Viewin'" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 71, No. 20, September 18, 2000". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ↑ Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Canadian Content Chart:
- For "Baby, Have Some Faith" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 51, No. 6, December 09 1989". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Nice to Luv You" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 55, No. 19, May 09 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "Music Man" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 56, No. 19, November 07 1992". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- For "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 57, No. 7, February 27, 1993". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
- ↑ "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 55, No. 3, December 21, 1991". RPM. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
External links
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