A Collection of musings on music, life, and the world as we know it by someone who shouldn't know better.
I was lost in time, feelin' like the victim of a perfect crime...
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The early 80’s saw a plethora of journeyman faceless rock bands that graced rock radio. You’ve got your Saga, your Rainbow, your April Wine, and if it wasn’t for Mike Reno and his red leather pants I’d throw Loverboy in there as well. Fitting in that group is Canadians Chilliwack, who for a brief time had some success in America, with great success in my neck of the woods. WPST in New Jersey played the hell out of their two singles “My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)” and “I Believe”. Both of those of course figure on the band’s Greatest Hits CD, which chronicles their career from the late 60s to the late 80s. It’s kind of front loaded, going in reverse time order, with new songs “Don’t Stop” and “Getting Better” leading off, though very derivative and kinda boring, as most early-80s rock can be. After that is the three charting singles in America, the two mentioned above and minor (and forgettable) followup single “Whatcha Gonna Do”. The two hits, though, are a great slice of workingman power-pop, with “My Girl” evoking a retro feel with doo-wop style harmonies, and “I Believe”, which is a plain, but enjoyable love song. A filler-type track called “Communication Breakdown” which unfortunately isn’t a remake of the Led Zeppelin track, follows.From there the collection delves into a period not really heard here in the States, but actually more earthy and true. They’re rather primitive, but there’s some good songs in “Arms Of Mary” , “Fly By Night”, and “Lonesome Mary” (do you think there’s somebody in the band pining for a Mary, eh?). Final track (and so oldest) “Rain-O” actually resembles the psychedelic rock like bands like Love and Moby Grape. All in all, Chilliwack’s Greatest Hits, while not a seminal rock experience, isn’t a bad listen, and for hard-to-find gems like “My Girl” and “I Believe”, it may be worth seeking out.
Grade: C Best Cuts: “My Girl (Gone Gone Gone)”, “I Believe” Weakest Links: “Communication Breakdown”, “Don’t Stop”
"Lonesome Mary" hit #75 pop. "Crazy Talk" hit #98 pop. "Fly By Night" hit #75 pop. "Arms Of Mary" made #67 pop. "My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)" made #22 pop and #16 rock singles. "I Believe" made #33 pop. "Whatcha Gonna Do" hit #41 pop and #29 rock singles.
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