The Northern Pikes were founded in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1983
out of the relics of such three Canadian prairie bands,
The Idols, Seventeen Envelope, and Doris Daye. The band
released two self-financed independent albums:
'The Northern Pikes' and 'Scene In North America' that attracted
the attention of Virgin Records Canada who were in the process
of expanding into Canada and looking for some Canadian acts to
sign to the label. Signed to a 6 album international deal in
1985, their major label debut was the album, 'Big Blue Sky' and
it contained the first single and video "Teenland" followed by
"The Things I Do For Money". In that same year the band opened
for headlining tours by Duran Duran, David Bowie and The Fixx
vaulting them into the world of international stardom.
The band's
next album, 'Secrets Of The Alibi' was ignored by critics and
given less than complimentary reviews but British pop star,
Robert Palmer saw potential in the band and had them as opening
slot on his 1989 North American tour. In 1990, 'Snow In June'
was the third major release and this album was sort of a
comeback boasted three Top-40 hits/videos "She Ain't Pretty",
"Girl With A Problem", and "Kiss Me You Fool". This album pulled
out all the stops with mixes by Hugh Padgham & Bob Clearmountain
and production by Rick Hutt, Fraser Hill & the Pikes themselves.
The album also an impressive roster special guest performers
including Garth Hudson (The Band) and John Sebastian (Lovin'
Spoonful). Despite all of the attention the album received,
Virgin America passed on the US release of the album and the
band ended up having it released by Scotti Brothers in 1991.
The album would go on to sell double platinum much to Virgin's
loss.
In 1992 the band released the album 'Neptune' to very
little fanfare as the popularity of the Pikes began to dwindle.
The album sank without a trace but at the end of 1993 they
released a live album called 'Gig' with songs taken from a set
of the band's last shows together.
In 1993 band leader Jay Semko
quit in frustration and the Northern Pikes were no more. Hits
and Assorted secrets compiles eighteen songs from the band's
Virgin label recording career as released between 1984 to 1993.
All of the band's hit singles are included on this album along
with three previously unreleased tracks and two live songs from
their independent days recorded in 1993. This is the first
compilation of Northern Pikes material and it is a fitting
reminder of how good this band really was on both sides of the
border. The detailed liner notes with this package gives the
background of each song as well as reproductions of original
album covers and a complete band discography is included.
by Keith Pettipas, CanEHdian.com
