54-40
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Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada (1981 – present)
54•40 is an alternative rock band which formed in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada in 1981. For most of their career, the band consisted of Neil Osborne (vocals), Phil Comparelli (guitar, trumpet, vocals), Brad Merritt (bass) and Matt Johnson (drums). Comparelli left the band in 2005 and was replaced by former Matthew Good Band guitarist Dave Genn. The band’s best known songs include “Baby Ran”, “Ocean Pearl” and “I Go Blind”, the latter of which was covered by Hootie & The Blowfish. The band takes their name from the slogan “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight,” coined to express the expansionist agenda of James K.
Polk’s presidency, intent upon controling a contested U.S.-Canada border area.
The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
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 radio airplay. The band’s third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits “One Gun” and “One Day in Your Life”.
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. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.
The group formed in 1981 as a trio consisting of Brad Merritt (bass), Ian Franey(drums), and Neil Osborne (vocals). In 1983, Phil Comparelli was added on guitar and vocals, and Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf. Matt Johnson replaced Neudorf on drums by 1986. The band announced in March of 2005 that Comparelli had officially passed on guitar duties to Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band.
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 radio airplay. The band’s third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits “One Gun” and “One Day in Your Life”.
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. Ironically, though, it was their best-selling album in Canada, leading to a new U.
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Smilin' Buddha Cabaret
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Sweeter Things: A Compilation
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Yes To Everything
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Casual Viewin'
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Shoutbox
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shareeff wrote:
They used to get on the radio in Ontario back in the '90s. Love 'em. "Don Quixote" FTW.
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Phlunked wrote:
Post-Punk
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dundee12 wrote:
I just moved to BC from Ontario.....never heard of 54-40, they're never played on Ontario radio. 54-40 must be a "BC Tragically Hip".
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Phlunked wrote:
I had 54-40's one time. That was a crazy summer. Colt 45 and Olde English 800... Those were the days.
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DrSickRhymes wrote:
54-40=14, problem solved!
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giraffebreath wrote:
• not - Please redirect! I'm not trying to be annoying but it actually IRKS me.
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findtammy wrote:
i am in london ontario and was shocked to see that 54/40 is playing at a very very small bar in the east end on august 7. i haven't seen them perform in years, but they put on a great show.
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soad9000 wrote:
im sure if you live in southern ontario its easy to grab their stuff, theyre more of a local band
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IRONICtypo wrote:
@salemek90: that's the Hootie cover.
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salemek90 wrote:
I heard their song in Friends' soundtrack. There's 'I Go Blind' and actually it's not so bad. By the way it's not so strange that people don't listen them because it's quite difficult to find their music.
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createsean wrote:
The best 54-40 album ever is Dear Dear - it's rock solid with not a single bad track. I can listen to it over and over and over.
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chrissy5440 wrote:
54-40 is the best Canadian band ever.. see 5440.com and 5440forever.com and buy Northern Soul ASAP
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soad9000 wrote:
i grew up on this band. canadian radio is way better than american.
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therabidwombat wrote:
It's cool that their number one songs are both from Yes to Everything, one of their most recent releases. it's too bad that nothing from Northern Soul are on these charts yet. I think that it's a more solid album than yes to everything...although I don't know how many songs on it are as radio friendly as easy to love and golden sun to drive the crowds to listen to them.
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Cidsa wrote:
Wow, not too many plays. That's strange, I hear them all the time o.0
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therabidwombat wrote:
Who else is excited for Northern Soul?
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zao_89 wrote:
I believe they fall under the classification of Canadus Underratus
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Borisandwilchuk wrote:
they are pretty good
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therabidwombat wrote:
One of my all time favorites. I hope they release new material soon.
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drsaunde wrote:
What a great band
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News
New album from Jets Overhead produced by Neil Osborne
4 Mar 2011 | from www.5440.com/index.php/news
Canadian quintet
Jets Overhead have traveled
the world in support of their sophomore release, No Nations, and on
Tuesday, March 8 they will be releasing
…
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16 Feb 2011 | from www.5440.com/index.php/news -
17 Jan 2011 | from www.5440.com/index.php/news -
17 Aug 2010 | from www.5440.com/index.php/news
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Recent Activity
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doggydangerous added 54-40 to doggydangerous’s library. yesterday evening
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nova_Nat tagged 54-40 with alternative rock, alternative, rock and one other tag. Tuesday evening
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nova_Nat, engrgrad, joeshabazz and 1 other person added 54-40 to their libraries. Tuesday evening
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RPLastFM tagged 54-40 with radio paradise and radioparadise. last month
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LenSynor added 54-40 to LenSynor’s library. last month
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Brewhaze tagged 54-40 with alternative rock, alternative and rock. last month
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Brewhaze, hottriks, meckboy and 7 other people added 54-40 to their libraries. last month
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tcbear79 tagged 54-40 with ‘tcfyes’. last month
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dh_norman, Jaws955 and the-cause added 54-40 to their libraries. last month
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kmeixner tagged 54-40 with cfny, british columbia, modern rock and 4 other tags. December 2011
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