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.

Tagged as:

canadian, rock, alternative, alternative rock, oh canada
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Top Albums

Yes To Everything
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Smilin' Buddha Cabaret
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Sweeter Things: A Compilation
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Trusted By Millions
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Top Tracks

1	I Go Blind	30
2	Ocean Pearl	29
3	Easy To Love full track	25
4	One Day In Your Life	23
5	Golden Sun full track	19
6	This Is Here This Is Now full track	18
6	Can't Get Enough full track	18
6	Radio Luv Song full track	18
9	Lies To Me	17
9	One Gun	17
11	Calling You Out full track	16
12	Baby Ran	15
12	All About Love full track	15
14	Blame Your Parents full track	14
15	Casual Viewin'	13

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giraffebreath wrote:
last month

• not - Please redirect! I'm not trying to be annoying but it actually IRKS me.

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findtammy wrote:
August 2009

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:
April 2009

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:
April 2009

@salemek90: that's the Hootie cover.

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salemek90 wrote:
March 2009

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:
March 2009

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:
January 2009

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:
December 2008

i grew up on this band. canadian radio is way better than american.

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therabidwombat wrote:
October 2008

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:
September 2008

Wow, not too many plays. That's strange, I hear them all the time o.0

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therabidwombat wrote:
August 2008

Who else is excited for Northern Soul?

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zao_89 wrote:
June 2008

I believe they fall under the classification of Canadus Underratus

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Borisandwilchuk wrote:
April 2008

they are pretty good

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therabidwombat wrote:
September 2007

One of my all time favorites. I hope they release new material soon.

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drsaunde wrote:
March 2006

What a great band

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Events

Nov 27 54-40 Telus Convention Centre, Calgary, Alberta, United States
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News

54-40 to rock Surrey during 2010 Olympics

6 Nov 2009 | from www.5440.com/index.php/news

From the Vancouver Sun: The Sam Roberts Band, 54-40, Randy Bachman, Hot Hot Heat and Tokyo Police Club are among the acts that will perform at the City of Surrey's free live site during the 2010 Olympics, the city announced today. …

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