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.
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  • shareeff

    They used to get on the radio in Ontario back in the '90s. Love 'em. "Don Quixote" FTW.

    28 Oct 2011 Reply

  • dundee12

    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".

    30 Dec 2010 Reply

  • DrSickRhymes

    54-40=14, problem solved!

    12 Aug 2010 Reply

  • giraffebreath

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

    28 Oct 2009 Reply

  • findtammy

    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.

    5 Aug 2009 Reply

  • soad9000

    im sure if you live in southern ontario its easy to grab their stuff, theyre more of a local band

    27 Apr 2009 Reply

  • IRONICtypo

    @salemek90: that's the Hootie cover.

    11 Apr 2009 Reply

  • salemek90

    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.

    26 Mar 2009 Reply

  • createsean

    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.

    13 Mar 2009 Reply

  • chrissy5440

    54-40 is the best Canadian band ever.. see 5440.com and 5440forever.com and buy Northern Soul ASAP

    3 Jan 2009 Reply

  • soad9000

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

    25 Dec 2008 Reply

  • therabidwombat

    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.

    10 Oct 2008 Reply

  • Cidsa

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

    9 Sep 2008 Reply

  • therabidwombat

    Who else is excited for Northern Soul?

    4 Aug 2008 Reply

  • zao_89

    I believe they fall under the classification of Canadus Underratus

    25 Jun 2008 Reply

  • Borisandwilchuk

    they are pretty good

    11 Apr 2008 Reply

  • therabidwombat

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

    27 Sep 2007 Reply

  • drsaunde

    What a great band

    27 Mar 2006 Reply
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