November of 1989. In Canada, we were at a pivotal moment in the national institution that is the Degrassi franchise, as the scene switched from junior high to high school. They eased their way into the transition with a episode where Erica has an abortion. And Saved by the Bell thought tackling caffeine pill addiction was pushing the envelope. Meanwhile, on the radio:
Bonus Track #1: 72 - °The Maker," Daniel Lanois (CanCon!)
Based in my birthplace of Hamilton, Ontario, Lanois first made his name as a producer of Canadian artists, then got his big break when Brian Enough asked him to produce U2's blockbusters The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree. He became one of the most sought-after producers in rock, and in between assignments he put together an album called Acadie which featured this atmospheric track about longing for God. It's moving and stirring, and gets a boost from a vocal cameo from Aaron Neville. I love it, and I also love that CanCon regulations are the only reason it charted.
BonusTrack #2: 63 - "Blow at High Dough," The Tragically Hip (CanCon!)
Founeed in Kingston, Ontario, in 1984, the future national heroes made their first chart appearance with this driving, inscrutable rocker that references taxis, supper bells, wedding rings, and the Elvis movie Speedway. And the title is apparently a saying Gord Downie's grandmother would use that compared a rising cake to going too far too fast. No one is really sure what it all means, but it hasn't mattered, as this is one of the band's most beloved songs.
49 - "House of Dreams," Blue Rodeo (CanCon!)
Formed in 1984, this Toronto country-rock band became CanCon superstars near the end of the 80s. Their fifth Top 50 hit was this ballad about being left by the one you love. This one features smooth-voiced Jim Cuddy instead of their other singer, the more weathered-sounding Greg Keelor. It's not one of their bigger hits, but it's good enough that it would be a signature moment for many other bands.
48 - "You've Got It," Simply Red
Mick Hucknall and Co. followed up their Triple Crown near-miss "If You Don't Know Me By Now" with this ballad about an inescapable love. Performed well, but not much.
47 - "Sons and Daughters," Chalk Circle (CanCon!)
The final hit for these Newcastle Ontarians was this tune that I think is about American cultural imperialism. It chugs along nicely, then finishes with kind of a gospel breakdown. A nice little moment in a nice little career.
46 - "Another Day," Paradox (CanCon!)
This Quebec band sounds like Glass Tiger on their second of three hits, a decent enough acoustic rocker about carrying on. They broke up in 1991, but leader Sylvain Cossette subsequently became a major solo star in Quebec. I had no idea, which will give any outsiders reading this a taste of how French-Canadian pop culture is an island unto itself.
44 - "Another Man's Gun," Ray Lyell and the Storm (CanCon!)
Another Hamiltonian, Lyell and his band scored their first hit with this Old West-themed roots rocker. My favorite of their handful of hits. And for the record, Lyell is the only artist I have written about here who I have seen perform live at a funeral in a small church.
43 - "Let Love Rule," Lenny Kravitz
The son of Jeffersons actress Roxie Roker and a Jewish TV news producer, Kravitz launched his career with this idealistic bit of retro psychedelia. Soulful, maybe too derivative of his influences, but shot through with charisma. You could probably use the previous sentence to describe his entire career.
42 - "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be," Fine Young Cannibals
FYC's sixth and final Top 50 here was this contemplative soul song that employs the then-ubiquitous "Funky Drummer" sample. Another fine Roland Gift vocal.
41 - "The Way to Your Heart," Soulsister
This Belgian duo had their biggest international success with this Motown-styled love plea. A nice little footnote to be reminded of.
40 - "Rockin' In the Free World," Neil Young (CanCon!)
The 80s were a time of experimentation and commercial struggle for Mr. Young. It was a time when he was sued by his then-record label for not making albums that sounded like him. But he ended the decade on a high note with this blistering rocker about staying positive in a troubled world. Like Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.," it has been misinterpreted as a jingoistic fist-pumper for mindless patriotism, but the lyrics lament the hopelessness of a junkie mother and take multiple stabs at Bush 41. It deservedly took a place among his standards.
34 - "Crossroads," Tracy Chapman
After her debut album went multi-platinum and spawned the smash "Fast Car," folkie Chapman returned with this defiant number that rails at the "demons" that would have her compromise her art for continued commercial success. Perhaps inevitably, it bombed in the U.S., and while it did a little better her, it spelled the end of her as a player on pop radio until her surprise 1996 hit "Give Me One Reason."
32 - "Sold Me Down the River," The Alarm
From Rhyl, Wales, this band were consistent charters in Britain, but their peak I North America was the late 80s when they dented the charts with both 1987's "Rain in the Summertime," and this gritty rocker about romantic betrayal. Maybe not their best, but swampy goodness all the same.
27 - °What'cha Do to My Body," Lee Aaron (CanCon!)
Born Karen Greening in Belleville, Ontario, Aaron carved out a career as Canada's metal queen (she even named an album Metal Queen) which peaked with her biggest hit, an exuberant hard rock sex jam. She had the attitude to pull off the rock chick thing, but she also had a versatile enough voice that she was able to credibly perform jazz and even opera later in her career. One of our lesser-known musical treasures.
17 - "Hey Men," Men Without Hats (CanCon!)
Though this didn't crack America like previous hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes the World," these Montrealers managed one more Top Ten at home with this rock number admonishing males for their mistreatment of women. They get the message across without preachiness, and it's a message that still resonates, particularly in this cultural moment.
16 - "Rockland Wonderland," Kim Mitchell (CanCon!)
The cottage rocker scored another hit with this midtempo tune about out the positive communal experience of being at a rock concert. The song isn't quite as powerful as the sentiment it describes, but it's okay.
14 - "Giving Away a Miracle," Luba (CanCon!)
Our second encounter with Ms. Kowalchyk of Montreal comes in the form of this folk rocker about an angelic figure who can change lives with music. Kind of a grandiose and potentially sappy topic, but her passionate vocal sells it remarkably. Anthemic and wonderful, and it deservedly became her only non-cover to crack the Top Ten.
Keepin' it Top Ten.
10 - "We Didn’t Start the Fire," Billy Joel
Billy J had a U.S, #1 and a #2 here with this rock laundry list of stuff that had been in the news from his birth year of 1949 until the then-present. If you're a kid trying to use it as a history cheat sheet, be warned that while there's a lot of events mentioned that happened up until the end of 1963 ("JFK! Blown away!"), he then ran out of room and he squeezed the other 26 years into one verse. Yes, more happened in the 70s than just Watergate and punk rock. It seemed like a neat gimmick at the time, but it has not aged well.
9 - "The Best," Tina Turner
Tina's finished off her great 80s with a CanadIan and British Top Five in the form of this song of praise that was first recorded by Bonnie Tyler. Tina's version is okay, but it's been blunted by its repeated use in athlete retirement ceremonies. If you're making a playlist of cliches, you need to add this.
8 - "Another Day in Paradise," Phil Collins
Big Phil narrowly missed a Triple Crown with this maudlin three minutes PSA reminding us that homeless people exist, and that sucks. His heart was in the right place, but the result isn't very affecting.
7 - "Cover Girl," New Kids on the Block
The Kids tried to rock on this song about a girl they like better than the ones they see in magazines and such. They didn’t quite get there, but at the time that didn't matter. It was product for an audience that needed little encouragement to buy.
6 - "No Souvenirs," Melissa Etheridge
More proof that Canada was an early Etheridge adopter, as this torrid tune about a clean break with a lover that isn't quite as clean as it seems. She was really fantastic at depicting desperation and lust in those early years.
5 - "Angelia," Richard Marx
The Marxman was deep into boring balladeer territory with this blah about wanting a lady back. Don't mean nothing to me. He should've known better.
4 - "Miss You Much," Janet Jackson
Miss Jackson cemented her superstardom with the first single from her Rhythm Nation 1814 album, another blazing blast of Jam/Lewis goodness. No Janet, that wasn't the end.
3 - "When I See You Smile," Bad English
During that time when Journey was broken up, guitarist Neal Schoen and keyboardist Jonathan Cain teamed up with Cain's fellow former Baby John Waite and scored a cross-border #1 with a Diane Warren power ballad. Better perhaps than those parts would seem to add up to, but still a hit with a shelf life.
2 - "Sowing the Seeds of Love," Tears for Fears
The sad and scared ones picked up their third and last charttopper here with a song reminiscent of Sgt. Pepper-era Beatles. The lyrics mostly criticize "politician granny" Margaret Thatcher, but they throw in a line indicating their preference in Paul Weller band's ("Kick out the Style, bring back the Jam.") Their last great moment.
And on top way back when was...
1 - "Listen to Your Heart," Roxette
The Swedes were denied a Triple Crown because they never got to the top in the U.K., but this power ballad inspired by the romantic travails of a friend of Per Gessle was the first of three Can-Am Number Ones. It was intended to be almost a parody of power ballads, but I guess they imitated them too well for it to be a joke.
There's another one. And it's been over seven years since I started this, so why stop now. See you again.
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