Metal Sludge Gossip Board

This guy was huge in Canada and had very few hits in the USA. Why didn't he catch on like Bryan Adams?
https://youtu.be/WXY9wANQIsY?si=IFUX29e711sGA7i_

I am a big fan of Red Rider.

Ugh . I think I’ve been forced to hear Lunatic Fringe ,Life is A Highway and Big League every day since they came out. Im sure they are good songs the first couple times. The millionth time….not so much.

I'm not sure he was ever that big in Canada. Sure he had a bunch of radio hits, but no one was really a huge fan. I don't remember him ever headlining a big tour. When Life is a Highway hit, he should have been headlining arenas in Canada, but when he came through he played at a huge hall. 2K max. It sold out, but not right away.

I'd say he was a little less popular than Kim Mitchell, Mitchell had a couple of big Arena tours that were fun. They are both relegated to the Fair Circuit now, and both probably would draw that same.

Comparing him to Adams in any way is absurd

daveg wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:02 pm Comparing him to Adams in any way is absurd

I mean, that's kind of his question. Why wasn't he as big as Bryan Adams?

I had no idea his first solo album was back in 1974:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwes6c3xSc4

aznsquirt wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:58 pm

daveg wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:02 pm Comparing him to Adams in any way is absurd

I mean, that's kind of his question. Why wasn't he as big as Bryan Adams?

I had no idea his first solo album was back in 1974:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwes6c3xSc4

Thought it was a cover of Ricki Don't Lose That Number there for a minute

I like "Lunatic Fringe" and "Life Is a Highway" quite a bit, but every time I think of the latter I'm now forced to inevitably think of the Cars soundtrack with Rascal Flatts' godawful version, which I should probably like, as often as I vacation at WDW, but I don't.

I don't think he was close to being another Bryan Adams, but I still dig him. He played a baseball park in Winnipeg a few years ago and was quite good, playing a three hour show.

Tons of great songs between Tom solo and Red Rider like:

The Untouchable One
Lunatic Fringe
I Wish You Well
Friendly Advice
Sinking Like a Sunset
White Hot
Human Race
No Regrets
Victory Day

Great music to find there if you care to listen.

Best thing he did was writing "Not So Far Away" for Glen Burtnik on the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure soundtrack

Best thing he did was writing "Not So Far Away" for Glen Burtnik on the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure soundtrack

WolfgangVonPage wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 5:12 pm I am a big fan of Red Rider.

Yeah, I like Red Rider waaay more than Tom solo. With solid albums like Neruda they were more art-rock. Tom solo is more like a Canadian John Cougar Mellencamp and way less interesting.

Dyslexicheart wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 11:43 pm

WolfgangVonPage wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 5:12 pm I am a big fan of Red Rider.

Yeah, I like Red Rider waaay more than Tom solo. With solid albums like Neruda they were more art-rock. Tom solo is more like a Canadian John Cougar Mellencamp and way less interesting.

I agree. Neruda is a great album. The Mellencamp comparison is on the money.

Actually, my favorite thing about Red Rider and some of Tom's solo stuff is his guitarist, Ken Greer. Killer slide player.

I think he wasn’t as big as Bryan Adams in Canada, because we already had one. He had a few decent songs ,but none of the stage presence or personality. Adams puts on a killer show.

I got "As Far as Siam" for Christmas or Birthday & played the fcuk out of it. Subsequently, I got "Neruda" & loved it the same. Other than LIAH, haven't really listened to anything by him since, will revisit.

The New Monkees covered one of his songs. I like Marty's version. https://youtu.be/APA-qwxKCT0?si=M0bfgGQWsOWa-rjG

tooth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 9:00 am I got "As Far as Siam" for Christmas or Birthday & played the fcuk out of it. Subsequently, I got "Neruda" & loved it the same. Other than LIAH, haven't really listened to anything by him since, will revisit.

Neruda is a really, really good album.