Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

Not to my knowledge.

 

We had a discussion on this topic in late 2020, starting here:
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

After about fifteen years of searching, I have still not been able to track down a copy of this book. In fact, I have never even seen a picture of it.

 

By late 1983, heavy metal bands such as Def Leppard and Quiet Riot were finally making inroads on top 40 radio, a format that had been pretty much resistant to the genre up to that point. Canadian band Helix got in an the action with "Heavy Metal Love" from their 1983 major label debut, No Rest For The Wicked. Although the single failed to crack the RPM Top 50, it did receive extensive airplay on rock radio as well as some top 40 airplay in a few markets.

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"Heavy Metal Love" reached #23 on Billboard's rock chart. The only rock chart RPM ever published was an 'alternative' chart, which it did not introduce until June of 1995.

 

245 THE CURLY SHUFFLE
THE KNUCKLEHEADS
Highest Ranking For 5 Weeks:
1984-01-14 (#33) 1984-01-21 (#30)
1984-01-28 (#29) 1984-02-04 (#31)
1984-02-11 (#33)
Attic AT302​

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Well, they can’t all be winners. I couldn’t find much information about this one. “The Curly Shuffle” was a tribute to the Three Stooges that was written by singer Peter Quinn whose band Jump N’ The Saddle Band originally recorded the song in 1983. Initially released independently, the single was picked up by Atlantic in November 1983 and became a surprise hit in the U.S. in early 1984 (#15 Billboard). Just as the single was breaking, a competing version by The Knuckleheads was released in Canada on Attic. This would become the hit version in Canada

Produced by Jack Richardson, “The Curly Shuffle” b/w “Positive Attitude” debuted on the RPM Top 50 on December 17 at #49. By January 14, it was the highest charting Canadian single on the countdown and would remain so for the first five chart weeks of 1984. During its reign, “The Curly Shuffle” peaked at #29. The single proved to be more successful on the AC chart where it peaked at #10 during an 11-week chart run.

 

The original by Jump N' The Saddle

 

Now I know where the odd version I heard came from. It just screams cover version. Then it was a game of getting the cover out before Atlantic established Canadian distribution(possibly their issue was US only). I probably heard this on CKLW.

I gave it a shot. IMO inferior. Well recorded but the lead singer is all over the map trying to be a character. Horns are fine. Pickwick quality.

 

One last entry before we leave 1983. On December 31, newcomers Boys Brigade entered the countdown with "Melody"at #50. This was the second single from the band's self-titled debut which was produced by Rush bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee. It peaked at #40 for the weeks of February 18 and February 25.

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I made a slight error regarding "The Curly Shuffle" It was the highest-ranking single for four weeks, not five.

 

246 READY TO MAKE UP
TORONTO
Highest Ranking For 2 Weeks:
1984-02-11 (#33) 1984-02-18 (#33)
Solid Gold SGS-743




Original Single Version

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The last time Toronto had the highest-ranking Canadian single was in the Summer of 1982 with “Your Daddy Don’t Know” which would go on to be the band’s signature song. Following the success of the single as well as the parent album, Get It On Credit, the band went into the studio to record the follow-up album. Just as recording was about to commence, bassist Gary Lalonde quit the band to join the then-unknown Honeymoon Suite. He was replaced by Mike Gingrich.

Girls Night Out was released in the Summer of 1983 spawning three hit singles; “Girls Night Out”(#14), “All I Need”( #38), and the album’s final single, “Ready To Make Up” (#33) which was released in November 1983.

“Ready To Make Up” b/w “Standing In”mixed elements of rock and new wave with strains of Motown and 60s girls groups. It entered the RPM Top 50 at #46 on December 24, 1983. The single occupied the lower rungs of the Top 40 for the next nine weeks peaking at #33 on February 11. This marked the beginning of a two-week run as the highest-ranking Canadian single in the country. The single and original album pressings feature an appearance by session saxophonist Phil Kenzie that was replaced by a keyboard solo on subsequent pressings. “Ready To Make Up” would be the final single feature guitarists Barry Allen and Sharon Alton who left the band in 1984.

 

"Ready to Make Up" I don't know if I've never heard this song before or heard it 200 times. Pretty meh. (I didn't recognize the title, but I definitely know it). The drums are so lame.
I didn't recognize "Melody" by the title, but it is also a bit familiar. Not bad.

 

Melody by Boys Brigade got a decent amount of airplay on CFNY. Unfortunately it didn't do much for me.

 

I didn't mind it. It's a well-constructed pop/new wave single. I recall hearing their other single called "Passion of Love" roughly around that timeframe as well.

 

YouTuber 'Canadian Cult Classics' has uploaded one of the missing singles, the remake of The Staccatos' "Let's Run Away" by The Magic Cycle (#55 on the main chart and #7 CanCon on June 3, 1967).

Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

 

Unless I somehow managed to overlook them, there are three 1983 CanCon charters that have not yet been mentioned.

"Tornado", credited to Teenage Heads (after their new label, MCA Records, forced them to pluralize their name), reached #39 on July 2, 1983.

 

"Love In The Shadows" by Dan Hill peaked at #45 on October 8, 1983.

 

And finally, "Twenty Questions" by Tictoc reached #27 on October 29, 1983.






The song appeared on the Toronto band's only album, Where The Picnic Was.

 

CANCON songs that peaked on the main RPM chart in 1983.


"Start Again" - Surrender (#38 on Jan 22)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Subdivisions" - Rush (#36 on Jan 29)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Crimes Of Passion" - Rough Trade (#18 on Feb 12)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Smiling In Winter" - Spoons (#30 on Feb 19)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"When I'm With You" - Sheriff (#8 on Mar 19)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Everytime I See Your Picture" - Luba (#23 on Mar 26)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Danseparc (Every Day It's Tomorrow)" - Martha and The Muffins (#31 on Apr 9)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Cuts Like A Knife" - Bryan Adams (#12 on Apr 16)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Who Knows How To Make Love Stay" - Doug & The Slugs (#25 on Apr 23)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Human Race" - Red Rider (#29 on Apr 30)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Sheriff" - The Tenants (#34 on Apr 30)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"The Safety Dance" - Men Without Hats (#11 on May 14)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Sign Of The Times" - Mens Room (#9 on June 18)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Straight From The Heart" - Bryan Adams (#20 on June 25)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Making It Work" - Doug & The Slugs (#29 on June 25)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Tornado" - Teenage Heads (#39 on July 2)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Hot Girls In Love" - Loverboy (#9 on July 23)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Worlds Away" - Strange Advance (#46 on Aug 6)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Girls Night Out" - Toronto (#14 on Aug 20)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Video Kids" - Prototype (#21 on Sep 10)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"OK Blue Jays" - The Bat Boys (#47 on Sep 10)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Celebration" - Headpins (#39 on Sep 17)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"This Time" - Bryan Adams (#32 on Sep 24)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Never Said I Loved You" - Payolas with Carole Pope (#8 on Oct 1)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Love In The Shadows" - Dan Hill (#45 on Oct 8)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Rise Up" - The Parachute Club (#9 on Oct 22)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Twenty Questions" - Tictoc (#27 on Oct 29)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Queen Of The Broken Hearts" - Loverboy (#28 on Nov 5)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"All I Need" - Toronto (#38 on Nov 12)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Don't Stop" - Chilliwack (#46 on Dec 10)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

"Old Emotions" - Spoons (#28 on Dec 24)
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

 

Three CanCon songs reached #1 on RPM's country chart in 1983.

"Honky Tonkin' (All Night Long)" by Dallas Harms reached the summit of the country chart on January 29, 1983.



The song was lifted from the unfortunately titled album, Out Of Harms Way.

Dallas Harms hailed from Hamilton, Ontario, which is not exactly known for its country music.

 

On June 4, 1983, Emmylou Harris moved into the #1 spot on RPM's country chart with her live cover of Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On". It reached #5 on Billboard's country chart.






There was much Canadian about the single. In addition to being written by Hank Snow, the recording was produced by Brian Ahern, to whom Emmylou was married at the time (making Ahern the second luckiest guy on earth, after Eddie Van Halen). And the single's B-side, "Maybe Tonight", was a Shirley Eikhard song.

In 1950, the Hank Snow original spent 21 weeks at #1 on Billboard's country best sellers chart.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHDrphJ2Yco

 

On December 10, 1983, "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray spent its sole week at #1 on RPM's country chart. It had spent the previous week at #1 on Billboard's country chart. The song reached #74 on the Billboard Hot 100, won the 'Country Female Vocal Grammy' and the Country Music Association 'Single Of The Year' award but did not make the fifty position main RPM chart.



I am not actually sure that "A Little Good News" was officially CanCon, as only the 'A' is filled in on the MAPL wheel.

 

Three CanCon songs reached #1 on RPM's adult contemporary chart in 1983.

The first was "Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye" by Anne Murray, which reigned for one week on February 5, 1983.



There is no MAPL wheel on the label, so it may not have been officially CanCon.

 

The second CanCon song to top the RPM adult contemporary chart in 1983 was "Straight From The Heart" by Bryan Adams (July 30).
Every RPM Canadian Content #1 single discussion thread 1964-2000

 

The final CanCon song to top the RPM adult contemporary chart that year (on August 13) was "Hold Me 'Til The Mornin' Comes" by Paul Anka, co-written by Anka and David Foster. It reached #2 on Billboard's AC chart and #40 on the Hot 100, making it another rare example of a CanCon song that was a Top 40 hit in the US without making the main 50-position RPM chart. I'm pretty sure I hear Peter Cetera in the background.

 

Into the Flow was a better tune, also a CFNY staple.