Cry - I Can't Get Close (1980), Leave Your Bones In The Hall (1981), Guilty Fingers (1982) + singles

We posted the first album by the Stampeders' skinny tie rock spin off The Cry a few years back, when we were too cool for school and thought it would be funny to never post anything - or mention - the Stampeders. So to make up for that past transgression, here's the rest of the Cry's major discography, including a promo EP with their pretty good cover of the Kinks' "I'm Not Like Everybody Else," their second and third LPs, and a handful of singles. Oh, and we've got that second album of theirs on tape!

Something happened between the band's second and third albums - drummer Chas Mitchell exited, which left Kimball Meyer doing double duty as vocalist and drummer. And their sound became progressively less new wave-y. 

Get 'em here!

Qwest - Tampico Gold (1980), Harder All The Time (1980)

We'd previously posted the second tape from local AOR rockers Qwest, so here's their first (on vinyl and cassette!). The band photo on the LP insert definitely presents mixed messages - new wave outfits with cowboy boots?! Well, this is Calgary, after all. This album sounds like the band is chasing the elusive magic that peers like Loverboy honed in on - guitar rock with a new wave tinge and the right amount of bravado. Maybe what kept Qwest from hitting those heights was a keyboard player and tight leather pants.

Get it here.

451° - 451° (1980), I've Got The Power (1980), Don't Walk (1980)

It's time for more Dan Lowe content! We've gone through Lowe's history previously - 451° came out of his prior project, Hammersmith. Their one LP spawned 4 singles, one of which we already posted, and two others (the boogie rock-based "I Got The Power" and "Don't Walk" - which bas a great B side, the April Wine-ish "Fastest Guns In Town"). Like all of Lowe's output, these are well-written guitar rockers which shine with Lowe's production.

Most importantly, we managed to snag this album on tape!

Get it here!

Richard Harrow - Amateur Night (1979)

We've posted a bunch of things recorded BY Richard Harrow over the years, but only a few things BY Richard Harrow. This 1979 LP was put out on Harrow's own Living Room Records imprint shortly after his time with local legends The Original Caste - one of the tracks on here, the excellent "9 Out Of 10" was almost a late single by that band, from what we understand. Harrow's skill as a songwriter across genres is on full display on here - so we were curious to see what the Herald's in house reviewer at the time, Brian Brennan, had to say about this:

Well, we're going to argue with Brennan on two points here: those guitar solos are super tasty and needed to be included; and, Harrow's voice is just fine. 

Get it here!
 

Cheryl Gerula - Come Home

The only background we could find on Cheryl Gerula is also on the back cover of this LP - she was a teacher at Bishop Grandin High School in the late 1970's. The songs on here are Christian folk tunes that Gerula wrote (with a couple of exceptions) - Ernest Klumpp didn't tend to include year of release on his records, but we think this is circa 1977. 

Get it here.

Terry Kushner - One Step (1978)

Doug Wong was pretty busy in 1978 - this is the second of a few artists he was representing who released records that year. We've already posted the singles that Terry Kushner put out, so it's time for her full-length. This is less easy listening that the Linda Curtis LP we just posted, but it definitely hits disco territory on several tracks. Heck, there are even steel drums on one track. This one's really fun and worth a spin.

Get it here.

Linda Curtis - Something Good (1978)

If you were to ask us what it sounded like to step into a Calgary lounge in 1978, we'd play you this record. Really, we NEVER set foot in a lounge in that year so we have no idea what it actually sounded like... but we'd still stick with our answer. This Doug Wong-produced LP is a slick and fun affair that sits between easy listening and danceable pop (with a couple of  tracks hitting disco territory). 

Get it here.

Rick Worrall - Night Madness (1978), Just A Child (1983), Lindsay's Song (1982), Shut'er Down (1983)

We've previously featured a singe from Rick Worrall, along with the tape he put out with his brother Steve - and we covered most of his story at that time (got signed to Attic Records, got disillusioned with the music biz and came back to Calgary to self-release an LP and a handful of singles). So, to go along with the story, here are the albums (both major label and self-released) and a pair of singles from Rick Worrall's Manque label.

Get them here.