Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Red Rider - Breaking Curfew

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of Breaking Curfew, the fourth studio album from the Canadian rock band Red Rider. It spent eight weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 137.


The band's line up was Tom Cochrane (lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards), Ken Greer (guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), Rob Baker (drums), Jeff Jones (bass and backing vocals) and John Webster (keyboards). Also playing on the record were Steve Sexton (keyboards) and Earle Seymour (saxophone), with backing vocals by Rough Maids.

Side one opens with "Whipping Boy", the declarative statement that a man won't take the abuse any longer.

"Young Things, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)", the first single, went to number 71 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 44 in Canada, and number 13 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. When listening to this album on Spotify, I was trying to recall if I had heard this track before. I probably should have but I don't remember it now, thirty years later.

"One Way Out" is up next.

The mid-tempo "Among the Ruins (I'll Be There)" was the B-side to the first single.

The rebellious title track closes the first half. "Breaking Curfew", the second single, stalled at number 93 in Canada.

Side two starts with the wailing guitar chords of "Someone's Watching", followed then by a hypnotic drum beat.

The pace picks up slightly with the flirtatious "Shake Monster".

The band's next destination is "Beacon Hill", a neighborhood located in the north-east section of Ottawa, Canada. The song reflects upon the dreams of the past.

The mid-tempo rocker "Hold Tight" closes out the record.

Red Rider's Breaking Curfew might be one of those records that I think I would need to listen to a few times before I completely warmed up to it.

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