Red Rider -

Red Rider was a Canadian hard-rock band from Toronto that released seven albums on Capitol between 1980 and 1989, scoring a huge international hit with “Lunatic Fringe” from their 1981 release As Far as Siam. The final three albums give featured billing to frontman and once-and-future solo artist Tom Cochrane.

Members: Tom Cochrane (vocals, guitar), Ken Greer (guitar), Jeff Jones (bass, 1976-86), Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (bass, 1986-90), Peter Boynton (keyboards, 1976-83), Steve Sexton (keyboards, 1983-84), John Webster (keyboards, 1984-86), Rob Baker (drums, 1976-86), Mickey Curry (drums, 1986-90)

Background

Keyboardist Peter Boynton, guitarist-keyboardist Ken Greer, and drummer Rob Baker formed Red Rider in Toronto in 1975 with guitarist Arvo Lepp and bassist Jon Checkowski. The quintet played original material and cover songs on the Toronto circuit while management sought a recording agreement.

Thomas William Cochrane was born May 14, 1953, in Lynn Lake, Manitoba. His family later settled in Etobicoke, Ontario, and Cochrane entered the Toronto club network as a singer-guitarist. Daffodil Records issued his 1974 solo album Hang On to Your Resistance. He followed with the score for My Pleasure Is My Business, a 1975 parody on the life of Dutch madame Xaviera Hollander, whose memoir inspired the concurrent Cannon Films comedy The Happy Hooker starring Lynn Redgrave.

In 1978, Capitol Records proposed Cochrane as a new frontman through the group’s management. Boynton, Greer, and Baker rehearsed with him around a London, Ontario, booking; Lepp and Checkowski then left the group. Former Ocean bassist Jeff Jones completed the revised quintet, which signed with Capitol and entered sessions for a debut album.

Don’t Fight It

Red Rider released their debut album, Don’t Fight It, in October 1979 on Capitol.

Cochrane wrote five selections and shared three more with Greer or Boynton. The keyboardist supplied “Good News” and “Talkin’ to Myself,” sang those titles, and took the lead on the jointly credited “Look Out Again.”

Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne, percussionist Bobbye Hall, and saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft made track-specific appearances. “White Hot” glides in on Boynton’s lilting piano figure.

A1. “Don’t Fight It” (4:25) – Cochrane
A2. “How’s My Little Girl Tonight” (4:05) – Cochrane
A3. “Iron in the Soul” (3:00) – Cochrane
A4. “Make Myself Complete” (3:40) – Cochrane
A5. “Good News” (3:59) – Boynton

B1. “White Hot” (5:07) – Cochrane, Greer
B2. “Talkin’ to Myself” (3:39) – Boynton
B3. “Just the Way It Goes” (3:46) – Cochrane, Greer
B4. “Look Out Again” (3:47) – Boynton, Cochrane
B5. “Avenue ‘A’” (3:23) – Cochrane

Sessions took place at Sunset Sound and Clover Recorders in Hollywood, with further work at Eastern Sound and Manta Sound in Toronto. American producer-engineer Michael James Jackson supervised the album. Engineers Jim Isaacson and Clover chief engineer Toby Scott led the technical team; Scott moved from these sessions to the mix of Bruce Springsteen’s The River.

Don’t Fight It appeared in a Dave Elliot art-directed sleeve with artwork by Carl Wiesen and J. Zugec and photography by Toronto photographer Denise Grant. The front presents a red convertible suspended above a night skyline, with the title set against the upper-left sky. Grant also photographed Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance for 1979 promotional material.

Capitol issued “White Hot” in 1979 (b/w “Avenue ‘A’”); the single reached No. 20 in Canada and No. 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. “Don’t Fight It” followed in 1980 (b/w “Look Out Again”) and reached No. 75 on the Canadian singles chart. The label also paired “Avenue ‘A’” with “Good News” for a further Canadian single.

Billboard ranked the album at No. 146 on the Billboard 200, and Canada later granted platinum certification. Capitol’s 1994 compact-disc edition restored “Talkin’ to Myself,” which the label omitted from the reordered United States LP; Lemon Records issued a 2010 remaster for the British market.

As Far as Siam

Red Rider released their second album, As Far as Siam, in June 1981 on Capitol.

Siam contains six Cochrane originals and three co-writes with assorted bandmates, including the group-written “Thru the Curtain.” Musical guests include guitarist George Doering, arranger Charlie Calello, and keyboardists Peter Wolf and Jai Winding.

“Lunatic Fringe” looms from a dark electronic opening into biting guitar-keyboard exchanges, tightens around a guitar solo, then circles back through city sirens to its opening figure.

A1. “Lunatic Fringe” (4:23) – Cochrane
A2. “Cowboys in Hong Kong (As Far as Siam)” (4:08) – Baker, Cochrane, Greer
A3. “Only Game in Town” (3:21) – Cochrane
A4. “Thru the Curtain” (3:19)
A5. “What Have You Got to Do (To Get Off Tonight)” (3:21) – Cochrane

B1. “Ships” (4:37) – Cochrane
B2. “Caught in the Middle” (4:25) – Cochrane
B3. “Don’t Let Go of Me” (3:55) – Cochrane
B4. “Laughing Man” (3:38) – Cochrane, Jones

Richard Landis produced the Los Angeles sessions at Sunset Sound, with Joe Chiccarelli as principal recording and mix engineer. Michael James Jackson produced two Toronto cuts completed through Location Recording Service and Eastern Sound. Landis and Chiccarelli also worked together on Juice Newton’s Juice in the same year.

As Far as Siam appeared in artwork by Canadian designer Bart Schoales, who developed the sleeve concept with photographer Craig Tandy. Rear photographs came from Tandy and Ian Campbell. Schoales also oversaw visuals for the 1981 Bruce Cockburn release Inner City Front.

Capitol issued “What Have You Got to Do (To Get Off Tonight)” in 1981 (b/w “Thru the Curtain”); the single reached No. 42 in Canada. The label then paired “Lunatic Fringe” with “Cowboys in Hong Kong,” followed by “Only Game in Town” in January 1982 with the same B-side. “Lunatic Fringe” reached No. 11 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

The album reached No. 65 on the Billboard 200 album chart and received Canadian platinum certification.

Neruda

Red Rider released their third album, Neruda, in January 1983 on Capitol.

Steve Sexton replaced Boynton on keyboards and synthesizers. Cochrane wrote all ten selections, with Greer, Jones, Baker, and Sexton retaining the instrumental lineup established around the new keyboard post.

“Light in the Tunnel” glides through sustained electric lines and floating keyboards. “Human Race” enters from that buildup on a heartbeat-like figure and sparse electric line. “Power (Strength in Numbers)” bears down on firm chords beneath terse electronic figures. “Can’t Turn Back” coils through two avant-noise synthesizer passages. “Walking the Fine Line” toggles between guitar and electronic figures at opening bars. “Sights on You” eases from a short piano figure into broad dramatic sections.

A1. “Light in the Tunnel” (2:25)
A2. “Power (Strength in Numbers)” (3:53)
A3. “Human Race” (2:55)
A4. “Can’t Turn Back” (3:50)
A5. “Napoleon Sheds His Skin” (5:40)

B1. “Walking the Fine Line” (4:40)
B2. “Winner Take All” (3:55)
B3. “Sights on You” (3:27)
B4. “Crack the Sky (Breakaway)” (3:53)
B5. “Work Out” (3:22)

Sessions took place at Metalworks in Mississauga. British producer-engineer David Tickle produced and mixed eight tracks, while American engineer Ed Thacker supervised “Walking the Fine Line” and “Winner Take All.” Tickle entered the project after with credits on the 1980/81 Split Enz albums True Colours and Waiata.

Neruda appeared in a Hugh Syme sleeve with photography by Toronto photographer Deborah Samuel. Syme and Samuel also supplied the design and photography for the 1982 Rush album Signals. The Red Rider cover sets a red-and-black anatomical figure inside a ruled white field.

Capitol issued “Napoleon Sheds His Skin” in 1983 (b/w “Winner Take All”), followed by “Human Race” (b/w “Sights on You”) and “Can’t Turn Back” in May (b/w “Work Out”). “Human Race” reached No. 29 in Canada and No. 11 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart.

The album reached No. 11 in Canada and No. 66 on the Billboard 200 album chart, followed by Canadian platinum certification.

Breaking Curfew

Red Rider released their fourth album, Breaking Curfew, in September 1984 on Capitol.

John Webster replaced Sexton as the group’s keyboardist, although Sexton supplied additional keyboards on selected tracks. Cochrane wrote eight selections alone and shared “One Way Out” with Greer and Danny Goldenberg. Saxophonist Earle Seymour and the Rough Maids supplied auxiliary parts.

“Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)” rolls through repeated “move me” and “rock me” calls. “Breaking Curfew” races through recurring “stand tall” returns.

A1. “Whipping Boy” (3:12) – Cochrane
A2. “Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)” (3:32) – Cochrane
A3. “One Way Out” (3:53) – Cochrane, Greer, Goldenberg
A4. “Among the Ruins (I’ll Be Here)” (4:34) – Cochrane
A5. “Breaking Curfew” (3:43) – Cochrane

B1. “Someone’s Watching” (4:00) – Cochrane
B2. “Shake Monster” (4:45) – Cochrane
B3. “Beacon Hill” (4:51) – Cochrane
B4. “Hold Tight” (4:38) – Cochrane

Sessions spanned November 1983 through February 1984 at Metalworks and E.S.P. in the Toronto area and Startling Studios in England. David Tickle produced, engineered, and mixed the main body of the album, while Cochrane and Greer handled selected cuts. British studio engineer Dee Long and American producer-engineer Scott Litt joined the technical team; Litt entered the project after production work with the dB’s and Chris Stamey.

Breaking Curfew appeared in a Norman Moore-designed sleeve with photography by Beverly Parker. Moore framed a monochrome group portrait with red bands and diagrammatic linework. Parker’s recent album photography included Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind.

Capitol issued “Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)” in 1984 (b/w “Among the Ruins (I’ll Be Here)”); the single reached No. 44 in Canada, No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 13 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. The title track followed in September (b/w “Neruda”) and reached No. 93 on the Canadian singles chart.

Billboard ranked the album at No. 137 on the Billboard 200.

Lineup and Billing Change

Management conflict followed Breaking Curfew. Jones and Baker left the group, while Cochrane, Greer, and Webster retained the Capitol contract. Former Streetheart bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve joined the revised lineup, and the group adopted the billing Tom Cochrane & Red Rider. Drummer Randall Coryell and guitarist Peter Mueller later completed the touring unit.

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider

Tom Cochrane & Red Rider released their self-titled fifth studio album in May 1986 on Capitol.

Cochrane, Greer, and Webster recorded with Sinnaeve and British session drummer Graham Broad. Drummer Jorn Anderson underpins two Toronto cuts, while bassist Paul Martinez, saxophonist John Johnson, and several backing singers add select parts. Cochrane wrote seven songs alone and shared three titles with Greer.

“Boy Inside the Man” glides through recurring age markers across its measured course. “Love Under Fire” courses through repeated “under fire tonight” calls. “Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue)” settles through a C-minor progression beneath repeated “ocean blue” phrases. “One More Time (Some Old Habits)” lingers through repeated closing returns.

A1. “Boy Inside the Man” (5:17) – Cochrane
A2. “Love Under Fire” (4:48) – Cochrane, Greer
A3. “The Untouchable One” (4:31) – Cochrane
A4. “Lasting Song” (4:55) – Cochrane
A5. “Citizen Cain” (3:32) – Cochrane

B1. “Ashes to Diamonds” (4:39) – Cochrane
B2. “The Loading” (3:36) – Cochrane, Greer
B3. “Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue)” (4:39) – Cochrane
B4. “River of Stone” (3:55) – Cochrane
B5. “One More Time (Some Old Habits)” (4:26) – Cochrane, Greer

Sessions occurred primarily at Rockfield Studios in Wales with producer-engineer Patrick Moran, a prior soundman on The Principle of Moments, the 1983 second solo album by Robert Plant.

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider appeared in a Bruce Wrighte layout with cover photography by Toronto rock photographer Dimo Safari and backside imagery by Neruda photographer Samuel. Safari also supplied the cover portrait for the 1985 Rush album Power Windows.

Capitol issued “Boy Inside the Man” in 1986 (b/w “Lasting Song”); the single reached No. 25 in Canada and No. 17 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. “The Untouchable One” followed in October (b/w “The Loading”), then “One More Time (Some Old Habits)” in January 1987 (b/w “Ashes to Diamonds”) and “Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue)” in April.

Billboard ranked the album at No. 116 on the Billboard 200, and Canada granted platinum certification. EMI issued a 2004 remaster through the Canadian catalogue.

Victory Day

Tom Cochrane & Red Rider released their sixth studio album, Victory Day, in September 1988 on Capitol.

Cochrane, Greer, Webster, and Sinnaeve formed the core recording unit with Coryell and Mueller. Drummers Mickey Curry and Denny Fongheiser also played on selected tracks. Cochrane wrote eight songs alone, Greer supplied the instrumental “Saved by the Dawn,” and Cochrane, Greer, and Webster shared “Vacation (In My Mind).”

“Big League” sweeps through long narrative stanzas and repeated “never can tell” returns. “Victory Day” drives through recurring “no loud display” passages. “Good Times” eases into a stripped-down arrangement. “Calling America” drives through recurring “here we go again” passages.

A1. “Big League” (4:38) – Cochrane
A2. “Victory Day” (4:25) – Cochrane
A3. “Sons Beat Down” (4:28) – Cochrane
A4. “Different Drummer” (3:37) – Cochrane
A5. “Good Times” (4:00) – Cochrane

B1. “Saved by the Dawn” (2:46) – Greer
B2. “Calling America” (4:15) – Cochrane
B3. “Vacation (In My Mind)” (4:27) – Cochrane, Greer, Webster
B4. “Good Man (Feeling Bad)” (4:06) – Cochrane
B5. “Not So Far Away” (4:16) – Cochrane

Sessions took place at American Studios in Woodland Hills, Summa in Hollywood, Enterprise in Burbank, Mushroom in Vancouver, and Phase One in Toronto. American producer-engineer Don Gehman produced the album after his work on John Mellencamp’s The Lonesome Jubilee. Brian Foraker and Canadian engineer Mike Fraser divided the engineering; Fraser came from the Aerosmith sessions for Permanent Vacation.

Art directors Ria Lewerke and Pietro Alfieri designed the Victory Day package. Toronto photographer Allison Wardman shot the cover, while Andrew MacNaughtan supplied inner-sleeve images; Wardman’s contemporary Canadian credits included Chalk Circle’s The Great Lake.

Capitol issued “Big League” in September 1988 (b/w “Vacation (In My Mind)”); the single reached No. 4 in Canada and No. 9 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. “Good Times” followed in February 1989 (b/w “Saved by the Dawn”) and reached No. 2 in Canada. The label issued “Victory Day” in April (b/w “Not So Far Away”), then “Different Drummer” in July (b/w “Sons Beat Down”).

Billboard ranked the album at No. 144 on the Billboard 200, followed by double-platinum certification in Canada.

The Symphony Sessions

Tom Cochrane & Red Rider released the live album The Symphony Sessions in December 1989 on Capitol.

The group performed with a 56-piece Edmonton Symphony Orchestra under arranger-conductor George Blondheim. Six orchestra members returned from Procol Harum’s 1971 concert with the ensemble. The original LP contained ten tracks; cassette and compact-disc editions added live versions of “Big League,” “Calling America,” and “Good Times.”

A1. “Light in the Tunnel” (2:28) – Cochrane
A2. “Human Race” (3:48) – Cochrane
A3. “Can’t Turn Back” (10:22) – Cochrane
A4. “Napoleon Sheds His Skin” (6:19) – Cochrane
A5. “White Hot” (6:18) – Cochrane, Greer

B1. “Avenue ‘A’” (3:57) – Cochrane
B2. “Bird on a Wire” (3:21) – Cohen
B3. “Boy Inside the Man” (9:49) – Cochrane
B4. “Lunatic Fringe” (5:01) – Cochrane
B5. “The Next Life” (3:41) – Cochrane

The concerts took place March 17–18, 1989, at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton. Cochrane and Greer produced the live set, while Westwood One remote engineer Biff Dawes captured the performances. New York engineer Steve Rinkoff mixed the tapes at Metalworks and produced the studio recording “The Next Life” in sequence with the Eric Clapton album Journeyman.

Canadian designer and sculptor Bryan Stewart designed and modeled packaging for The Symphony Sessions. Photographer Raymond Johnson supplied the cover images and also contributed portrait work to Stompin’ Tom Connors releases.

Capitol issued an edited live version of “White Hot” in December 1989 (b/w “Big League”); the single reached No. 50 in Canada. The album reached No. 25 on the Canadian albums chart and received platinum certification.

Later Activity

Red Rider ended their first run in early 1990 after the orchestral release. Cochrane began a full-time solo career with Webster and Sinnaeve among his supporting musicians, while Greer moved into production and session work. The 2002 benefit for former guitar technician John Garrish reunited Cochrane, Greer, and Jones under the Red Rider name after his death in Toronto. Red Rider continued concert activity with drummer Davide Direnzo and guitarist Bill Bell.

Discography: