Canadian based band Toronto (obviously!) are playing a radio-friendly brand of edgy hard rock. They placed themselves at the start of the ‘soon to take-off’ new wave scene throughout North America,
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Toronto
ALBUM: Lookin For Trouble
LABEL: A&M (USA), Solid Gold (Canada)
SERIAL: SP 4821, SGR-1000
YEAR: 1980
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Canada
LINEUP: Holly Woods – vocals * Brian Allen – guitars * Sheron Alton – guitars * Scott Kreyer – keyboards * Nick Costello – bass * Jimmy Fox – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Even The Score * 02 You Better Run * 03 5035 * 04 Get Your Hands Off Me * 05 Do Watcha Be Watcha * 06 Tie Me Down * 07 Don’t Stop Me * 08 Lookin For Trouble * 09 Delirious * 10 Shot Down * 11 Lets Spend The Night Together
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Canadian based band Toronto (obviously!) are playing a radio-friendly brand of edgy hard rock. They placed themselves at the start of the ‘soon to take-off’ new wave scene throughout North America, and though Toronto were slightly heavier, their sound has that new wave occasional flavour, in much the same way as the debut Honeymoon Suite album did.
For a majority of the band members, their roots actually trace back to their U.S neighbours across the border. Woods originally from North Carolina, Kreyer from New York, while the rhythm section of Fox and Costello were from Rochester NY, though had spent many years playing in different bands.
Costello himself coming off a minor stint with Led Zep clones Centaurus featuring the talents of singer Louis Merlino (Beggars And Thieves) and guitarist Nick Paine.
Toronto’s beginnings center around guitarist Brian Allen, better known for his time in the band Rose. When that band spilt, he set about putting a new combo together, bringing in members from the local area.
This included Holly Woods, who had sung with many local bands, plus appearing on Rose‘s last album ‘Judgement Day’ – hence the connection to Allen. Another connection to Allen was second guitarist Sheron Alton, later to become Mrs Brian Allen.
The band were then observed by Solid Gold Management (ie: Chilliwack, Headpins) and they duly signed them up in 1979, for which this debut album ‘Lookin’ For Trouble’ was the net result, distributed around the world via A&M Records.
The Songs
Good crisp hard rock ideal for FM radio was the order of the day with this platter. Standout tracks include the opener ‘Even The Score’ and the title track ‘Lookin’ For Trouble’. ‘5035’ is a bit of a pop classic for the band, while the cover of The Rascals ‘You Better Run’ is great, though the Pat Benatar version released around the same time is better.
‘Delirious’ is a powerful fun-filled romp as is the contagious ‘Tie Me Down’. Elsewhere ‘Don’t Stop Me’ and ‘Shot Down’ are worth a listen. This LP version is slightly different to the rebadged Solid Gold release, which also contains a different cover, track listing, and two extra tracks.
In Summary
The band went on to release a brace of albums such as: ‘Head On’, ‘Get It On Credit’, ‘Girls Night Out’ and ‘Assault And Flattery’. Nearly all of them went platinum in Canada, though they had little success elsewhere outside of their homeland.
Some of their albums were re-released on the defunct Long Island Records label, so you should spot them occasionally on the Internet somewhere. A good band worthy of having their back catalogue revisited.
Toronto on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
