Information/Write-up
Originally formed in London, Ontario in 1977, the band consisted of vocalist Keith Whittaker, guitarist Rob Brent, bassist Iain Atkinson-Staines and drummer J.D. Weatherstone. They soon began playing live gigs at the Cedar Lounge in London and local punk fans jammed the club on a weekly basis to see them. Two of those fans were Angus MacKay and Andy Crosbie who were students at Fanshawe College where they were enrolled in the recording arts course MIA (Music Industry Arts). They decided to approach the band to see if they would like to record in a local studio owned by a friend of theirs.
Five songs were recorded by engineer Kevin Doyle at South West studios in London, Ontario and the Talk's Cheap EP was released in the fall of 1978. This created the birth of Ready Records and the record was eventually distributed by Quality Records in Toronto.
The first single, "New York City" became the band's breakthrough hit on CFNY "the spirit of radio" in 1979 thanks to program director David Marsden.
Brent left the band and was replaced by Steve Koch. The band released a self-titled full-length album in 1980, but subsequently broke up due to internal tensions. In 1996, "New York City" was named the greatest Canadian single of all time in a reader poll published by the music magazine Chart.
Keith Whittaker: vocals
Steve Koch: guitar
Tom Treumuth: keyboards
Iain Atkinson-Staines: bass
Jim Weatherstone: drums
Steve Kennedy: saxophone
Produced by Gary Furniss and Tom Treumuth
Engineered by Jim Frank and Mike McCarty (on "The News")
Recorded and mixed at Nimbus 9
Mastered by George Graves at The Lacquer Channel Limited
Photos by Monicat
Art direction by Bart
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