Priceless

Lisa Price is a Canadian rock vocalist whose commanding voice and brief but memorable recording career in the early 1980s left a lasting impression on the melodic rock scene. Born in Chatham, New Brunswick, she was raised in a military family, spending her formative years across Canada and Europe — from Moncton Garrison and Cold Lake to postings in Germany and France. By the late 1960s, the family returned to Canada, settling in Quebec as her father concluded his Air Force service.

Price emerged on the Toronto music scene in the early 1980s, fronting several local bands before striking out as a solo artist. In 1982, she began work on her debut with producer Paul Gross, whose credits included work with Rush, Triumph, and Saga. What followed was the six-song EP Priceless, released in 1983 on the indie label Mirus Music.

The sessions brought together an all-star cast of Canadian rock talent: guitarists Bernie LaBarge (Zwol, Kim Mitchell), Derry Grehan (future Honeymoon Suite), and John Albani (Wrabit, Lee Aaron); bassist Ron Garant (Dalbello); keyboardists Gerald O'Brien (Wrabit, Surrender) and Grant Slater (Zappacosta); and Gary McCracken (Max Webster) on drums. Backing vocals were provided by seasoned session singers Colina Phillips, Shawne Jackson, and Sharon Lee Williams, all Manta Sound studio regulars.

Priceless showcased Price’s dynamic range and fierce presence, blending the era’s polished AOR sound with driving guitar work and soaring choruses. Tracks like “Can’t Hold On Forever” and “Everywhere I Go” (both written by LaBarge), alongside Grehan’s “No One’s Business” and “Heartache,” exemplified her ability to balance grit and melody. The EP also included a cover of Nils Lofgren’s “Empty Heart,” further cementing her rock credentials.

Despite critical praise, the record struggled to find major label support and didn’t chart beyond Toronto. Still, it gained a cult following — particularly in Germany, where it was regarded as a prized import among melodic rock collectors.

In 2013, the German reissue label YesterRock brought Priceless back into circulation, introducing Lisa Price’s music to a new generation and reinforcing her place in the canon of Canadian rock obscurities. While Priceless remains her only known recording, its legacy endures as a time capsule of early ’80s female-fronted rock — bold, polished, and defiantly underrated.
-Robert Williston

Lisa Price: vocals
Bernie LaBarge: guitar
Derry Grehan: guitar, backup vocals
John Albani: guitar
Ron Garant: bass
Gary McCracken: drums
Gerald O'Brien: drums
Colina Phillips: backing vocals
Sharon Williams: backing vocals
Shaun Jackson: backing vocals

Produced by Paul Gross