Big Blue Sky
Encyclopedia
Big Blue Sky is the first major label album by The Northern Pikes
released in 1987. It featured two hit Canadian singles - "Teenland" and "Things I Do for Money". The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
on December 24, 1987.
The songs "Love Will Break You" and "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" were added to the album when it was released on CD in 1990. "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" was the b-side to the "Teenland" single in 1987. "Love Will Break You" originally appeared on The Northern Pikes, the band's original independent release in 1984 and it was the b-side to the "Things I Do for Money" single. Additionally, the song "Dancing in a Dance Club" originally appeared on the band's 1984 independent release The Northern Pikes, while the songs "Lonely House", "You Sold the Farm", "Jackie T", and "Teenland" all appeared on the band's 1985 independent release Scene in North America.
, Merl Bryck, Don Schmid, and Robin Billinton.
Additional Recording:
Digital Mixing:
Mastering by Bob Ludwig
at Masterdisk
, New York
The Northern Pikes
The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock band formed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members were Bryan Potvin, Jay Semko, Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead. Hollingshead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Don Schmid in 1986...
released in 1987. It featured two hit Canadian singles - "Teenland" and "Things I Do for Money". The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
on December 24, 1987.
The songs "Love Will Break You" and "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" were added to the album when it was released on CD in 1990. "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" was the b-side to the "Teenland" single in 1987. "Love Will Break You" originally appeared on The Northern Pikes, the band's original independent release in 1984 and it was the b-side to the "Things I Do for Money" single. Additionally, the song "Dancing in a Dance Club" originally appeared on the band's 1984 independent release The Northern Pikes, while the songs "Lonely House", "You Sold the Farm", "Jackie T", and "Teenland" all appeared on the band's 1985 independent release Scene in North America.
Dedication
The album is dedicated to the memory of Neil Morgan who played guitar, synth, and vocals for The Idols, an early incarnation of the band which also included Jay SemkoJay Semko
Jay Semko is a singer/songwriter and bassist with Canadian band, The Northern Pikes. He is also a music composer for numerous film and television productions, most notably the successful Canadian television series Due South...
, Merl Bryck, Don Schmid, and Robin Billinton.
Track listing
- "Teenland" (Jay SemkoJay SemkoJay Semko is a singer/songwriter and bassist with Canadian band, The Northern Pikes. He is also a music composer for numerous film and television productions, most notably the successful Canadian television series Due South...
) – 4:19 - "You Sold the Farm" (Semko, Merl Bryck, Bryan PotvinBryan PotvinBryan Potvin is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist, who is a band member of The Northern Pikes. With fellow band member Jay Semko, he co-wrote the theme for the television series Due South....
) – 3:18 - "Things I Do for Money" (Semko) – 4:21
- "Just Another Guy" (Semko) – 4:47
- "Dancing in a Dance Club" (Semko) – 4:01
- "Jackie T" (Semko, Potvin) – 4:08
- "Lonely House" (Semko) – 3:04
- "Love and Muscle" (Semko, Bryck) – 3:38
- "Never Again" (Semko) – 3:53
- "Love Will Break You" (Semko) – 3:43
- "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" (Semko) – 9:08
- "Big Blue Sky"
Personnel
- Jay SemkoJay SemkoJay Semko is a singer/songwriter and bassist with Canadian band, The Northern Pikes. He is also a music composer for numerous film and television productions, most notably the successful Canadian television series Due South...
– bass guitar, vocals, piano - Merl Bryck – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Don Schmid – drums, percussion
- Bryan PotvinBryan PotvinBryan Potvin is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist, who is a band member of The Northern Pikes. With fellow band member Jay Semko, he co-wrote the theme for the television series Due South....
– lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Additional personnel
- Barry Keane – percussion
- Wendy Davis – background vocals
- Rebecca Jenkins – backing vocals
- Rick Hutt – keyboards
Production
- Rick Hutt – producer
- Fraser Hill – producer, engineer
- Assisted by Dave Runstedler
Additional Recording:
- Sounds Interchange, Toronto
- Grant Avenue, Hamilton
- Hypnotic Sound, Toronto
Digital Mixing:
- McClear Place Studios, Toronto
- Assisted by Lou Solakofski, Martin Lee, Paul Shubat
Mastering by Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig
Bob Ludwig is an American mastering engineer.He is a well known and respected figure within the music industry. His name is credited on the covers of albums released across the world, and he has won numerous awards....
at Masterdisk
Masterdisk
Masterdisk is an audio mastering and multimedia company in New York City, located on West 45th Street in Manhattan. They provide production services such as audio mastering, vinyl cutting and enhanced CD and DVD production....
, New York