Con-Test (FM album)
Encyclopedia
Con-Test is the fifth album by FM
, a progressive rock
band from Toronto
, Canada
, released in 1985.
proposed a future double bill tour with FM, as the two artists seemed to share a common audience. FM's best known previous album was Black Noise which he made with them in 1977. But they had not yet found a replacement for Ben Mink
who had replaced Nash in 1977, and then left the group in 1983. Nash resolved the problem by rejoining the band, although work on a new album, even in its demo phase, did not begin until May 1984. Con-Test has the same band line-up as Black Noise.
FM's former record company, Passport Records, ceased operations in 1984. Nash had been signed to Quality Records
as a solo artist in 1983, and was about to release his solo album American Band-ages, which the proposed double bill tour was to promote. He was able to use his association with Quality to get FM signed to the label as well.
The double bill concept was retained, with Nash playing a solo set as the opening act for most FM concerts from 1983 to 1989.
Former group member Ben Mink also appears on the album.
surrounding then-Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
, however these incidents did not occur until years later.)
Despite the absence of pictorial graphics, the cover art was credited to painter Robert Vanderhorst who has frequently collaborated with Nash the Slash on multi-media presentations from 1978 to the 2000s.
MCA Records
picked up the reissue rights for Con-Test, as well as Nash's American Band-ages in 1986, but the abrupt change in record labels led to a near-absence of promotion for both records.
Duke Street Records
would release FM's next album, Tonight on vinyl and CD. This was FM's first CD release. The CD edition included five bonus tracks taken from Con-Test (tracks 1 to 4, and 6). This acquisition of the rights to Con-Test led to a CD edition of the full album on Duke Street in 1987, but Duke Street did not reissue it on vinyl.
, Nash the Slash
, except where noted. All songs arranged by FM and Michael Waite.
The latter record was also issued as a 12-inch single on MCA 23634 with alternate versions:
in 2001, recorded at Cut-throat Studios in May 1984. Cut-throat is Nash's own record company and studio. These include a cover version of "It's My Life
", a song by The Animals
from 1965, that did not make it to the album.
In the liner notes, Nash the Slash heavily criticizes the production of the Con-Test versions, preferring the demos. He states that he reluctantly took over the lead vocals from Hawkins on "Friends and Neighbours" between the demo and Con-Test versions, at the insistence of the producer (Waite), and charactarizes the LP version of this song as "bastardized".
FM (Canadian band)
FM is a progressive rock band from Toronto, Canada which existed from 1976 to 1996, with a brief return in 2006, although they had a period of inactivity between 1989 and 1994. Their music has been categorized as space rock, and lyrics are dominated by science fiction themes...
, a progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, released in 1985.
Reformation of classic line-up
In 1983, former group member Nash the SlashNash the Slash
Nash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
proposed a future double bill tour with FM, as the two artists seemed to share a common audience. FM's best known previous album was Black Noise which he made with them in 1977. But they had not yet found a replacement for Ben Mink
Ben Mink
Ben Mink is a Canadian songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.Born of Polish parents, Mink was raised in Toronto Ontario. He got his start performing with the rock/country group Mary-Lou Horner, which became the house band at bar and nightclub....
who had replaced Nash in 1977, and then left the group in 1983. Nash resolved the problem by rejoining the band, although work on a new album, even in its demo phase, did not begin until May 1984. Con-Test has the same band line-up as Black Noise.
FM's former record company, Passport Records, ceased operations in 1984. Nash had been signed to Quality Records
Quality Records
Quality Records is a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels, and also released recordings by Canadian artists...
as a solo artist in 1983, and was about to release his solo album American Band-ages, which the proposed double bill tour was to promote. He was able to use his association with Quality to get FM signed to the label as well.
The double bill concept was retained, with Nash playing a solo set as the opening act for most FM concerts from 1983 to 1989.
Former group member Ben Mink also appears on the album.
Title and cover concept
The album was titled Con-Test after the group ran a contest to come up with something that "FM" might stand for, and its cover art featured fine print listing several hundred submissions including Fluent Monkeys, Flunk Math, Fashion Magazine, Free Money, Forgiven Mistake, Facing Mecca, False Mammaries, and so on. (One intriguing entry is "Framed Mulroney" which would appear to reference the scandalsAirbus affair
The Airbus affair refers to allegations of secret commissions paid to members of the Government of Canada during the term of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, in exchange for then-crown corporation Air Canada's purchase of a large number of Airbus jets...
surrounding then-Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
, however these incidents did not occur until years later.)
Despite the absence of pictorial graphics, the cover art was credited to painter Robert Vanderhorst who has frequently collaborated with Nash the Slash on multi-media presentations from 1978 to the 2000s.
Release history
The album was initially available on Quality Records in 1985 (catalogue number SV-2138), but the label ceased operations in 1986, after more than 35 years of business. They had been Canada's biggest domestic label in the 1950s and 1960s.MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
picked up the reissue rights for Con-Test, as well as Nash's American Band-ages in 1986, but the abrupt change in record labels led to a near-absence of promotion for both records.
Duke Street Records
Duke Street Records
Duke Street Records was a Canadian independent record label. The label was established in 1984 by Andrew Hermant and ceased operations in 1994. The Universal Music Group took over the label when it disappeared....
would release FM's next album, Tonight on vinyl and CD. This was FM's first CD release. The CD edition included five bonus tracks taken from Con-Test (tracks 1 to 4, and 6). This acquisition of the rights to Con-Test led to a CD edition of the full album on Duke Street in 1987, but Duke Street did not reissue it on vinyl.
Track listing
All songs composed by Cameron Hawkins, Martin DellerMartin Deller
Martin Deller is a Canadian musician from Toronto. He is best known for his work with FM.- External links :*...
, Nash the Slash
Nash the Slash
Nash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
, except where noted. All songs arranged by FM and Michael Waite.
Side one
- "Just Like You" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash, Waite) – 4:05
- "We Hold On" – 4:35
- "All of the Dreams" – 4:05
- "Until the Night is Over" – 3:50
- "The Only Way to Win" – 3:46
Side two
- "Why Don't You Take It" – 4:10
- "Distant Early Warning" – 4:08
- "Friends and Neighbours" – 4:33
- "Stop!" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash, Waite) – 5:00
Personnel
- Nash the SlashNash the SlashNash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
– lead and background vocals, electric mandolin, electric violin, harmonica - Cameron Hawkins – lead and background vocals, synthesizers, bass guitar
- Martin DellerMartin DellerMartin Deller is a Canadian musician from Toronto. He is best known for his work with FM.- External links :*...
– drums, electronic percussion
Guests
- Ben MinkBen MinkBen Mink is a Canadian songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.Born of Polish parents, Mink was raised in Toronto Ontario. He got his start performing with the rock/country group Mary-Lou Horner, which became the house band at bar and nightclub....
– electric guitars - Rob Yale – Fairlight C.M.I.
- Glen Johansen and David Moses – background vocals on "Distant Early Warning"
Technical credits
- Produced by Michael Waite for Eye to Ear Productions
- Bed tracks recorded at Manta Sound, engineered by John Naslin assisted by Ron Searls and Mark Baldi
- Overdubs recorded at Metal Works, engineered by Glen Johansen assisted by Noel Golden
- Mixed at Manta Sound, engineered by John Naslin assisted by Mark Baldi and Mike Duncan
- Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- Robert Vanderhorst – cover art
Singles
- "Just Like You" – 1985 (Canadian chart #38)
- "All of the Dreams" – 1986 (Canadian chart #86)
- "Why Don't You Take It" / "Just Like You" – MCA 52840, 1986 (issued with cover, Canadian chart #90)
The latter record was also issued as a 12-inch single on MCA 23634 with alternate versions:
- "Why Don't You Take It (Flight Mix)" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash) – total 6:27
- "Intro (Taxi)" – 0:50
- "The Tune (Take Off)" – 5:37
- "Just Like You (Fun Mix)" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash, Waite) – 7:06
Demo recordings
Demo versions of four songs for Con-Test appeared on FM's Lost in Space CD on Cut-throat RecordsCut-throat Records
Cut-throat Records is a record label created and run by Canadian musician Nash the Slash. It has been active from 1978 to the present...
in 2001, recorded at Cut-throat Studios in May 1984. Cut-throat is Nash's own record company and studio. These include a cover version of "It's My Life
It's My Life (The Animals song)
"It's My Life" is a song written by Brill Building songwriters Roger Atkins and Carl D'Errico. The song was originally performed by British rock band the Animals, who released it as a single in October 1965 and was one of three songs that the Animals recorded by Brill Building songwriters.The song...
", a song by The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
from 1965, that did not make it to the album.
In the liner notes, Nash the Slash heavily criticizes the production of the Con-Test versions, preferring the demos. He states that he reluctantly took over the lead vocals from Hawkins on "Friends and Neighbours" between the demo and Con-Test versions, at the insistence of the producer (Waite), and charactarizes the LP version of this song as "bastardized".
- "The Only Way to Win" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash) – 3:05
- "Friends and Neighbours" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash) – 4:03
- "It's My Life" (Roger Atkins, Carl D'Errico) – 3:20
- "Why Don't You Take It" (Hawkins, Deller, Slash) – 4:42