Jim Vallance
Encyclopedia
James Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC
(born May 31, 1952 in Chilliwack
, British Columbia
, Canada
) is a retired Canadian
musician
, songwriter
, arranger
and producer
based out of Vancouver
, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams
. He began his professional career as the original drummer
and principal songwriter for the Canadian rock
group Prism
under the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs." In addition to Adams, Vallance has written songs for many famous international artists such as Bonnie Raitt
, Aerosmith
, Carly Simon
, Rod Stewart
, Roger Daltrey
, Tina Turner
, Alice Cooper
, Ozzy Osbourne
, KISS
, Scorpions
, Anne Murray
and Joe Cocker
. His most recognizable songs are "Spaceship Superstar" (Prism), "Cuts Like a Knife
" (Bryan Adams), "Heaven
" (Bryan Adams), "Summer of '69
" (Bryan Adams), "Now and Forever (You and Me)" (Anne Murray) and "Edge of a Dream" (Joe Cocker.) He also co-wrote "Tears Are Not Enough
" for Northern Lights for Africa, an ensemble of Canadian recording artists in support of the 1985 African famine relief. He has won the Canadian music industry Juno award
for Composer of the Year
four times (a record.) Vallance is a Member of the Order of Canada. He retired from the music industry in 2006.
Ironically, Vallance lives in almost total anonymity outside the music industry. The role of a pure songwriter is low profile to the music buying public. Many do not recognize his name despite having many of his songs in their collections. Only true music enthusiasts who read the album credits recognize his name. Even at that, most know little about him without researching his background as he does few interviews. Even in his home country, most Canadians do not recognize his name despite Vallance winning the music industry Juno award for Songwriter of the Year 4 times.
Vallance is also deeply involved with the music industry member associations. Performing Rights Organization of Canada Limited (PROCAN), Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), FACTOR and Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC).
where he studied piano
under Frances Marr Adaskin. After completing first year he dropped out to join a Vancouver jazz band. He re-entered the program again in 1973 but dropped out after 6 weeks to travel Europe with a friend.
who would later became an influential Canadian record producer. In 1975, Fairbairn approached Vallance about making a demo of some of the band's music in hopes of landing a recording contract. Initially the music was not Vallance's but after several rehearsals Fairbairn asked Vallance to contribute some of his songs. One of them, "Open Soul Surgery" caught the ear of a record company executive at GRT who handed Fairbairn's group a recording contract. Using various musicians from Sunshyne and another Vancouver band, Seeds of Time, Fairbairn recorded and produced a nine song album, seven of which were written by Vallance. The band was renamed Prism and Vallance decided to use the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs" rather than his real name in the album credits. He was afraid that if the album failed, he would never get another recording contract for his own songs. The debut Prism album was a success as it hit platinum status in Canada (sales in excess of 100,000.) But Vallance decided for several reasons to leave the Prism lineup before the next album. First, he did not enjoy the lifestyle of touring with the constant travel. What he did enjoy was songwriting and arranging and preferred to work out of his makeshift home studio. Finally, he had a falling out with guitarist and band leader Lindsay Mitchell over songwriting. Although Vallance left the band's lineup, he did help his former band mates by contributing one song for each of the subsequent two albums.
. Adams decided to leave the band for a solo career but at 18, he was still inexperienced in the music business. In search of assistance, an informal meeting was arranged between Vallance and Adams at a local record store. Vallance and Adams had known about each other through the local music scene although they had never been introduced. At the meeting, both admitted they liked the idea of a songwriting partnership and agreed to forge one. The arrangement was twofold. In the long term, the songs would be primarily used as material for Adams' solo career while, in the short term, they would serve as a source of income by licensing songs to other artists.
The early going was quite difficult. Adams' solo demo recordings were rejected by numerous record companies. Persistence paid off as Adams-Vallance was signed as songwriting team by A&M late in 1978. The songwriting tandem was unknown and as such most artists were not interested in considering their songs. Vallance then landed a contract to write and arrange BTO's next album Rock n' Roll Nights
through his association with talent manager Bruce Allen
. The role of producer was added midway through recordings when the band fired the first producer. In all 5 songs were contributed: Vallance wrote two, "Jamaica" and "Rock 'n Roll Hell", co-wrote 2 other songs with BTO members while Adams contributed "Wastin' Time". In 1979, Prism was back in the studio to record their third album, Armageddon
and needed help with songwriting. Since the departure of Vallance (Rodney Higgs), the current lineup was unable to fill the songwriting void adequately. Vallance brought his new protege, Adams, along to help. Adams wrote or co-wrote 3 songs for the album and played guitar on one track. "Take It Or Leave It" was credited as "B. Adams/R. Higgs" since Vallance wanted to identify with his Prism fans by using his pseudonym. Vallance then produced franco-Ontarian band CANO's Rendezvous that summer. Vallance then landed another contract through Bruce Fairbairn to write songs for Ian Lloyd in 1980 and again in 1982. In total, 6 Adams-Vallance compositions were used by Lloyd and another 4 were collaborations between Vallance and Lloyd's band. In between, Vallance took a job as the drummer for Tom Jones' TV show produced out of Vancouver. He also worked as a session and club musician. In 1982, Vallance and Adams received a call from producer Michael James Jackson inquiring about contributing songs for the next Kiss album. Although Vallance and Adams were not heavy metal fans, it was a golden opportunity for exposure for their songs by a world class rock act. With outside collaboration from Gene Simmons, "War Machine" and a re-written "Rock 'n Roll Hell" were recorded for Kiss' Creatures of the Night
release that year. Later, Bonnie Raitt
who heard a demo of their song "No Way To Treat A Lady" decided to record it. Between 1980 and 1982, Adams recorded and released his first two solo albums, self-titled Bryan Adams
and You Want It You Got It
. Vallance doubled as co-producer on the first. Although neither album was a big success, Adams' extensive touring helped him garner a lot of recognition as an artist. The Adams-Vallance songwriting team was starting to gain momentum.
was Adams' breakthrough album. Released in 1983, it established him as a legitimate North American music star (the album did not chart in Europe.) It also established the Adams-Vallance songwriting team in the music industry as other artists started to consider their songs seriously. The album spun 3 singles: "Straight from the Heart
", "Cuts Like a Knife
" and "This Time
". "I'm Ready", "The Only One" and "Take Me Back" also received airplay. Ironically, "Straight from the Heart" was the highest charting of the three and is not a Vallance composition. It was written by Adams with the title donated by his friend Eric Kagna (credited as Adams-Kagna.) The others were Adams-Vallance compositions. The album Cuts Like a Knife was certified three times platinum in Canada and certified one times platinum in the US. At the Canadian Juno music awards, "Cuts Like a Knife" and "Straight from the Heart" were nominated for a for Single of the Year, while "Cuts Like a Knife" won the Composer of the Year award for Adams-Vallance.
The Adams-Vallance team wrote songs for artists such as Paul Dean
, Kiss
, Bonnie Raitt
and many others. After sharing Juno Awards as composer of the year with Adams in 1984 and 1985, Vallance won two awards alone in 1986 and 1987. He was co-recipient with Adams of PRO Canada's William Harold Moon Award for international achievement in 1985.
. David Foster
had been contacted by Quincy Jones
, producer of the USA for Africa
ensemble, asking him if he could the same by Canadian artists. The American artists had just recorded theirs and were interested in including one by the Canadian artists on the album. Foster accepted and immediately approached Vallance who he knew was working out of the same studio at that time. Although Foster and Vallance knew each other through the music industry, they had never collaborated on a song before this. Foster arrived at Vallance's home the next day and the two worked on the music in Vallance's home studio. Foster had to leave that evening to return to the studio and left the lyrics to Vallance. Rachel Paiement, Vallance's wife, wrote the French lyrics as she is franco-Ontarian and a songwriter in her own right. Bryan Adams returned from touring the following day to help complete the lyrics. The title was taken from an unrelated, unrecorded song by Bob Rock and Paul Hyde of the Canadian band The Payola$ who Foster was producing at the time. The songwriting is credited to Foster, Vallance, Adams, Paiement, Rock & Hyde. The recording with the grand ensemble of Canadian artists took place on February 10, 1985 at Manta Studios in Toronto, Ontario. Vallance played the drums on the recording. Vallance was also credited with executive produced for recording Bruce Cockburn's part in a studio in Hamburg, Germany.
, was critically acclaimed and sold well but compared to "Reckless" it was a considered a failure by management which was counting on higher revenues from Adams' releases. Meanwhile, Vallance had just become a father and his lifestyle had changed considerably. He could no longer afford to spend long days and weeks in confinement working on songs with Adams. Also, Adams complained that Vallance was giving away too much creative effort writing songs with other artists. Adams insisted that Vallance put his outside songwriting on hold for a year to focus on Adams' next album. Vallance complied with Adams' request despite his objections. After several failed attempts to write and record what Adams felt was suitable material, the team fell into heated, repeated arguments. In September 1989, Vallance informed Adams that he no longer wanted to work with him and the Adams-Vallance partnership ended. The split was acrimonious as for several years Adams and Vallance did not speak except through the media. Around the mid-90s they put aside their differences and became friends with the understanding their songwriting partnership was over. In 2003, Adams approached Vallance inquiring if he would like to co-write a few songs for his next album. Vallance agreed and 3 songs on Adams' album 11
are credited with Vallance as co-writer.
hard rock
band Aerosmith
. The results were often very successful as proven by Vallance's numerous awards.
Vallance never wrote songs for his clients, rather, he worked with the artist in co-writing songs.
. Initially hired to help with arrangements, the band was so impressed with Vallance that they asked him to produce their debut album. Vallance co-wrote such hits as "Someday" and "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
", which won the Canadian music industry Juno award for 1986 Single of the Year.
Following Glass Tiger's second album, Vallance declined offers to produce future albums. He cited the long hours and tedious work as reasons. He had more enjoyment in just the songwriting and arranging.
went below the radar in sales and airplay. Worse, bandmembers alcohol and drug habits were causing problems. Geffen Records would only fund their next recording provided all the bandmembers complete drug and alcohol rehab which they did. After listening to the demos, the record company did not believe there was any material that would get them airplay. A second condition was then placed on them and that was to have outside songwriters used to improve the songs. Desmond Child
and Jim Vallance were the "song doctors" hired. Initially, band members were not warm to the idea.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Vallance helped write numerous songs for the band, including the hit singles "Rag Doll
" (1987), "Hangman Jury
" (1987), "The Other Side
" (1989), "Eat the Rich
" (1993), and "Deuces are Wild
" (1994), in addition to several other Aerosmith songs.
song as, "Bang the Drum
and "One World, One Flame
". He also serves as a board member of the Songwriters Association of Canada.
in the early 1980s. Paiement is a former member of the groups CANO
and Morgan
. She is an accomplished singer-songwriter in her own right. They have one child, a son, who is also a songwriter.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born May 31, 1952 in Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, 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...
) is a retired Canadian
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...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
based out of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
. He began his professional career as the original drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and principal songwriter for the Canadian rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Prism
Prism (band)
Prism is a Canadian rock band originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were active from 1977 to 1984 and are active again from 1988 to present. The band's sound is a mix of Album-Oriented Rock and pop rock. They have released a total of 13 albums to date...
under the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs." In addition to Adams, Vallance has written songs for many famous international artists such as Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
, Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
, Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
, Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Scorpions
Scorpions (band)
Scorpions are a heavy metal/hard rock band from Hannover, Germany, formed in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who is the band's only constant member. They are known for their 1980s rock anthem "Rock You Like a Hurricane" and many singles, such as "No One Like You", "Send Me an Angel", "Still...
, Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
and Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
. His most recognizable songs are "Spaceship Superstar" (Prism), "Cuts Like a Knife
Cuts Like a Knife (song)
-Personnel:*Bryan Adams – rhythm guitar, lead vocals*Keith Scott – lead guitar*Jim Wesley – drums*Tommy Mandel – keyboard*Dave Taylor – bass guitar-Chart positions:...
" (Bryan Adams), "Heaven
Heaven (Bryan Adams song)
"Heaven" is a power ballad written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance and performed by Bryan Adams. The song first appeared on the A Night in Heaven soundtrack album in 1983 and was later included on Adams' album Reckless in 1984...
" (Bryan Adams), "Summer of '69
Summer of '69
"Summer of '69" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Bryan Adams, from his fourth studio album, Reckless . The song was written by Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. "Summer of '69" was produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain. It was released in June 1985 under...
" (Bryan Adams), "Now and Forever (You and Me)" (Anne Murray) and "Edge of a Dream" (Joe Cocker.) He also co-wrote "Tears Are Not Enough
Tears Are Not Enough
"Tears Are Not Enough" is a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia...
" for Northern Lights for Africa, an ensemble of Canadian recording artists in support of the 1985 African famine relief. He has won the Canadian music industry Juno award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Composer of the Year
Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year
The Juno Award for "Songwriter of the Year" has been awarded since 1971, as recognition each year for the best songwriter in Canada. It was also known as the Juno Award for "Composer of the Year" from 1975 to 1990.-Best Songwriter :...
four times (a record.) Vallance is a Member of the Order of Canada. He retired from the music industry in 2006.
Profile
Jim Vallance is a pure songwriter. Although he has credits as a musician and record producer, they are actually few. His true love is simply songwriting. More than that, he enjoys writing songs with other artists. He is best known as Bryan Adams' songwriting partner from 1978 to 1989. Starting in 1985, Vallance began a consulting style songwriting service for other artists. He would work directly with the artist by assisting them in co-writing songs for their albums. His list of clients are the "Who's Who" of the recording industry and across many music genres: pop, poprock, rock, hard rock, heavy metal and country.Ironically, Vallance lives in almost total anonymity outside the music industry. The role of a pure songwriter is low profile to the music buying public. Many do not recognize his name despite having many of his songs in their collections. Only true music enthusiasts who read the album credits recognize his name. Even at that, most know little about him without researching his background as he does few interviews. Even in his home country, most Canadians do not recognize his name despite Vallance winning the music industry Juno award for Songwriter of the Year 4 times.
Vallance is also deeply involved with the music industry member associations. Performing Rights Organization of Canada Limited (PROCAN), Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), FACTOR and Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC).
Early life
Vallance was born in Chilliwack, BC on May 31, 1952. He grew up in Vanderhoof, BC, a small town 10 hours north of Vancouver. He took piano lessons starting at age 7. He then took up guitar and drums at 13. In 1965, he formed a band with some classmates called The Tremelones which was later renamed The Fourmost. At 18, he enrolled in the music program at the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
where he studied piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
under Frances Marr Adaskin. After completing first year he dropped out to join a Vancouver jazz band. He re-entered the program again in 1973 but dropped out after 6 weeks to travel Europe with a friend.
Prism (as Rodney Higgs)
Vallance joined Vancouver jazz-blues-rock band Sunshyne as a drummer in the early 70s. There he met band member Bruce FairbairnBruce Fairbairn
Bruce Earl Fairbairn was a Canadian musician and international record producer from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was active as a producer from 1976 to 1999 and is considered one of the best of his era...
who would later became an influential Canadian record producer. In 1975, Fairbairn approached Vallance about making a demo of some of the band's music in hopes of landing a recording contract. Initially the music was not Vallance's but after several rehearsals Fairbairn asked Vallance to contribute some of his songs. One of them, "Open Soul Surgery" caught the ear of a record company executive at GRT who handed Fairbairn's group a recording contract. Using various musicians from Sunshyne and another Vancouver band, Seeds of Time, Fairbairn recorded and produced a nine song album, seven of which were written by Vallance. The band was renamed Prism and Vallance decided to use the pseudonym "Rodney Higgs" rather than his real name in the album credits. He was afraid that if the album failed, he would never get another recording contract for his own songs. The debut Prism album was a success as it hit platinum status in Canada (sales in excess of 100,000.) But Vallance decided for several reasons to leave the Prism lineup before the next album. First, he did not enjoy the lifestyle of touring with the constant travel. What he did enjoy was songwriting and arranging and preferred to work out of his makeshift home studio. Finally, he had a falling out with guitarist and band leader Lindsay Mitchell over songwriting. Although Vallance left the band's lineup, he did help his former band mates by contributing one song for each of the subsequent two albums.
Early Years
Upon leaving the Prism lineup, Vallance worked as a session musician in and around Vancouver to earn a living while his ultimate objective was to be full time songwriter. He was in need of a performing artist as a vehicle to promote his songs. Meanwhile, a talented, brash young artist named Bryan Adams had just established himself on Vancouver music scene with a local band Sweeney ToddSweeney Todd (band)
Sweeney Todd is a Canadian glam rock band that formed in 1975.The band, formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, originally consisted of vocalist Nick Gilder, guitarist Jim McCulloch, bassist Budd Marr, keyboardist Dan Gaudin and drummer John Booth...
. Adams decided to leave the band for a solo career but at 18, he was still inexperienced in the music business. In search of assistance, an informal meeting was arranged between Vallance and Adams at a local record store. Vallance and Adams had known about each other through the local music scene although they had never been introduced. At the meeting, both admitted they liked the idea of a songwriting partnership and agreed to forge one. The arrangement was twofold. In the long term, the songs would be primarily used as material for Adams' solo career while, in the short term, they would serve as a source of income by licensing songs to other artists.
The early going was quite difficult. Adams' solo demo recordings were rejected by numerous record companies. Persistence paid off as Adams-Vallance was signed as songwriting team by A&M late in 1978. The songwriting tandem was unknown and as such most artists were not interested in considering their songs. Vallance then landed a contract to write and arrange BTO's next album Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights
Rock n' Roll Nights is a studio album by Canadian rock band BTO, released in 1979 . This album was one of three BTO albums that did not feature co-founder Randy Bachman. Rock n' Roll Nights is also one of the two albums from this band to feature Jim Clench, formerly of April Wine...
through his association with talent manager Bruce Allen
Bruce Allen (manager)
Bruce Allen is a Canadian music band manager who represents a number of popular Canadian musicians including Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bryan Adams and Michael Bublé...
. The role of producer was added midway through recordings when the band fired the first producer. In all 5 songs were contributed: Vallance wrote two, "Jamaica" and "Rock 'n Roll Hell", co-wrote 2 other songs with BTO members while Adams contributed "Wastin' Time". In 1979, Prism was back in the studio to record their third album, Armageddon
Armageddon (Prism album)
Armageddon is the third studio album and fourth album overall by Canadian rock band Prism. It was released in 1979 on Canadian record label GRT. It achieved double platinum status in Canada...
and needed help with songwriting. Since the departure of Vallance (Rodney Higgs), the current lineup was unable to fill the songwriting void adequately. Vallance brought his new protege, Adams, along to help. Adams wrote or co-wrote 3 songs for the album and played guitar on one track. "Take It Or Leave It" was credited as "B. Adams/R. Higgs" since Vallance wanted to identify with his Prism fans by using his pseudonym. Vallance then produced franco-Ontarian band CANO's Rendezvous that summer. Vallance then landed another contract through Bruce Fairbairn to write songs for Ian Lloyd in 1980 and again in 1982. In total, 6 Adams-Vallance compositions were used by Lloyd and another 4 were collaborations between Vallance and Lloyd's band. In between, Vallance took a job as the drummer for Tom Jones' TV show produced out of Vancouver. He also worked as a session and club musician. In 1982, Vallance and Adams received a call from producer Michael James Jackson inquiring about contributing songs for the next Kiss album. Although Vallance and Adams were not heavy metal fans, it was a golden opportunity for exposure for their songs by a world class rock act. With outside collaboration from Gene Simmons, "War Machine" and a re-written "Rock 'n Roll Hell" were recorded for Kiss' Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night
Creatures of the Night is the tenth studio album by Kiss. It is the band's last album for Casablanca Records, the only label the group had ever recorded for up to that point...
release that year. Later, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
who heard a demo of their song "No Way To Treat A Lady" decided to record it. Between 1980 and 1982, Adams recorded and released his first two solo albums, self-titled Bryan Adams
Bryan Adams (album)
- Songs covered by other artists :* The song "Wastin' Time" was originally written by Adams for Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and appeared on their 1979 album Rock n' Roll Nights....
and You Want It You Got It
You Want It You Got It
You Want It, You Got It is Bryan Adams's second solo album, and was released in 1981 . This was the album that established the sound that Adams has retained throughout his recording career. Unlike the debut album where Adams and Vallance played most of the instruments themselves, You Want It You...
. Vallance doubled as co-producer on the first. Although neither album was a big success, Adams' extensive touring helped him garner a lot of recognition as an artist. The Adams-Vallance songwriting team was starting to gain momentum.
Cuts Like a Knife & Breakthrough
Cuts Like a KnifeCuts Like a Knife
Cuts Like a Knife is the third studio album by the Canadian rock artist Bryan Adams. Released on 18 January 1983 through A&M Records, the album became a huge commercial success in Canada and the United States whereas outside North America, the album did poorly...
was Adams' breakthrough album. Released in 1983, it established him as a legitimate North American music star (the album did not chart in Europe.) It also established the Adams-Vallance songwriting team in the music industry as other artists started to consider their songs seriously. The album spun 3 singles: "Straight from the Heart
Straight from the Heart (song)
"Straight from the Heart" is a rock ballad, which was the first single from Bryan Adams' first hit album Cuts Like a Knife. The song was Adams' first song to reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching #10. It also peaked at #32 on the Adult Contemporary chart, the first Bryan Adams single...
", "Cuts Like a Knife
Cuts Like a Knife (song)
-Personnel:*Bryan Adams – rhythm guitar, lead vocals*Keith Scott – lead guitar*Jim Wesley – drums*Tommy Mandel – keyboard*Dave Taylor – bass guitar-Chart positions:...
" and "This Time
This Time (Bryan Adams song)
"This Time" is a hit song by Canadian rock star Bryan Adams, appearing as the third track on his 1983 album Cuts Like a Knife. The single was a top 30 hit in the US on Billboard Hot 100 and Mainstream Rock Tracks during the fall of 1983 and was Adams first single to reach the UK Singles Chart...
". "I'm Ready", "The Only One" and "Take Me Back" also received airplay. Ironically, "Straight from the Heart" was the highest charting of the three and is not a Vallance composition. It was written by Adams with the title donated by his friend Eric Kagna (credited as Adams-Kagna.) The others were Adams-Vallance compositions. The album Cuts Like a Knife was certified three times platinum in Canada and certified one times platinum in the US. At the Canadian Juno music awards, "Cuts Like a Knife" and "Straight from the Heart" were nominated for a for Single of the Year, while "Cuts Like a Knife" won the Composer of the Year award for Adams-Vallance.
Reckless & Rise to the Top
Just as Cuts Like a Knife made him a star, Reckless made Adams an international superstar. And it did the same for the Adams-Vallance songwriting team. By the end 1985 Reckless had spun off 6 singles and was selling millions of copies worldwide. Adams-Vallance was now considered one of the top songwriting acts in the music industry. No longer did they have to forward demos to artists hoping they would consider them as now their agents were contacting Adams-Vallance requesting their services.The Adams-Vallance team wrote songs for artists such as Paul Dean
Paul Dean (guitarist)
Paul Dean is the lead guitarist for the Canadian rock band Loverboy which reached huge fame in the early 1980s.-Biography:...
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
and many others. After sharing Juno Awards as composer of the year with Adams in 1984 and 1985, Vallance won two awards alone in 1986 and 1987. He was co-recipient with Adams of PRO Canada's William Harold Moon Award for international achievement in 1985.
Northern Lights for Africa
Vallance was involved in the Northern Lights for Africa famine relief cause in 1985 as co-writer and executive producer of the song, Tears Are Not EnoughTears Are Not Enough
"Tears Are Not Enough" is a 1985 charity single recorded by a supergroup of Canadian artists, under the name Northern Lights, to raise funds for relief of the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia...
. David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
had been contacted by Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, producer of the USA for Africa
USA for Africa
USA for Africa was the name under which forty-seven predominantly U.S. artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a US and UK Number One for the collective in April of that year...
ensemble, asking him if he could the same by Canadian artists. The American artists had just recorded theirs and were interested in including one by the Canadian artists on the album. Foster accepted and immediately approached Vallance who he knew was working out of the same studio at that time. Although Foster and Vallance knew each other through the music industry, they had never collaborated on a song before this. Foster arrived at Vallance's home the next day and the two worked on the music in Vallance's home studio. Foster had to leave that evening to return to the studio and left the lyrics to Vallance. Rachel Paiement, Vallance's wife, wrote the French lyrics as she is franco-Ontarian and a songwriter in her own right. Bryan Adams returned from touring the following day to help complete the lyrics. The title was taken from an unrelated, unrecorded song by Bob Rock and Paul Hyde of the Canadian band The Payola$ who Foster was producing at the time. The songwriting is credited to Foster, Vallance, Adams, Paiement, Rock & Hyde. The recording with the grand ensemble of Canadian artists took place on February 10, 1985 at Manta Studios in Toronto, Ontario. Vallance played the drums on the recording. Vallance was also credited with executive produced for recording Bruce Cockburn's part in a studio in Hamburg, Germany.
Breakup & Reconciliation
During 1988 - 1989, the Adams-Vallance songwriting partnership became strained to the point that it was dissolved. Adams was under intense pressure from the record company to return to his earlier, more successful sound of Reckless. His previous release, Into the FireInto the Fire (album)
Into the Fire is the fifth studio album by the Canadian rock artist Bryan Adams. Released on March 30, 1987 through A&M Records, the album was a commercial success, albeit somewhat of a disappointment following the huge success of 1984's Reckless...
, was critically acclaimed and sold well but compared to "Reckless" it was a considered a failure by management which was counting on higher revenues from Adams' releases. Meanwhile, Vallance had just become a father and his lifestyle had changed considerably. He could no longer afford to spend long days and weeks in confinement working on songs with Adams. Also, Adams complained that Vallance was giving away too much creative effort writing songs with other artists. Adams insisted that Vallance put his outside songwriting on hold for a year to focus on Adams' next album. Vallance complied with Adams' request despite his objections. After several failed attempts to write and record what Adams felt was suitable material, the team fell into heated, repeated arguments. In September 1989, Vallance informed Adams that he no longer wanted to work with him and the Adams-Vallance partnership ended. The split was acrimonious as for several years Adams and Vallance did not speak except through the media. Around the mid-90s they put aside their differences and became friends with the understanding their songwriting partnership was over. In 2003, Adams approached Vallance inquiring if he would like to co-write a few songs for his next album. Vallance agreed and 3 songs on Adams' album 11
11 (Bryan Adams album)
11 is the tenth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. The album was released by Polydor Records on March 17, 2008. 11 was the first release of new Adams material since Colour Me Kubrick in 2005 and the first studio album in four years since Room Service...
are credited with Vallance as co-writer.
Song Doctor Service
During and after the dissolution of the Adams-Vallance songwriting partnership, Vallance offered a consulting style songwriting service for other artists. The music industry term for this is a "song doctor." Often Vallance was hired by a record company or an artist's manager to help inject some creativity or mainstream sound into an artists songs. In most cases, the artist was in deep trouble with the recording company over falling sales of their releases. Either the artist had lost their creative edge or needed to adopt a more mainstream sound to gain airplay and boost sales. One of Vallance's first clients, and the best example, was AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. The results were often very successful as proven by Vallance's numerous awards.
Vallance never wrote songs for his clients, rather, he worked with the artist in co-writing songs.
Glass Tiger
Following the release of Reckless, Vallance began his "song doctor" service and his first client was a new Canadian band Glass TigerGlass Tiger
Glass Tiger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1983, in Newmarket, Ontario.-Biography:Originally named 'Tokyo', the band produced several hit singles in Canada and placed two songs on Billboard magazine's top 10: "Don't Forget Me " and "Someday," both of which came from their debut album, The Thin...
. Initially hired to help with arrangements, the band was so impressed with Vallance that they asked him to produce their debut album. Vallance co-wrote such hits as "Someday" and "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)
"Don't Forget Me " is a 1986 song by Canadian pop-rock band Glass Tiger, from their debut album, The Thin Red Line. Released as the band's first single, it reached #1 in Canada and #2 in the United States...
", which won the Canadian music industry Juno award for 1986 Single of the Year.
Following Glass Tiger's second album, Vallance declined offers to produce future albums. He cited the long hours and tedious work as reasons. He had more enjoyment in just the songwriting and arranging.
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is not only one of Vallance's first "song doctor" clients, they are also one of his best examples for his service. In 1986, Aerosmith was a band in turmoil. Their previous album Done with MirrorsDone with Mirrors
Done with Mirrors is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released November 9, 1985. The release marked the return to the band of Joe Perry, who had left the group in 1979, and Brad Whitford, who had left the band in 1981. It was also the band's first album released by Geffen...
went below the radar in sales and airplay. Worse, bandmembers alcohol and drug habits were causing problems. Geffen Records would only fund their next recording provided all the bandmembers complete drug and alcohol rehab which they did. After listening to the demos, the record company did not believe there was any material that would get them airplay. A second condition was then placed on them and that was to have outside songwriters used to improve the songs. Desmond Child
Desmond Child
Desmond Child is an American musician, songwriter, and producer. He is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.-Career:...
and Jim Vallance were the "song doctors" hired. Initially, band members were not warm to the idea.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Vallance helped write numerous songs for the band, including the hit singles "Rag Doll
Rag Doll (Aerosmith song)
"Rag Doll" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It is from the 1987 album Permanent Vacation. It was released as the final single from the album in 1988...
" (1987), "Hangman Jury
Hangman Jury
"Hangman Jury" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was released as a promotional single in 1987 on the album Permanent Vacation...
" (1987), "The Other Side
The Other Side (Aerosmith song)
-Radio Single:...
" (1989), "Eat the Rich
Eat the Rich (Aerosmith song)
"Eat the Rich" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Jim Vallance. It was released as the second single from the band's 1993 album Get a Grip. The song had success on rock radio, peaking at number five on the Mainstream Rock Tracks...
" (1993), and "Deuces are Wild
Deuces Are Wild
"Deuces Are Wild" is a song performed by American hard rock band Aerosmith. It was written by lead singer Steven Tyler and professional songwriter Jim Vallance...
" (1994), in addition to several other Aerosmith songs.
Retirement
Jim Vallance continues to write from time to time - including some recent contributions to the Olympic Winter Opening Ceremonies (Vancouver 2010) on such Bryan AdamsBryan Adams
Bryan Adams, is a Canadian rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, producer, actor and photographer. Adams has won dozens of awards and nominations, including 20 Juno Awards among 56 nominations. He has also received 15 Grammy Award nominations including a win for Best Song Written...
song as, "Bang the Drum
Bang the Drum (Bryan Adams song)
"Bang the Drum" is a song co-written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The song was recorded by Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado, and featured as Track 3 on Sounds of Vancouver 2010: Opening Ceremony Commemorative Album. It was also performed by the duo at the 2010...
and "One World, One Flame
One World, One Flame
-Chart positions:...
". He also serves as a board member of the Songwriters Association of Canada.
Awards
Vallance has been awarded or honored with over 35 SOCAN and Procan Classics and related awards, as well as awards from BMI, and ASCAP. Vallance served on the boards of PROCAN (1985–90); SOCAN (1996-8, 2000-3, 2006-9); FACTOR (1985-7); and the Songwriters Association of Canada in 2008, and the latter's advisory board 1998-2008. In 2007 Vallance was appointed to the Order of Canada and invested in 2008.Personal life
Vallance married singer-songwriter Rachel PaiementRachel Paiement
Rachel Paiement is a Canadian musician and songwriter. She is best known as a former member, singer and songwriter for the franco-ontarian band CANO in the 1970s...
in the early 1980s. Paiement is a former member of the groups CANO
CANO
CANO were a Canadian progressive rock band in the 1970s and 1980s. They were the most popular and internationally successful musical group in Franco-Ontarian history.-Origins:...
and Morgan
Morgan
-Places:Australia*Morgan, South AustraliaCanada*Morgan, OntarioUnited States*Morgan, California*Morgan, Georgia*Morgan, Minnesota*Morgan, Texas*Morgan, Utah*Morgan, Vermont*Morgan, Wisconsin, a town...
. She is an accomplished singer-songwriter in her own right. They have one child, a son, who is also a songwriter.