Secrets of the Alibi
Encyclopedia
Secrets of the Alibi is the second album by The Northern Pikes released in 1988. It featured two hit Canadian singles - "Wait for Me" and "Hopes Go Astray".
Although this was their second album, the Pikes were nominated for "Most Promising Group
" at the 1989 Juno Awards
. This was likely because no Juno Awards were presented in 1988, the year their debut album would have been up for nomination. They were also nominated for Best Video at the 1989 Juno Awards
for their song "Wait for Me". They failed to win either award.
The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association
on July 18, 1991.
The first track on the album is "Place That's Insane", apparently about a pretty waitress who works in a smokey bar, as the lyrics describe "The girl that works in the club downtown / Knows all about life, man, she's been around". The guitar sound in this track is representative of the live sound throughout the album. A remixed version of this track was released on the 12" single.
The first single "Wait for Me" is a sad remembrance of love lost written and sung by Jay Semko. As guitarist Bryan Potvin recalls: "Our demo process was always an intense thorough exercise and we came very close to some true magic with this song. The demo version was very relaxed and rather melancholy. Another killer chorus though, can't lose no matter how you play it." The video was directed by Ron Berti and nominated for "Best Video
" at the 1989 Juno Awards.
The second single was the offbeat "Hopes Go Astray" written by Potvin, complete with a strange video of the band members in household situations in the middle of a prairie field. The song was one of Potvin's first attempts at song writing and dated back to 1986, before the band was signed to Virgin Records. Jay Semko said "I think this was a breakthrough for Bryan as a singer and a writer. I recall the sessions at Bearsville with Bryan singing the break ('Now the princess washes dishes...') as a pretty cool evolution."
The band would tour extensively to support this album, including the opening spot for Robert Palmer's 1989 tour.
Note: The Extended Mix of "One Good Reason" was added to the CD release of the album.
Although this was their second album, the Pikes were nominated for "Most Promising Group
Juno Award for New Group of the Year
The Juno Award for the New Group of the Year has been awarded since 1974, as recognition each year for the best new group or band in Canada. The award was originally known as Most Promising Group of the Year, and from 1994–2002 it was known as Best New Group.-Most Promising Group of the Year...
" at the 1989 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1989
The Juno Awards of 1989, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 12 March 1989 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. André-Philippe Gagnon was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on CBC Television.Blue Rodeo won in three of its...
. This was likely because no Juno Awards were presented in 1988, the year their debut album would have been up for nomination. They were also nominated for Best Video at the 1989 Juno Awards
Juno Awards of 1989
The Juno Awards of 1989, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 12 March 1989 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. André-Philippe Gagnon was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on CBC Television.Blue Rodeo won in three of its...
for their song "Wait for Me". They failed to win either award.
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 July 18, 1991.
Background and writing
About one year after recording their successful debut album, the Northern Pikes returned to the studio in the Spring of 1988 to record the follow-up. The resulting production had a more serious tone than their first, no longer talking about "Teenland" but themes of growing up and a political awareness of the world at large.The first track on the album is "Place That's Insane", apparently about a pretty waitress who works in a smokey bar, as the lyrics describe "The girl that works in the club downtown / Knows all about life, man, she's been around". The guitar sound in this track is representative of the live sound throughout the album. A remixed version of this track was released on the 12" single.
The first single "Wait for Me" is a sad remembrance of love lost written and sung by Jay Semko. As guitarist Bryan Potvin recalls: "Our demo process was always an intense thorough exercise and we came very close to some true magic with this song. The demo version was very relaxed and rather melancholy. Another killer chorus though, can't lose no matter how you play it." The video was directed by Ron Berti and nominated for "Best Video
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
" at the 1989 Juno Awards.
The second single was the offbeat "Hopes Go Astray" written by Potvin, complete with a strange video of the band members in household situations in the middle of a prairie field. The song was one of Potvin's first attempts at song writing and dated back to 1986, before the band was signed to Virgin Records. Jay Semko said "I think this was a breakthrough for Bryan as a singer and a writer. I recall the sessions at Bearsville with Bryan singing the break ('Now the princess washes dishes...') as a pretty cool evolution."
The band would tour extensively to support this album, including the opening spot for Robert Palmer's 1989 tour.
Track listing
- "Place That's Insane" (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 - "Walk Away" (Semko, 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....
, Don Schmid, Merl Bryck) – 3:18 - "Wait for Me" (Semko) – 4:21
- "One Good Reason" (Semko) – 4:47
- "Blood She Wants" (Semko) – 4:01
- "Let's Pretend" (Semko) – 4:08
- "Better Twice" (Bryck) – 3:04
- "Hopes Go Astray" (Potvin) – 3:38
- "Stars in the Sky" (Semko) – 3:53
- "Hole in the Ground" (Bryck) – 3:43
- "One Good Reason (Extended mix)" – 9:08
Note: The Extended Mix of "One Good Reason" was added to the CD release of the album.
Personnel
- Don Schmid – drums, percussion, vocals
- Merl Bryck – vocals, guitar
- 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...
– vocals, bass - 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, vocals - Rick Hutt – piano, keyboards
Production
- Rick Hutt – producer, engineer
- Fraser Hill – producer, engineer
- George Marino – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York