Truest Inspiration is the sixth studio album by The Northern Pikes released in 2001. This was their first album of new music since they reformed in 1999 after a 6 year break.

Following the release of Neptune

Neptune (Northern Pikes album)

Neptune is the fourth album by The Northern Pikes released in 1992. This was the band's last studio album until they reformed in 1999.Although "Twister" and "Everything" were released as proper singles, with "Twister becoming a moderate hit. The song "Believe" was released as a promotional single,...

in 1992 and the subsequent live album called Gig

Gig (Northern Pikes album)

Gig is the first live by The Northern Pikes released in 1993. This album was recorded over two nights during the tour to support Neptune. Following the tour, the band would dissolve until reforming in 1999....

in 1993, the band decided to disband. During their time apart, Jay Semko

Jay 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...

 and Bryan Potvin

Bryan Potvin

Bryan 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....

 each released a solo album. However, in 1999 Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993

Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993

Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984–1993 is a Greatest Hits album by The Northern Pikes released in 1999. Along with some of the band's biggest hits, the album included 3 previously unreleased tracks....

, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring.

After a live album called Live

Live (Northern Pikes album)

Live is the second live album by The Northern Pikes released in 2000. The album was released independently.In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package...

released in 2000, the band decided to record a new album in the latter half of 2000. No longer signed to Virgin Records

Virgin Records

Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...

, the album was released independently by the band's Square Dog management group.

Track listing

1. "Echo Off The Beach" (Bryan Potvin
   Bryan Potvin
   Bryan 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....
   
   )
2. "Little Boy Kelly" (Merl Bryck & Neil Morgan)
3. "Swirl" (Jay Semko
   Jay 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...
   
   )
4. "Christ" (Bryck)
5. "I Can't Compare" (Potvin)
6. "Favourite Cousin (Still In Prison)" (Semko)
7. "Out Of Love" (Bryck)
8. "Michigan" (Potvin)
9. "Head First" (Semko)
10. "Colour Into Colour" (Bryck)
11. "Beautiful Music" (Semko)

Personnel

• Jay Semko
  Jay 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...
  
   - vocals, bass
• Bryan Potvin
  Bryan Potvin
  Bryan 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....
  
   - vocals, guitars
• Merl Bryck - vocals, rhythm guitar
• Don Schmid - drums, percussion

Additional Personnel

• Melanie Doane
  Melanie Doane
  Melanie Doane is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter who has had seven Top 40 singles in Canada, including "Adam's Rib", "Goliath", "Still Desire You" and "Waiting For The Tide"....
  
   - vocals, violin on 10
• Jack Lenz
  Jack Lenz
  Jack Lenz is a Canadian Bahá'í composer. He has written, performed, and produced music for film, television, and theatre, along with working on non-soundtrack album ventures. He is also the founder of Live Unity Enterprises, an organization devoted to the production of music for the Bahá'í...
  
   - piano, hammond organ on 2,11
• Bob Egan - pedal steel on 4,6
• Jim McGrath - programming on 1,5,7,8
• David Baxter - additional guitar, bass, keyboards & other cool stuff

Production

• David Baxter - Producer
• James Paul & J Elliot - Engineers
• James Paul - Mixer
• Phil Demetro - mastering at The Lacquer Channel