Urgent (Canadian band)
Encyclopedia
Urgent was a 1980s Canadian rock band from Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
.
, Ontario
, Canada
and came together during the heyday of heavy metal's hairdays. The group's origins began when drummer Kim Hunt left Zon in 1982. Also formerly of Bond, he hooked up with Doug Baynham and guitarist Wayne Siberry. With Baynham handling bass and the majority of the vocals, they began a daily regimen of practice, write and audition, practically living in the studios for three months. They added keyboardist John McGoldrick for touring purposes and quickly established themselves as one of the hotter new heavy acts on the Ontario circuit, graduating before long to shows across the country – catching the attention of Epic Records
execs along the way. They submitted a three-song demo and were signed to a deal in the spring of 1983.
Oshawa
's Glen Johansen was brought in to produce the album. His vast resume included working with Ronnie Hawkins
, Eddy Grant
, Nash the Slash
, Martha & The Muffins and FM
. The result was a slick edge to a keyboard-dominated metal sound with a thunderous backbeat and tight guitar solos. Recorded at Johansen's Toronto studio Integrated Sound, guest appearances on the LP included guitarist Stacy Heydon (Teenage Head
, Iggy Pop
, David Bowie
) and Sheriff
and Frozen Ghost
's Arnold Lanni
on synthesizers.
Special' type compilations. All ten tracks were collaborations among Baynham, Hunt and Siberry. "Cat On The Prowl" and the lead-off "Killer Love" was released as a 12" single before the 45 for "Deagan (Love You Leave You)". Other notable tracks included "Keeper Of My Heart", "Midnight Lover" and "Bad News".
After a cross-country tour, the group quietly disbanded the next year amid shuffling within CBS
, who were leaning toward acts more on the Platinum Blonde
/Duran Duran
end of the spectrum. They would all go on to other projects in later years, including Baynham working with Hanover Fist. Hunt would go on to also work with Hanover Fist, as well as Lee Aaron
, Vice Lords, a Rod Stewart
tribute and Moxy
. Johansen operated Toronto
's Integrated Sound for a few years, as well as working with Mick Jagger
and released a self-titled solo album in 1987.
In 1994, Long Island Records re-mastered and re-issued Timing for the first time on CD in a special numbered edition, limited to 2000 copies worldwide. It featured a gold CD, a jewel case with gold stamped lettering, a poster with history and a new, expanded booklet with lyrics.
Track listing
(All songs written by Doug Baynham, Wayne Sibbery and Kim Hunt)
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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
.
History
Often confused with a band from New York with the same name, the Canadian band Urgent was from TorontoToronto
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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
and came together during the heyday of heavy metal's hairdays. The group's origins began when drummer Kim Hunt left Zon in 1982. Also formerly of Bond, he hooked up with Doug Baynham and guitarist Wayne Siberry. With Baynham handling bass and the majority of the vocals, they began a daily regimen of practice, write and audition, practically living in the studios for three months. They added keyboardist John McGoldrick for touring purposes and quickly established themselves as one of the hotter new heavy acts on the Ontario circuit, graduating before long to shows across the country – catching the attention of Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
execs along the way. They submitted a three-song demo and were signed to a deal in the spring of 1983.
Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
's Glen Johansen was brought in to produce the album. His vast resume included working with Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins
Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins is a Juno Award-winning rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, USA, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life...
, Eddy Grant
Eddy Grant
Edmond Montague "Eddy" Grant is a musician, born in Plaisance, Guyana.- Life and career :When he was still a young boy, his parents emigrated to London, UK, where he settled. He lived in Kentish Town and went to school at the Acland Burghley Secondary Modern at Tufnell Park...
, 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...
, Martha & The Muffins and FM
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...
. The result was a slick edge to a keyboard-dominated metal sound with a thunderous backbeat and tight guitar solos. Recorded at Johansen's Toronto studio Integrated Sound, guest appearances on the LP included guitarist Stacy Heydon (Teenage Head
Teenage Head (band)
Teenage Head is a Canadian rock group from Hamilton, Ontario and was one of the most popular Canadian punk rock bands during the early 1980s....
, Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
) and Sheriff
Sheriff (band)
Sheriff was a Canadian rock band in the early 1980s, best known for their hit song "When I'm with You".-Biography:The band was formed in 1979 in Toronto, Ontario and consisted of vocalist Freddy Curci, guitarist Steve DeMarchi, keyboardist Arnold Lanni, bassist Wolf Hassel and drummer Rob...
and Frozen Ghost
Frozen Ghost
Frōzen Ghōst was a Canadian rock band formed in 1985 by Arnold Lanni and Wolf Hassel who were previously with the band Sheriff. The band received a Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year" in 1987....
's Arnold Lanni
Arnold Lanni
Arnold David Lanni is a Canadian record producer, and former member of both Frozen Ghost and Sheriff. He wrote Sheriff's most successful song, "When I'm With You."-History:...
on synthesizers.
Recording career
Timing, Urgent's one and only album, was released in the summer of 1983 and the lead single "You're Not The One" was expected to capitalize on the trend of long-haired good musicians writing above average pop-metal. Backed by "Too Hot To Handle", the song cracked the Top 20, winding up on several 'K-telK-tel
K-tel International is an "As-Seen-On-TV" company, which is most noted for its compilation music albums, such as "The Super Hits" series, "The Dynamic Hits" series and "The Number One Hits" series...
Special' type compilations. All ten tracks were collaborations among Baynham, Hunt and Siberry. "Cat On The Prowl" and the lead-off "Killer Love" was released as a 12" single before the 45 for "Deagan (Love You Leave You)". Other notable tracks included "Keeper Of My Heart", "Midnight Lover" and "Bad News".
After a cross-country tour, the group quietly disbanded the next year amid shuffling within CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, who were leaning toward acts more on the Platinum Blonde
Platinum Blonde (band)
Platinum Blonde is a Canadian New Wave group in the mid 1980s-early 1990s. The band originally consisted of Mark Holmes from Scarborough on vocals and bass, Sergio Galli on guitar and Chris Steffler on drums. Scottish musician Kenny MacLean later joined the group as the bassist. The name of the...
/Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
end of the spectrum. They would all go on to other projects in later years, including Baynham working with Hanover Fist. Hunt would go on to also work with Hanover Fist, as well as Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron , is a Canadian rock and jazz singer. She had several hits in the 1980s and early 1990s such as "Metal Queen", "Whatcha Do to My Body", and "Sex with Love".- Background :...
, Vice Lords, a 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....
tribute and Moxy
Moxy (band)
Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in 1974, from previous members of the rock group, Leigh Ashford — which included singer Douglas "Buzz" Shearman Earl Johnson , Bill Wade Moxy was a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band, formed in Toronto, Ontario in...
. Johansen operated 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...
's Integrated Sound for a few years, as well as working with Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and released a self-titled solo album in 1987.
In 1994, Long Island Records re-mastered and re-issued Timing for the first time on CD in a special numbered edition, limited to 2000 copies worldwide. It featured a gold CD, a jewel case with gold stamped lettering, a poster with history and a new, expanded booklet with lyrics.
Members
- Doug Baynham − All vocals, bass guitar
- Kim Hunt − Drums and percussion
- Wayne Siberry − All guitars
- Glen Johansen − Keyboards and synthesizers
Guest musicians
- Stacy Heydon - Guitar solo on "You're Not The One"
- Arnold LanniArnold LanniArnold David Lanni is a Canadian record producer, and former member of both Frozen Ghost and Sheriff. He wrote Sheriff's most successful song, "When I'm With You."-History:...
− Keyboards on "Killer Love"
Albums
- Timing (1983, re-issued 1994)
Track listing
(All songs written by Doug Baynham, Wayne Sibbery and Kim Hunt)
- Killer Love (3:20)
- Degan (Love You, Leave You) (4:52)
- You're Not The One (3:22)
- Cat On The Prowl (4:07)
- Midnight Lover (3:33)
- Keeper Of My Heart (4:04)
- Bad News (4:13)
- I'll Find A Way (3:43)
- Too Hot To Handle (3:34)