54-40 (band)
{{Short description|Canadian rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = 54-40
| image = Fifty-Four Forty.jpg
| caption = Dave Genn, Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt at the Vancouver ShoreFest in 2009
| landscape = Yes
| alias =
| origin = Tsawwassen, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
| genre = Rock, alternative rock, jangle pop, roots rock{{cite news |last1=Damas |first1=Jason |title=54-40 - Casual Viewin' USA Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/casual-viewin-usa-mw0000012628#userReviews |access-date=3 February 2024 |work=Allmusic |language=en}}
| years_active = {{Start date|1980}}–present
| label = Reprise, True North
| website = {{URL|5440.com}}
| current_members = * Neil Osborne
- Matt Johnson
- Brad Merritt
- Dave Genn
- David Osborne
| past_members = * Phil Comparelli
- Darryl Neudorf
- Ian Franey
}}
54-40 (often stylized 54•40) is a Canadian rock band from Tsawwassen, Delta, British Columbia. The band take their name from the slogan "54-40 or Fight!", coined to express the unsuccessful expansionist agenda of James K. Polk's presidency, which was intent upon controlling a contested U.S.-Canada border area in the Oregon boundary dispute. 54-40 has had a successful career, with four of their albums being certified platinum in Canada. The band has been nominated for eight Juno Awards.{{cite web|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2020&search_category_val=&award_name=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=54*40&submit=submit|title=PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS|website=junoawards.ca|access-date=May 7, 2020}} Between 1996 and 2016, 54-40 were among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 50 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.{{cite web|url=https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|title=NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS|website=bdsradio.com|page=28|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102202137/https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|url-status=dead}}
History
Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt met in 1978 at South Delta High School in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. After studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Osborne returned home and formed the band 54-40 with Merritt and drummer Ian Franey. The band played their first gig in Coquitlam on December 8, 1980, the night John Lennon was killed. In 1981 they made their first recordings for the Mo-Da-Mu label, with four tracks appearing on the independent compilation LP Things Are Still Coming Ashore, which also featured music by Vancouver bands Animal Slaves and Junco Run. In June 1982, the band released the EP Selection. Shortly after the release of Selection, Franey left the band. Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf and Phil Comparelli was added on guitar, trumpet and vocals. The band recorded the album Set the Fire in 1983, releasing it in 1984. Neudorf, frustrated with the band's prolonged time in the studio and away from the road, left the band in 1985. He was replaced by Matt Johnson.
The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986 through Warner/Reprise Records, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the singles "Baby Ran" and "I Go Blind" gaining significant college radio airplay. Dave Osborne (keyboards, harmonica), toured and recorded with the band from 1987 to 1993. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Day in Your Life" and "One Gun".
Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough, and Warner dropped 54-40 in 1990. In 1991, the band released the compilation album, Sweeter Things. Also during that year, the band signed a deal with Sony and released Dear Dear in 1992. It was the band's first album to be certified Gold in Canada and was certified Platinum in 1993. The band released Smilin' Buddha Cabaret in 1994 and Trusted by Millions in 1996, both of which would later be certified Platinum.
The band's song "I Go Blind" was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish, and the cover was featured on the first soundtrack to the TV series Friends. The song also appears on two compilations released by the band: 2000's Scattered, Smothered and Covered and 2003's The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish (1993 Thru 2003). Royalties from the Hootie and the Blowfish cover enabled the band to build their own recording studio in Vancouver.
Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band, joined 54-40 in 2003. In February 2005, it was announced that Comparelli left the band for personal reasons.{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/1702.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306121832/http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2005/02/1702.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2006|title=54-40 Guitarist To Be Replaced By Former Matthew Good Ax-Man|publisher=Chart Attack|access-date=February 10, 2019}} That same year, 54-40 signed with True North Records.
In 2010, to celebrate the band's 30 years together and almost 25 years since their first commercial album The Green Album, the band went on a promotional concert tour with a two-set act. The first set was The Green Album from start to finish. The second set was one song from every album since, with the exception of Dear Dear where they played two songs. 54-40 also performed a new song from their upcoming record, Lost in the City, which was released on June 14, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://5440.com/index.php?view=article&catid=1:latest-news&id=71:5440-celebrates-30th-anniversary-by-going-qgreenq-again&tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page= |title=The Official Website of 54•40 – 54•40 Canada's Band|website=5440.com|access-date=January 22, 2020}}
In January 2016, the band released a greatest hits album titled La Difference: A History Unplugged. Tracks included "One Day In Your Life", "I Go Blind", and "Ocean Pearl". The album was released through eOne Music. The band then set out on a month-long theatre tour across Canada to support the album. In 2017 they played at Peachfest in Penticton.[https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/entertainment/54-40-rocks-the-fest/ "54-40 rocks the fest"]. Penticton Western News, Aug. 11, 2017
In 2018 54-40 performed with fiddler Daniel Lapp, both locally[https://www.coastreporter.net/entertainment/arts-entertainment/54-40-pull-all-the-right-strings-1.23210136 "54-40 pull all the right strings"]. Paul Dwyer, March 22, 2018 and also as the opening band at Ottawa's CityFolk Festival.[https://ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/local-arts/cityfolk-review-54-40-puts-a-tasty-new-spin-on-its-old-hits "CityFolk review: 54-40 puts a tasty new spin on its old hits"]. Ottawa Citizen, Lynn Saxberg, September 14, 2018
Lead singer Neil Osborne began playing shows with his daughter, singer-songwriter Kandle, billing themselves as A Family Curse, self-described as "pure folk-art worked from found objects (something old, something new)."{{Cite web|title=Yvonne Matsell presents an evening with A Family Curse|url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yvonnematsell-presents-a-family-curse-neil-osborne5440kandle-earlyshow-tickets-61314467222#|access-date=2020-07-08|website=EventBrite}} A Toronto show took place May 8, 2019{{Cite web|title=Yvonne Matsell presents an evening with A Family Curse|url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yvonnematsell-presents-a-family-curse-neil-osborne5440kandle-earlyshow-tickets-61314467222#|access-date=2020-07-08|website=EventBrite}} at the intimate and tiny 20-capacity Radical Road Brewing Co. The father-daughter duo played later that year on August 7, 2019{{Cite web|title=A Family Curse - Roy Thompson Hall|url=https://www.roythomsonhall.com/tickets/a-family-curse/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Roy Thompson Hall|archive-date=2020-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708210605/https://www.roythomsonhall.com/tickets/a-family-curse/|url-status=dead}} as part of Roy Thompson Hall's Live on the Patio{{Cite web|title=Neil (54-40) and Kandle Osborne at Roy Thompson Hall patio|url=https://www.toronto.com/events/9520289--neil-54-40-and-kandle-osborne/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Toronto.com}} series, also in Toronto. These shows were bookended by shows in Montréal, where Kandle resides, in February{{Cite web|title=Kandle & Neil Osborne present A Family Curse|url=https://lepointdevente.com/billets/16022019familycurse|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Le Point de Vente}} and August{{Cite web|title=A Family Curse (Kandle & Neil Osborne) in Montreal|url=https://montreal.eventful.com/events/family-curse-kandle-neil-osborne-/E0-001-129062104-6|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Eventful Montreal}} 2019.
54-40 played the legendary Horseshoe Tavern's 72nd anniversary party{{Cite web|title=The Horseshoe Tavern's 72nd Birthday Celebration|url=https://www.horseshoetavern.com/e/54-40-71689799119/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Legendary Horseshoe Tavern calendar}} on December 6, 2019. Sam Cash, son of Toronto post-punk musician turned city politician Andrew Cash, opened the show.
Members
Current
- Neil Osborne – vocals, rhythm guitar (1980–present), lead guitar (1981–1983)
- Dave Genn – lead guitar (2003–present)
- Brad Merrit – bass (1980–present)
- Matt Johnson – drums (1986–present)
- David Osborne - organ, saxophone, harmonica (2015-present)
Former
- Ian Franey – drums (1980–1983)
- Phil Comparelli – lead guitar, vocals, trumpet (1983–2005)
- Darryl Neudorf – drums (1983–1986)
=Timeline=
ImageSize = width:900 height:auto barincrement:22
PlotArea = left:90 bottom:80 top:10 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/2021
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1981
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1985
Colors =
id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
id:Guitar2 value:teal legend:Lead_guitar
id:Guitar1 value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Keys value:purple legend:Keyboards
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:W_Instr value:gray(0.7) legend:Wind_instruments
id:album value:black legend:Studio_album
id:bars value:gray(0.95)
BackgroundColors = bars:bars
BarData =
bar:Neil text:Neil Osborne
bar:Phil text:Phil Comparelli
bar:Dave text:Dave Genn
bar:Brad text:Brad Merrit
bar:David text:David Osborne
bar:Ian text:Ian Franey
bar:Darryl text:Darryl Neudorf
bar:Matt text:Matt Johnson
PlotData=
width:11
bar:Brad from:start till:end color:bass
bar:Neil from:start till:end color:vocals
bar:Neil from:start till:end color:guitar1 width:3
bar:Neil from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1983 color:guitar2
bar:Neil from:01/01/1981 till:01/01/1983 color:vocals width:3
bar:Matt from:01/01/1986 till:end color:drums
bar:Dave from:01/03/2005 till:end color:guitar2
bar:David from:01/07/2015 till:end color:keys
bar:David from:01/07/2015 till:end color:w_instr width:3
bar:Ian from:start till:01/01/1983 color:drums
bar:Phil from:01/01/1983 till:01/03/2005 color:guitar2
bar:Phil from:01/01/1983 till:01/03/2005 color:vocals width:3
bar:Phil from:01/01/1983 till:01/03/2005 color:w_instr width:7
bar:Darryl from:01/01/1983 till:01/01/1986 color:drums
LineData =
layer:back
color:album
at:01/01/1984
at:01/07/1986
at:29/10/1987
at:08/08/1989
at:12/05/1992
at:22/03/1994
at:30/04/1996
at:30/06/1998
at:07/09/1999
at:22/08/2000
at:17/06/2003
at:14/06/2005
at:30/09/2008
at:14/06/2011
at:26/01/2018
Discography
= EPs =
=Albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! colspan="1" | Certifications |
|---|
| style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="90" | CAN
! width="90" | CAN |
| 1984
| align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 1986
| align="center" |91 | align="center" | — |
| 1987
| align="center" |66 | align="center" | — |
| 1989
| align="center" |36 | align="center" | — |
| 1992
| align="center" |22 | align="center" |Platinum |
| 1994
| align="center" |47 | align="center" |Platinum |
| 1996
| align="center" |28 | align="center" |Platinum |
| 1998
| align="center" |18 | align="center" |Gold |
| 2000
| align="center" |24 | align="center" | — |
| 2003
| align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 2005
| align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 2008
| align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 2011
|Lost in the City | align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 2018
|Keep On Walking | align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
| 2024
|West Coast Band | align="center" | — | align="center" | — |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2" width="180"| Title ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
| style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="40"|CAN
! width="40"|CAN
! width="40"|CAN Content (Cancon)
|
| rowspan=3|1984
| "Set the Fire" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=3|Set the Fire |
| "What To Do Now"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Broken Pieces"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=3|1986
| "Baby Ran" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=3|54-40 |
| "I Go Blind"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "I Wanna Know"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=1|1987
| "Walk In Line" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=3|Show Me |
| rowspan=2|1988
| align="center"|90 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "One Gun"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|30 |
| rowspan=2|1989
| "Miss You" | align="center"|50 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=3|Fight for Love |
| "Baby, Have Some Faith"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|1 |
| rowspan=1|1990
| "Over My Head" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|1 |
| rowspan=3|1992
| "Nice to Luv You" | align="center"|30 | align="center"|— | align="center"|4 | rowspan=5| Dear Dear |
| "She La"
| align="center"|38 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Music Man"
| align="center"|40 | align="center"|— | align="center"|5 |
| rowspan=2|1993
| "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" | align="center"|52 | align="center"|— | align="center"|7 |
| "We Are, We Pretend"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|2 |
| rowspan=4|1994
| "Blame Your Parents" | align="center"|13 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=5| Smilin' Buddha Cabaret |
| "Assoholic"
| align="center"|56 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Ocean Pearl"
| align="center"|22 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Lucy"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=1|1995
| "Radio Luv Song" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=3|1996
| "Love You All" | align="center"|20 | align="center"|7 | align="center"|— | rowspan=4| Trusted by Millions |
| "Lies to Me"
| align="center"|19 | align="center"|5 | align="center"|— |
| "Crossing a Canyon"
| align="center"|30 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=1|1997
| "I Love Candy" | align="center"|61 | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=2|1998
| "Since When" | align="center"|11 | align="center"|2 | align="center"|— | rowspan=2| Since When |
| "Lost and Lazy"
| align="center"|87 | align="center"|8 | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=2|2000
| "Casual Viewin'" | align="center"|48 | align="center"|3 | align="center"|— | rowspan=3| Casual Viewin |
| "Unbend"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=1|2001
| "Blue Sky" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=2|2002
| "Love Rush" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=2| Radio Love Songs: The Singles Collection |
| "Plenty Emotion"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=4|2003
| "Animal in Pain" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=4| Goodbye Flatland |
| "Take Me Out"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Ride"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Wish I Knew"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=2|2005
| "Easy to Love" | align="center"|— | align="center"|10 | align="center"|— | rowspan=2| Yes to Everything |
| "Golden Sun"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| rowspan=1|2008
| "Snap" | align="center"|— | align="center"|47 | align="center"|— | rowspan=1| Northern Soul |
| rowspan=1|2011
| "Lost in the City" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=1| Lost in the City |
| rowspan=1|2014
| "The Waiting" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | rowspan=3| Keep On Walking |
| rowspan=2|2017
| "Keep On Walking" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| "Sucker for Your Love"
| align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
| 2021
| "Embassy Supreme" | align="center"|— | align="center"|— | align="center"|— |
= Live =
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="1" | Chart positions |
|---|
| style="font-size: smaller;"
! width="90" | CAN |
| 1999
| align="center" | — |
| 2023
|Live At El Mocambo | align="center" | — |
=Compilations=
=DVDs=
- 2006 – This Is Here This Is Now
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.5440.com/}}
- [https://www.trouserpress.com/reviews/54-40/ 54-40 entry] at Trouser Press
- {{discogs artist|54-40}}
- [https://www.canadianbands.com/5440.html Entry at canadianbands.com]
- {{imdb name|2314240}}
{{54-40}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1980 establishments in British Columbia
Category:Canadian alternative rock groups
Category:Canadian jangle pop groups
Category:Musical groups established in 1980
Category:Musical groups from Vancouver
Category:Reprise Records artists