Frank Marino actually played lead guitar on To Bad. RIP Myles. Sad day for so many Canadians who have so many memories of good times with April Wine providing the soundtrack.
I remember very well when Nature of the Beast came out and April Wine started to get some attention in the states. They had already been a household name in Canada for around a decade. It always blew our collective minds how the states had unfairly ignored this band. To this day April Wine remains one of top hard rock bands ever in Canada and is right up there in the minds of Canadians as many American or English bands that had way more success. Growing up in Canada was so cool because we are basically American but we had a whole other music industry and group of bands to listen to in addition to what the states had. So we really did have the best of both worlds. A few other bands that were also big in Canada that deserved more attention were Streeheart, Prism, Honeymoon Suite, Goddo, Max Webster, FM, Queen City Kids, Helix, Thanks for showing Canada some love...cheers EH!
Attn.: Billy Dow; from 1 "Billy" 2 another. U DEFINITELY know ur FUCKIN' SHIT thru & thru. Despite my moniker as "B.J. Banditt" (the "B.J." stands 4 "Billy Joe"), this BILLY BOY here says 'ROLLER" & "CRASH & BURN" EPTIOMIZES what APRIL WINE represents. Simply put; APRIL WINE FUCKIN' ROCKS & KICKS FUCKIN' ASS!!!!!
I I’m from the U.S., and started listening to them about 17 years too late; at the time, I didn’t even know they had put out anything before Nature. Stand Back is my favorite now.
Great list, as always. Their long time drummer Jerry Mercer (now retired from the band) lives in my town. I've gigged with him a few times. Incredible drummer and a cool down to earth guy!
1. Weeping Widow 2. Drop Your Guns 3. I like To Rock 4. Work All Day 5. Roller 6. Oowatanite 7. Just Like That 8. You Could Have Been A Lady 9. Slow Poke 10. Hot On The Wheels Of Love
Top 10: 1. Enough Is Enough 2. Just Between You And Me 3. If You See Kay 4. Tonite 5. Oowatonite 6. Sons of the Pioneers 7. Sign of the Gypsy Queen 8. Anejo 9. Hold On 10. Good from far, far from good.
I crashed my 70' Le Mans listening to "Crash & Burn" I was on my way home from picking up my Paycheck. Feeling good, Rockin' out and going way to fast. No damage ended up in a corn field. I was 16, it was 1982. Still listen to April Wine.
Thanks Pete, great underrated 70s pop band. Here is mine. 1 Roller 2 Sign of the Gypsy Queen 3 I Like to Rock 4 All Over Town 5 Wanna Rock 6 Big City Girls 7 One More Time 8 Just Between You and Me 9 Owatanite 10 Rock and Roll is a Vicious Game
Tonight(from Harder Faster) is my favorite AW song followed by Before the Dawn. Caught in the Crossfire, One More Time. Every song off the Harder Faster and Nature of the Beast albums are good. I like Roller too.
1-tonite is a wonderful time 2-say hello 3-weeping widow 4-I like to rock 5-whole worlds goin crazy 6-could have been a lady 7-fast train 8-gimme love 9-future tense 10-all over town Drop your guns Slow poke Kick Willy road
April Wine is definitely one of my favorite Canadian bands from what I've listened to anyway. I haven't delved into a lot of their music catalogue though... Don't know if I have a top 10. But here are my favorites: 7) *Too Hot To Handle* 6) *Enough Is Enough* 5) *Just Between You And Me* 4) *I Like To Rock* 3) *All Over Town* 2) *Roller* 1) *Sign Of The Gypsy Queen*
April Wine was very popular in St. Louis going all the way back to "First Glance". They got tons of air play and appeared in concert many time times. The same is true for other Canadian band like Prism and Moxy
1. I Like To Rock 2. Roller 3. Sign Of the Gypsy Queen 4. Just Between You and Me 5. Say Hello 6. Before The Dawn 7. Enough is Enough 8. Anything You Want, You Got it. 9. All Over Town 10. Oowatanite
The early 80s was a special time for Canadian and Australian music. You should consider doing a show on each as we will never see such an era again. Just my two cents Pete.
I'm Canadian and was exposed to April Wine a lot more than Americans so there are dozens of songs that were fairly big songs up here. April Wine did some of the rockiest songs (three lead guitarists) but also did some great ballads. My Top Ten are.... in no particular order .. Roller, Weeping Widow, Say Hello, You Could Have Been A Lady, Oowatanite, Fast Train, I'm on Fire for You, Sign of the Gypsy Queen, Right Down on Top of Me, Tonite and Drop Your Guns. But I could list another dozen.
Forgot about these guys...........lots of good tunes and crank it up music !! Bassicaly a soft metal band best known for there hit "just between you and me". Canada's Aerosmith...Good Stuff!
From Toronto, Canada thank you so much. So many great songs to choose from but I tried to leave out covers and went mostly originals, orherwise 21st Century Schizoid Man would've been my # 1 as well. So Here Goes: 10. Slow Poke 9.Farkus/You Could Have Been A Lady 8.Comin'Right Down On Top of Me 7.Before The Dawn 6.Weeping Widow 5.Fast Train 4.Don't Push Me Around 3.Just Like That 2.I Like To Rock 1.Roller
Top 10 April Wine songs that came after Animal Grace (IMO) 1- Strong Silent Type (from Greatest hits Live) 2-Won't Walk That Road No More (from Back To The Mansion) 3-Givin' It Takin' It (from Attitude) 4-Here's Lookin' At You Kid (from Attitude) 5-Open Soul Surgery (from Walking Through Fire) 6-I Just Wanna Make Love To You (cover from Frigate) 7-Better Slow Down (from Attitude) 8-I Am A Rock (cover from Back To The Mansion) 9-Hard To Believe (from Frigate) 10-Rock Myself To Sleep (from Walking Through Fire)
1: Fast Train 2: Babes in arms 3: All over town 4 oowatanite 5: roller 6: could have been a lady 7: weeping widow 8: bad side of the moon 9: Just like that/here’s looking at you kid 10: better do it well/drop your guns
Great list Pete. Surprised to see Just Between You & Me on your list as you tend to shy away from the big hits on your lists. As for me, mine centers on the 80s records: 10. Without Your Love 9. Enough Is Enough 8. Caught In The Crossfire 7. Anejo 6. This Could Be The Right One 5. Sign Of The Gypsy Queen 4. Future Tense 3. Ladies Man 2. Crash & Burn 1. Like To Rock
Attn.: Matt Clark; it actually reached #21 on Billboard. No big deal; just providing u some accuracy. Nvrthlss, u r SPOT-ON RE: A.W.'s biggest hit in the U.S.A.
I'm happy with 4 albums by them. Electric Jewels, First Glance, Harder Faster and Nature of the Beast. Favorites are Before the Dawn, Ladies Man, 21st Century Schiziod Man, Sign of the Gypsy Queen.
Great list!! You should *_definitely_* check-out both of their *_great_* 90's albums *_Attitude_* (1993) and *_Frigate_* (1994). If The Wine were not technically Heavy Metal beforehand, they *_definitely_* became that with these 2 back-to-back scorchers. Even the ballads really pop on *_Attitude._* I recommend playing both albums in their entirety, but my favorites on them are as follows: From *_Attitude:_* The opening track "Givin' It, Takin' It" is a Zeppelinesque barn-burner; the power-ballad "I Can't Take Another Night"; the naughty rocker "Good From Far, Far From Good"; the Speed Metal (yes, you read that right) ironically-named "Better Slow Down"; another power-ballad "If You Believe In Me"; and finally their ode to S&M (yes, you read that right) simply titled "It Hurts." Honestly, not a bad song on this entire album. From *_Frigate:_* The 5-minute *HEAVY* opener "Look Into The Sun" (probably their all-time heaviest track), and 3 amazing covers: The Foghat classic (yes, I know that it itself was a cover) "I Just Want To Make Love To You"; the Spencer Davis Group/Chicago Transit Authority classic "I'm A Man"; finally, a wonderful cover of their own "Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love." Check these albums OUT!! 🤘
01 Electric Jewels 02 Oowatanite 03 Weeping Widow 04 Just Like That 05 Fast Train 06 The Band Has Just Begun 07 Work All Day 08 Roller 09 I Like To Rock 10 Hot On The Wheels Of Love 11 Refuge 12 Victim of Your Love 13 Before The Dawn Likes Sabbath's Seventh Star which was originally an Iommi solo disc and Jethro Tull's Under Wraps [Ian Anderson solo], Forever For Now was a Myles Goodwyn Solo disc that the record co. made into an April Wine record...a mistake.
Weeping Widow is one of the best rock songs. Their treatment is ahead of its time. Sign of the Gypsy Queen is the best Blue Oyster Cult song that Blue Oyster Cult didn’t do. Holly Woods is the lead singer of the (excellent) Canadian band “Toronto”. I’m not sure if “Holly Would” is a reference to her in any way; Toronto only became active in the late 70s around the time the April Wine song was released. Then again...
Has anybody ever heard of Santers. Great band from Canada toured with Triumph back in the day. Nobody ever talks about them very under rated in my opinion. They put out 3 albums Shot Down in Flames, Racing Time and Guitar Alley that was produced by Rik Emmett himself. If you haven't heard them you need to check them out.
Way to give April Wine their cumulative props. I loved Nature of the Beast in high school and then later really dug Roller and Harder/Faster. It sounds like your dance card is really booked and filled for the next couple of days/weeks, but maybe some time you could discuss The Guess Who discography. In my opinion they were the greatest Canadian rock band of all time, along with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and, of course, the inimitable Rush. Take care.
April Wine was all cattle, no hat. I grew up with only Nature of the Beast and Power Play. Loved them but gave up on them after that. Now I'm doing a deep dive and realizing Animal Grace isn't that bad at all. First 2 songs are great. Also picked up Harder Faster and First Glance on vinyl as I love those now. Such an amazing band. And Frank Marino did actually play on the song So Bad. Pete's got a good ear. Great list and I share most of those. Crash and Burn ranks higher for me. Blistering guitars and when I see that Nature of the Beast cover I think they are playing that song. Myles was such a natural rocker. RIP.
This was a vital Top Ten list for a band that deserves a reappraisal, both abroad and here at home. April Wine was first and foremost a hard rocking arena band. But they were more than that: able to embody radio pop (sometimes sappy, sometimes sublime), an ultimate bar band (covering everything from The Beatles to Katina & the Waves) and even dabbling in hints of glam and prog (space travel, witches and King Crimson)! Like Cheap Trick, April Wine mastered many styles convincingly and one could shuffle their output and come up with a completely credible playlist. For fun, I thought I’d try a Top Ten that didn’t include any of Pardo’s selections (essential as they are). It was pretty easy. Songs are presented chronologically. ’72) “Could Have Been a Lady”: I was in Junior High when this, April Wine’s second single, broke big in Canada. Awesome open riff, funky counter riff, risqué lyrics and a keening lead solo. Didn’t know at the time that the funkiness came from Hot Chocolate but it’s still a perennial crowd pleaser. ’74) “Weeping Widow” The crazy opener to AW’s lift-off third album, ELECTRIC JEWELS, sung by bassist Jim Clench and given the full band treatment with fat guitars, propulsive percussion (including cowbell) and well-timed textural shifts that anticipate acts like Heart and Kansas. ’75) “Oowatanite”: In their 15-year ‘classic’ period, AW shed members like autumn leaves. Myles Goodwyn emerged as the primary writer, singer, producer as they morphed into arena rockers. However, many talented members contributed key songs early on, none better than Clench’s opener to the peerless STAND BACK album. Who needs ‘more cowbell’ when you can build a song with a fire bell? (Sloan would pay homage with their own burning “Money City Maniacs”). ’75) “Victim of Your Love”: With riffage borrowed from Tull’s BENEFIT, Goodwin pouts like a bruised glamour boy denied his eyeshadow. A choir of phase-shifted angels cry out of the clouds but it’s the screaming lead guitar that makes this epic. My favourite AW cut. ’75) “Tonite is a Wonderful Time”: Smarmy, glammy, poppy and oowee-chewy! This sprinkles a sparkling celeste on top of the taut “Sweet Jane” riff and bubble gum vocals. You can feel the key change coming a mile away but it still manages to pull the listener up. Goodwyn wrote these ditties in his sleep but they always sounded great on the radio. ’78) “Rock ‘n’ Roll is a Vicious Game”: A cautionary tale from guys who know all about the vicissitudes of the biz. Atypically driven by a harmonica for an almost country feel until the echoey, empty arena ending. ’80) “Say Hello”: There is simply no prescient in the AW catalogue for this slow building motorik invitation to head out and party. Fat drums, layered guitars and the boys chiming in on the title line. A song about possibilities, “We could turn the world around” indeed. ’81) “Like a Lover, Like a Song”: Lovely last dance of the broken-hearted, underpinned with mellotron and some Elton-like piano runs. Beautiful on the surface but slightly creepy when Miles repeats, “And I wanna live if I have to die, if I have to die”, etc. ’82) “Anything You Want”: Kicks off POWER PLAY with a bit of Brit Metal complete with an audience shout back. Tight guitars and a chorus that hooks into you like steel. Also used to awesome effect to ignite their 1985 live set, ONE FOR THE ROAD. ’84) “Sons of the Pioneers” Imagine if Jon Anderson had been asked to join Blue Oyster Cult to sing a cover of “Message in a Bottle”. Perfect.
April Wine were really great at remaking / covering a song and making it their own: Sign Of The Gypsy Queen (Lorence Hud); Bad Side Of The Moon (Elton John); Could've Been A Lady (Hot Chocolate); Doing It Right (Powder Blues); 2!st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson) and a few others on their 90's albums.
Electric Jewels, First Glance and Harder...Faster were the only AW albums I owned. I agree, they're albums prior to First Glance were inconsistent. I thought they were at their best during Brian Greenway's time in the band. Myles is a good songwriter and they were a very good live band.(saw the Harder ...Faster tour). I'd only change a couple songs on your list. Well done!
I had to import everything from Forever For Now because of my status as a Hoosier. I think if the song Electric Jewels had come out as a single in the States, it would have become an FM staple.
Pete-how's it going man? Where the heck has April Wine been all my life?... Incredible musicianship!... Thanx so much for your recommendation on this amazing band.... Can you please do an Outlaws retrospevctive/discography/worst to first?... Keep killin it on You Tube... Ghost Rider Rick.
1. come away2 sign of the gypsy queen3 all over town4 comin right down on top of me5 drop your guns6 you could of been a lady7 just between you and me8 silver dollar9 roller10 refugeapril wine=good memories:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Damn good live band, agree that their albums were a little spotty on occasion. Nature of the Beast was huge in the mid west and one hell of a good album.
Best album is the Canadian Greatest hits which came before Harder... Faster. Weeping Willow is my fave tune and 21st Century Is the best KC cover ever.
Hello from Toronto,Pete. A decent,rockin' Top 10. You should check out Myles Goodwyn and the Friends Of The Blues,released in 2018. Great vocals and guitars. One AW cover on it,but that's where any similarity ends.
Great band. Very underrated. Better than alot of the bands in the RRHOF. My Top 10.. in no particular order. Roller Say Hello Oowatanite Weeping Widow You Could Have Been A Lady Tonite Fast Train Bad Side of the Moon Here's Lookin at You Kid I'm on Fire for You Baby Comin Right Down on Top of Me Sign of The Gypsy Queen-- Live version Ooops sorry that's 12 songs. I could go on.....Lady Run, Lady Hide, Love Has Remembered Me, Rock and Roll is a Vicious Game, I Like To Rock etc...
The Stand Back and First Glance albums are their bests. Harder . . . Faster is a distant third. Forever ... For Now was supposed to be a Myles Goodwyn solo album but after the disappointing sales of The Whole World's Going Crazy, the record companies weren't interested in a solo album.
I'm pretty sure Just Between You and Me broke the top 40. I don't know how far it got. I used to listen to the American Top 40 on WKMX in Alabama with Casey Kasem.
Now, for *My April Wine Top 10* (using your same time period): 1) *Just Between You & Me* 2) *Sign Of The Gypsy Queen* 3) *Roller* 4) *21st Century Schizoid Man* 5) *You Could Have Been A Lady* 6) *Oowatanite* 7) *Big City Girls* 8) *Crash And Burn* (Speed Metal there) 9) *Bad Boys* 10) *One More Time* (a very special song to me) *SPECIAL NOTE:* Had I included the 2 90's albums, a minimum of 3 songs would have displaced some on this list. *Honorable Mentions:* Fast Train; Bad Side Of The Moon (a forgotten classic); Weeping Widow; Cum Hear The Band; Slow Poke; Baby Done Got Some Soul; Not For You, Not For Rock & Roll; Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love; Rock 'n' Roll Is A Vicious Game; I'm On Fire For You Baby; I Like To Rock; Say Hello; Tonite; Before The Dawn; Wanna Rock; Caught In The Crossfire; If You See Kay (love the title); This Could Be The Right One; Hard Rock Kid.
Roller Weeping Widow Say Hello You Could Have Been a Lady Oowatanite Crash and Burn Sign Of The Gypsy Queen Fast Train Comin' Right Down On Top Of Me Tonite.........plus so many more. American's missed the boat on this band.
Am I the only one who likes “You Won’t Dance With Me”? Cheesy pop I know and maybe I am growing into a softy in my 40s 😀 but better than anything sung Elvis Presley. A great top ten though. I think April Wine were the first band to play Monsters of Rock at Donington in 1980.
Frank Marino actually played lead guitar on To Bad. RIP Myles. Sad day for so many Canadians who have so many memories of good times with April Wine providing the soundtrack.
April Wine will always remind me of hot summer nights, cruising up and down Broad St with my best friend, wishing I would never grow old.
I remember very well when Nature of the Beast came out and April Wine started to get some attention in the states. They had already been a household name in Canada for around a decade. It always blew our collective minds how the states had unfairly ignored this band. To this day April Wine remains one of top hard rock bands ever in Canada and is right up there in the minds of Canadians as many American or English bands that had way more success. Growing up in Canada was so cool because we are basically American but we had a whole other music industry and group of bands to listen to in addition to what the states had. So we really did have the best of both worlds. A few other bands that were also big in Canada that deserved more attention were Streeheart, Prism, Honeymoon Suite, Goddo, Max Webster, FM, Queen City Kids, Helix,
Thanks for showing Canada some love...cheers EH!
Attn.: Billy Dow; from 1 "Billy" 2 another. U DEFINITELY know ur FUCKIN' SHIT thru & thru. Despite my moniker as "B.J. Banditt" (the "B.J." stands 4 "Billy Joe"), this BILLY BOY here says 'ROLLER" & "CRASH & BURN" EPTIOMIZES what APRIL WINE represents. Simply put; APRIL WINE FUCKIN' ROCKS & KICKS FUCKIN' ASS!!!!!
I I’m from the U.S., and started listening to them about 17 years too late; at the time, I didn’t even know they had put out anything before Nature. Stand Back is my favorite now.
You forgot Haywire, Chilliwack, The Headpins,and Saga.
Great list, as always. Their long time drummer Jerry Mercer (now retired from the band) lives in my town. I've gigged with him a few times. Incredible drummer and a cool down to earth guy!
Say Hello ! 😃
AWESOME drummer. Love Mr. Mercer...and their kick-ass bass player Steve Lang (R.I.P.) was the perfect foil for him.
1. Weeping Widow
2. Drop Your Guns
3. I like To Rock
4. Work All Day
5. Roller
6. Oowatanite
7. Just Like That
8. You Could Have Been A Lady
9. Slow Poke
10. Hot On The Wheels Of Love
I've been waiting for someone to discuss April Wine. Talk about an underrated group.
Ray; SO SPOT-ON!!!!! UNDERR8D? BIG FUCKIN' UNDERST8MENT!!!!!
I always liked their cover of 21st century schizoid man
I love it. It's great. They really did it justice.
Agreed, that was going to be my comment. I used to it played, by request, on the old Rocket 101 FM station from Erie, PA.
BIG FUCKIN' UNDERST8MENT!!!!! 21st Century Schzoid Man FUCKIN' ROCKS!!!!! W/that said, give me "Roller" & "Crash & Burn" & I'm GR8 2 GO!!!!!
"Sign of the Gypsy Queen" YES!!!!
Top 10:
1. Enough Is Enough
2. Just Between You And Me
3. If You See Kay
4. Tonite
5. Oowatonite
6. Sons of the Pioneers
7. Sign of the Gypsy Queen
8. Anejo
9. Hold On
10. Good from far, far from good.
Love has remembered me is a great love song one of my favorites
I’ve managed to ignore April Wine my whole life and now I’m lost in their catalog. I’m addicted to these album/song ranking videos.
I crashed my 70' Le Mans listening to "Crash & Burn" I was on my way home from picking up my Paycheck. Feeling good, Rockin' out and going way to fast. No damage ended up in a corn field. I was 16, it was 1982. Still listen to April Wine.
LOVED April Wine in the early 80's NATURE OF THE BEAST!
"Just Between You And Me" hit its peak position of number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981. Just thought I would share that with you Pete.
Thanks Pete for doing this!!!! I would say "Harder Faster..." and "Nature of the Beast" = no filler
and I do like Power Play...
I would add First Glance to that list.Just as good as those 2.That late 70's/ early 80's time was their peak.
Thanks Pete, great underrated 70s pop band. Here is mine.
1 Roller
2 Sign of the Gypsy Queen
3 I Like to Rock
4 All Over Town
5 Wanna Rock
6 Big City Girls
7 One More Time
8 Just Between You and Me
9 Owatanite
10 Rock and Roll is a Vicious Game
Great video sir. Thanks.
Tonight(from Harder Faster) is my favorite AW song followed by Before the Dawn. Caught in the Crossfire, One More Time. Every song off the Harder Faster and Nature of the Beast albums are good. I like Roller too.
I like their cover of the Beatles' "Tell Me Why."
I like it even better than the original, and that is saying a lot. A couple extra chord changes that make it interesting.
1-tonite is a wonderful time
2-say hello
3-weeping widow
4-I like to rock
5-whole worlds goin crazy
6-could have been a lady
7-fast train
8-gimme love
9-future tense
10-all over town
Drop your guns
Slow poke
Kick Willy road
April Wine is definitely one of my favorite Canadian bands from what I've listened to anyway. I haven't delved into a lot of their music catalogue though...
Don't know if I have a top 10. But here are my favorites:
7) *Too Hot To Handle*
6) *Enough Is Enough*
5) *Just Between You And Me*
4) *I Like To Rock*
3) *All Over Town*
2) *Roller*
1) *Sign Of The Gypsy Queen*
I love their live video that was all over MTV back in the day. It was live in London. I eventually landed it on DVD. No regrets.
They toured with Rush in '79 - they wandered around the crowd prior to the concert - put on a terrific show. I became a fan immediately.
I agree with your number 1 pick. I've seen April Wine twice and they were great in both 2005 and in 2019.
April Wine was very popular in St. Louis going all the way back to "First Glance". They got tons of air play and appeared in concert many time times. The same is true for other Canadian band like Prism and Moxy
1. I Like To Rock
2. Roller
3. Sign Of the Gypsy Queen
4. Just Between You and Me
5. Say Hello
6. Before The Dawn
7. Enough is Enough
8. Anything You Want, You Got it.
9. All Over Town
10. Oowatanite
Glad you looked at April Wine! Thanks!
The early 80s was a special time for Canadian and Australian music. You should consider doing a show on each as we will never see such an era again. Just my two cents Pete.
I'm Canadian and was exposed to April Wine a lot more than Americans so there are dozens of songs that were fairly big songs up here. April Wine did some of the rockiest songs (three lead guitarists) but also did some great ballads. My Top Ten are.... in no particular order .. Roller, Weeping Widow, Say Hello, You Could Have Been A Lady, Oowatanite, Fast Train, I'm on Fire for You, Sign of the Gypsy Queen, Right Down on Top of Me, Tonite and Drop Your Guns. But I could list another dozen.
Forgot about these guys...........lots of good tunes and crank it up music !! Bassicaly a soft metal band best known for there hit "just between you and me". Canada's Aerosmith...Good Stuff!
Ladies Man and Say Hello too. Really love Harder Faster And Nature Of The Beast. Both very good albums still in my regular rotation.
2 great albums. The rest of their albums don't quite measure up to those 2.
Saga? A lot to talk about!
I love Saga
Wind Me Up, son.
"So Bad" Frank Marino like? Could it be that Frank Marino plays guitar on that song. Check the credits Pete.
Good band. A lot of killer tunes from these guys. 👍🤘⚡
in 1982 at the Annual talent contest at College me and my roommates 'Air Banded" Hot on the Wheels of Love
From Toronto, Canada thank you so much. So many great songs to choose from but I tried to leave out covers and went mostly originals, orherwise 21st Century Schizoid Man would've been my # 1 as well. So Here Goes:
10. Slow Poke
9.Farkus/You Could Have Been A Lady
8.Comin'Right Down On Top of Me
7.Before The Dawn
6.Weeping Widow
5.Fast Train
4.Don't Push Me Around
3.Just Like That
2.I Like To Rock
1.Roller
"The Band has Just Begun" , "So Bad", "Rock Myself to Sleep", "Wanna Rock" and "Shotdown". There you have it. My top 5.
Top 10 April Wine songs that came after Animal Grace (IMO)
1- Strong Silent Type (from Greatest hits Live)
2-Won't Walk That Road No More (from Back To The Mansion)
3-Givin' It Takin' It (from Attitude)
4-Here's Lookin' At You Kid (from Attitude)
5-Open Soul Surgery (from Walking Through Fire)
6-I Just Wanna Make Love To You (cover from Frigate)
7-Better Slow Down (from Attitude)
8-I Am A Rock (cover from Back To The Mansion)
9-Hard To Believe (from Frigate)
10-Rock Myself To Sleep (from Walking Through Fire)
Say Hello is a fantastic track. Rock n Roll is a Viscous Game. Live at El Macambo and April Wine Live are both very solid too.
All Over Town
Nice video! Can't wait for the mighty Max Webster list.
1: Fast Train
2: Babes in arms
3: All over town
4 oowatanite
5: roller
6: could have been a lady
7: weeping widow
8: bad side of the moon
9: Just like that/here’s looking at you kid
10: better do it well/drop your guns
Great list Pete. Surprised to see Just Between You & Me on your list as you tend to shy away from the big hits on your lists. As for me, mine centers on the 80s records:
10. Without Your Love
9. Enough Is Enough
8. Caught In The Crossfire
7. Anejo
6. This Could Be The Right One
5. Sign Of The Gypsy Queen
4. Future Tense
3. Ladies Man
2. Crash & Burn
1. Like To Rock
Killer Band seen them back in the day
"Just Between You And Me" went to # 23 (Billboard Hot 100) in May of 1981 & their biggest hit in the U.S..
Attn.: Matt Clark; it actually reached #21 on Billboard. No big deal; just providing u some accuracy. Nvrthlss, u r SPOT-ON RE: A.W.'s biggest hit in the U.S.A.
I'm happy with 4 albums by them. Electric Jewels, First Glance, Harder Faster and Nature of the Beast. Favorites are Before the Dawn, Ladies Man, 21st Century Schiziod Man, Sign of the Gypsy Queen.
Great list!! You should *_definitely_* check-out both of their *_great_* 90's albums *_Attitude_* (1993) and *_Frigate_* (1994). If The Wine were not technically Heavy Metal beforehand, they *_definitely_* became that with these 2 back-to-back scorchers. Even the ballads really pop on *_Attitude._*
I recommend playing both albums in their entirety, but my favorites on them are as follows:
From *_Attitude:_* The opening track "Givin' It, Takin' It" is a Zeppelinesque barn-burner; the power-ballad "I Can't Take Another Night"; the naughty rocker "Good From Far, Far From Good"; the Speed Metal (yes, you read that right) ironically-named "Better Slow Down"; another power-ballad "If You Believe In Me"; and finally their ode to S&M (yes, you read that right) simply titled "It Hurts." Honestly, not a bad song on this entire album.
From *_Frigate:_* The 5-minute *HEAVY* opener "Look Into The Sun" (probably their all-time heaviest track), and 3 amazing covers: The Foghat classic (yes, I know that it itself was a cover) "I Just Want To Make Love To You"; the Spencer Davis Group/Chicago Transit Authority classic "I'm A Man"; finally, a wonderful cover of their own "Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love." Check these albums OUT!! 🤘
“ Silver Dollar” - in the top ten for me. Nice to give April Wine some attention - definitely deserved.
Interesting band choice!
Alwayd loved "Stand back" album
Oh yeah, Babes in Arms and Future Tense. Can't forget those.
01 Electric Jewels
02 Oowatanite
03 Weeping Widow
04 Just Like That
05 Fast Train
06 The Band Has Just Begun
07 Work All Day
08 Roller
09 I Like To Rock
10 Hot On The Wheels Of Love
11 Refuge
12 Victim of Your Love
13 Before The Dawn
Likes Sabbath's Seventh Star which was originally an Iommi solo disc and Jethro Tull's Under Wraps [Ian Anderson solo], Forever For Now was a Myles Goodwyn Solo disc that the record co. made into an April Wine record...a mistake.
Great Band🎸😎👊
Weeping Widow is one of the best rock songs. Their treatment is ahead of its time.
Sign of the Gypsy Queen is the best Blue Oyster Cult song that Blue Oyster Cult didn’t do.
Holly Woods is the lead singer of the (excellent) Canadian band “Toronto”. I’m not sure if “Holly Would” is a reference to her in any way; Toronto only became active in the late 70s around the time the April Wine song was released. Then again...
Has anybody ever heard of Santers. Great band from Canada toured with Triumph back in the day. Nobody ever talks about them very under rated in my opinion. They put out 3 albums Shot Down in Flames, Racing Time and Guitar Alley that was produced by Rik Emmett himself. If you haven't heard them you need to check them out.
Sad to say I didn't know much of them. I mostly like crash and burn and all over town. That's amazing tunes!
"Wench"-best April Wine song of all time.
Way to give April Wine their cumulative props. I loved Nature of the Beast in high school and then later really dug Roller and Harder/Faster. It sounds like your dance card is really booked and filled for the next couple of days/weeks, but maybe some time you could discuss The Guess Who discography. In my opinion they were the greatest Canadian rock band of all time, along with Neil Young and Crazy Horse and, of course, the inimitable Rush. Take care.
I half expected that Roller would be your #1, but good choices :-)
I love Roller
@@marionroller6969 Likewise here;my favorite A.W. song (along w/"Crash & Burn").
Hey Pete, since you asked Just between u and me. In the States #11 on US Top Rock Tracks, #21 Hot Billboard. Cheers.
Yep, knew it performed pretty well!
How did April Wine and Pat Travers both get away with having tunes called "Crash and Burn"?
April Wine was all cattle, no hat. I grew up with only Nature of the Beast and Power Play. Loved them but gave up on them after that. Now I'm doing a deep dive and realizing Animal Grace isn't that bad at all. First 2 songs are great. Also picked up Harder Faster and First Glance on vinyl as I love those now. Such an amazing band. And Frank Marino did actually play on the song So Bad. Pete's got a good ear. Great list and I share most of those. Crash and Burn ranks higher for me. Blistering guitars and when I see that Nature of the Beast cover I think they are playing that song. Myles was such a natural rocker. RIP.
This was a vital Top Ten list for a band that deserves a reappraisal, both abroad and here at home. April Wine was first and foremost a hard rocking arena band. But they were more than that: able to embody radio pop (sometimes sappy, sometimes sublime), an ultimate bar band (covering everything from The Beatles to Katina & the Waves) and even dabbling in hints of glam and prog (space travel, witches and King Crimson)! Like Cheap Trick, April Wine mastered many styles convincingly and one could shuffle their output and come up with a completely credible playlist.
For fun, I thought I’d try a Top Ten that didn’t include any of Pardo’s selections (essential as they are). It was pretty easy. Songs are presented chronologically.
’72) “Could Have Been a Lady”: I was in Junior High when this, April Wine’s second single, broke big in Canada. Awesome open riff, funky counter riff, risqué lyrics and a keening lead solo. Didn’t know at the time that the funkiness came from Hot Chocolate but it’s still a perennial crowd pleaser.
’74) “Weeping Widow” The crazy opener to AW’s lift-off third album, ELECTRIC JEWELS, sung by bassist Jim Clench and given the full band treatment with fat guitars, propulsive percussion (including cowbell) and well-timed textural shifts that anticipate acts like Heart and Kansas.
’75) “Oowatanite”: In their 15-year ‘classic’ period, AW shed members like autumn leaves. Myles Goodwyn emerged as the primary writer, singer, producer as they morphed into arena rockers. However, many talented members contributed key songs early on, none better than Clench’s opener to the peerless STAND BACK album. Who needs ‘more cowbell’ when you can build a song with a fire bell? (Sloan would pay homage with their own burning “Money City Maniacs”).
’75) “Victim of Your Love”: With riffage borrowed from Tull’s BENEFIT, Goodwin pouts like a bruised glamour boy denied his eyeshadow. A choir of phase-shifted angels cry out of the clouds but it’s the screaming lead guitar that makes this epic. My favourite AW cut.
’75) “Tonite is a Wonderful Time”: Smarmy, glammy, poppy and oowee-chewy! This sprinkles a sparkling celeste on top of the taut “Sweet Jane” riff and bubble gum vocals. You can feel the key change coming a mile away but it still manages to pull the listener up. Goodwyn wrote these ditties in his sleep but they always sounded great on the radio.
’78) “Rock ‘n’ Roll is a Vicious Game”: A cautionary tale from guys who know all about the vicissitudes of the biz. Atypically driven by a harmonica for an almost country feel until the echoey, empty arena ending.
’80) “Say Hello”: There is simply no prescient in the AW catalogue for this slow building motorik invitation to head out and party. Fat drums, layered guitars and the boys chiming in on the title line. A song about possibilities, “We could turn the world around” indeed.
’81) “Like a Lover, Like a Song”: Lovely last dance of the broken-hearted, underpinned with mellotron and some Elton-like piano runs. Beautiful on the surface but slightly creepy when Miles repeats, “And I wanna live if I have to die, if I have to die”, etc.
’82) “Anything You Want”: Kicks off POWER PLAY with a bit of Brit Metal complete with an audience shout back. Tight guitars and a chorus that hooks into you like steel. Also used to awesome effect to ignite their 1985 live set, ONE FOR THE ROAD.
’84) “Sons of the Pioneers” Imagine if Jon Anderson had been asked to join Blue Oyster Cult to sing a cover of “Message in a Bottle”. Perfect.
April Wine were really great at remaking / covering a song and making it their own: Sign Of The Gypsy Queen (Lorence Hud); Bad Side Of The Moon (Elton John); Could've Been A Lady (Hot Chocolate); Doing It Right (Powder Blues); 2!st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson) and a few others on their 90's albums.
Underrated because they are Canadian.
What about "Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love" & "Rock'N'Roll is a vicious Game"???
Absolutely agree. They were at least in my Honorable Mentions.
Electric Jewels, First Glance and Harder...Faster were the only AW albums I owned. I agree, they're albums prior to First Glance were inconsistent. I thought they were at their best during Brian Greenway's time in the band. Myles is a good songwriter and they were a very good live band.(saw the Harder ...Faster tour). I'd only change a couple songs on your list. Well done!
April Wine "Live" say no more
I didn't hear Enough Is Enough as an honorable mention. Really catchy pop rocker, and a bit of a hit for them.
"Just Between You And Me" was top 20 or 30 in the U.S.
Love has remembered me was better
Love has remembered me was better
@@geargod39 Maybe not better, but just as good.
"Forever Now" was suppose to be a Myles Goodwyn solo album, but I think the record company wanted another AW record
You really should track down the "Attitude" album from 1993. It's as heavy as the band ever got and it has a lot of great hooks. Look for it!
So Bad IS Frank Marino.
Well, that explains that!!!!
Frank Marino actually played on ‘So Bad’, btw.
Mid 80s Brian Grennway teamed up Acoustic with John McGale Ex Offenbach ...Before The Dawn Indeed!!
Say Hello is a lovely track -- don't know if they released it as a single but I think it would've done well on FM at the time
Holiday is great. 2000s
#1 Roller !!
Likea Lover, Like a Song.
I had to import everything from Forever For Now because of my status as a Hoosier. I think if the song Electric Jewels had come out as a single in the States, it would have become an FM staple.
Sign Of The Gypsy Queen. Enough said.
That's my favorite from AW too...
Pete, have you heard the Sign of the Gypsy Queen from the Live Greatest Hits? Super killer version on that album.
Pete-how's it going man? Where the heck has April Wine been all my life?... Incredible musicianship!... Thanx so much for your recommendation on this amazing band.... Can you please do an Outlaws retrospevctive/discography/worst to first?... Keep killin it on You Tube... Ghost Rider Rick.
1. come away2 sign of the gypsy queen3 all over town4 comin right down on top of me5 drop your guns6 you could of been a lady7 just between you and me8 silver dollar9 roller10 refugeapril wine=good memories:)))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Damn good live band, agree that their albums were a little spotty on occasion. Nature of the Beast was huge in the mid west and one hell of a good album.
Actually Frank Marino is playing on So Bad.
Best album is the Canadian Greatest hits which came before Harder... Faster. Weeping Willow is my fave tune and 21st Century Is the best KC cover ever.
Hello from Toronto,Pete.
A decent,rockin' Top 10.
You should check out Myles Goodwyn and the Friends Of The Blues,released in 2018. Great vocals and guitars. One AW cover on it,but that's where any similarity ends.
Great band. Very underrated. Better than alot of the bands in the RRHOF. My Top 10..
in no particular order.
Roller
Say Hello
Oowatanite
Weeping Widow
You Could Have Been A Lady
Tonite
Fast Train
Bad Side of the Moon
Here's Lookin at You Kid
I'm on Fire for You Baby
Comin Right Down on Top of Me
Sign of The Gypsy Queen-- Live version
Ooops sorry that's 12 songs. I could go on.....Lady Run, Lady Hide, Love Has Remembered Me, Rock and Roll is a Vicious Game, I Like To Rock etc...
The Stand Back and First Glance albums are their bests. Harder . . . Faster is a distant third. Forever ... For Now was supposed to be a Myles Goodwyn solo album but after the disappointing sales of The Whole World's Going Crazy, the record companies weren't interested in a solo album.
I'm pretty sure Just Between You and Me broke the top 40. I don't know how far it got. I used to listen to the American Top 40 on WKMX in Alabama with Casey Kasem.
Who is the imposter in the plain black shirt?
Now, for *My April Wine Top 10* (using your same time period):
1) *Just Between You & Me*
2) *Sign Of The Gypsy Queen*
3) *Roller*
4) *21st Century Schizoid Man*
5) *You Could Have Been A Lady*
6) *Oowatanite*
7) *Big City Girls*
8) *Crash And Burn* (Speed Metal there)
9) *Bad Boys*
10) *One More Time* (a very special song to me)
*SPECIAL NOTE:* Had I included the 2 90's albums, a minimum of 3 songs would have displaced some on this list.
*Honorable Mentions:* Fast Train; Bad Side Of The Moon (a forgotten classic); Weeping Widow; Cum Hear The Band; Slow Poke; Baby Done Got Some Soul; Not For You, Not For Rock & Roll; Tonite Is A Wonderful Time To Fall In Love; Rock 'n' Roll Is A Vicious Game; I'm On Fire For You Baby; I Like To Rock; Say Hello; Tonite; Before The Dawn; Wanna Rock; Caught In The Crossfire; If You See Kay (love the title); This Could Be The Right One; Hard Rock Kid.
You should definitely check out their last few albums. Attitude and Frigate are killers.
Crash and Burn has a very Diamond Head vibe about it.
RIP Myles
Roller
Weeping Widow
Say Hello
You Could Have Been a Lady
Oowatanite
Crash and Burn
Sign Of The Gypsy Queen
Fast Train
Comin' Right Down On Top Of Me
Tonite.........plus so many more. American's missed the boat on this band.
Enough is Enough. From
Power Play
April Wine were on Big Tree / Bell Records in 1972, then Big Tree / Atlantic in 1975, then Capitol Records. They were NOT on Mercury Records.
Am I the only one who likes “You Won’t Dance With Me”?
Cheesy pop I know and maybe I am growing into a softy in my 40s 😀 but better than anything sung Elvis Presley. A great top ten though. I think April Wine were the first band to play Monsters of Rock at Donington in 1980.
dan cussin I download a copy of that which I think is a from a cd.