Virgin Records Canada Inc. Biography
(November 1992)
January 1993 will mark the 9th anniversary of the union of Jay Semko (bass), Bryan Potvin (guitar), Merl Bryck (guitar), and Don Schmid (drums)
that is The Northern Pikes. Four kids from Saskatoon had a dream, have lived it for close to a decade, and continue to grow. The band's now distinctive
sound has evolved over those years, and the product of that evolution is NEPTUNE, the band's fourth album.
NEPTUNE features three of the band members (Bryan, Jay, Merl) trading off lead vocals, and all of The Northern Pikes sharing writing
skills. The resulting album is a 15-song package featuring a varied yet cohesive sound. The album was co-produced by, as they are fondly known,
The Pikes and Rob Jaczko.
The Northern Pikes first met "R.J." at the A&M studios in Los Angeles during the mixing of "Snow in June", where Rob was assisting Hugh Padgham
on some tracks. They met up again when he worked with Ed Stasium on the re-working of the single "Dream Away" from the "Snow" album.
NEPTUNE was recorded during July and August 1992. The game plan from the outset was to make a record that represented the band's
exciting live sound. Basic tracks were laid at A&M studios in L.A.; overdubs were done at Metal Works, Toronto; and final overdubs and mixes at Blue
Jay Studios in Boston.
The Pikes were anxious to return to the studio after spending most of their time on tour since the release of "Snow in June", in June 1990.
This included five months in the United States supporting the American release of this album, which gave them their first U.S. single to hit the Billboard
Hot One Hundred, "She Ain't Pretty".
NEPTUNE features some outstanding performances by guest artists. Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies joins Jay on a duet for "Worlds Away",
as well as providing some haunting background vocals on "Chain of Flowers". Kenny Greer also lends assistance with his patented steel guitar sound on
"All This Man Can Do".
On this album, The Pikes again show their artistic scope. The tracks range from fun pop songs to the darker, and slightly bizarre, tales of real life.
The first single is "Twister", a smokin' rocker featuring Jay on lead vocal. "Hold On" releates a particularly poignant tale of love and loss, the inspiration coming from
the story contained in the abbreviated newspaper articles on the page following.
For the abbreviated newspaper articles that detail the inspiration for "Hold On", please click here.
DISCOGRAPHY
BIG BLUE SKY - 1987 (Gold)
SECRETS OF THE ALIBI - 1989 (Gold)
SNOW IN JUNE - 1990 (approaching Double Platinum)