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Powder Blues Band

Canadian blues/pop band formed 1978 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Powder Blues Band is a Canadian musical band formed in 1978 in Vancouver. Its first album Uncut went double platinum in Canada. The second album Thirsty Ears was similarly popular.

Quick facts Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues (aka Powder Blues Band), Origin ...

Their best known songs include: "Boppin' with the Blues", "Doin' It Right", "Thirsty Ears", "Hear That Guitar Ring", and "What've I Been Drinkin".

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History

The Powder Blues was founded in 1978 as a house band in Vancouver, British Columbia. The band was founded by brothers Tom Lavin (guitar, vocals), Jack Lavin (bass, vocals), and Willie MacCalder (keyboards, vocals).[1] After playing in local clubs for 18 months,[citation needed] the band released their self-financed and self-produced debut album, Uncut, in 1980, followed by a tour of Canada and the US.[citation needed] The band won the Juno Award for "Most Promising Group of the Year" in 1981.[1] Uncut went double platinum in Canada in 1982, selling over 200,000 copies.[2] Their second album, Thirsty Ears, was released in 1981[1] and was certified platinum in Canada.[2] In 1986, the band won the American W.C. Handy Award for "Foreign Band of the Year".[3] The band's greatest hits album First Decade was released in 1990 and was certified gold.[2]

The band is now known as Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues.[4] They were still touring as of 2024.[5]

The initial lineup of the band consisted of:[1]

  • Tom Lavin – guitar, vocals
  • Jack Lavin – bass
  • Duris Maxwell – drums
  • Will MacCalder – keyboards, vocals
  • Wayne Kozak – saxophone
  • Gordon Bertram – saxophone
  • David Woodward – saxophone
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Discography

Singles

  • "Doin' It Right" – 1980 (#40 Canada)[6]
  • "Boppin' with the Blues" – 1980 (#88 Canada)[7]
  • "What've I Been Drinkin'" – 1980 (#28 CanAC)[8]
  • "Hear That Guitar Ring" – 1981 (#22 Canada; CanCon)[9] and (#22 CanAO; CanCon)[10]
  • "Thirsty Ears" – 1981 (#17 Canada)[11]
  • "Lovin' Kissin' & Huggin'" – 1981 (#47 Canada)[12]
  • "Joy Ridin'" – 1982
  • "Sooner or Later" – 1982
  • "Should Be You and Me" – 1982
  • "Jump Up" – 1983
  • "Farmer John" – 1983
  • "Roll Over Beethoven" – 1983
  • "I'm on the Road Again" – 1984

Albums

  • 1979: Uncut (Blue Wave) (#5 Canada)[13])
  • 1980: Uncut [reissue] (Blue Wave/RCA Victor; Liberty)
  • 1981: Thirsty Ears (Liberty) (#11 Canada)[14])
  • 1982: Party Line (Liberty) (#36 Canada)[15]
  • 1983: Powder Blues (Liberty) Note: this is a US only compilation album with the same catalog number as the Canadian Party Line release; it includes 5 tracks from Uncut, 2 tracks from Thirsty Ears and 5 tracks from Party Line.
  • 1983: Red Hot/True Blue (RCA Victor [dbl LP]; Flying Fish [sgl LP]) (#88 Canada; 4 weeks)[16]
  • 1984: Live at Montreux (Blue Wave) recorded 1983
  • 1990: First Decade/Greatest Hits (WEA) compilation
  • 1993: Let's Get Loose (WEA)
  • 1997: Blue Shadows: Lowell Fulson with the Powder Blues Band (Stony Plain) recorded 1981
  • 1997: Live at Montreux [CD reissue] (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2001: Swingin' the Blues (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2004: Blues + Jazz = BLAZZ! (Blue Wave/Peerless Music)
  • 2007: Platinum (EMI) compilation
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Albums not on compact disc

  • As of 2024, their three most commercially successful albums are not on compact disc: Uncut (1979), Thirsty Ears (1981) and Party Line (1982).
  • Side note: all nine tracks from Uncut are included on the First Decade/Greatest Hits compilation CD.

Awards

References

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