Album flashback

Uranus - You're So Square [1980]

Proving that no one digs deeper to find hidden CanCon gems for you, allow me to present, from London, Ontario - Uranus.

Making the transition from the bars to the studio, the lads put together a record with a sprinkling of original material and a whole lot of covers.

Let’s meet the group:

• Dexter Beauregarde (drums)

• Jerry Fletcher (bass)

• Frank Ridsdale (vocals, piano, guitar)

• Jack Whiteside (vocals, lead guitar)

From the embers of cover band Cheeseburger Deluxe came Uranus, and their hit indie single You’re So Square - which charted nationally.

You’re So Square - peaked #86, in 1980

Yup, Leiber & Stoller wrote this for Elvis and his Jailhouse Rock movie. Since covered by Buddy Holly and Joni Mitchell, which I’m guessing no other song can claim.

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The Ballad of Gilligan’s Isle - did not chart

This is bonkers, and I love it.

A Led Zep garage band-styled cover of one of the best TV themes of them all.

🚨 WARNING - Dangerous Earworm 🚨

Along The Watchtower - did not chart

OK, now I think they’re messing with me a little. However, please enjoy the reggae-stylee cover of Bob Dylan’s Watchtower that you did not know you needed.

You’re welcome, friend.

Under My Thumb - did not chart

As I listen to this I like to imagine a very rich and possibly inebriated Mick and Keef checking the post and wondering why they each got a cheque for sixpence from some indie record label in the colonies?

They’ll no doubt be disappointed when they’re compared to the ones they received from Streetheart for their cover in the very same year!

This version is sped up to bar band tempo, and it’s… pretty good.

A reminder to check out Streetheart’s Rolling Stones cover as well. Which do you prefer?

Like so many before them, Uranus were one and done as far as LPs were concerned. They were unable to take the next step and decided that they didn’t want to keep playing bars and birthday parties, so they packed it in.

Sadly, we lost Jack Whiteside in 2025 - but we have his music.