Album flashback

Red Rider - As Far As Siam [1981]

Forming in Toronto in 1975, Tom Cochrane and his mates went through a few manifestations before he went solo [again] in 1990.

Releasing his own music as Cochrane on Daffodil Records in the early 70s, Tom was still looking for the right vehicle for his songs.

The Red Ryder Band actually began without Cochrane at all, albeit existing solely in Toronto’s club scene.

The legend goes that Tom heard the group at the famed El Mocambo club one night in 1977 and nudged his way into what was now known as simply Red Rider.

The newly configured band secured a deal with Capitol Records and had done well with debut record ‘Don’t Fight It’ - including single ‘White Hot’.

For their follow-up, recording got underway in L.A. with Richard Landis [Juice Newton, Lorrie Morgan] behind the desk. Michael James Jackson [Pablo Cruise, Kiss] - who had produced the debut - took charge of the two tracks recorded in Toronto.

The production is noticeably clean, with an ‘off the floor’ feel.

Featured are Tom Cochrane, lead vocals, guitar | Peter Boynton, keyboards, vocals | Ken Greer guitars, vocals | Jeff Jones bass, vocals | Rob Baker drums.

Lunatic Fringe | did not chart in Canada, #11 US

If you’re making a list of the best Side 1/Track 1 tunes ever recorded, this has to be on there.

Guest star Peter Wolf [the Austrian keyboard guy, not the J. Geils Band guy] starts proceedings and builds the tension for 40 seconds. Following is the iconic guitar pick slide before the rest of the group join in.

Greer has the musical highlight with his incredible steel guitar solo around the 2’30 mark.

Lyrically, the song is a call for vigilance. Now more than 45 years old, I think you’d agree the message is still vitally important. As such, here are the lyrics in full:

Lunatic fringe
I know you’re out there
You’re in hiding
And you hold your meetings

I can hear you coming
And we know what you’re after
We’re wise to you this time
(We’re wise to you this time)
We won’t let you kill the laughter

Lunatic fringe
In the twilight’s last gleaming
This is open season
But you won’t get too far

‘Cause you’ve got to blame someone
For your own confusion
We’re on guard this time (on guard this time)
Against your final solution
Oh no

We can hear you coming
(We can hear you coming)
No, you’re not going to win this time
(You’re not gonna win)
We can hear the footsteps
(We can hear the footsteps)
Way out along the walkway (along the walkway)

Lunatic fringe
We all know you’re out there
Can you feel the resistance?
Can you feel the thunder?
Oh no

Behind The Vinyl | Boom 97.3

Always good to hear the artist reflect on the background. Turns out the demo was laid down on the night that John Lennon was murdered. Sadly, this spawned a rumour that this was the song’s subject. It is not.

Cochrane also discloses here that there was some pressure to write something a little more pop radio friendly. He refused and urges artists to follow their own instincts.

What Have You Got To Do (To Get Off Tonight) | peaked #42

Speaking of more straightforward and ready for the airwaves, the album’s first single was exactly that.

Instantly recognisable Cochrane vocals and a guitar driven, new wave adjacent sound are on display here.

There’s a great bridge and breakdown section that leads to another screaming Greer guitar solo as things wind down.

A great little pop number.

All in all, a quite satisfying album. But of course, the big takeaway was ‘Lunatic Fringe’.

Still popular on AOR radio, and placed on multiple movies, TV shows and video games over the years. It was even the tagline for WEBN FM in Cincinnati for decades!

* insert WKRP joke here… *

The boys are still touring as Red Rider, with both Greer and Jones taking part.