One day I was flipping channels and I heard this really cool intro to a song. It led into some amazing lyrics about a man looking back on his life.
I quickly discovered the song was “Boy Inside the Man” by Tom Cochrane and Red Rider.
By that time, I was about a year and a half into my musical journey and I had heard of Red Rider, but didn’t know much about them or their music.
“Boy Inside the Man” was really my introduction to an artist who is another icon of Canadian music.
I recently learned Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. He deserves it for a body of work that spans the late ‘70s to the modern day.
Starting out
Tom Cochrane released his first solo single “You’re Driving Me Crazy (Faith Healers)” in 1973 and, of the six solo singles he released between 1973 and 1976, it was the only one that charted, reaching number 71 in Canada. He released his first solo album “Hang On to Your Resistance” in 1974. He joined Red Rider in Toronto in 1978. According to his website, he then started his career in the pubs, roughneck bars, and coffeehouses of Ontario then Canada and the rest of the world.
Tom Cochrane released his first solo single “You’re Driving Me Crazy (Faith Healers)” in 1973 and, of the six solo singles he released between 1973 and 1976, it was the only one that charted, reaching number 71 in Canada. He released his first solo album “Hang On to Your Resistance” in 1974. He joined Red Rider in Toronto in 1978. According to his website, he then started his career in the pubs, roughneck bars, and coffeehouses of Ontario then Canada and the rest of the world.
Red Rider released their first album, “Don’t Fight it”, in 1979, and it produced their first top 20 single.
“White Hot” was their debut single, going all the way to number 20 in Canada and number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. “White Hot” is a classic Canadian rock song and it surprises me it did not chart higher, given how much air play it received.
The first time I heard it, well at least part of it, was as the music for the CFCN Channel 13 late-night news. They utilized the intro of “White Hot” which is very distinctive.
Red Rider released one other single from “Don’t Fight it”, the title track, and it peaked at number 75 in Canada and number 103 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.
As the ‘80s dawned, Red Rider had begun to establish themselves, and would see their popularity increase through the decade.
Going crazy
Red Rider released their second album, “As Far as Siam”, in 1981. The first single was “What Have You Got to Do”, and it peaked at number 42 in Canada, but did not chart in the States.
Red Rider released their second album, “As Far as Siam”, in 1981. The first single was “What Have You Got to Do”, and it peaked at number 42 in Canada, but did not chart in the States.
The second single, has become another Canadian classic. With its haunting opening, “Lunatic Fringe” did not chart in Canada, which amazes me, but did go all the way to number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. Wikipedia reveals Cochrane wrote the song after becoming concerned about a resurgence of anti-Semitism in the 1970s. He was also inspired after reading about Raoul Wallenberg, who rescued Jews from the Holocaust during the Second World War.
The song was part of the soundtrack for the 1985 movie “Vision Quest”, and appeared in the opening scene of the “Smuggler’s Blues” episode of “Miami Vice” in 1985.
In fact, the first time I ever heard “Lunatic Fringe” was on an album countdown on LA-107 FM when they played it as part of the “Vision Quest Soundtrack”.
Two more albums
Red Rider released “Neruda”, their third album, in 1983. It is named after Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Their first single, “Human Race”, is another song I heard quite a lot that is reminiscent of the sound of “White Hot” and “Lunatic Fringe”. It went all the way to number 29 in Canada, and also peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, just like “Lunatic Fringe”. The next two singles did not chart in Canada or on the Billboard Hot 100. However, “Power (Strength in Numbers)” peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and “Crack the Sky (Breakaway)” hit number 39 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Red Rider released “Neruda”, their third album, in 1983. It is named after Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Their first single, “Human Race”, is another song I heard quite a lot that is reminiscent of the sound of “White Hot” and “Lunatic Fringe”. It went all the way to number 29 in Canada, and also peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, just like “Lunatic Fringe”. The next two singles did not chart in Canada or on the Billboard Hot 100. However, “Power (Strength in Numbers)” peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and “Crack the Sky (Breakaway)” hit number 39 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Red Rider’s fourth album, “Breaking Curfew”, came out in 1984. The first single, “Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)”, got a lot of play and is part of that same sound as “White Hot”, “Lunatic Fringe”, and “Human Race”. “Young Thing, Wild Dreams (Rock Me)” charted on the Billboatd Hot 100, peaking at number 71. It also went all the way to number 13 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and number 44 in Canada. It was the last Red Rider single to crack the Billboard Hot 100.
They released one more single, the title track “Breaking Curfew”, which peaked at number 93 in Canada but did not chart in the States.
About a year later, I would hear my first new Red Rider song, and it remains my favourite Red Rider and Tom Cochrane song.
A life lived
In May of 1986, the band changed slightly. They released their fifth album, “Tom Cochrane and Red Rider” and the title reflects that change. The album would go on to earn Junos for Group of the Year and Composer of the Year for Cochrane. The album also peaked at number 116 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
In May of 1986, the band changed slightly. They released their fifth album, “Tom Cochrane and Red Rider” and the title reflects that change. The album would go on to earn Junos for Group of the Year and Composer of the Year for Cochrane. The album also peaked at number 116 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The first single was “Boy Inside the Man’, and that intro still takes me right back to that Summer of 1986. The song chronicles a man looking back on his life lived. Tom Cochrane and Red Rider consider it their signature song, and end every show with it.
It represents an evolution in their sound, marking a departure from their previous successes. However, “Boy Inside the Man”, peaked at number 25 in Canada and number 17 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. That charting surprised me as much as it did for “Lunatic Fringe”, which are two Canadian classics.
The next single, “The Untouchable One”, is another fabulous song. It peaked at number 70 in Canada and number 48 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
There would be two more singles, “One More Time (Some Old Habits)”, which peaked at number 85 in Canada, and “Ocean Blues (Emotion Blue)”, which peaked at number 88 in Canada.
I also recall hearing these songs on radio.
Tom Cochrane and Red Rider had entered a new phase in their career as their popularity increased.
The big leagues
The band was back in 1988 with their sixth album, “Victory Day.” It came out in September of 1988, just when I was starting my second year of university and a job as a residence student leader. I didn’t even know it had come out. When I was visiting my friend Kim McDonald, this song I had never heard but sounded like Red Rider was playing on MuchMusic in the lounge. Kim told me it was a new song about a man talking about his son. The boy died, and had strived to make the pros after earning a college hockey scholarship.
The band was back in 1988 with their sixth album, “Victory Day.” It came out in September of 1988, just when I was starting my second year of university and a job as a residence student leader. I didn’t even know it had come out. When I was visiting my friend Kim McDonald, this song I had never heard but sounded like Red Rider was playing on MuchMusic in the lounge. Kim told me it was a new song about a man talking about his son. The boy died, and had strived to make the pros after earning a college hockey scholarship.
“Big League” was Red Rider’s most popular song to date. It went all the way to number four in Canada and number nine on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
The next single “Good Times”, peaked at number two in Canada. It was followed by the title track “Victory Day”, which hit number 32 in Canada, and “Different Drummer”, which hit number 67 in Canada.
“Victory Day”, the album, would go on to earn three Juno nominations.
The years after
Cochrane once again struck out on his own, achieving his greatest success. In 1991, he released his second solo album “Mad Mad World”. It would go on to sell more than one million copies in Canada, sell more than 500,000 copies in the States, peak at number one on the Canadian album chart and go to number 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album also won four Junos for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
Cochrane once again struck out on his own, achieving his greatest success. In 1991, he released his second solo album “Mad Mad World”. It would go on to sell more than one million copies in Canada, sell more than 500,000 copies in the States, peak at number one on the Canadian album chart and go to number 46 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album also won four Junos for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year.
The first single, “Life is a Highway”, became Cochrane’s biggest hit and is an iconic Canadian song of the ‘90s. It peaked at number one in Canada and went all the way to number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
The album went on to yield a number of great singles that occupied the charts and radio waves for the next year. The second single “No Regrets” peaked at number three in Canada and number seven on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart; “Sinking Like a Sunset”, peaked at number two in Canada ; the title track “Mad Mad World” peaked at number 25; “Washed Away” peaked at number seven in Canada and went to number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart; and “Bigger Man” peaked at number 45 in Canada.
He released his third solo album “Ragged Ass Road” in 1995, and it just continued producing hits. The first single was “I Wish You Well” which peaked at number one in Canada; “Wildest Dreams”, which peaked at number five in Canada; and “Dreamer’s Dream” which peaked at number four in Canada.
“Crawl” was the final single released from “Ragged Ass Road”, peaking at number 11 in Canada. That is Cochrane’s last top 20 hit to date.
Tom Cochrane was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2003; invested as an officer in the Order of Canada in 2008; inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2009; and was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Parting thoughts
What can you really say about Tom Cochrane that hasn’t been said? He's an incredible singer and songwriter. He is a storyteller who, I know, resonates with me, especially with “Boy Inside the Man”.
What can you really say about Tom Cochrane that hasn’t been said? He's an incredible singer and songwriter. He is a storyteller who, I know, resonates with me, especially with “Boy Inside the Man”.
'Due in part to Canadian Content regulations, Cochrane and Red Rider were on radio a lot, but that’s because between the two of them they produced a lot of music.
They really are part of the tapestry of Canadian music, and a part of the soundtrack of growing up in the ‘80s for me.
Whenever I hear “Boy Inside the Man”, I am taken back to the Summer of 1986, taking driver’s ed, staying at my sister’s place, going to Bonanza for all you can eat shrimp with my friend Randy Skiba, and so much more.
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