The scene was classic junior high. The setting a junior high dance. A bunch of girls standing side by side in a line, their backs turned o the rest of us, the lights dimmed, and them singing, “A gone gone gone so long, she been gone gone gone so long…”
That was my introduction to the band Chilliwack and their iconic song, “My Girl”.
Quintessential Canadian band
Canadian rock and pop really got rolling in the 1970s with the adoption of Canadian content regulations in 1971. Canadian bands got more air play and there became a whole community of performers, many whose careers stretched into the 1980s and beyond,
Canadian rock and pop really got rolling in the 1970s with the adoption of Canadian content regulations in 1971. Canadian bands got more air play and there became a whole community of performers, many whose careers stretched into the 1980s and beyond,
Chilliwack was part of that community, and there are several songs that always seemed to be on the air.
The first one I recognize was “Lonesome Mary” from 1973, which peaked at number nine in Canada. It was the band’s first single on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the U.S., going to number 75.
A year later, in 1974, they released “Crazy Talk” which went to number 10 in Canada, and charted at number 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The next song I recognize is “Californai Girl” from 1976, which went to number 19 in Canada.
In 1978, they released “Arms of Mary” which went to number 32 in Canada and number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1978, they released “Arms of Mary” which went to number 32 in Canada and number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chilliwack was picking up speed at the dawn of the decade, and would have their biggest success in the 1980s.
“My Girl”
It was a song with an intro I could never forget. It was so unique and catchy, it was a signature piece for Chilliwack.
It was a song with an intro I could never forget. It was so unique and catchy, it was a signature piece for Chilliwack.
Officially called “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone),” it came out in 1981 as the first single from the “Wanna Be a Star” album. The song went all the way to number 3 in Canada, and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the highest they got on both charts.
Song writers Brian MacLeod and Bill Henderson were also nominated for the Junos for Composer of the Year in 1982, as well as single of the year for “My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone)”.
The song was very popular at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale as well. I recall hearing it at all the junior high dances.
One day, I was trying to sing it in class and kept stumbling over the intro. So, Mellissa Huszar, one of my classmates, wrote out the words for me on a piece of scrap paper. That’s how I remember the words to this day.
Whatcha Gonna Do?
Chilliwack released their tenth album in 1982, fittingly called “Opus X”. The first single was “Whatcha Gonna Do (When I’m Gone)”, which I liked almost as much as “My Girl”. To me it is like a book end of Chilliwack songs to “My Girl.” It went all the way to number 17 in Canada, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chilliwack released their tenth album in 1982, fittingly called “Opus X”. The first single was “Whatcha Gonna Do (When I’m Gone)”, which I liked almost as much as “My Girl”. To me it is like a book end of Chilliwack songs to “My Girl.” It went all the way to number 17 in Canada, and number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Producers Bill Henderson and Brian MacLeod received the Juno Award for Producer of the Year for their work on “Whatcha Gonna Do (When I’m Gone)”, and another song called “Secret Information”.
Don’t Stop
The last song I will remember from Chilliwack, is “Don’t Stop”, released in 1983 but also charting in 1984 and peaking at number 46 in Canada. It is the band’s last charting single to date.
The last song I will remember from Chilliwack, is “Don’t Stop”, released in 1983 but also charting in 1984 and peaking at number 46 in Canada. It is the band’s last charting single to date.
I also remember this song for another reason.
My parents gave me a ghetto blaster for Christmas in 1984. That New Year’s, LA-107 FM, a local radio station, was playing its top 100 albums of 1984.
I thought it was the perfect opportunity to tape songs that I wanted.
One of those songs was “Don’t Stop” by Chilliwack.
Parting thoughts
I have to admit, I have come to know the music of Chilliwack much better since a new radio station started in Lethbridge dedicated to playing music from the 70’s, 80s and now. They played a lot of old Canadian rock, and part of that was a lot of Chilliwack.
I have to admit, I have come to know the music of Chilliwack much better since a new radio station started in Lethbridge dedicated to playing music from the 70’s, 80s and now. They played a lot of old Canadian rock, and part of that was a lot of Chilliwack.
It cemented what I already knew though. Chilliwack was part of that Canadian music community that included bands such as April Wine, Trooper, Harlequin, Streetheart, Toronto, and so many more.
They were not only part of the soundtrack of my youth, but a staple at junior high dances.
Whenever I hear “A gone gone gone so long, she been gone gone gone so long…” I am taken back to the dimly lit gym at St. Joseph’s School and that line of teenage girls.
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