Singing Fools and the birth of C-rap
The duo rocked the conservative Canadian music scene with the release of their first 7-inch single, "The Bum Rap", the first Canadian rap recording of its kind and which became a house standard in Manhattan speakeasies. In 1983, Singing Fools followed up with the release of "Cruisin'84", a 7-inch EP featuring the song "Babylon Breakdown", that boasted a cameo trumpet solo by none other than Herb Alpert's lesser-known little brother, Ramon.
World's first nuclear truckin' song
CRUISIN'84" also turned heads with the world's first-ever nuclear trucking ballad -- "The MX Express" -- about the U.S. Pentagon's Reagan-era scheme to evade a Soviet first strike by mounting mobile nuclear missiles on the back of civilian-looking transport trucks and deploying them on the interstates. "I'm on an eighteen-wheel mission for Uncle Sam..."
The Apocalypso nuclear dance craze
In 1984, their 12-inch "civil defencercise" E.P. "The Apocalypso", hit the music world like an unprovoked Soviet first-strike with its Roger Ramjet production values and an irrepressible funk groove that had them "breakin' down in Lebanon and Chile and Chad", "the hottest little number since the Mashed Potato"!. The single garnered international attention and acclaim, UK's Sounds highlighted the "toasting" prowess of U.S. President Ronald Reagan on the disc, "the real Grandmaster Flash!"
Selling out for a grilled cheese sandwich
The Fools' video of Apocalypso (directed by John Marshall) soon attracted the attention of the same A&R flacks who the Fools loved to lampoon. At an eerie greasy spoon on a cold November afternoon in 1985, Murphy, Dunlop and producer David Bignell "went down to the crossroads" (of Warden and Bertrand) in deep Scarberia and met with A&M Records Mitch Gonad, who signed the band to a nanocontract for a $100 advance on royalties and a grilled cheese platter.
Chillin' with J.D. at the Nation's Music Station ©
In a perplexing tour de force of apathy, A&M re-released the single and video -- which landed the Fools an award as 'Best Video of 1984' from the Canadian Film & Television Association. MuchMusic, Canada's first "pay television" channel, featured all of the Fools' eclectic vids in heavy rotation. But despite an on-air press release of the band with John "J.D." Roberts (Dan Rather understudy turned CNN anchor and butt of The Daily Show barbs) and plenty of heavy rotation, the Fools 15 minutes of major label stardom was over. Feeling used, albeit willingly, Singing Fools did not let the "no commercial potential" mantra slow down their creative output or drive.
The 12-inch Apocalypso disc also featured a rare guest vocal performance by Edward P. Thompson, then head of the European Nuclear Disarmament (END) movement, and historian and writer. The chilling drum-backed "Grave Expectations" showcased Thompson's recitation of an excerpt from his 1950 poem "The Place Called Choice."
Goodbye, A and M.... ©
Despite their cutting-edge prescience and funsterish positivity, A&M Records finally embargoed the Fools when whiny labelmate Bryan "Cries Like a Girl" Adams complained they were making fun of his white-tee-shirt and blue jeans image. More disharmony ensued when A&M vetoed the Fools' planned release of "Seizures in the Sun," a parody of one of A&M pop icon Terry Jacks' greatest chart hits.
Jettisoned by the evil wankstas at Alpert and Morons, Singing Fools put out their music independently once more. "Call Me Lucky" - a six song E.P. was released to critical acclaim in 1986. CBC Radio and Toronto's CFNY-FM (now "The Edge") playlisted the title track, as well as "Fly By Night" and the Fools were finally able to expose themselves to a global audience without getting arrested. With the support of Dave Marsden, Singing Fools were nominated for "Best Independent Artist" in the 1986 CASBY Awards but a thunderstorm and power outage at Canada's Wonderland (and their failed write-in balloting blitz) prevented MC Paul Shaffer from giving them the award.
Fenceposts of originality
In 1986, Los Cantatos Ridicolos, as they are known south of the Equator and in select penal institutions in the southwestern United States, released "Funkenstrasse", a Falco-inspired ditty commemorating the impending nuclear conflagration and Cold War clusterfuck in Western Europe.
Singing Fools and the New Millenial Mas
SINGING FOOLS Discography
Singles: 1983 The Bum Rap/Fire My Love (SFM) D-7040; 1983 Cruisin' '84 EP: "Babylon Breakdown, Love Resume, The MX Express, Mr. Rhythm Box; 1984 The Apocalypso/The Apocalypso [version] (A & M) AM-674;
12" Vinyl: 1984 The Apocalypso 12" Dance E.P. (Singing Fools Music) WRC2-3202; 1984 The Apocalypso//Apocalypso (version), Grave Expectations (A & M) SP-23026; 1985 Call Me Lucky: Where Are You Going?, Fly By Night, Sex and Violence, Jihad, Mary Joseph, Call Me Lucky (Singing Fools Music) WRC1-4199; Compilation Tracks: 1986 "Die Funkenstrasse (Europa's On The Radio)" on German-Canadian Friendship (Amok); "Jihad" on Voices from North America (Amok), "Jihad" on CKCU-FM Cassettera Compilation;
Biography excerpts courtesy of CANOE JAM Showbiz! Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. © 2007 Jamie Vernon, Great White North Magazine Presents
SINGING FOOLS "Electric SLIDE "
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