When Blue Rodeo arrived on the Toronto music scene in the mid-'80s, the band didn’t sound like any of the popular genres of the day. And while their mix of country, rock and pop made it hard for critics to pin them down, there was no mistaking the talent coming off the stage during that very first performance at Queen Street West’s the Rivoli on Feb. 8, 1985.
Trends would come and go — new wave, grunge, electronica — but Blue Rodeo, which consists of guitarists/vocalists Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, bass player Bazil Donovan, multi-instrumentalist Bob Egan and drummer Glenn Milchem, would stay true to their sound.
Now, to mark the band’s 25th anniversary, they are releasing Blue Rodeo: 1987-1993, an eight-disc box set that includes their first five albums remastered, as well as a remixed version of Outskirts, the Casino demos and an album of rarities. It also includes a 44-page booklet with photos and an essay by journalist Jason Schneider.
From now until Oct. 29, CBC Music will be streaming Blue Rodeo's first five remastered albums, which you can listen to below.
Outskirts (1987)
Released in 1987 and recorded at Toronto’s McClear Place Studios, Outskirts introduced Canadians to the Blue Rodeo sound, as well as one of their most enduring hits to this day, “Try.”
LISTENBlue Rodeo/Outskirts
Streaming until Oct. 29.
Tracklist
Diamond Mine (1989)
For their highly anticipated 1989 followup, the band headed to the former Donlands Theatre on Toronto’s east end and, with the help of producer Malcolm Burn, released the sprawling Diamond Mine.
LISTENBlue Rodeo/Casino
Streaming until Oct. 29.
Tracklist
Casino (1990)
Casino, recorded in 1990 at Hollywood’s Capitol Studios with Dwight Yoakam and producer Pete Anderson, was supposed to be Blue Rodeo’s big breakout album in the U.S. It failed to do that, but it still proved to be a hit with the group’s devout Canadian fan base. It’s also the first time the band would put serious work into their demos, included for the first time in the box set.
LISTENBlue Rodeo/Casino Demos
Streaming until Oct. 29.
Tracklist
Lost Together (1992)
After a gruelling tour in support of Diamond Mine, the band decided to take matters into their own hands and, for the first time, self produce. The result was Lost Together, whose title track would prove to be yet another timeless Blue Rodeo hit.
LISTENBlue Rodeo/Lost Together
Streaming until Oct. 29.
Tracklist
Five Days in July (1993)
This is by far Blue Rodeo’s most successful and most storied album. Recorded over five days on Keelor’s farm northeast of Toronto in what is often described as a “party atmosphere,” 1993’s Five Days in July included such hits as "5 Days in May," "Hasn't Hit Me Yet" and "Bad Timing."
LISTENBlue Rodeo/Five Days in July
Streaming until Oct. 29.
Tracklist
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