Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts
Encyclopedia
Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts are a Canadian
rock
band, based out of Vancouver
that formed in 1980. The band's name was taken from the title of Lou Reed
's 1983 album
.
he also used, which formed in 1979 with the original line-up consisting of: Bentall (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Doug McFetridge (guitar), Kevin Swain (bass) and Derek Morrison (drums) and which later changed to: Brad Kilburn (bass), Wilf Froese (keyboards) and Jack Guppy (drums). With songs written by Bentall and long-time childhood friend and songwriting partner Gary Fraser, as well as McFetridge and Swain, they self-released "Excerpt from the Montmartre Letters", a 4-track 45 rpm EP
in 1979. This record was followed by "Not Guilty", a 5-track EP
released in 1980 on A&M Records
, that had modest success in Western Canada. In 1982, Brandon Wolf recorded and released Losing Control, a 13-song LP
, on their own label, Possible Worlds Records.
Reverting to his real name in 1984, Bentall, together with Guppy, Nairne, bassist Barry Muir, and keyboardist Cam Bowman, recorded demos produced by noted producer Bob Rock
. In 1988, Bentall, Guppy, Nairne, Muir and Bowman, by then known as Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts, had a breakthrough when they landed a recording contract with Epic/CBS Records after releasing a video for "Something to Live For" on MuchMusic
in 1987. The self-titled debut album, which featured three hit Canadian singles including "Something to Live For", "House of Love (is Haunted)" and "Come Back to Me", reached platinum status in Canada (100,000 records sold). In 1989, the group won a Juno Award
for "Most Promising Group of the Year
". In 1990, Bentall, Fraser and Nairne were nominated for a Genie Award
for "Restless Dreamer", a song they wrote which appeared on the soundtrack to the Sandy Wilson film American Boyfriends
.
The band would release four more albums on Epic and later Sony Records, achieving more hits with "Crime Against Love", "Life Could Be Worse", "Livin' in the 90s", "Doin' Fine", "Do Ya", and "Shattered". Throughout the late '80s and early '90s the band toured extensively across Canada and into the U.S. After their last album in 1997, the group quietly disbanded. Bentall would take a lengthy break to work his ranch in the Cariboo region
of BC
, before returning with a solo album Gift Horse in 2006.
Despite solo projects, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts continue to play the occasional gig together. Muir is a successful stockbroker; Fraser is now a litigator with Lang Michener LLP
in Vancouver, B.C., and Bowman is a well known plastic surgeon in Vancouver, B.C.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band, based out of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
that formed in 1980. The band's name was taken from the title of Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
's 1983 album
Legendary Hearts
Legendary Hearts is the twelfth solo album by rock and roll musician Lou Reed. It was dedicated to Reed's then wife, Sylvia.-Side one:#"Legendary Hearts" - 3:23#"Don't Talk to Me About Work" - 2:07#"Make Up My Mind" - 2:48#"Martial Law" - 3:53...
.
Biography
Bentall's first group was Brandon Wolf, a pseudonymPseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
he also used, which formed in 1979 with the original line-up consisting of: Bentall (lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Doug McFetridge (guitar), Kevin Swain (bass) and Derek Morrison (drums) and which later changed to: Brad Kilburn (bass), Wilf Froese (keyboards) and Jack Guppy (drums). With songs written by Bentall and long-time childhood friend and songwriting partner Gary Fraser, as well as McFetridge and Swain, they self-released "Excerpt from the Montmartre Letters", a 4-track 45 rpm EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in 1979. This record was followed by "Not Guilty", a 5-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
released in 1980 on A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, that had modest success in Western Canada. In 1982, Brandon Wolf recorded and released Losing Control, a 13-song LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, on their own label, Possible Worlds Records.
Reverting to his real name in 1984, Bentall, together with Guppy, Nairne, bassist Barry Muir, and keyboardist Cam Bowman, recorded demos produced by noted producer Bob Rock
Bob Rock
Robert Jens Rock, , is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer best known for producing bands such as Aerosmith, The Cult, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, 311, Metallica, Our Lady Peace, The Offspring and most recently Bush.-Payola$ and Rock and Hyde:Rock began his music career in Langford,...
. In 1988, Bentall, Guppy, Nairne, Muir and Bowman, by then known as Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts, had a breakthrough when they landed a recording contract with Epic/CBS Records after releasing a video for "Something to Live For" on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in 1987. The self-titled debut album, which featured three hit Canadian singles including "Something to Live For", "House of Love (is Haunted)" and "Come Back to Me", reached platinum status in Canada (100,000 records sold). In 1989, the group won a Juno Award
Juno Awards of 1989
The Juno Awards of 1989, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 12 March 1989 in Toronto at a ceremony in the O'Keefe Centre. André-Philippe Gagnon was the host for the ceremonies, which were broadcast on CBC Television.Blue Rodeo won in three of its...
for "Most Promising Group of the Year
Juno Award for New Group of the Year
The Juno Award for the New Group of the Year has been awarded since 1974, as recognition each year for the best new group or band in Canada. The award was originally known as Most Promising Group of the Year, and from 1994–2002 it was known as Best New Group.-Most Promising Group of the Year...
". In 1990, Bentall, Fraser and Nairne were nominated for a Genie Award
Genie Award
Genie Awards are given out to recognize the best of Canadian cinema by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. From 1949-1979, the awards were named the Canadian Film Awards...
for "Restless Dreamer", a song they wrote which appeared on the soundtrack to the Sandy Wilson film American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends
American Boyfriends is a 1989 Canadian comedy-drama film, and the sequel to My American Cousin . As before, written and directed by Sandy Wilson, Margaret Langrick and John Wildman reprise their roles as Sandy Wilcox and Butch Walker respectively....
.
The band would release four more albums on Epic and later Sony Records, achieving more hits with "Crime Against Love", "Life Could Be Worse", "Livin' in the 90s", "Doin' Fine", "Do Ya", and "Shattered". Throughout the late '80s and early '90s the band toured extensively across Canada and into the U.S. After their last album in 1997, the group quietly disbanded. Bentall would take a lengthy break to work his ranch in the Cariboo region
Cariboo Regional District, British Columbia
The Cariboo Regional District spans the towns of Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and Wells in the Central Interior of British Columbia.The Canada 2006 Census population was 62,190 persons living on a land area of 80,629.34 km²...
of BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, before returning with a solo album Gift Horse in 2006.
Despite solo projects, Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts continue to play the occasional gig together. Muir is a successful stockbroker; Fraser is now a litigator with Lang Michener LLP
Lang Michener
Lang Michener LLP was a full-service national law firm of over 200 professionals with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Hong Kong. On January 1, 2011 Lang Michener LLP and McMillan LLP combined to become one national business law firm, with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa,...
in Vancouver, B.C., and Bowman is a well known plastic surgeon in Vancouver, B.C.
Albums
- Excerpts from the Montmartre Letters (EP) - 1979
- Not Guilty (EP) - 1980
- Losing Control (EP) - 1980
- Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts (self-titled) - 1988
- Lonely Avenue - 1990
- Ain't Life Strange - 1992
- Gin Palace - 1995
- Greatest Hits 1986-1996 - 1996
- Till Tomorrow - 1997
- Gift Horse (Barney Bentall solo) - 2006
Singles
- "Something to Live For" - 1987
- "Come Back to Me" - 1988
- "House of Love (Is Haunted)" - 1988
- "She's My Inspiration" - 1989
- "Crime Against Love" - 1990
- "Life Could Be Worse" - 1991
- "I Gotta Go" - 1991
- "Nothing Hurts (Like the Words of the One You Love)" - 1991
- "Livin' in the '90s" - 1992
- "Doin' Fine" - 1992
- "If This is Love" - 1993
- "Belly of the Sun" - 1993
- "Family Man" - 1993
- "Do Ya" - 1995
- "I'm Shattered" - 1995
- "Oh Shelly" - 1996
- "Gin Palace" - 1996
- "Be Inside You" - 1997
- "You Should Be Having Fun" - 1997
- "Shoulder of the Road" - 1997