Gowan's 25th Anniversary of What Exactly?

Published by Toronto Mike on April 24, 2010 @ 14:36 in Music

music I keep hearing an ad on the radio promoting Lawrence Gowan's concert in celebration of the 25th anniversary of his album Strange Animal.

As I recall, and I was listening to a tonne of Top 40 radio in 1985 (680 CFTR!), Strange Animal spawned two local hits: "A Criminal Mind" and "(You're a) Strange Animal". I really liked "A Criminal Mind", especially the video I caught on Toronto Rocks almost every afternoon, and "(You're a) Strange Animal" was an okay single, but is this album worthy of a tour to celebrate its release 25 years ago?

Of course not. That's just silly. Strange Animal was not Rubber Soul or Dark Side of the Moon or even Appetite for Destruction. It was decent Cancon that spawned two radio singles. Nothing more.

Here's that awesome video for "A Criminal Mind".

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37 comments

37 Responses to "Gowan's 25th Anniversary of What Exactly?"

CQ
April 24, 2010 / 16:06

Cosmetics should have charted better. And not as good but there's a self-titled '82 album that has always been overlooked.

Sammi
April 25, 2010 / 08:41

This song and video were awesome...and then it was downhill from that.

Toronto Mike
April 25, 2010 / 10:14

Sammi, I want you to come to the TFC match with me Wednesday.

Ryan
April 25, 2010 / 11:11

Yea i dug Gowan for a bit back then too.

Although one incident put me off him a bit. I went to see him play a concert at the old ontario place forum. Sure enough, strange animal's played in the set.

But then, when he came out for an encore, he played it again.

That's a show biz no no. (Hell, i've dj'd many many parties/bars and when drunken girls ask me to play
a song i've already played, i stick to my "principles" and refuse)

Anyway, i thought it was weird he did that. And i remember him doing those silly karate kicks too.

The only thing that made the evening slightly worse was this. We were sitting in the lawn seats, and right after the show the lights came up and cops came streaming out of the bushes and busted me for underage drinking and bringing in my own booze.

Stupid Gowan.

Sammi
April 26, 2010 / 06:18

Mike...I will think about it.

bryan
April 26, 2010 / 11:15

I believe Guerilla Soldier was also a single along with Cosmetics, Criminal Mind and Strange Animal, and all were okay pop songs. However, you're right about this not being worthy of a 25th Anniversary Celebration...if this gets one, how long 'till Candi and the Backbeat want theirs?

Buffalo Boy Mike
April 27, 2010 / 10:42

I like Gowan, I don't love his music but I like it, I really like Strange Animal and Criminal Mind, but as opposed to other songs, albums and artists of his time? Lets compare him to other bands/artists of the same genre and its clear...Gowan is worthy of a 25th Anniversery in his own mind, but I don't think anyone else would have given a hoot. Its nice hes doing it, maybe as an artist he wants to do it to be remembered....I could see that side of it.

Stacey
June 2, 2010 / 12:59

Oh Mike.. you are saddly mistaken... Gowan has many supporting fans.. long-term ones from 1985 (and earlier) along with new ones who discovered him through his gigs with Styx. The CD/DVD is actually quite impressive.. maybe you should check it out.

Janet
June 2, 2010 / 13:16

I most heartily concur with Stacey. As one who didn't know of him "back in the day", the first time I heard the Strange Animal record, I knew it was a masterpiece... every song a winner, and how often do you see that? His recent "Return" shows sold out quickly, and the demand is such that there will be more dates announced later.
You should definitely check it out.

Charlotte Johnzon
June 2, 2010 / 16:47

Of course it's wort celebarting. It's one of the best record ever recorded.

Amy
June 2, 2010 / 17:36

Mike, Count me in as one of the many Gowan supporters out there! Both shows did sell out quickly and I was there for both of them. Gowan rocks!!!

Ryan, Don't blame Gowan for your underage drinking. Probably just bitter because you got caught!

Amy
June 2, 2010 / 17:37

Mike, Count me in as one of the many Gowan supporters out there! Both shows did sell out quickly and I was there for both of them. Gowan rocks!!!

Ryan, Don't blame Gowan for your underage drinking. Probably just bitter because you got caught!

Sarahj
June 2, 2010 / 18:37

I was at the show Ryan talks about. The sight of 2 firsts for me, first arrtist I independently chose to go and see and first concert I was allowed to go to without 'adult supervision'. At 15 yrs old and as a piano lover, it was epic to me then, that day is etched in my memory for eternity. I still listen to Gowan today, it has been suggested by some that he is my guilty pleasure - I disagree, nothing guilty about it, the man has talent. However, Strange Animal anniversary deserves a tour? Not so much. Personally I am much more a fan of Lost Brotherhood - but even its anniversary would not warrant a tour of its own.

Marjorie Macdonald
June 2, 2010 / 20:04

I have many thoughts about the negative things said about Gowan - What's wrong with using the 25th anniversary as an opportunity to draw attention to himself again? It probably was an opportunity to release the recording on cd. Whether it is worthy of a tour? Well, I guess ticket sales will determine that - not a critics opinion! My opinion is he's an underated artist and a great entertainer! He has enjoyed new fame through Styx and it's awesome he still focus' on his Canadian work!

Fredericton Steve
June 3, 2010 / 13:40

So, based on these replies, Gowan is a band liked by old ladies.

Fredericton Steve
June 3, 2010 / 13:55

So, based on these replies, Gowan is a band liked by old ladies.

norma-lee
June 3, 2010 / 21:36

fredericton steve: gowan is a man not a band and is liked from every age group. even my 8 yr old likes him.

mike: i have been a follower since '85 making me a pretty young girl at the time. i have followed him through all this time and yet he still remains my favorite musician of all time. i have met a many musicians and have gone to many concerts and shows but not many musicians out there stay true to their own character and completely enjoy what they do. i've found over the years some of them get bored and miserable even towards fans. i have met lawrence a few times while growing up and he still amazes me with his showmanship and his humbleness towards fans. the 25 year strange animal shows were fantastic and i'm sorry you missed them. you might've had a totally different story.

norma-lee
June 3, 2010 / 21:38

fredericton steve: gowan is a man not a band and is liked from every age group. even my 8 yr old likes him.

Fredericton Steve
June 4, 2010 / 12:21

I stand corrected. The other group known for excellent music taste, kids, also enjoys gowan.

annie o'malley
June 4, 2010 / 13:10

Mike - Gowan is a very talented musician and hard working he has many many fans and they are not all women Iam a dennis deyoung fan and friend and then when I realized how talented Lawrence Gowan really is well Iam really enjoying Strange animal and Criminal Mind Immensly Hope this helps Happy 25th anniversary Gowan and many many more See you real soon Love always annie Xo :)

Ynnad J
June 5, 2010 / 03:44

So typically Canadian it is to Sh*t on a Canadian artist. Funny how even 25 yrs later Canadian artists are only relevant every where else but Canada. Well at least "Toronto Mikes" Canada.

The fact that Gowan is still relevant 25 years later is enough reason to celebrate "Strange Animal".

If I'm not mistaken, there were 5 singles and 3 went to #1. But I guess that's still not good enough reason to celebrate anything these days!

Toronto Mike, your opinion fails miserably. So did your album comparisons. Good effort, but not really.

Joan
June 5, 2010 / 11:59

Those of us who have been fans since those early days were overjoyed at the announcement of those Anniversary shows. As has been noted in other messages here, they sold out very quickly. So many of the people there were 'original' fans like me, but there were also Styx fans who went looking for his music on ebay, i tunes, anywhere they could find it, and enjoyed what they found enough to travel many hundreds of miles to see it performed live. Not one person I spoke to over those 2 days was anything but blown away by the experience.
For those of us lucky enough to have been there, both back then and in the Falls, it was more than a trip down memory lane. This music has been part of the fabric of our lives, and will continue to be. As for the man himself, he is as he has always been, amazingly talented, gracious to his fans..and seriously undervalued by Canadian music writers.

Bill
June 5, 2010 / 13:09

Fredricton Steve- implying that old ladies have bad taste in music? Why? Sexism or ageism?

Fredericton Steve
June 7, 2010 / 12:53

@Bill - Both!!!

Dave Williams
June 10, 2010 / 15:54

Wow, two shows constitutes a tour, I see the Gowan fan base has grown.

this guy steve
November 1, 2010 / 12:34

all of you go fuck yourselves, Gowan is the fucking man.

this guy steve
November 1, 2010 / 12:35

all of you go fuck yourselves, Gowan is the fucking man.

this guy steve
November 1, 2010 / 12:35

all of you go fuck yourselves, Gowan is the fucking man.