The Great White North (album)
The Great White North is a Canadian comedy album by the fictional television characters Bob and Doug McKenzie (portrayed by actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas), released in 1981 by Anthem Records (ANR-1-1036) and distributed in the United States by Mercury Records (SRM-1-4034). The title is a popular nickname for Canada.
Sales and charting
At least one million copies of the album were sold within North America, 350,000 of these within Canada alone which earned a triple-platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association.[1][2]
The Great White North entered the RPM Canadian album charts at #3 on 12 December 1981[3] and rose to the #1 position the following week where it remained until 23 January 1982.[4][5] Overall, RPM ranked the album #40 of albums released in Canada during 1981.[6]
The Great White North peaked at number 8 on the American Billboard 200 album chart in 1982.[7]
The song "Take Off" (actually identified on the album as "the hit single section"), featured guest vocalist Geddy Lee of Rush. It was indeed a hit, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard 100 singles chart in March 1982.[8] (Ironically, "Take Off" was a bigger hit single than anything Lee ever recorded with Rush.)
Awards
In 1982, this album received the Juno Award for Comedy Album of the Year.
Track listing
- "This is our album, eh?" - 3:40
- "The Beerhunter" - 2:23
- "School Announcements" - 1:52 This sketch features Doug (Thomas) as a school vice-principal who encourages his charges to "have a beer and talk" at his office.
- "The Miracle of Music" - 0:41
- "Peter's Donuts" - 3:02
- "Gimme A Smoke" - 1:59
- "Take Off" - 4:43 This track features singing by guest vocalist Geddy Lee of Rush[9]
- "Coffee Sandwich" - 2:26
- "Welcome to Side Two" - 0:58
- "Doug's Mouth" - 3:33
- "Elron McKenzie" - 2:28
- "Black Holes" - 2:06 There is a backwards message on this track.
- "You Are Our Guest" - 2:14 The duo's exaggerated accents pronounce "are" and "our" as homophones for comedic effect. Listeners play the "guest" by reading the enclosed script.
- "Ernie's Mom" - 1:54
- "The Twelve Days of Christmas" - 4:42
- "Ralph The Dog" - 3:11
- "Okay, This is the End, eh?" - 1:57
- "Honest" - 0:31
Reviews
Liam Lacey's review of the album in The Globe and Mail concluded on a negative sentiment, noting the production was "entertaining listening - about twice. Other hosers are going to find it extremely confusing."[10]
References
- ^ Gatehouse, Jonathon (7 May 2007). "Take off, eh! Eh? / Bob and Doug McKenzie are back, maybe for the last time, for a 'two-four' anniversary". Maclean's. http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20070507_105097_105097. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ Canadian Recording Industry Association - Search Certification Database
- ^ "RPM 50 Albums". RPM. 12 December 1981. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0430&issue_dt=December%2012%201981&type=1. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ "RPM 50 Albums". RPM. 19 December 1981. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0434&issue_dt=December%2019%201981&type=1. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ "RPM 50 Albums". RPM. 30 January 1982. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.0451&issue_dt=January%2030%201982&type=1. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums of 1981". RPM. 26 December 1981. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4687&type=1.
- ^ "Billboard 200 (album chart)". Billboard. 3 April 1982. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=305&cfgn=Albums&cfn=The+Billboard+200&ci=3069642&cdi=8765541&cid=04%2F03%2F1982. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
- ^ "Bob & Doug McKenzie, Take Off (chart listing)". Billboard. 27 March 1982. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3071194&cdi=8901702&cid=03%2F27%2F1982. Retrieved 2008-11-11.
- ^ Kirkland, Bruce (1 December 2007). "Bob & Doug McKenzie anniversary / 'Two-Four' DVD full of fresh material". Jam!/Sun Media. http://jam.canoe.ca/Video/DVD_Column/2007/12/01/4699629-sun.html.
- ^ Lacey, Liam (28 November 1981). "Inside the Sleeve Pop / Great White North". The Globe and Mail. p. F6.
External links