13 Engines

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical artist 13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s.

Overview

Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students: vocalist and songwriter John Critchley,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> guitarist and songwriter Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986 before changing their name to 13 Engines. This name was a reference to the automobile industry in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, which were the first markets to embrace the band.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Jam">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They spent a lot of time in Michigan and recorded their first two albums there--Before Our Time<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in 1987 and Byram Lake Blues<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in 1989; both were released by the UK label Nocturnal Records. One song from Byram Lake Blues, "Beached",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> became a college hit and, in 1990, the band was signed to SBK Records in the United States and EMI in Canada.<ref name="Jam" />

In 1991, 13 Engines released their major label debut, A Blur to Me Now, which was produced by David Briggs and John Hanlon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band received airplay for the album's singles "King of Saturday Night"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Big Surprise".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> SBK dropped them soon afterward,<ref name="Jam" /> although it did release an EP called Ignition which was the top singles from the band's next album.

That album was 1993's Perpetual Motion Machine,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was produced by Critchley and released on Atlantic Records.<ref>"ArtistDirect" review of Perpetual Motion Machine</ref> This album was the band's breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles "More",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Bred in the Bone"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "Smoke & Ashes",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and led to a spot on The Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction tour.<ref>"Now this is really Hip Another Roadside Attraction is speeding this way". Hamilton Spectator, July 22, 1993.</ref> The band also played festivals and toured with Blind Melon, The Watchmen, Moist and The Tea Party.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

They followed up in 1995 with Conquistador,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which gave them another hit, "Beneath My Hand".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Jam" /> While the album is considered to be 13 Engines' finest work, it did not do well commercially.<ref>"ArtistDirect" review of Conquistador</ref>

In 1996, Nocturnal Records released the band's compilation album, Perfect Largeness: The Nocturnal Years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 1997, the band performed during NXNE, performing songs from a finished album. However, the album was never released and the band broke up that year.

In 2017, the Canadian label Artoffact Records released some of the band's singles on an EP called Brave New Waves Session.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Post-breakup

Following the break-up of 13 Engines, Critchley continued as a solo artist and, in 2000, recorded the album Crooked Mile.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Critchley, Ethier<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Hughes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> went on to careers as producers.

Discography

Albums

  • The Ikons (as The Ikons) (1986), Independent<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Before Our Time (1987), Nocturnal Records, Resonance (Europe)
  • Byram Lake Blues (1989), Nocturnal Records
  • A Blur to Me Now (1991), (SBK/Capitol)
  • Perpetual Motion Machine (1993), Atlantic Records, SBK/Capitol, EMI Canada
  • Conquistador (1995), EMI Canada, Nettwerk Records
  • Perfect Largeness: The Nocturnal Years (Compilation) (1996), Nocturnal Records

EPs

  • Ignition (1993), SBK/Capitol, EMI Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Brave New Waves Session (2017), Artoffact Records

EPs & Singles

  • "Beached" (1989), Nocturnal Records
  • "Big Surprise" (1991), SBK/Capitol
  • "King Of Saturday Night" (1991), SBK/Capitol
  • "More" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records
  • "Smoke And Ashes" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records
  • "Bred In The Bone" (1993), EMI Canada, Atlantic Records
  • "Beneath My Hand" (1995), EMI Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Personal Golam" / "Waterfall (1995), EMI Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Tailpipe Blues" (1995), EMI Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • "Slow" (1995), EMI Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Compilation Inclusions

References

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