Anyone who knows me well, knows that I’m a huge Trooper fan. I’m very proud of my cuz, Ra McGuire, Tooper’s lead singer. He’s been singing in a band since he was twelve… I don’t think he’d want you to count how many years that’s been, but he’s still singing, still touring, still making albums, and the band has become a Canadian rock legend.
You haven’t celebrated Canada Day properly unless you’ve ordered your copy of their newest album, Hits From 10 Albums: Digitally Remastered 35th Anniversary Special Edition*, released on July 1st, thirty-five years to the day since the release of their debut album, Trooper. This album is “a retrospective” that spans Trooper’s entire 35-year recording career. It also includes a ten-page booklet of notes written by Ra, and photos of the band.
Their bio says, “Millions of records, a couple dozen hits, sold-out coliseums across Canada, a Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy) for Band of the Year. The Vancouver Sun called them “Canadian rock heroes of the first order … the best performing band in Canada.” … “Trooper’s ten studio albums have earned multiple gold and platinum awards and their 6X Platinum greatest hits album, Hot Shots, remains one of Universal Music Canada’s best selling catalog CDs and one of the country’s most enduring party soundtracks.”
All bias aside, if you need toe-tapping inspiration as you write, or just a solid background of great music from an iconic band, I highly recommend this new album! You can order it online here.
And in case you’re wondering how I’m going to tie this into writing, Ra isn’t only a singer, he’s a writer, too. His book, Here For a Good Time, was published by Insomniac Press in 2006. I recommend it, too.
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* Songs included:
- Baby Woncha Please Come Home
- General Hand Grenade
- The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car
- Two for the Show
- Santa Maria
- We’re Here For A Good Time (Not A Long Time)
- Oh, Pretty Lady
- Raise A Little Hell
- Moment That It Takes
- Round, Round We Go
- 3 Dressed Up As A 9
- Janine
- Real Canadians
- It Comes And It Goes
- Thin White Line
- Boy With a Beat
- The American Dream
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MUSINGS 
Three Dressed up as a Nine is one of my favourites. Takes me back in a flash. BTW, guess who’s coming to Prince George? Elton John. Tickets sold out in the first 10 minutes. Bummer.
Great Post, Carol. You are a true fan.
I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite… maybe “The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car” or “Oh, Pretty Lady” or… oh, but I *love* “Raise a Little Hell”. I guess that would have to be my pick.