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54-40
Dave Genn, Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt at the Vancouver ShoreFest in 2009
Background information
Origin	Tsawwassen, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
Genres	Rock, alternative rock, jangle pop, roots rock
Years active	1980 (1980)–present
Labels	Reprise, True North
Members	Neil Osborne Matt Johnson Brad Merritt Dave Genn David Osborne
Past members	Phil Comparelli Darryl Neudorf Ian Franey
Website	5440.com

54-40 (often stylized 54•40) is a Canadian rock band from Tsawwassen, Delta, British Columbia. The band take their name from the slogan "54-40 or Fight!", coined to express the successful expansionist agenda of James K. Polk's presidency, which was intent upon controlling a contested U.S.-Canada border area in the Oregon boundary dispute. 54-40 has had a successful career, with four of their albums being certified platinum in Canada. The band has been nominated for eight Juno Awards. Between 1996 and 2016, 54-40 were among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 50 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.

History

Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt met in 1978 at South Delta High School in Tsawwassen, British Columbia. After studying at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Osborne returned home and formed the band 54-40 with Merritt and drummer Ian Franey. The band played their first gig in Coquitlam on December 8, 1980, the night John Lennon was killed. In 1981 they made their first recordings for the Mo-Da-Mu label, with four tracks appearing on the independent compilation LP Things Are Still Coming Ashore, which also featured music by Vancouver bands Animal Slaves and Junco Run. In June 1982, the band released the EP Selection. Shortly after the release of Selection, Franey left the band. Franey was replaced by Darryl Neudorf and Phil Comparelli was added on guitar, trumpet and vocals. The band recorded the album Set the Fire in 1983, releasing it in 1984. Neudorf, frustrated with the band's prolonged time in the studio and away from the road, left the band in 1985. He was replaced by Matt Johnson.

The band's self-titled second album, released in 1986 through Warner/Reprise Records, began to attract attention from radio and record buyers across Canada, with the singles "Baby Ran" and "I Go Blind" gaining significant college radio airplay. Dave Osborne (keyboards, harmonica), toured and recorded with the band from 1987 to 1993. The band's third album, Show Me, became their commercial breakthrough in Canada, with the hits "One Day in Your Life" and "One Gun".

Although the band was popular on college radio in the United States, they never had a commercial breakthrough, and Warner dropped 54-40 in 1990. In 1991, the band released the compilation album, Sweeter Things. Also during that year, the band signed a deal with Sony and released Dear Dear in 1992. It was the band's first album to be certified Gold in Canada and was certified Platinum in 1993. The band released Smilin' Buddha Cabaret in 1994 and Trusted by Millions in 1996, both of which would later be certified Platinum.

The band's song "I Go Blind" was covered in the mid-1990s by American band Hootie & the Blowfish, and the cover was featured on the first soundtrack to the TV series Friends. The song also appears on two compilations released by the band: 2000's Scattered, Smothered and Covered and 2003's The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish (1993 Thru 2003). Royalties from the Hootie and the Blowfish cover enabled the band to build their own recording studio in Vancouver.

Dave Genn, formerly of Matthew Good Band, joined 54-40 in 2003. In February 2005, it was announced that Comparelli left the band for personal reasons. That same year, 54-40 signed with True North Records.

In 2010, to celebrate the band's 30 years together and almost 25 years since their first commercial album The Green Album, the band went on a promotional concert tour with a two-set act. The first set was The Green Album from start to finish. The second set was one song from every album since, with the exception of Dear Dear where they played two songs. 54-40 also performed a new song from their upcoming record, Lost in the City, which was released on June 14, 2011.

In January 2016, the band released a greatest hits album titled La Difference: A History Unplugged. Tracks included "One Day In Your Life", "I Go Blind", and "Ocean Pearl". The album was released through eOne Music. The band then set out on a month-long theatre tour across Canada to support the album. In 2017 they played at Peachfest in Penticton.

In 2018 54-40 performed with fiddler Daniel Lapp, both locally and also as the opening band at Ottawa's CityFolk Festival.

Lead singer Neil Osborne began playing shows with his daughter, singer-songwriter Kandle, billing themselves as A Family Curse, self-described as "pure folk-art worked from found objects (something old, something new)." A Toronto show took place May 8, 2019 at the intimate and tiny 20-capacity Radical Road Brewing Co. The father-daughter duo played later that year on August 7, 2019 as part of Roy Thompson Hall's Live on the Patio series, also in Toronto. These shows were bookended by shows in Montréal, where Kandle resides, in February and August 2019.

54-40 played the legendary Horseshoe Tavern's 72nd anniversary party on December 6, 2019. Sam Cash, son of Toronto post-punk musician turned city politician Andrew Cash, opened the show.

Members

Current

• Neil Osborne – vocals, rhythm guitar (1980–present), lead guitar (1981–1983)
• Dave Genn – lead guitar (2003–present)
• Brad Merrit – bass (1980–present)
• Matt Johnson – drums (1986–present)
• David Osborne - organ, saxophone, harmonica (2015-present)

Former

• Ian Franey – drums (1980–1983)
• Phil Comparelli – lead guitar, vocals, trumpet (1983–2005)
• Darryl Neudorf – drums (1983–1986)

Timeline

Discography

EPs

Albums

Singles

Live

Compilations

DVDs

• 2006 – This Is Here This Is Now

References

1. Damas, Jason. "54-40 - Casual Viewin' USA Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". Allmusic. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
2. "PAST NOMINEES + WINNERS". junoawards.ca. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
3. "NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS" (PDF). bdsradio.com. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
4. "54-40 Guitarist To Be Replaced By Former Matthew Good Ax-Man". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on March 6, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
5. "The Official Website of 54•40 – 54•40 Canada's Band". 5440.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
6. "54-40 rocks the fest". Penticton Western News, Aug. 11, 2017
7. "54-40 pull all the right strings". Paul Dwyer, March 22, 2018
8. "CityFolk review: 54-40 puts a tasty new spin on its old hits". Ottawa Citizen, Lynn Saxberg, September 14, 2018
9. "Yvonne Matsell presents an evening with A Family Curse". EventBrite. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
10. "Yvonne Matsell presents an evening with A Family Curse". EventBrite. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
11. "A Family Curse - Roy Thompson Hall". Roy Thompson Hall. Archived from the original on 2020-07-08. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
12. "Neil (54-40) and Kandle Osborne at Roy Thompson Hall patio". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
13. "Kandle & Neil Osborne present A Family Curse". Le Point de Vente. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
14. "A Family Curse (Kandle & Neil Osborne) in Montreal". Eventful Montreal. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
15. "The Horseshoe Tavern's 72nd Birthday Celebration". Legendary Horseshoe Tavern calendar. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
16. Peak positions for 54-40's albums in Canada:
    • For "54-40" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 44, No. 18, July 26, 1986". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Show Me" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 47, No. 15, January 30, 1988". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Fight for Love" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 50, No. 23, October 02 1989". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Dear Dear" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 55, No. 26, June 27, 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Smilin' Buddha Cabaret" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 59, No. 14, April 25, 1994". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Trusted by Millions" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 63, No. 15, May 27, 1996". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Since When" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 17, July 20, 1998". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Casual Viewin'" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 71, No. 20, September 18, 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
17. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
18. Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Singles Chart:
    • For "One Day in Your Life" "Top Singles - Volume 48, No. 3, May 07 1988". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Miss You" "Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 1 Nov 04, 1989". RPM. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
    • For "Nice to Luv You" "Top Singles - Volume 55, No. 26, June 27, 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
    • For "She La" "Top Singles - Volume 56, No. 13, September 26, 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
    • For "Music Man" "Top Singles - Volume 56, No. 25, December 19, 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" "Top Singles - Volume 57, No. 11, March 27, 1993". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Blame Your Parents" "HITS OF THE WORLD". Billboard. 7 May 1994. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
    • For "Assoholic" "Top Singles - Volume 60, No. 7, September 05 1994". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Ocean Pearl" "Top Singles - Volume 60, No. 22, December 19, 1994". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
    • For "Love You All" "Top Singles - Volume 63, No. 20, July 01 1996". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Lies to Me" "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 8, October 07 1996". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Crossing a Canyon" "Top Singles - Volume 64, No. 26, March 03 1997". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "I Love Candy" "Top Singles - Volume 65, No. 11, May 19, 1997". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Since When" "Top Singles - Volume 67, No. 18, July 27, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Lost and Lazy" "Top Singles - Volume 68, No. 13, January 11, 1999". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Casual Viewin'" "Top Singles - Volume 71, No. 19, September 11, 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
19. Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Rock/Alternative Chart:
    • For "Love You All" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 63, No. 18, June 17, 1996". RPM. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
    • For "Lies to Me" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 64, No. 5, September 16, 1996". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Since When" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 67, No. 19, August 03 1998". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Lost and Lazy" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 68, No. 6, November 02 1998". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Casual Viewin'" "Rock/Alternative - Volume 71, No. 20, September 18, 2000". RPM. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Easy to Love" "RR Canada Rock Top 30" (PDF). p. 63. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
20. Peak positions for 54-40's singles on Canadian Content Chart:
    • For "One Gun" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 48, No. 24 Oct 01, 1988". RPM. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
    • For "Baby, Have Some Faith" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 51, No. 6, December 09 1989". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Over My Head" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 51, No. 19 Mar 24, 1990". RPM. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
    • For "Nice to Luv You" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 55, No. 19, May 09 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "Music Man" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 56, No. 19, November 07 1992". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "You Don't Get Away (That Easy)" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 57, No. 7, February 27, 1993". RPM. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
    • For "We Are, We Pretend" "Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 57, No. 26 Jul 10, 1993". RPM. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
21. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 55, No. 3, December 21, 1991". RPM. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2010-09-29.

External links

• Official website
• 54-40 entry at Trouser Press
• 54-40 discography at Discogs
• Entry at canadianbands.com
• 54-40 at IMDb

• 1980 establishments in British Columbia
• Canadian alternative rock groups
• Canadian jangle pop groups
• Musical groups established in 1980
• Musical groups from Vancouver
• Reprise Records artists
• Roots rock music groups
• True North Records artists