To explain the original idea behind the Trans-Canada Highwaymen to the layperson feels easy enough: a suggestion from trusted friends for a supergroup made up of members of the best Canadian bands of the 1990s that tours around, having a great time playing each other’s songs – and who better to for the project than Sloan’s Chris Murphy, the Pursuit of Happiness’ Moe Berg, former Barenaked Ladies’ singer, Steven Page and Odds’ Craig Northey.
But, between their inception in 2016 and the release of their debut cover project, Explosive Hits, Vol 1, in October of 2023, it’s become increasingly obvious that the idea has expanded and has created an exciting avenue for the four frontmen to explore their own songwriting roots, as well as the roots of the Canadian music industry.
Ahead of their show at Sarnia’s Imperial Theatre, Craig Northey spoke to Canadian Beats about the creation of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen and what led to the release of Explosive Hits, Vol 1.
Exactly whose idea was it to record a cover album? From what I read, I know you recorded it over the pandemic, but was this something that you guys had in mind from the start of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen?
We didn’t have anything in mind when we started the TCH. It was an idea that sprung from our mutual friend Jim Millan (theatre director/actor Kids in the Hall, etc) who thought it would be interesting to see good friends from different bands play music and talk about what it’s like doing what they do. We agreed and enjoyed playing each other’s songs and firing jibes at each other. There was a multimedia component for the first run of shows and then that faded away.
Mike Renaud, who managed Odds and was helping us with TCH back, then said to me one day “You guys should do a covers album. People would love it and it would help the concept connect with a wider audience”. I initially thought that would be no fun although also I know he’s a guy who’s almost always right. I foolishly didn’t bring it up with anyone.
Years later the whole covers album thing happened organically. Since the beginning we had been playing a Michel Pagliaro song as an encore. It was just a song we all loved as kids – “Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy”. When covid came around the plan was hatched to expand on that feeling and make our own Ktel style record of Canadian songs done in the TCH way. We have to give a ton of credit to Chris Murphy for hammering the concept together and creating the beautiful artwork and our fabulous 17-minute infomercial. In the end I think he just wanted to do all this so we could make that infomercial. It was worth it. In a six hour shoot we laughed more than most people laugh in a lifetime. Please check it out.
I do believe our whole origin story is well covered in the song “Theme From Trans-Canada Highwaymen”. Steven wrote that for us. He’s pretty good at songs.
What was the process of choosing what songs to cover like? Beyond the general time frame of the late-60’s/early-70’s, were there any additional restrictions that were put into place in order to create the tracklist? In particular, the album features tracks from quite a few legendary artists who have massive collections of hits in their own right, such as the Guess Who and Joni Mitchell. Was it more or less difficult to narrow it down to one from these artists?
The song selection process wasn’t tough but it did take us a while. In the end it was about which songs seemed to fit the way we play and the sentimental favourites each of us had. It was about whether we could get behind the song and put genuine positive energy into it. For example I asked to do the Bim song “Can’t Catch Me” because it was a big one for me on my AM radio and Roy Forbes (Bim) was later one of the first stars from inside that radio that I actually met in the flesh. “Can’t Catch Me” was legitimately on a Ktel album back then but only Moe and I knew of it. The other two, of course because they are great people, knew we needed to do it because it would have the excitement and energy in it that comes from a relationship to the song.
What were the discussions to determine who sang lead for each song like? Was it more a matter of giving it to the guy who could sing it the best, or did you allow whoever brought it in to be the one to take the lead?
Pretty much whomever brought it in got to sing it. Sometimes they turned into duets like the Stampeders “Carry Me”. It was a very collaborative process. If a song was flagging Moe would find a way to bring life back to it and make it sound like us. “Heartbeat Is a Lovebeat” was on the scrap heap until he unlocked the code. The DeFranco family owe Moe a beer.
Were there any tracks you really wish could have been included on Explosive Hits Vol 1? If Trans-Canada Highwaymen were to release a Vol 2, are there any themes you’d like to explore?
What? What do you mean “IF”? There WILL BE subsequent volumes. I don’t want to spoil it by revealing our elaborate plans. There are many songs we wanted to do but didn’t do…I won’t tell you what they are in case that is also an idea in and of itself.
As a musician with hits dating back decades, has the experience of recording Explosive Hits Vol 1 made you think about your own legacy within the Canadian music industry? How would you like to see your music celebrated in the future?
I don’t know about legacy too much. It’s nice to feel our own songs connect when we play our shows. The thing we felt right away was the joy of playing the “other guy’s big songs”. It’s always less exciting when you look down at the set list and see that it’s your song next. It’s really a riot to put your all into the songs you love by your friends. Maybe that’s why the covers record felt so good to create. The music of your past days is owned by the audience. They create what it means and they commune around it. TCH is a chance to feel an audience do that. We in the band are the audience for the songs we cover on Explosive Hits. We get to pretend we are our heroes playing their songs. We commune around those songs. I guess that is what a song’s legacy is. It’s not your personal legacy….it’s shared by the audience.
What do you feel was the most complimentary thing said about Explosive Hits Vol 1?
I enjoyed hearing that the songs felt new again to some listeners. That may be because we put our own personalities and musical traits into them but also …our positivity and gratitude for those songs. I also enjoyed hearing people who hadn’t heard particular songs before say that they got turned on to those gems. It wasn’t purely a nostalgia trip.
Where would you like to see the Trans-Canada Highwaymen go next?
We’ll go anywhere to do this. Just get your: local concert promoter, wealthy arts patron, community builder, breakfast cereal company, animal rescue society or mega selling K pop band needing an opening act ….to send us an email.
Up next, the Trans-Canada Highwaymen will take their greatest hits State-side with tour dates throughout New England and New York, and will take their show to British Columbia for the first time with the Whistler Summer Concert Series on August 22. Explosive Hits, Vol 1 is available on all streaming services, while the 17-minute Trans-Canada Highwaymen infomercial can be found on YouTube.
