1982 LINE-UP:
Dean McTaggart (vocals)
Michael Sloski (drums, percussion)
Rob Gusevs (keyboards)
Hendrik Rilk (bass)
Rusty McCarthy (guitars)
Earl Seymour (saxophone)
1984-1985 LINE-UP:
Dean McTaggart (vocals)
Rob Gusevs (keyboards)
Earl Seymour (saxophone)
Doug Macaskill (guitars)
Glenn Olive (bass)
Bobby Economou (drums)
After a short-stint as The Rejects, a name change to The Arrows and a musical shift to R & B helped the 6-piece act break into the easy listening 'Chicken Deli' dance club circuit in Toronto. They came to the attention of the fledgling El Mocambo Records and released an energetic cover version of "Treat Her Right" as a single.
Their first independent EP, 'Misunderstood', was recorded at Grant Avenue studios with Daniel Lanois and released on Spontaneous Records as a means to expand into original material.
With a severe downsizing of the group, vocalist/songwriter Dean McTaggart continued honing his craft along with behind-the-scenes songwriter David Tyson who produced the band's first full-length album 'Stand Back' for A & M Records in 1984 which featured the hit single "Meet Me In The Middle".
Lightning struck twice with their successful follow-up LP in 1985 ('The Lines Are Open'), as the act expanded to a 6-piece once more with addition of Glenn Olive (bass) and Blood, Sweat & Tears' Bobby Economou (drums). The album was once again produced & co-written with David Tyson and featured the hit singles "Talk Talk" and "Heart Of The City".
The band split up in the mid-80s with Dean McTaggart going on to a successful songwriting career for Amanda Marshall, Wynonna Judd and Terri Clark among others. He released a solo album called 'Drop The Needle In The Groove' in 2011; Glenn Olive would later join Paul Myers' Gravelberrys and Planet Earth around Toronto; Earl Seymour died September 28, 1999.
With notes from Tim Russell.
Singles
1981 Treat Her Right/Come On Up (El Mocambo) ESMO 515
1982 Lovelight/If It's Love (Spontaneous) WRC3-2442
1983 Say It Isn't True/Girl In 313 (A & M) AM-2695
1984 Meet Me In The Middle/Girl In 313 (A & M) AM-647
1984 Never Be Another One/Girl In 313 (A & M) AM-671
1985 Talk Talk/Easy Street (A & M) AM-688
1985 Talk Talk (Special Version)//Heart Of The City/Chains [12"] (A & M)
1985 Heart Of The City/Tell It To My Heart (A & M) AM-695
1985 Chains/Wild One (A & M) AM-699
Albums
1982 The Arrows [4 song EP] (Spontaneous)
1984 Stand Back (A & M) SP-9105
1985 The Lines Are Open (A & M) SP-9119
1995 Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows (A & M)
Video
Compilation Tracks
1981 "Treat Her Right" & "Come On Up" on 'Toronto Calling' (El Mocambo) ELMO-759
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