Footloose (band)
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Headquarters | Edmonton , Canada |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Footloose was a Canadian musical ensemble recognized primarily for their 1979 hit single "Leaving For Maui". The lineup featured artists such as Tim Feehan and subsequently, Doug Riley.
Background
Originating in 1978 from Edmonton, Alberta, the band consisted of Tim Feehan (lead vocals), Dwayne Feland (drums), George Goodall (bass guitar), Terry Medd (guitar), and Curt Smith (keyboard), emphasizing a funky rhythm and blues style. Prior to joining, Feland had performed with HUB Cigar, Feehan and Goodall were members of Buckeye, and Medd played with Missouri.
Although they did not initially intend to achieve major success, their track "Leaving For Maui" climbed into the Canadian Top 10 charts and led to opportunities to perform in Hawaii.
Career
The single "Leaving For Maui" backed with "Dancing Feelin'" was issued in Canada under Mustard M-123 (1979) and in the United States via Hilltak PW 7905. By September 1979, it garnered airplay on prominent Canadian radio stations including CHED Edmonton, CKLW Windsor, CKLG Vancouver, and CKY Winnipeg.
By December of that year, Record World selected it as a "Single Pick," commending its polished vocals and arrangements, likening it to the early sound of Hall & Oates. The song maintained a six-week presence within the Canadian Top 10 and peaked at number 74 on Canada's RPM chart.
Their follow-up single, "Time Is Right," achieved the number one position on RPM's Adult Oriented CanCon chart in March 1981.
In 1981, Tim Feehan departed to focus on his solo career, releasing his album Sneak Preview through Mustard M 1004. Doug Riley succeeded him as lead vocalist. During the band's Hawaiian tour, Feehan met Canadian singer Vikki Moss, with whom he later recorded a duet.
Later years
The band's album saw a reissue by Cool Sound, Inc. on December 10, 2001. Another re-release occurred in 2017 by Super Oldies, featuring material from 1979 to 1983 sourced directly from original master tapes. This edition contained four additional tracks, including two previously unreleased songs—"Dream Come True" and "Caroline"—both showcasing Doug Riley on vocals.
Discography
| Artist | Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footloose | "Leaving For Maui" / "Dancin' Feelin'" | Mustard M-123 | 1979 | |
| Footloose | "Time Is Right" / "It'll Take Some Time" | Mustard M-127 | 1979 | |
| Tim Feehan and Footloose | "Jamie" / "Thanks I Needed That" | Mustard M-132 | 1981 | |
| Footloose | "Who's Lovin' Her Now" / "Betty-Lou" | Mustard M-144 | 1983 |
| Artist | Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footloose | Footloose | Mustard M-1003 | 1980 | |
| Footloose | Footloose | World Records WRC4-127 (M-1003-C) |
1980 | Cassette edition |
| Footloose | Footloose | Cool Sound, Inc. COOL-084 | 2001 | Japanese CD release |
| Footloose | Footloose | Super Oldies, USA SOCD20 | 2017 | US CD release with bonus material |
Further reading
- The Edmonton Journal, November 5, 1979: Leaving for Maui Achieves International Success (includes video)
- Gigcity.ca, March 21, 2017 - HISTORY: Tracing the Journey from Hawaii to Hockey and Hollywood
- Muuseo - Adult Contemporary Music, Tim Feehan, Footloose