The Grapes of Wrath (band)
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada |
| Founder | Chris Hooper, Tom Hooper, Kevin Kane |
| Headquarters | Kelowna , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
The Grapes of Wrath is a rock ensemble from Canada, established in 1983 in Kelowna, British Columbia, by Chris Hooper, Tom Hooper, and Kevin Kane. Their commercial zenith occurred during the late 1980s and early 1990s. After disbanding in 1992—with Kane embarking on a solo path and the Hooper brothers creating Ginger—the group briefly regrouped in 2000 to produce the album Field Trip. The original trio fully reunited in 2010 and have remained active in both recording and live performances since then.
In 2012, EMI released their greatest hits collection titled Singles in Canada, which included two new songs. Their latest studio effort, High Road, was launched in 2013, followed by a compilation of CBC's Brave New Waves sessions released in 2017.
History
The Grapes of Wrath were formed by ex-members of Kill Pigs—Chris Hooper, Tom Hooper, and Kevin Kane—and signed with Nettwerk in 1984, releasing an EP that same year. Their first full-length album, September Bowl of Green (1985), was succeeded by Treehouse (1987), produced by Tom Cochrane. This album marked their breakthrough in Canada with the notable track "Peace of Mind".
Their most commercially successful record, Now and Again (1989), produced by Anton Fier, featured the inclusion of touring keyboardist Vincent Jones as an official band member. The tour supporting this album notably included performances with then-rising artist Sarah McLachlan.
The 1991 album These Days, produced by John Leckie, embraced a more rock-oriented sound and generated their highest-charting singles: "I Am Here" and "You May Be Right". This album earned the 1992 CASBY Award for Favourite Album, while "I Am Here" was honored as Best Song.
After Kevin Kane left the band late in 1992, the remaining members continued under the name Ginger. In 2000, Kane and Tom Hooper reunited to record Field Trip, without participation from Chris Hooper or Vincent Jones.
In 2009, Kane and Hooper began performing acoustically as a duo before reuniting with Chris Hooper at the Surrey Fusion Festival in 2010—the first full original lineup appearance since 1992. Since that reunion, they have toured consistently and developed new material.
The compilation Singles released in 2012 featured fresh recordings and included collaborations with notable Canadian musicians such as Sam Roberts and Ron Sexsmith during its launch. Their most recent studio album, High Road, was issued via Aporia Records in 2013. Although Kevin Kane joined The Northern Pikes in 2019, he continues to perform with The Grapes of Wrath at various festivals.
Singles
| Release Date | Title | Peak Canada RPM 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | "Misunderstanding" | September Bowl of Green | |
| 1985 | "Love Comes Around" | ||
| October 1987 | "Peace of Mind" | #56 | Treehouse |
| January 1988 | "O Lucky Man" | ||
| March 1988 | "Backward Town" | ||
| July 1989 | "All the Things I Wasn't" | #19 | Now and Again |
| October 1989 | "Do You Want to Tell Me?" | #50 | |
| January 1990 | "What Was Going Through My Head" | #33 | |
| May 1990 | "The Most" | ||
| July 1991 | "I Am Here" | #8 | These Days |
| October 1991 | "You May Be Right" | #7 | |
| February 1992 | "A Fishing Tale" | #60 | |
| September 2000 | "Black Eye" | Field Trip | |
| March 2013 | "Good To See You" | High Road | |
| December 2014 | "Mexico" |
Albums
| Year | Title | Certifications (CAN) |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Grapes of Wrath | — |
| 1985 | September Bowl of Green | — |
| 1987 | Treehouse | Gold |
| 1989 | Now and Again | Platinum |
| 1991 | These Days | Platinum |
| 2000 | Field Trip | — |
| 2013 | High Road | — |
| 2017 | Brave New Waves session | — |
Compilations
- Seems Like Fate 1984–1992 (1994)
- Singles (2012)