Authority control databases
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
The Arrows | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | New wave |
| Years active | 1981–1986 |
| Labels | A&M Records, Avion Records, El Mocambo Records, Spontaneous Records |
| Members | Dean McTaggart Michael Sloski Gabor Szepesi Hendrik Rilk Rusty McCarthy Rob Gusevs Earl Seymour Doug Macaskill Glenn Olive Bobby Economou |
The Arrows was a Canadian new wave band active during the 1980s (and not to be confused with the British band Arrows.
The Arrows were formed in 1981 by vocalist Dean McTaggart, the group's only consistent member. They recorded a single ("Treat Her Right" b/w "Come On Up") in 1981.[1] The following year, the group issued a 4 song mini-album called Misunderstood which was recorded at Grant Avenue Studios and produced by Daniel Lanois.[2]
In 1984, the band landed a deal with A&M Records. With the help of producer David Tyson, who also became McTaggart's frequent writing partner, the Arrows' 1984 debut album Stand Back was a national success in Canada, providing a top 40 hit with "Meet Me in the Middle".[3][4][5] The album sold well, and the band found themselves as the opening act on the UK leg of Chris de Burgh's 1984 tour.[citation needed]
Upon returning home, they went back to the studio for work on their second album The Lines Are Open, which saw its release in October 1985.[6][5] The singles "Heart of the City", "Talk Talk" and "Chains" all saw success in Canada, but pressures from management for a breakout hit were causing problems within the band, and following a cross-Canada tour, the group called it quits at the end of 1986.[5]
In 1995, a CD compilation Talk Talk: The Best of The Arrows surfaced on a German import label that contained the majority of the tracks from their first two albums.[7] Stand Back were re-issued on CD in 2011,[8] and The Lines Are Open was re-issued in 2013.[9]
McTaggart continued with his songwriting career, writing hit songs for artists such as "Heaven Help My Heart" by Wynonna,[10] and, as co-writer, "Unsung Hero" by Terri Clark[11] and several hits by Amanda Marshall, notably "Birmingham"[12] and her Canadian AC No. 1 hit "Dark Horse", which also became a hit for Mila Mason.
This line-up recorded the 1981 debut single "Treat Her Right" b/w "Come On Up"
This line-up recorded the 1982 4-song mini-album Misunderstood.
This line recorded the 1984 album Stand Back.
This line recorded the 1985 album The Lines Are Open.
