By Jim Barber
They’re a type of bands that form of will get misplaced within the shuffle when speaking concerning the wonderful Canadian rock music of the Seventies and early Nineteen Eighties. Overshadowed? Usually. Underrated? At all times. Prism was as outstanding a reputation on the airwaves of Canada, and North America for that matter, throughout that point interval as contemporaries resembling April Wine, Trooper and Triumph, and maybe solely eclipsed by the juggernaut that was – and is – Rush.
With a blisteringly potent, immediately memorably, and brilliantly compelling sequence of hit songs from the powerhouse ‘Take Me to the Kaptain,’ ‘Younger and Stressed,’ and “Spaceship Celebrity’ to the sublimely melodic ‘Flying,’ ‘See Eternally Eyes,’ and ‘Virginia,’ epic ballads like ‘Take Me Away’ and ‘It’s Over’ to the monumental epic, ‘Armageddon’ Prism was a bona fide rock hit making machine – maybe the Nice White North’s model of Kansas, Boston, Journey or Styx.
A lot of these songs are nonetheless performed on old-school terrestrial radio, particularly with the proliferation of the ‘Traditional Rock’ or ‘Traditional Hits’ codecs, in addition to on satellite tv for pc radio and streaming platforms. However their elevation to the pantheon of nice Canadian bands, commercially and touring sensible, solely lasted 5 years. The vicissitudes and vagaries of the music business, and the numerous points, each enterprise and personnel associated, took a toll, and by 1983, there have been no unique members left.
The ’basic lineup’ of Prism was constituted by lead vocalist Ron Tabak, lead guitarist Lindsay Mitchell, keyboardist John Corridor, drummer Rocket Norton and bass/rhythm guitarist Al Harlow. At occasions, the early lineup of the band, particularly for his or her first, self-titled album, additionally included Jim Vallance, quickly to develop into certainly one of Canada’s most profitable and lauded songwriters/producers, on drums, in addition to trumpet participant Bruce Fairbairn, later additionally changing into a legendary rock producer. It even included bassist Tom Lavin, who would go on to discovered Juno successful blues act, the Powder Blues Band.
After the 1977 first album, three others shortly adopted, establishing Prism as one of the prolific and in-demand bands in Canada. See Eternally Eyes got here in 1978, adopted by Armageddon a yr later, with Younger and Stressed being launched in 1980. Later that yr, their All The Better of Prism compilation dominated gross sales. However by then the ‘points’ had settled in. Small Change in 1981 spawned one hit single (oddly sufficient, far more profitable within the U.S. than in Canada) ‘Don’t Let Him Know,’ adopted by the album Beat Avenue in 1983, which was not promoted by the label, and featured not one of the basic members.
However over these superb few years, Prism garnered 11 Juno Award nominations, together with for Group of the 12 months 4 occasions (successful in 1981) with Fairbairn successful for Producer of the 12 months for the Armageddon Album in 1980.
Quick ahead to 2025, and Prism, below the management of Harlow, continues to be on the market, nonetheless taking part in these songs, in addition to just a few newer ones, with the identical power, vigour, enthusiasm and fervour as all the time – a real instance of rock and roll resilience.
After a pair of exhibits opening for British rock legends Nazareth, which incorporates an Oct. 9 date on the new Onerous Rock On line casino and Lodge simply exterior Ottawa, Prism heads again west for exhibits in Oliver and Kamloops B.C., earlier than a Halloween live performance on the Regent On line casino in Winnipeg and a New 12 months’s Eve efficiency on the Deerfoot On line casino in Calgary.
What would ultimately develop into Prism started within the extremely fertile and dynamic Vancouver music scene of the early Seventies. Harlow stated that the long run members of the band have been already in demand performers and songwriters, venturing into varied studios to document and launch music – all on the similar time. Rubbing shoulders, sitting in on each other’s periods, protecting tabs on what the opposite people have been doing, these have been all half and parcel of being younger, hungry musicians on the rise.
“There was a band, The Seeds of Time, which was Rocket, and Lindsay and John Corridor and me. And we have been round about ten years earlier than Prism. However on the time, like most younger bands, we have been like a dysfunctional household, let’s assume. And folks got here and went. A bit later, there was Bruce Fairbairn, and Rocket Norton had the Rocket Norton Band. So, they have been recording, and The Seeds of Time was recording, and I used to be solo Al Harlow, in a approach I’ve all the time been solo Al Harlow. If I wasn’t within the Seeds of Time, out and in of The Seeds of Time, I used to be within the studio making my very own recordings. So, there was all this mishmash of recording that was occurring, and it form of morphed into the Prism challenge, insofar as Bruce Fairbairn and Lindsay Mitchell, they form of roped in Jim Vallance, they usually have been reducing some tunes on the similar time that the Rocket Norton Band was recording, and the Al Harlow band was recording. Nonetheless, they grabbed Jim Vallance’s songs, let’s assume. After which after we have been all collectively, they realized that between all of those initiatives, there wasn’t actually a singer within the room,” Harlow defined.
“They went out and located Ron Tabak. So, if you wish to use that because the lightening rod, then you would need to say that bringing in Ron Tabak to sing on the recordings that Bruce Fairbairn and Jim Vallance have been making, and Lindsay Mitchell was within the room as effectively, that might be stated to be the start of Prism. Nonetheless, John Corridor and Rocket Norton and I have been form of lingering round. When it lastly received critical, and we needed to type of congeal as a band, as an alternative of being only a bunch of fellows, as a result of there have been like 5 drummers and 7 bass gamers – there have been every kind of individuals coming and going – after we realized this was going someplace, there’s some magic right here, we’d higher kind a band round it. And that turned the Prism on the album covers.
“We had just a few names; truly the band was known as Underneath Building for a beat there, after which someone got here up with the concept of Prism as a result of it appeared to have a visible connotation. You may shut your eyes and type of think about the way you would possibly current this factor, with mild exhibits and rainbows and crystal reflections and all of that. And it’s humorous as a result of it match in additional with a few of the stuff we did on the unique demos, all of which I’ve. There have been some jazz fusion stuff that was being recorded, however it was the songs that Jim Vallance was engaged on, that was what attracted the document firms. They form of stated, ‘effectively that’s nice guys. You’re taking part in jazz fusion. Effectively, you possibly can simply put that in your again pocket and put it aside for the field set. We’ll go together with ‘Spaceship Celebrity,’ and ‘Open Soul Surgical procedure,’ and ‘Take Me to the Kaptain’ and ‘It’s Over.’ We’ll go together with these songs. They usually did. In order that’s form of the way it all started, and heaven is aware of, if nothing else had occurred, Prism was on the centre of this little neighborhood there, which spawned a lot different exercise. Like, Jim Vallance met Bryan Admas round Prism’s songwriting demoing course of. And naturally, Bruce Fairbairn himself went on to an illustrious profession producing AC/DC [The Razor’s Edge] and Bon Jovi [Slippery When Wet, New Jersey] and Aerosmith [Permanent Vacation, Pump]. In order that’s a reasonably cool legacy by itself.”
After which there was the child hanging across the studio. With tousled blonde hair, a rasping voice that belied his unbelievable youth (he was 17 turning 18 in 1977) however with a assured streak a mile large, Harlow witnessed firsthand the nascent Bryan Adams studying his craft by watching Fairbairn, the Prism lads, and particularly from working intently with Vallance.
“Even earlier than he did the stuff with Sweeny Todd [replacing Nick Gilder as a 15 year old!], I knew he had one thing. He was so targeted. I imply, he blew everyone away as a result of he was only a very decided younger man. Everyone else was type of bouncing round and making just a few errors and getting concerned in medication and partying, however he stayed away from that, and it was noticeable simply how critical he was. I imply, it’s exhausting to say, you recognize, sure, I knew the Titanic was going to sink, or sure, I knew Bryan Adams was going to develop into this massive worldwide star – no one is aware of for positive. However I keep in mind him from at first occurred for him. And I keep in mind being actually impressed that, to start with, he was very gregarious, you can really feel as if you have been pals, and you can chat and hang around and do all that. He was very simple to have interaction with. However foremost, he was very, very intent and really, very targeted. Nothing was going to dissuade him from reaching his targets. I like him nonetheless.”
All the people concerned within the early Prism days have been influenced by many alternative types, together with jazz, therefore the aspect of horns launched into most of the band’s songs. At one level, an American music critic known as them, ‘The Who with horns,’ due to the bombastic riffs after which the scintillating cascade of horns. Harlow stated the music of the Sixties, as with a lot of their era, was elementary to their improvement as gamers and writers, in addition to their abiding want to affix or kind bands.
“Rocket, John Corridor, Lindsay and I, as The Seeds of Time, we have been the Beatles and Stones era, that form of stuff. All of us noticed The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Present in February of 1964. I even had copies of ‘Love Me Do,’ and ‘I Wish to Maintain Your Hand,’ in late 1963. Nonetheless, we have been additionally youngsters of Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry and likewise early Motown and the Stax, Volt stuff – the nice rhythm and blues. So, we have been bathed in horns and horn sections. It was our dream to make music that might have all these components in it. It was a direct results of our influences, between Motown and the British Invasion and all that form of stuff. I imply, the Rolling Stones’ unique mission was to show us little younger suburban youngsters that this all got here from Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, approach again there. All of us turned college students of the blues by that. And in that sense, we have been very like Trooper and April Wine and people guys as a result of we have been all the identical era. To at the present time I can hear all of the little similarities within the songs that all of us wrote. However for us, what actually thrilled us and turned us on got here out in our personal stuff,” he stated.
It’s form of within the eye of the beholder as to when the ‘official’ fiftieth anniversary of Prism is, and when it needs to be celebrated. Most throughout the music business rely the primary launch as the place to begin, so that might imply 1977, when the self-titled debut album got here out. However as Harlow stated, the band had been within the works and possibly had its title in late 1975 and into 1976. For the sake of argument, let’s say someday between now and subsequent yr is the fiftieth, only for the sake of argument … and to make a good portion of this text far more related. Even when it’s 1977, that also means Prism has been round for a very lengthy friggin’ time period. The songs are nonetheless performed on terrestrial radio, individuals nonetheless flock to their exhibits and whilst just lately as two years in the past, the band was nonetheless receiving accolades, this time from Canada’s Stroll of Fame. So, what does it imply to Harlow as, by far, the longest tenured member of the band, to succeed in such a milestone and nonetheless be out on the highway and nonetheless have relevance to followers and the Canadian music business.
“You realize what? It’s invigorating. I’m grateful. I’ve an angle of gratitude, as a result of so a lot of our contemporaries are now not right here. And of these which can be, a few of them will not be in adequate form to truly received out and do the rigours of what it takes to get on the market and lay it out on stage, journey throughout the nation and all that stuff. However I really feel nice and, mercifully, nonetheless received my well being and all that. I really feel like I’m 25 years outdated. I actually do. And I nonetheless admire the possibility to get on the market and sing and play these songs. I’ve the privilege of representing that catalogue. Some individuals nonetheless ask me how I can get on the market and sing, ‘Younger and Stressed,’ and ‘See Eternally Eyes,’ or ‘Armageddon’ each night time? And I say, similar to Tony Bennet would say, you reinterpret it each night time. It’s all the time recent, and also you all the time must sing it such as you imply it. It’s received to return out of your intestine and our of your coronary heart. So, it’s important to imbue it with all of the which means which you can give it now. And I additionally get the power from the gang, from the viewers. I feed off the passion and the adrenaline. If individuals are exhibiting as much as hear that music, they need to hear it for actual. They usually’re coming to see Prism, not a canopy band doing Chuck Berry covers or no matter. You’ve received to point out up as a result of they’ve. I do know it sounds overly sentimental, but when the viewers is exhibiting up stuffed with power, I’m exhibiting up stuffed with power. It’s a mutual gesture. We’re all there for one motive, and it’s an exquisite feeling,” he stated.
“These have been the songs that we wrote, and after we wrote them, we meant it. We put all the things we had into writing and recording and performing these songs. None of it was mercenary for us. While you’re younger and also you’re a child simply new to the music enterprise, you’re not self-editing. You’re not inspecting what you’re doing and looking to your personal ulterior motives or being strategic. There isn’t any of that. You’re simply in love with what you’re doing. So these songs, these recordings, these albums seize these moments. I’ll have written ‘Younger and Stressed,’ or ‘Take Me Away,’ or ‘Flying’ once I was in my 20s, however I understand how I felt. I can nonetheless keep in mind how I felt. I used to be speaking to somebody concerning the lyrics to ‘Flying’ just lately and I informed them it was about an actual woman. What you hear within the tune actually occurred, and I understand how I felt about her, and I keep in mind how she felt about me. So, if I occur to be singing that tune tomorrow night time, or Thursday night time up in Ottawa, I’m proper again in that second.
“And there is a component of paying tribute not solely to the songs, but in addition doing my finest to do justice to the tune’s as a result of Ron’s not right here to sing them [Tabak was killed not long after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle to Harlow’s house in 1984, to a meeting that was possibly leading to a reunion of the classic Prism lineup]. We have been friends. We have been brothers. We have been in it collectively, and he’s now not right here, proper. It’s been some time, however I do have these non-public moments the place I ponder what it could be like of Ron was nonetheless round. Effectively, he’d in all probability be the third individual on this cellphone name proper now, for one factor. He’d be right here and really current. I’m representing what all of us wished to specific by these songs. We have been pleased with what we did and I’m nonetheless pleased with it. And it’s type of my accountability to be the keeper of the flame. Earlier than Rocket handed [in April 2024] we have been in a position to discuss this as a result of we did some pretty large-scale most cancers profit concert events, which Rocket produced in his final days, however which he didn’t personally profit from. There’s a little bit of a misunderstanding there as a result of individuals thought the exhibits have been elevating cash for his battle, however it was for the Kids’s Hospital, the Canadian Most cancers Basis. A bunch of us from Prism have been doing these exhibits and it actually introduced us collectively. And naturally, the elephant within the room was the truth that I’m out right here nonetheless doing it. However we have been in a position to discuss that, John Corridor, Rocket and I. We had our little conversations, they usually have been giving it the thumbs up and stated, ‘yeah, you’re carrying the torch. We’re pleased with you.’”
Prism blasted into the Canadian music business from the opening, prog-like keyboard twinkles for ‘Spaceship Celebrity’ in 1977, by to the one ‘Cowl Woman’ launched on 45 rpm and on the band’s All of the Greatest From Prism compilation, in 1980. Tabak left the band shortly thereafter taking away one of many elementary parts of the band’s sound. Even with the distinctive success of the subsequent single, that includes new singer Henry Small, ‘Don’t Let Him Know,’ which truly made all of it the best way to primary on U.S. rock charts, the band couldn’t maintain it’s success and roughly drifted aside by late 1983. Then got here the dying of Tabak and one other hiatus, which noticed a average resurgence in consideration with the tune ‘Good to be Again’ from their 1988 compilation, Over 60 Minutes with Prism (that includes Darcy Deutch on lead vocals. Deutch lasted till round 2003, Mitchell left the band a few years later. Norton, who returned in 1988, solely lasted till 1994 earlier than stepping into present manufacturing and different ventures.)
In 2005, and ever since, Harlow has been the constant presence – and lead voice – of the band onstage and within the studio. A brand new album, Large Black Sky, got here out in 2008, and Harlow himself launched a solo album, Now! in 2022. By all of it, he has trod the boards on phases in golf equipment, at festivals, in arenas and all types of different venues, protecting that proverbial flame alight for Prism’s music and for Prism followers.
“Relying on the venue, it’s a reasonably large fan base. If it’s a on line casino theatre versus a day set at an out of doors summer time competition, or if it’s an all-ages factor or a smooth seater or indoor hockey rink it might probably range. At a number of locations, you’ll have an viewers that I can cut up into like three generations. There’s the primary era of followers. So, a Prism live performance can be ‘a night with Prism’ of their minds. It’s like, ‘okay darling, dinner and a present. After which we’ll be dwelling by 11. Time sufficient to take our drugs and get to mattress.’ Then there’s the center followers who could have found us within the Nineties. And for them a present would possibly imply hiring a babysitter or leaving the youthful youngsters dwelling with the oldest. And I’m not taking something away from that subsequent era. A few of these followers know as a lot concerning the Prism story and the lyrics to the third verse of every tune as I do. I can look on the market and see all of them singing alongside to the second and third verse. I’m simply their pal onstage,” he stated.
“That first era of followers, the older ones, they’re exhibiting as much as most something we do. If it’s a three-day outside competition, they’ll convey their garden chairs they usually’ll sleep within the Winnebago. The center followers, who could have found us within the Nineties or early 2000s, they’re youthful and you may catch their vibe. After which there’s the actually youthful one who would possibly even nonetheless be of their teenagers or very early 20s. They usually don’t appear to understand how outdated I’m, they usually clearly don’t care. They simply know the music. They realize it and should prefer it sufficient to point out up and know that it’s us. So, it’s a complete cake combine. There could also be somebody who was tagging together with a pal and simply appreciated the vibe, or another person will come who will hastily keep in mind all these songs of ours that they used to listen to. I get that remark on a regular basis once I’m on the merch desk. They’ll say, ‘I knew all these songs, however I didn’t know all these songs have been by you guys.’ And I do attempt to discuss to the youthful ones as effectively. And also you’ll get ones who say, ‘my dad was an enormous fan of yours and I realized all the things.’ Or older brothers and sisters had the data. After which in fact, as you’ve stated, terrestrial radio. And whereas a lot of individuals say it’s lifeless, it retains a number of music from our period alive. And it’s humorous as a result of it’s not all the time the songs that you simply would possibly suppose. I imply, we’re form of caught with ‘Spaceship Celebrity’ being our second nationwide anthem for the remainder of our lives. However what are you going to do?
“’Armageddon is one other one, however being seven minutes lengthy, it’s performed a bit of bit much less. It’s humorous how terrestrial radio will bounce on two or three songs out of your catalogue, they usually’ll simply spin them for 3 or 4 years. ‘Younger and Stressed’ will get a number of terrestrial play. And ‘Flying’ was one of many prime two or three most performed songs in the US in 1978, in order that form of washes throughout the border up right here too.”
Returning to the topic of Large Black Sky, the 2008 album, and the final one the band has launched, Harlow stated there are songs on that album that also slot in effectively with the Prism again catalog, and ones which can be even usually requested from followers.
“There was a tune known as ‘Ya Hassle Me,’ which we performed stay for some time. After which there was a Center Japanese factor, ‘Tangiers.’ Folks nonetheless ask about that, though we haven’t accomplished it shortly. It had a cool sitar factor occurring. There’s truly been some discuss throughout the band of bringing it again, which might be for longer, headlining exhibits. For the exhibits we’re doing opening for Nazareth with Helix, it’s just about simply going to be the best hits.
“There’s a little bit of an irony factor there there’s an angle, particularly a radio angle, the place they are saying, ‘what, a brand new album by an outdated band? Who cares? I’ve received all of your outdated data. I don’t want to listen to what you’re doing now.’ I imply, that’s simply not us, that’s common for many bands. So [the band’s manager, another iconic name on the Canadian musical landscape] Bruce Allen suggested me in 2008, he stated that I’d have gotten extra mileage out of that album had I simply known as it an Al Harlow solo album as a result of then it wouldn’t carry any expectations or baggage that has to stay as much as some form of extension of Prism. So, there’s all the time going to be that push pull on the subject of releasing new music,” he stated.
“I sincerely need to take Prism again into the studio. I feel it could be a really wholesome factor to do and make it significant. I’m not saying we might imitate ourselves or be sure that it’s all the time the identical keyboard sound, however that it could have that distinctive Prism character. When my solo album got here out, there have been a few tracks on there the place I believed, oh my goodness, I’m sporting my Prism boots proper now. Like, I used to be bringing a sensibility to the preparations. A type of is a tune known as ‘Meet Me within the Sky,’ and it’s received a groove, and it rolls, however there’s a sure airiness about it that has that Prism vibe.”
The Prism story has been certainly one of perseverance, significantly from the band’s followers, and Harlow himself. He’s having fun with the band’s continued recognition, even when it’s not reaching the heights that it did from 1977 to 1981. However, it have to be stated, for 40 years there was a query that has been lingering within the hearts and minds of long-time Prism followers. What would have occurred had Tabak not been hit by a automobile whereas using his bike, subsequently struggling an aneurysm and dying so instantly and tragically throughout the Christmas season of 1984. The immediately recognizable voice of the band would have rejoined Harlow, Mitchell, Corridor and Norton, wrote new music, and maybe picked up proper the place they left off as bona fide rock sensations in Canada, and rising in recognition and industrial success south of the border within the U.S. What number of extra sensible and memorable songs would have been written and recorded that might be a part of the numerous nonetheless populating basic rock radio at the moment? Would they’ve develop into worldwide sensations? Would iconic British exhausting rockers Nazareth be opening for Prism on their present tour as an alternative of the reverse?
“Capital ‘Y’ sure, we might have had a reunion, as a result of we have been placing the unique band again collectively simply as Ron died. We took the Christmas week off and Ron was coming to my place to spend the vacations. It was nonetheless an in depth sufficient time to our heyday that we had labels , and Capital Information, who had dropped us the yr earlier than, perhaps have revised and continued on with our contract. At that second, the labels have been truly knocking on our door, not the opposite approach round. Proper after New 12 months’s in January of 1985, we have been simply going to renew with Ron on vocals. We’ve questioned what may need occurred many occasions. It’s one thing that we’ve repeated to ourselves individually on a couple of event. Earlier than Rocket handed, we had loads of time to replicate on it once more. These days bands take for much longer breaks. There was not a lot time between when Henry got here in after which leaving after which bringing Ron again in and having the unique band. Nevertheless it was sufficient time to be older and wiser, all of us. To at the present time, John Corridor and I’ve mirrored within the easiest phrases that had Ron not handed away and we simply resumed, we might have simply picked up the momentum the place we left off and there would have been at the very least 10 extra years, and there would have been 10 extra albums. What a sobering thought, eh? Nevertheless it’s like, what if Pete Greatest had been a greater drummer and stayed within the Beatles?” Harlow stated, earlier than speaking about Tabak’s unique run with the band, and the way one veteran American artist took the younger, inexperienced lead singer, who had jumped from golf equipment to arenas virtually in a single day, and helped him discover his kind and confidence on stage.
“Bruce Allen was managing us after which picked up Bryan Adams as a shopper. And there was a very, actually brief time period, early on when Ron was form of struggling to rise to the event. He was studying as a result of as The Seeds of Time, Rocket, Lindsay, John and I had already accomplished some massive gigs. We already had some mileage. Ron was youthful than us and was fairly inexperienced. Once we began doing our first massive world tour with Meatloaf, when he was actually exploding on the scene with Bat Out of Hell, Meatloaf, or Michael Lee Aday as a result of a very good mentor to Ron. Ron actually realized a number of his stagecraft as a result of he had Meatloaf instructing him, which was very cool. So, he received higher, however earlier than he did, there was like a five-minute interval the place Ron was very uncomfortable, and Bruce was going to stay Bryan in as lead singer of Prism. Fortuitously for everyone, that concept lasted solely about 5 minutes.”
Presently, alongside Harlow is keyboardist Marc Gladstone, who joined in 2010, longtime drummer Gary Grace [22 years in the band] and bassist Greg Cox, who was launched into the fold earlier this yr.
“Gary Grace is a monster. He’s a prime teacher and clinic man. I’m so proud to say now we have now Greg Cox, who simply joined the band on bass and he’s additionally an absolute killer lead guitar participant. So now on ‘Take Me Away’ which has twin guitars, which on the document was each me, now he can step up and play some lead guitar too, so how cool is that? I’m actually pumped about the place we’re going to have the ability to go together with all this. And Mark Gladstone on keys, he’s truly a cousin of John Corridor, our unique keyboard participant. Mark has accomplished tons of session work and he and his spouse Shirelle have the Stone Poets band, they usually put me to disgrace. They put out albums as repeatedly as I want I used to be doing,” he stated with a chuckle.
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Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and writer based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Apart from his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood. Contact him at bigjim1428@hotmail.com.
