Eight Seconds was a Canadian synthpop/progressive rock band formed in 1982 in Ottawa. They are perhaps best known for their 1986 single "Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)" which peaked at #14 in 1987[1] and was on the charts for 28 weeks in Canada from the albumAlmacantar. The band's lineup included Andrés del Castillo (vocals/guitar), March Cesare (bass), Frank Levin (keyboards), Scott Milks (drums), and Marc Parent (guitar).
Originally, Eight Seconds was a cover band playing local bars in Ottawa, but one of their first originals, "Where's Bula?", won the CHEZ 106's Sharechez '83 homegrown contest. The winning prize was the production of a video for the song, which received airplay on MuchMusic and MTV's Basement Tapes show. "Where's Bula?" also won the 1984 Canadian Film and Television Association's Best Music Video of the Year.[2]
In 1985, the band competed in CBC Television's battle of the bands competition series Rock Wars.[3] In late 1985, the five-song EP Ottava Rima was released and charted in Ottawa both on CHEZ 106 FM and CFRA AM. This EP was sent to producer Rupert Hine who was impressed with the strength of the songwriting and flew to Canada to see them perform live. The band headlined an outdoor show in Ottawa with Hine in the audience. Hine was interviewed after the show and declared his interest in working with the band. With Hine now part of the band's equation, Eight Seconds became a hot commodity and soon signed an international record deal with Polygram New York.
Eight Seconds spent the first two weeks of March 1986 in London England rehearsing songs from the previous EP along with new material. Then they joined Hine at his Farmyard Studios in Buckinghamshire to record the songs. The resulting studio album, Almacantar, was released several months later through Polydor. The lead single, "Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)", reached #14 overall in the Canadian charts,[1] #1 in Quebec,[citation needed] and #72 in the United States.[4] The band spent the end of 1986 and 1987 touring extensively throughout the U.S. and Canada in support of Almacantar, doing shows with Wang Chung, Paul Young, and David Bowie among others. They also headlined their own shows in regions where the CD charted well.[citation needed]
The summer of 1987 found the band back in Canada as nominees for a Juno Award in 1987 for "Most Promising Group" and six CASBY Awards (Best Single, Most Promising Group, Best Group, Best Video, Best Album Art). The rest of the year was dedicated to writing new material and further rehearsal.[citation needed]
In early 1988 the band recorded their second studio album, Big Houses produced by Paul Northfield and Frank Levin. The album was to be released under their new label Warner Music Group but was delayed due to management issues. This material remained on the shelf until 1990, damaging Eight Seconds' momentum. This, combined with the merger and effective dissolution of their American record label ATCO, led to the band's members parting way shortly following the album's release. The only charting single from the album, "Tell Diane", remained on the charts for five weeks and only peaked at #76.[5]
Eight Seconds reunited in 2002 and covered The Beatles' "Hey Jude" for the 2004 Bullseye Records release It Was 40 Years Ago Today: A Tribute To The Beatles.
Del Castillo later founded r+d creative, a video production and live event company, involved in production for a number of Canadian government departments and crown corporations.[6] Marc Parent continued in music, as a guitarist and songwriter, based in Montreal.[7] Frank Levin pursued other business ventures, eventually moving to China. He died in 2017 due to a deteriorating health condition.
Discography
Albums
Ottava Rima (1985) [EP]
Almacantar (1986)
Big Houses (1990)
Singles
"Kiss You (When It's Dangerous)" (1986) - CAN #14, U.S. #72
"Where's Bula?" (1986)
"Sincere (I Shall Return)" (1987)
"Tell Diane" (1990) - CAN #76
References
^ ab"RPM Weekly - RPM 100 Singles - March 14, 1987". Library and Archives Canada. 1987-03-14. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
^"JAM! Music Encyclopedia - Eight Seconds". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
^Keith Sharp, Music Express: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Canada's Music Magazine. Dundurn Press, 2014. ISBN9781459721951. p. 143.
^Broadjam, Profile of Marc Parent. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
External links
Eight Seconds CanConRox entry
Tribute Site, with principal objective being re-release of Almacantar.
RIP Frank Levin aka Fish
January 28, 2023
eight, seconds, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Eight Seconds news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Eight Seconds was a Canadian synthpop progressive rock band formed in 1982 in Ottawa They are perhaps best known for their 1986 single Kiss You When It s Dangerous which peaked at 14 in 1987 1 and was on the charts for 28 weeks in Canada from the album Almacantar The band s lineup included Andres del Castillo vocals guitar March Cesare bass Frank Levin keyboards Scott Milks drums and Marc Parent guitar Eight SecondsOriginOttawa Ontario CanadaGenresNew waveYears active1982 1990 2002 presentLabelsPolydor ATCOMembersAndres del CastilloMarch CesareFrank Levin born Francois Lavigne Scott MilksMarc ParentMichael LesterRoberto Durbano Contents 1 Profile 2 Discography 2 1 Albums 2 2 Singles 3 References 4 External linksProfile EditOriginally Eight Seconds was a cover band playing local bars in Ottawa but one of their first originals Where s Bula won the CHEZ 106 s Sharechez 83 homegrown contest The winning prize was the production of a video for the song which received airplay on MuchMusic and MTV s Basement Tapes show Where s Bula also won the 1984 Canadian Film and Television Association s Best Music Video of the Year 2 In 1985 the band competed in CBC Television s battle of the bands competition series Rock Wars 3 In late 1985 the five song EP Ottava Rima was released and charted in Ottawa both on CHEZ 106 FM and CFRA AM This EP was sent to producer Rupert Hine who was impressed with the strength of the songwriting and flew to Canada to see them perform live The band headlined an outdoor show in Ottawa with Hine in the audience Hine was interviewed after the show and declared his interest in working with the band With Hine now part of the band s equation Eight Seconds became a hot commodity and soon signed an international record deal with Polygram New York Eight Seconds spent the first two weeks of March 1986 in London England rehearsing songs from the previous EP along with new material Then they joined Hine at his Farmyard Studios in Buckinghamshire to record the songs The resulting studio album Almacantar was released several months later through Polydor The lead single Kiss You When It s Dangerous reached 14 overall in the Canadian charts 1 1 in Quebec citation needed and 72 in the United States 4 The band spent the end of 1986 and 1987 touring extensively throughout the U S and Canada in support of Almacantar doing shows with Wang Chung Paul Young and David Bowie among others They also headlined their own shows in regions where the CD charted well citation needed The summer of 1987 found the band back in Canada as nominees for a Juno Award in 1987 for Most Promising Group and six CASBY Awards Best Single Most Promising Group Best Group Best Video Best Album Art The rest of the year was dedicated to writing new material and further rehearsal citation needed In early 1988 the band recorded their second studio album Big Houses produced by Paul Northfield and Frank Levin The album was to be released under their new label Warner Music Group but was delayed due to management issues This material remained on the shelf until 1990 damaging Eight Seconds momentum This combined with the merger and effective dissolution of their American record label ATCO led to the band s members parting way shortly following the album s release The only charting single from the album Tell Diane remained on the charts for five weeks and only peaked at 76 5 Eight Seconds reunited in 2002 and covered The Beatles Hey Jude for the 2004 Bullseye Records release It Was 40 Years Ago Today A Tribute To The Beatles Del Castillo later founded r d creative a video production and live event company involved in production for a number of Canadian government departments and crown corporations 6 Marc Parent continued in music as a guitarist and songwriter based in Montreal 7 Frank Levin pursued other business ventures eventually moving to China He died in 2017 due to a deteriorating health condition Discography EditAlbums Edit Ottava Rima 1985 EP Almacantar 1986 Big Houses 1990 Singles Edit Kiss You When It s Dangerous 1986 CAN 14 U S 72 Where s Bula 1986 Sincere I Shall Return 1987 Tell Diane 1990 CAN 76References Edit a b RPM Weekly RPM 100 Singles March 14 1987 Library and Archives Canada 1987 03 14 Retrieved 2022 10 21 JAM Music Encyclopedia Eight Seconds Retrieved 2009 04 08 Keith Sharp Music Express The Rise Fall amp Resurrection of Canada s Music Magazine Dundurn Press 2014 ISBN 9781459721951 p 143 Eight Seconds Billboard Retrieved 2022 10 21 RPM Weekly RPM 100 Hit Tracks amp where to find them October 13 1990 Library and Archives Canada 1990 10 13 Retrieved 2022 10 21 r d creative Who we are Retrieved 2016 07 21 Broadjam Profile of Marc Parent Retrieved 2016 07 21 External links EditEight Seconds CanConRox entry Tribute Site with principal objective being re release of Almacantar RIP Frank Levin aka Fish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eight Seconds amp oldid 1129997396, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
