Bryan Adams, the #48 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

"Bryan Adams is awesome."

"One of the greatest artists of the 20th century."

"Bryan Adams is immortal."

"Amazing songs."

"A great talent!"

"I love listening to this man!"

"His songs are passionate, heartfelt, and filled with just real raw emotion.

"His voice is soothing and his music is timeless."

"Bryan Adams really rocks!"

"Beautifully written songs."

"He's one of the best things to ever come out of Canada!"

Bryan Adams was born November 5, 1959 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.  As his father was a foreign diplomat, Bryan traveled across the world with his parents.  He lived mostly in Europe and the Middle East.

Adams was in local groups such as Sweeney Todd when he was 15.  When he was 17, Bryan became a backing vocalist for the CBS and for other artists.  One year later, Adams met songwriter and drummer Jim Vallance, who had previously been the drummer with the group Prism.  The two agreed to form a songwriting partnership, which resulted n songs recorded by Loverboy, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bonnie Tyler and others.  Adams recorded his own demo records, with the song "Let Me Take You Dancing" making the Canadian chart.

 

In 1980, Adams signed a recording contract with A&M Records.  He released his debut album and his follow-up in 1981, which struggled to find airplay outside his native Canada.  After touring with Foreigner in 1982, it was his 1983 album, Cuts Like a Knife, which got him rolling.  This was one of the first complete songs he had written when he was 18, with Ian Lloyd and Bonnie Tyler recording it.  Adams recorded it for himself five years later and the single "Straight From The Heart" went to #10.

 

Vallence, who was Bryan's songwriting companion for his early years, has written songs for Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Anne Murray, Joe Cocker, and many others.  The title song reached #6 on the Rock chart and #15 overall.   

 

By the time he was through pulling hits from Cuts Like a Knife, it got as high as #8 on the Album chart.  It has now sold over one million copies.  "This Time" stalled at #24 but is a worthy track.

 

We also want to feature this album track:  "Try To See It My Way".

Now a known factor, Adams came out with the album Reckless in 1984, which turned out to be one of the top albums over the next year.  Adams and Vallence originally wrote this song for Blue Oyster Cult, who turned it down, as did .38 Special.  Adams didn't want to record it either until producer Bob Clearmountain asked if Bryan had a another song for the album.  Adams played the demo and "Run To You" became the first single.  It rose to #1 on the Rock chart and #6 overall in the United States, #3 in the U.K., #4 in Canada and #8 in Ireland.

 

"Run To You" was nominated for five MTV Video Music Awards.  Although "Somebody" is generally a relationship song, the second verse is about World War I.  The single also reached #1 on the Rock chart and #11 on the Popular chart.

 

"Heaven" became a huge hit--#1 in the U.S. and #8 in Sweden.

Adams released the single "Summer Of '69", #4 in the Netherlands and #5 in the United States.  Bryan earned an MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Male Video.

Adams explained part of the song's lyrics to Songfacts: 

     The imagery in the song is about romance, nostalgia,

     being a struggling musician and making love. Jimmy

     and Jody are real people though. Jimmy is a drummer

     who quit the band, and Jody [Perpik] is still my 

     soundman on tour after 25 years.

 

"One Night Love Affair" hit #7 Rock and #13 overall.

Adams combined with Tina Turner for a fifth hit from the album, "It's Only Love" (with the video being a live performance), which peaked at #5 in Sweden and #7 on the Rock chart in the United States.

"It's Only Love" was nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and Adams earned a nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards and he captured the MTV Video Music Award for Stage Performance.

 

"Kids Wanna' Rock" is another top song on the album.

 

Reckless has sold over five million copies.  Adams achieved a successful tour of the United States before recording "Tears Are Not Enough" with the Canadian all-star group named Northern Lights, with proceeds going to benefit Africans devastated by famine.  Bryan also performed 50 dates in Europe with Turner.

Adams opened the U.S. portion of Live Aid in Philadelphia in 1985.  Adams helped Who member Roger Daltrey on his solo album tribute to former Who drummer Keith Moon.  He released "Christmas Time" later in the year.

Adams released the album Into the Fire in 1987.  He chose "Heat Of The Night" as the first single, #2 on the Rock chart and #6 overall and #7 in Canada and Sweden.  The song happens to be the first commercially available cassette single ever released in the U.S.

Join us for Part Two of Bryan Adams!