Toronto’s Urgent sets its sites on Western Canada’s more traditional rock ‘n’ roll fans

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 15, 1984

By Steve Newton

“They’re more traditional rock and rollers,” says Urgent bassist-vocalist Doug Baynham of the Western Canadian record-buying public. “Chances are we’ll even try to break out of there, if the album really picks up.

“We’ll probably be out there before we go anywhere else,” he adds, “’cause I think there’s more of a market for us. Here in Toronto, you’re contending with every kind of music–and a lot of new wave.”

Urgent have just released their debut album, Timing, an album of basic teen-oriented hard rock. So it’s no wonder Baynham is looking to the west–In particular B.C. and Alberta–for support of his band’s mainstream sound.

But even if it’s true that listeners in the east are less traditional in their musical tastes, that notion hasn’t stopped the group’s first single, “You’re Not the One”, from receiving regular rotation on Toronto’s second largest AM station, CFTR.

“We thought it was a good choice for the single because it’s the most ballady, crossover type of song on the album,” says Baynham.

All the members of Urgent are from the Toronto area. Guitarist Wayne Siberry used to play with Baynham in a band called Bayb, and drummer Kim Hunt is formerly of recording group Zon. John McGoldrick is the group’s keyboardist, although the engineer for Timing, Glen Johansen, played the keys and synths on the record.

Baynham, who cites Pauls McCartney and Rodgers as his biggest influences, is optimistic about Urgent’s potential, and wants them to make their move when the time is right.

“We’re doing some club dates out of the city and trying to keep a low profile there. The band isn’t really known in Toronto, so we figure we can capitalize on that by staying away and coming back in a bigger way.”