Crash Test Dummies
Encyclopedia
The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian
folk rock
/alternative rock
band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, widely known for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
".
The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts
(vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone
voice. During its heyday, the band consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid
(co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts
(bass guitar), Benjamin Darvill
(harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge
(drums, percussion). Today, only Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid have appeared on every album with the other members being busy pursuing their own projects. However, the full band (minus Ben Darvill) reunited for a show in October 2010. Brad Roberts
, Ellen Reid
and Stuart Cameron
have continued to tour throughout 2010/2011.
nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.
In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts
to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy
, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid
and Benjamin Darvill
became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts
, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge
just before the release of The Ghosts that Haunt Me
.
After signing with BMG Records, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).
in 1991. The album eventually reached sales of 400,000 in Canada, largely due to the overwhelming popularity of the hit single "Superman's Song
", which earned the band the 1991 Juno Award
for Group of the Year.
The band did not receive much international recognition until the 1993 release of their second album, God Shuffled His Feet
. Particularly instrumental in increasing the band's exposure in the American market was the appearance of a new type of radio format, adult album-oriented alternative rock
(AAA). These stations put the first single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
" in high rotation and the song peaked at #4 in the US Hot 100. "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" did even better in the United Kingdom, where it was a #2 hit, and Australia where it peaked at #1.
In their native Canada, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" was a comparative disappointment on the charts, only peaking at #14. Two other songs from the album went top 10 in Canada: "Swimming In Your Ocean" and "Afternoons & Coffeespoons". This latter song was also a top 40 hit in Australia and the United Kingdom and hit the lower portion of the US Hot 100. The result was that by mid-1994 the album had passed the platinum sales mark (one million) in the United States and had also earned the band three Grammy nominations and three more Juno nominations. To date, God Shuffled His Feet
has sold more than five and a half million copies worldwide.
In January 1995, the band released "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
" (a cover of XTC
's 1992 track) as a single and on the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey
and Jeff Daniels
comedy Dumb and Dumber. The single, credited to The Crash Test Dummies and Ellen Reid, charted at No. 30 in the UK singles chart and was a #4 hit in Canada.
In 1996, the Dummies' third album, A Worm's Life
, was released to mixed critical and moderate commercial success. The guitar-heavy singles were warmly received in some markets (lead single "He Liked To Feel It" hit #2 in Canada), but internationally nothing matched the runaway success of either "Superman's Song" or "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". Still, the album went platinum in Canada in less than one month.
Give Yourself A Hand
, the Dummies' fourth album, was released March 23, 1999. The album showcased a new sound for the Dummies, as it featured Ellen Reid
singing lead vocals on three tracks, and Brad Roberts singing in a falsetto on several others. The whole sound of the album was much more electronic than the previous recordings. Once again, the lead single ("Keep A Lid On Things") was a top 10 hit in Canada.
During a hiatus between albums, Benjamin Darvill
became the first Dummy to release solo material. Under the name Son Of Dave, Darvill first brought out the album B. Darvill's Wild West Show
, followed with 01
, both released on Benjamin's own label, Husky Records.
, especially after the label rejected 35 songs during the production of Give Yourself a Hand. As a result, the band and the label parted ways, and Brad Roberts formed his own independent label "Cha-Ching Records" (later renamed to "Deep Fried Records").
Free from major-label restrictions, the Dummies surprised their fans in 2001 by putting their solo projects on hold for a fifth studio album and tour. After suffering a near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2000, Brad found himself recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia
. It was there that he met some local "lobster fishermen" who happened to be quite musically inclined - Kent Greene, Dave Morton, and Danny MacKenzie. Together, they recorded the bulk of I Don't Care That You Don't Mind
, which was to have been Brad's first solo album. Later on, Ellen was brought in to record backing vocals for a few tunes, and Dan agreed to tour with Brad. When Ellen and Mitch agreed to tour as well, the Crash Test Dummies name was put on the record. This album saw the Dummies returning to their acoustic roots. Brad compared this album to the Dummies' first, The Ghosts That Haunt Me
, though he calls it more atmospheric and polished.
Near the end of 2001, some new Dummies solo albums were released. First, Ellen Reid
launched her debut solo effort, Cinderellen
.
Soon after, Brad Roberts' long-awaited double-live CD and rockumentary entitled Crash Test Dude
were made available through MapleMusic
.
2002 opened with the surprise of Mitch Dorge
's debut album, As Trees Walking
. On the CD, Mitch played almost all of the instruments, took some of the photos for the liner notes, and won a Prairie Music Award for Best Instrumental Recording.
Brad, Dan, and Ellen returned as Crash Test Dummies at the end of 2002 with Jingle All the Way, a long-rumoured Christmas album.
In 2003, Puss 'n' Boots
was released. Much like I Don't Care, the album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. Co-written by Stuart Cameron
, 13 songs were selected from a pool of 30. Ellen sang backing vocals and Dan played bass, though much of the music - funky grooves that would not have seemed out of place on Give Yourself A Hand - was performed by other musicians.
Songs of the Unforgiven
, the eighth studio album under the Crash Test Dummies name, was recorded not long after Puss 'n' Boots.
).
Despite the hiatus, in 2006 Brad Roberts began to casually record the album that would become Oooh La La with producer and friend Stewart Lerman, using the optigan
and omnichord
. He initially thought that the results of the sessions would just be released via online download.
In September, 2007 it was announced that Sony BMG would be releasing a "best of" compilation for the band. The following month, The Best of Crash Test Dummies
was released, featuring twelve tracks selected from the band's entire catalog, including most of their singles and several album tracks. The compilation would later be re-released on March 10, 2008 as "Best of Crash Test Dummies - Collections" with two previously unreleased tracks: "Laid Back" and "You Said You'd Meet Me (In California)," the latter being an early version of a song that would later appear on Oooh La La.
In addition a new online store
was opened allowing users to purchase downloads from all of the band's post-BMG releases, including Cape Breton Lobster Bash series
; a growing collection of songs written about Brad Roberts' experiences within Cape Breton and an annual tradition known as the "Lobster Bash."
On November 11, 2008, Roberts announced in his featured blog on the band's website that he and Ellen Reid are presently recording a new album tentatively titled Toys, adding that the other three members of the band are busy with their families and are unable to commute to New York City to contribute. The following day, Roberts specified in a subsequent journal entry that he has "about 20 songs now, and must pick the best ten." He added Ellen Reid will feature as lead vocalist on one track, which he elaborated on November 18 as "achingly beautiful". On November 23, Roberts added that some "very accomplished, high-priced players and arrangers have volunteered to play on it for free, just because they think it is extremely unique" and the record is "falling into place like a finished crossword puzzle".
In July 2009, the title of the album was renamed from Toys to Oooh La La.
A fourth song in the Cape Breton Lobster Bash series
was released on July 27, 2009.
Oooh La La was released on May 11, 2010. The album's release was accompanied by the band touring in an "Acoustic Trio" format consisting of Roberts and Ellen Reid, accompanied by either Stuart Cameron or Murray Pulver on guitar. On October 9, 2010, as part of the Canadian leg of the tour, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge joined Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid in the band's hometown of Winnipeg for the first performance by the original line-up in a decade. Ben Darvill wasn't present for the reunion, despite having played a solo show in town a few days earlier. During the tour, Brad Roberts began the habit of taking photographs at random and posting them on his blog and the band's Facebook
page.
In 2011, the band continued to tour in support of Oooh La La. On April 19, 2011, the band released Demo-litions: Cast-off Recordings 1996-97
featuring previously unreleased demos of songs written during the recording of Give Yourself a Hand.
and Andy Partridge
in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
" for the soundtrack
to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album
A Testimonial Dinner
.
Former Members
Touring Members
The Grammy Award
s are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
of the United States. Crash Test Dummies received three nominations.
|-
|rowspan="3"| || Crash Test Dummies || Best New Artist
||
|-
| "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
" || Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ||
|-
| God Shuffled His Feet
|| Best Alternative Music Album
||
Juno Awards
The Juno Awards is a Canadian awards ceremony presented annually by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
. Crash Test Dummies won the 1992 Juno for Group of the Year and received an additional 10 nominations.
|-
|rowspan="4"| || Crash Test Dummies || Group of the Year
||
|-
| The Ghosts That Haunt Me
|| Best Album
||
|-
| Kevin Mutch, The Ghosts That Haunt Me
|| Best Album Design
||
|-
| Dale Heslip, "Superman's Song
" || Best Video
||
|-
|rowspan="2"| || Kevin Mutch, God Shuffled His Feet
|| Best Album Design
||
|-
| Dale Heslip, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
" || Best Video
||
|-
|rowspan="3"| || Crash Test Dummies || Entertainer of the Year
||
|-
| Crash Test Dummies || Group of the Year
||
|-
| "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
" || Single of the Year
||
|-
| || Tim Hamilton, "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
" || Best Video
||
|-
| || Greg Wells
, "Keep A Lid On Things
" and "Get You in the Morning
" || Best Producer
||
|-
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
/alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, widely known for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet.-CD maxi:# "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" — 3:53# "Here I Stand Before Me" — 3:07...
".
The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts
Bradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies. He sings in the bass-baritone range.-Career:...
(vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
voice. During its heyday, the band consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
(co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts is the bassist for the Canadian rock band, Crash Test Dummies, and brother of their lead singer, Brad Roberts.-Biography:...
(bass guitar), Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill , known by his stage name Son of Dave, is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter, based in the United Kingdom. He was a member of folk rock band Crash Test Dummies in which he played harmonica, mandolin, guitar and percussion before going solo in 2000.SOD was born in Winnipeg,...
(harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge is a Canadian drummer, composer and record producer.-Biography:...
(drums, percussion). Today, only Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid have appeared on every album with the other members being busy pursuing their own projects. However, the full band (minus Ben Darvill) reunited for a show in October 2010. Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts
Bradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies. He sings in the bass-baritone range.-Career:...
, Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
and Stuart Cameron
Stuart Cameron (Musician)
Stuart Cameron is a guitarist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of the late John Allan Cameron and is a member of The Heartbroken...
have continued to tour throughout 2010/2011.
Beginnings: 1988-1991
In many ways, the origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.
In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts
Brad Roberts
Bradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies. He sings in the bass-baritone range.-Career:...
to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy
Crash test dummy
Crash test dummies are full-scale anthropomorphic test devices that simulate the dimensions, weight proportions and articulation of the human body, and are usually instrumented to record data about the dynamic behavior of the ATD in simulated vehicle impacts...
, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
and Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill , known by his stage name Son of Dave, is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter, based in the United Kingdom. He was a member of folk rock band Crash Test Dummies in which he played harmonica, mandolin, guitar and percussion before going solo in 2000.SOD was born in Winnipeg,...
became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts
Dan Roberts is the bassist for the Canadian rock band, Crash Test Dummies, and brother of their lead singer, Brad Roberts.-Biography:...
, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge is a Canadian drummer, composer and record producer.-Biography:...
just before the release of The Ghosts that Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
.
After signing with BMG Records, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).
Mainstream success: 1991-1999
The band first began to achieve commercial success in Canada with the release of The Ghosts that Haunt MeThe Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
in 1991. The album eventually reached sales of 400,000 in Canada, largely due to the overwhelming popularity of the hit single "Superman's Song
Superman's Song
"Superman's Song" was the first single of the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. The single was the group's first hit, charting in both Canada and the United States...
", which earned the band the 1991 Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
for Group of the Year.
The band did not receive much international recognition until the 1993 release of their second album, God Shuffled His Feet
God Shuffled His Feet
The album was the band's biggest mainstream hit. Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, attributes the album's success to "Jerry Harrison's remarkably clear and focused production" and that "apart from the relatively concise pop smarts of the singles "Mmm Mmm Mmm...
. Particularly instrumental in increasing the band's exposure in the American market was the appearance of a new type of radio format, adult album-oriented alternative rock
Adult album alternative
Adult album alternative is a radio format. A spinoff from the album-oriented rock format, its roots trace to the 1960s and 1970s from the earlier freeform and progressive formats....
(AAA). These stations put the first single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet.-CD maxi:# "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" — 3:53# "Here I Stand Before Me" — 3:07...
" in high rotation and the song peaked at #4 in the US Hot 100. "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" did even better in the United Kingdom, where it was a #2 hit, and Australia where it peaked at #1.
In their native Canada, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" was a comparative disappointment on the charts, only peaking at #14. Two other songs from the album went top 10 in Canada: "Swimming In Your Ocean" and "Afternoons & Coffeespoons". This latter song was also a top 40 hit in Australia and the United Kingdom and hit the lower portion of the US Hot 100. The result was that by mid-1994 the album had passed the platinum sales mark (one million) in the United States and had also earned the band three Grammy nominations and three more Juno nominations. To date, God Shuffled His Feet
God Shuffled His Feet
The album was the band's biggest mainstream hit. Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, attributes the album's success to "Jerry Harrison's remarkably clear and focused production" and that "apart from the relatively concise pop smarts of the singles "Mmm Mmm Mmm...
has sold more than five and a half million copies worldwide.
In January 1995, the band released "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
"The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. It was the band's second #1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was covered and released as a single by Crash Test Dummies in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber...
" (a cover of XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
's 1992 track) as a single and on the soundtrack of the Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
and Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
comedy Dumb and Dumber. The single, credited to The Crash Test Dummies and Ellen Reid, charted at No. 30 in the UK singles chart and was a #4 hit in Canada.
In 1996, the Dummies' third album, A Worm's Life
A Worm's Life
A Worm's Life is the third album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 1996. It came after their successful album, God Shuffled His Feet.-Background:...
, was released to mixed critical and moderate commercial success. The guitar-heavy singles were warmly received in some markets (lead single "He Liked To Feel It" hit #2 in Canada), but internationally nothing matched the runaway success of either "Superman's Song" or "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm". Still, the album went platinum in Canada in less than one month.
Give Yourself A Hand
Give Yourself a Hand
Give Yourself a Hand is the fourth album by the Crash Test Dummies, released in 1999 through ViK. Records. It is their final album for BMG. The album spawned a quirky hit "Keep a Lid on Things"...
, the Dummies' fourth album, was released March 23, 1999. The album showcased a new sound for the Dummies, as it featured Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
singing lead vocals on three tracks, and Brad Roberts singing in a falsetto on several others. The whole sound of the album was much more electronic than the previous recordings. Once again, the lead single ("Keep A Lid On Things") was a top 10 hit in Canada.
During a hiatus between albums, Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill
Benjamin Darvill , known by his stage name Son of Dave, is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter, based in the United Kingdom. He was a member of folk rock band Crash Test Dummies in which he played harmonica, mandolin, guitar and percussion before going solo in 2000.SOD was born in Winnipeg,...
became the first Dummy to release solo material. Under the name Son Of Dave, Darvill first brought out the album B. Darvill's Wild West Show
B. Darvill's Wild West Show
B. Darvill's Wild West Show is the 1999 debut album by Son of Dave. This album was re-released at the end of 2008 by Kartel records.-Track listing:#Intro - 0:42#Only The Strong Survive - 4:32#Give It Up Old Joe - 2:55#In Love With The Future - 4:58...
, followed with 01
01 (album)
-External links:*...
, both released on Benjamin's own label, Husky Records.
Post-mainstream career: 2000-2006
The less-than-stellar commercial success of both A Worm's Life and Give Yourself a Hand resulted in the band feeling much more restricted by their label BMGBMG
Bertelsmann Music Group, , was a division of Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Japan's Sony Corporation of America on October 1, 2008. It was established in 1987 to combine the music label activities of Bertelsmann...
, especially after the label rejected 35 songs during the production of Give Yourself a Hand. As a result, the band and the label parted ways, and Brad Roberts formed his own independent label "Cha-Ching Records" (later renamed to "Deep Fried Records").
Free from major-label restrictions, the Dummies surprised their fans in 2001 by putting their solo projects on hold for a fifth studio album and tour. After suffering a near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2000, Brad found himself recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia
Argyle, Nova Scotia
Argyle is a municipal district in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.The district occupies the eastern portion of the county and is one of three municipal units - the other two being the town of Yarmouth and the Yarmouth municipal district.-History:...
. It was there that he met some local "lobster fishermen" who happened to be quite musically inclined - Kent Greene, Dave Morton, and Danny MacKenzie. Together, they recorded the bulk of I Don't Care That You Don't Mind
I Don't Care That You Don't Mind
I Don't Care That You Don't Mind is the fifth studio album by Crash Test Dummies. The album began as a solo album for Brad Roberts, while he was recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia after suffering a near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2000. Crash Test Dummies' name was put on the...
, which was to have been Brad's first solo album. Later on, Ellen was brought in to record backing vocals for a few tunes, and Dan agreed to tour with Brad. When Ellen and Mitch agreed to tour as well, the Crash Test Dummies name was put on the record. This album saw the Dummies returning to their acoustic roots. Brad compared this album to the Dummies' first, The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
, though he calls it more atmospheric and polished.
Near the end of 2001, some new Dummies solo albums were released. First, Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid
Ellen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
launched her debut solo effort, Cinderellen
Cinderellen
-Track listing:#"Make You Mine" – 3:32#"Everything" – 4:26#"Bullet" – 4:34#"Send Me Home" – 3:50#"Mirror" – 3:47#"Anybody Will Do" – 3:29#"Get Into" – 5:35#"Force Field" – 4:14#"In Defence of the Wicked Queen" – 4:48#"True Love" – 3:47...
.
Soon after, Brad Roberts' long-awaited double-live CD and rockumentary entitled Crash Test Dude
Crash Test Dude
Crash Test Dude: Brad Roberts Live Singing Your Favorite Hits is a live album performed by Crash Test Dummies lead singer Brad Roberts during his solo acoustic tour following the Give Yourself a Hand tour...
were made available through MapleMusic
MapleMusic Recordings
MapleMusic Recordings is a Toronto based record label.The MapleMusic Recordings label is a project of Canadian roots rock band Skydiggers and entrepreneur Grant Dexter...
.
2002 opened with the surprise of Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge
Mitch Dorge is a Canadian drummer, composer and record producer.-Biography:...
's debut album, As Trees Walking
As Trees Walking
As Trees Walking is the 2002 debut solo album by Mitch Dorge. The album won the Prairie Music Award for Outstanding Instrumental Recording. -Track listing:#As Trees Walking#Cry#Ketamine#A Darker Side of Life#I’ll Always Love You...
. On the CD, Mitch played almost all of the instruments, took some of the photos for the liner notes, and won a Prairie Music Award for Best Instrumental Recording.
Brad, Dan, and Ellen returned as Crash Test Dummies at the end of 2002 with Jingle All the Way, a long-rumoured Christmas album.
In 2003, Puss 'n' Boots
Puss 'n' Boots (album)
Puss 'N' Boots is the sixth studio album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 2003. The album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. While the lyrics were written by Brad Roberts, most of the music was written by Stuart Cameron. Perhaps not coincidentally, this album is, musically-speaking, more...
was released. Much like I Don't Care, the album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. Co-written by Stuart Cameron
Stuart Cameron (Musician)
Stuart Cameron is a guitarist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of the late John Allan Cameron and is a member of The Heartbroken...
, 13 songs were selected from a pool of 30. Ellen sang backing vocals and Dan played bass, though much of the music - funky grooves that would not have seemed out of place on Give Yourself A Hand - was performed by other musicians.
Songs of the Unforgiven
Songs of the Unforgiven
Songs of the Unforgiven is the seventh album recorded by the Crash Test Dummies, released in 2004.-Background:Almost immediately after recording "Puss 'n' Boots", Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid and Dan Roberts proceeded to prepare recording the follow-up, with Roberts acknowledging he went "through this...
, the eighth studio album under the Crash Test Dummies name, was recorded not long after Puss 'n' Boots.
Hiatus and Oooh La La: 2006-present
After releasing three records through his own label, Roberts began to realize that he was starting to lose money. As such, he decided to stop recording and touring and he laid low in his home of New York City, while working as a songwriting teacher, trying to break into voice-over work and becoming devoted to yoga, chanting and meditation (the latter influencing Robert's side-project Satsang CircusSatsang Circus
Rajanaka: Mantra is an album by Brad Roberts, which consists of various mantras, accompanied to music. The album was released for purchase via online download.-Track listing:#"Shiva Bija"#"Om Namo Ganapataye"#"By Any & All Means"#"Between the Reeds"...
).
Despite the hiatus, in 2006 Brad Roberts began to casually record the album that would become Oooh La La with producer and friend Stewart Lerman, using the optigan
Optigan
The Optigan was an electronic keyboard instrument designed for the consumer market. The name stems from the instrument's reliance on pre-recorded optical soundtracks to reproduce sound...
and omnichord
Omnichord
The Omnichord is an electronic musical instrument, introduced in 1981 and manufactured by the Suzuki Musical Instrument Corporation. It typically features a touch plate, and buttons for major, minor, and diminished chords...
. He initially thought that the results of the sessions would just be released via online download.
In September, 2007 it was announced that Sony BMG would be releasing a "best of" compilation for the band. The following month, The Best of Crash Test Dummies
The Best of Crash Test Dummies
The Best of Crash Test Dummies is a 2007 compilation album by the Crash Test Dummies. It is released by Sony BMG and it includes songs from both the band's BMG and independent releases. It was released on and re-released on March 10, 2008 with the inclusion of two previously unreleased tracks...
was released, featuring twelve tracks selected from the band's entire catalog, including most of their singles and several album tracks. The compilation would later be re-released on March 10, 2008 as "Best of Crash Test Dummies - Collections" with two previously unreleased tracks: "Laid Back" and "You Said You'd Meet Me (In California)," the latter being an early version of a song that would later appear on Oooh La La.
In addition a new online store
Online music store
An online music store is an online business which sells audio files, usually music, on a per-song and/or subscription basis. It may be differentiated from music streaming services in that the music store offers the actual music file, while streaming services offer partial or full listening without...
was opened allowing users to purchase downloads from all of the band's post-BMG releases, including Cape Breton Lobster Bash series
The Cape Breton Lobster Bash Series
The Cape Breton Lobster Bash Series is a collection of songs released by the Crash Test Dummies for purchase via their online store. All the songs are written about Brad Roberts' experiences within Cape Breton and all feature a Celtic sound...
; a growing collection of songs written about Brad Roberts' experiences within Cape Breton and an annual tradition known as the "Lobster Bash."
On November 11, 2008, Roberts announced in his featured blog on the band's website that he and Ellen Reid are presently recording a new album tentatively titled Toys, adding that the other three members of the band are busy with their families and are unable to commute to New York City to contribute. The following day, Roberts specified in a subsequent journal entry that he has "about 20 songs now, and must pick the best ten." He added Ellen Reid will feature as lead vocalist on one track, which he elaborated on November 18 as "achingly beautiful". On November 23, Roberts added that some "very accomplished, high-priced players and arrangers have volunteered to play on it for free, just because they think it is extremely unique" and the record is "falling into place like a finished crossword puzzle".
In July 2009, the title of the album was renamed from Toys to Oooh La La.
A fourth song in the Cape Breton Lobster Bash series
The Cape Breton Lobster Bash Series
The Cape Breton Lobster Bash Series is a collection of songs released by the Crash Test Dummies for purchase via their online store. All the songs are written about Brad Roberts' experiences within Cape Breton and all feature a Celtic sound...
was released on July 27, 2009.
Oooh La La was released on May 11, 2010. The album's release was accompanied by the band touring in an "Acoustic Trio" format consisting of Roberts and Ellen Reid, accompanied by either Stuart Cameron or Murray Pulver on guitar. On October 9, 2010, as part of the Canadian leg of the tour, Dan Roberts and Mitch Dorge joined Brad Roberts and Ellen Reid in the band's hometown of Winnipeg for the first performance by the original line-up in a decade. Ben Darvill wasn't present for the reunion, despite having played a solo show in town a few days earlier. During the tour, Brad Roberts began the habit of taking photographs at random and posting them on his blog and the band's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page.
In 2011, the band continued to tour in support of Oooh La La. On April 19, 2011, the band released Demo-litions: Cast-off Recordings 1996-97
Demo-litions
Demo-litions: Cast-off Recordings 1996-97 is a 2011 compilation album by the Crash Test Dummies. It consists of unreleased demos made during the songwriting process that eventually resulted in the album Give Yourself a Hand...
featuring previously unreleased demos of songs written during the recording of Give Yourself a Hand.
Influences
One of the biggest influences for Brad Roberts was the band XTCXTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
and Andy Partridge
Andy Partridge
Andrew John "Andy" Partridge is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has been known as Sir John Johns and Melchior and rose to fame as a founding member, guitarist and chief songwriter of the pop/new wave band, XTC. He lives in Swindon, Wiltshire, where he was raised.Partridge also...
in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
"The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. It was the band's second #1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was covered and released as a single by Crash Test Dummies in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber...
" for the soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
A Testimonial Dinner
A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC
A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC is a 1995 tribute album, featuring a variety of artists covering songs from the British band XTC. Unusually, XTC make an appearance on their own tribute album under the pseudonym Terry and the Lovemen....
.
Band members
Current Members- Brad RobertsBrad RobertsBradley Kenneth "Brad" Roberts is the lead singer and guitarist for the Canadian folk-rock band Crash Test Dummies. He sings in the bass-baritone range.-Career:...
– lead vocals, guitar (1988–present) - Ellen ReidEllen ReidEllen Reid provides backing vocals, piano, keyboards and accordion for the Canadian rock band Crash Test Dummies....
– vocals, keyboards, accordion (1988–present)
Former Members
- Dan RobertsDan RobertsDan Roberts is the bassist for the Canadian rock band, Crash Test Dummies, and brother of their lead singer, Brad Roberts.-Biography:...
– bass (1988–2004, 2010) - Benjamin DarvillBenjamin DarvillBenjamin Darvill , known by his stage name Son of Dave, is a Canadian musician and singer–songwriter, based in the United Kingdom. He was a member of folk rock band Crash Test Dummies in which he played harmonica, mandolin, guitar and percussion before going solo in 2000.SOD was born in Winnipeg,...
– harmonica, mandolin, backing vocals, guitar (1988–2000) - Mitch DorgeMitch DorgeMitch Dorge is a Canadian drummer, composer and record producer.-Biography:...
– drums (1991–2002, 2010) - Vince Lambert – drums (1988–1991)
- Curtis Riddell – drums (1988)
- George West – bass (1988)
Touring Members
- Stuart CameronStuart Cameron (Musician)Stuart Cameron is a guitarist based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is the son of the late John Allan Cameron and is a member of The Heartbroken...
– guitar, backing vocals (2001–present) - Murray Pulver – guitar, backing vocals (1996–2000, 2010–present)
- James Reid – guitar, backing vocals (2010)
- KivaKiva (musician)Kiva is a Canadian harmonic overtone singer keyboard player and songwriter, based in Prague, Czech Republic. She is internationally recognized as a western pioneer in world beat/jazz music, particularly the art of harmonic overtone singing which she both performs and teaches...
– keyboards (1993–1995) - Ray Coburn – keyboards (1999–2000)
Discography
- The Ghosts that Haunt MeThe Ghosts That Haunt MeThe Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
(1991) - God Shuffled His FeetGod Shuffled His FeetThe album was the band's biggest mainstream hit. Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, attributes the album's success to "Jerry Harrison's remarkably clear and focused production" and that "apart from the relatively concise pop smarts of the singles "Mmm Mmm Mmm...
(1993) - A Worm's LifeA Worm's LifeA Worm's Life is the third album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 1996. It came after their successful album, God Shuffled His Feet.-Background:...
(1996) - Give Yourself a HandGive Yourself a HandGive Yourself a Hand is the fourth album by the Crash Test Dummies, released in 1999 through ViK. Records. It is their final album for BMG. The album spawned a quirky hit "Keep a Lid on Things"...
(1999) - I Don't Care That You Don't MindI Don't Care That You Don't MindI Don't Care That You Don't Mind is the fifth studio album by Crash Test Dummies. The album began as a solo album for Brad Roberts, while he was recuperating in the town of Argyle, Nova Scotia after suffering a near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2000. Crash Test Dummies' name was put on the...
(2001) - Jingle All the Way (2002)
- Puss 'n' BootsPuss 'n' Boots (album)Puss 'N' Boots is the sixth studio album by Crash Test Dummies, released in 2003. The album began life as a Brad Roberts solo project. While the lyrics were written by Brad Roberts, most of the music was written by Stuart Cameron. Perhaps not coincidentally, this album is, musically-speaking, more...
(2003) - Songs of the UnforgivenSongs of the UnforgivenSongs of the Unforgiven is the seventh album recorded by the Crash Test Dummies, released in 2004.-Background:Almost immediately after recording "Puss 'n' Boots", Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid and Dan Roberts proceeded to prepare recording the follow-up, with Roberts acknowledging he went "through this...
(2004) - Oooh La La! (2010)
Awards and nominations
Grammy AwardsThe Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
of the United States. Crash Test Dummies received three nominations.
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|rowspan="3"| || Crash Test Dummies || Best New Artist
Grammy Award for Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967...
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| "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet.-CD maxi:# "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" — 3:53# "Here I Stand Before Me" — 3:07...
" || Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ||
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| God Shuffled His Feet
God Shuffled His Feet
The album was the band's biggest mainstream hit. Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, attributes the album's success to "Jerry Harrison's remarkably clear and focused production" and that "apart from the relatively concise pop smarts of the singles "Mmm Mmm Mmm...
|| Best Alternative Music Album
Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums in the alternative rock genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
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Juno Awards
The Juno Awards is a Canadian awards ceremony presented annually by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is the organization responsible for conducting the Juno Awards, Canada's primary national musical honours...
. Crash Test Dummies won the 1992 Juno for Group of the Year and received an additional 10 nominations.
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|rowspan="4"| || Crash Test Dummies || Group of the Year
Juno Award for Group of the Year
The Juno Award for best Group of the Year has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best group or band in Canada. It has also been known as Best Group .-Best Group :*1970 - The Guess Who...
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| The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
|| Best Album
Juno Award for Album of the Year
The Juno Award for "Album of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album in Canada. It was also known as Best Album , and Best Selling Album .-Best Album :...
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| Kevin Mutch, The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
The Ghosts That Haunt Me is the 1991 debut album by Crash Test Dummies. It featured their hit "Superman's Song".The artwork featured on the cover, and throughout the liner notes, is by 19th-century illustrator Gustav Doré and is from 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
|| Best Album Design
Juno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year
The Juno Award for "CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album art for a music recording in Canada...
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| Dale Heslip, "Superman's Song
Superman's Song
"Superman's Song" was the first single of the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies and came from their 1991 debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me. The single was the group's first hit, charting in both Canada and the United States...
" || Best Video
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
||
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|rowspan="2"| || Kevin Mutch, God Shuffled His Feet
God Shuffled His Feet
The album was the band's biggest mainstream hit. Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it 4½ out of 5 stars, attributes the album's success to "Jerry Harrison's remarkably clear and focused production" and that "apart from the relatively concise pop smarts of the singles "Mmm Mmm Mmm...
|| Best Album Design
Juno Award for CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year
The Juno Award for "CD/DVD Artwork Design of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best album art for a music recording in Canada...
||
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| Dale Heslip, "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet.-CD maxi:# "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" — 3:53# "Here I Stand Before Me" — 3:07...
" || Best Video
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
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|rowspan="3"| || Crash Test Dummies || Entertainer of the Year
Juno Award for Entertainer of the Year
This is a list of the Canadian musical artists named Entertainer of the Year at the Juno Awards in those years in which this award or its nearest equivalent was awarded.-Canadian Entertainer of the Year :*1989 - Glass Tiger...
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| Crash Test Dummies || Group of the Year
Juno Award for Group of the Year
The Juno Award for best Group of the Year has been awarded since 1970, as recognition each year for the best group or band in Canada. It has also been known as Best Group .-Best Group :*1970 - The Guess Who...
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| "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" is a single by the Canadian folk-rock group Crash Test Dummies, featured on their 1993 album God Shuffled His Feet.-CD maxi:# "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" — 3:53# "Here I Stand Before Me" — 3:07...
" || Single of the Year
Juno Award for Single of the Year
The Juno Award for Single of the Year has been awarded since 1974 for the best single in Canada. It has also been known as Best Single and Best Selling Single.-Best Single :...
||
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| || Tim Hamilton, "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead
"The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" is a single by XTC from their 1992 album Nonsuch. It was the band's second #1 hit on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. The song was covered and released as a single by Crash Test Dummies in 1995 for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber...
" || Best Video
Juno Award for Video of the Year
The Juno Award for "Video of the Year" has been awarded since 1984, as recognition each year for the best music video in Canada. The award was previously called the "Best Video".-Best Video :...
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| || Greg Wells
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a multiple Grammy nominated musician, record producer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Wells has produced and written hits with Adele, Weezer, Pink, Theophilus London, Deftones, Katy Perry, Rufus Wainwright, The All American Rejects, OneRepublic, Mika, Aerosmith, Burt Bacharach,...
, "Keep A Lid On Things
Keep A Lid On Things
"Keep a Lid on Things" is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the first single from their 1999 album Give Yourself a Hand. The song featured a new sound for the group, most notably Brad Roberts using falsetto vocals.-Track listing:...
" and "Get You in the Morning
Get You In The Morning
"Get You in the Morning" is a song by Canadian group Crash Test Dummies and was the second and final single from their 1999 album Give Yourself a Hand...
" || Best Producer
Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award
The Juno Award for "Producer of the Year" has been awarded since 1975, as recognition each year for the best record producer in Canada. It was renamed the "Jack Richardson Producer of the Year" award in 2003, after Jack Richardson who is a noted Canadian record producer.-Producer of the Year...
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