FM (Canadian band)
Encyclopedia
FM is a progressive rock
band from Toronto
, Canada
which existed from 1976 to 1996, with a brief return in 2006, although they had a period of inactivity between 1989 and 1994. Their music has been categorized as space rock
, and lyrics are dominated by science fiction
themes. In November 2011, Cameron Hawkins has been quoted by the OhioProg 2012 organizers as having reformed the band with two new players.
, a mysterious figure in dark clothes lurking in the shadows at the back of the stage, playing electric violin, electric mandolin
, backing vocals, and operating a drum machine. Aside from Cameron's bass, the group did not use guitars. The duo first met each other while they were jamming with a band called Clear.
The group first recorded in July 1976 when they performed live in the studio, an event which was videotaped for TVOntario
's Night Music Concert TV show, first broadcast on November 3. The half hour show, shown with no commercial breaks, presented the band playing three long pieces: "Phasors on Stun", "One O'Clock Tomorrow", and "Black Noise". It also included a nonsensical biography of the group resembling free-association
poetry, recited by David Pritchard (electronic musician, record producer and CHUM-FM
DJ, 1960s-1970s), accompanied by electronic background music and a collage of photos and artwork by Paul Till, appearing between the first and second songs. Neither this music, nor any performances by the original 2-person lineup, were released on an album until 2001.
FM's first public performance took place in November 1976 at the A Space art gallery in Toronto shortly after the TV show first aired.
on drums. Deller had worked with Nash earlier in 1976 when they and David Pritchard played a 13 minute improvised piece titled "An Admission of Guilt" for Pritchard's album, Nocturnal Earthworm Stew.
After appearing on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
) TV variety show Who's New, FM were approached by the CBC to make an album, ultimately titled Black Noise, which the group presumed would be distributed in stores like a normal release. But the CBC chose to sell it by mail order, and only announced its availability during several radio shows. A mere 500 copies were pressed, which was sufficient to meet the demands of this limited promotion. The CBC edition's black and white cover shows a picture of a manhole cover
; a different cover by Paul Till was used for later reissues on other labels.
In late 1977, Nash the Slash left the group for a solo career, stating that the addition of a drummer gave the band a sound which was too commercial for his liking. This comment would be frequently quoted in articles and reviews years later for irony, as some his later work, with and without FM, is viewed as being much more commercial and pop-oriented than the first FM album. Nash resumed his career as a solo performer in 1978, having also worked as a solo artist in 1975.
, ex Stringband
and Murray McLauchlan
's Silver Tractors, who also played electric violin and electric mandolin. Ben has also collaborated with Mendelson Joe
and k.d. lang
.
Their first record was Direct to Disc
(also released as Head Room, or Headroom, see article for explanation), and was made using the direct to disc recording
method, in which recording tape is not used. Several editions of the album exist.
Later in 1978 the group got is first proper record contract with Visa Records in the USA, and Passport Records in Canada, the latter distributed by GRT Records. (Passport was a sub-label of Visa, although Passport was the more prolific of the two labels.) Their first release for these labels was a reissue of the CBC album, Black Noise, now made available in stores for the first time. The USA edition was released in the summer of 1978, while the Canadian edition came out near the end of the year. A single from the album, "Phasors on Stun" helped to promote the album, for which the group were presented a gold record
award. However, Cameron Hawkins claims they never received royalty payments from any of the Canadian LP editions, as their contract specified all payments were to come through Visa Records in the USA, and none of the three Canadian distributors passed royalties on to Visa.
Black Noise was followed by Surveillance
in the summer of 1979, the first widely released album with the group's then-current lineup, although it was delayed because GRT Records went out of business one week before the intended release date. Canadian distribution of the Passport label was bought out by Capitol Records
who subsequently released both albums. In 1981 the Passport label declared bankruptcy, but was rescued again the following year by new Canadian distributor A&M Records
, who reissued Black Noise again.
In 1980 FM released another album, City of Fear
, produced by Larry Fast
who under the name "Synergy" released a series of electronic music albums as well as playing keyboards on Peter Gabriel
's early albums. Ben Mink also recorded an instrumental solo album, Foreign Exchange with the other members of FM as his backing band. Ben Mink left FM in 1983.
as a solo artist in 1983, and was about to release his solo album American Band-ages, which the originally proposed tour had been intended to promote, and was able to get FM signed to the label as well. The other two members of FM also play on Nash's album. The double bill concept was retained, with Nash playing a solo set as the opening act for FM concerts. The FM album, released in 1985, was titled Con-Test
. Ben Mink also appears on the album.
A live show at the Masonic Temple
in Toronto was videotaped and aired by the CBC
as one of its Rock Deluxe TV specials in 1985.
FM seemed to be cursed by record labels going out of business. The Quality Records company had existed since the early 1950s, and by the 1960s was Canada's biggest domestic label; but they ceased operations shortly after the album was released. MCA Records
picked up the reissue rights for Con-Test, as well as Nash's American Band-ages, but the abrupt change in record labels led to a near-absence of promotion for both records. Martin Deller left the band at the conclusion of its 1986 tour.
) on drums, and added Simon Brierley (ex Lee Aaron
's band and Strange Advance
) on guitars. Before this time, FM (and Nash as a solo artist) were notable for not using electric guitars, therefore this change made a significant alteration to their sound. They recorded Tonight
for Duke Street Records, with the first pressing issued on green vinyl. Duke Street also issued the album on CD, with five bonus tracks from Con-Test, followed by a CD edition of the earlier album. Five songs were also used in the horror film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
(1988).
replaced Greg Critchley on drums. The group disbanded in 1989.
as of 1996), and purchased the rights to Black Noise which was still owned by the CBC, but ownership was set to expire that year. Hawkins was surprised to find a competitor bidding for the rights, but his label emerged as the winning bidder. By this time, the CBC no longer possessed a master tape of the album. A search for the tape at the CBC turned up a reel tape box with an inferior cassette copy inside. Hawkins then travelled to the USA to search the former Passport Records vaults for the tapes of this, and the other Passport albums, without success. Ultimately, the Now See Hear reissue of Black Noise was made from a transfer from vinyl. Now See Hear also licensed the recording to One Way Records
, a company specializing in reissues, who released an American edition.
The reissue was followed by a reformation of the group's classic lineup for a series of concerts from 1994 to 1996, resulting in a new live CD titled RetroActive recorded November 1994 in Toronto, and issued on Now See Hear in 1995. The album included some previously unrecorded songs.
In 2001 Nash the Slash compiled unreleased and live FM recordings from the 1970s and 1980s on a CD titled Lost in Space on his own Cut-throat Records
label. This release was not approved by the other members, and did not mention the name FM; the artist was listed as "Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins & Martin Deller". It includes recordings made by the original Hawkins / Nash the Slash lineup in 1976 and 1977, and demo versions of songs for Con-Test recorded in 1984.
Recently, Martin Deller has uploaded a video on YouTube
, advertising for drumming and recording lessons. The video consists of clips from the NEARFest 2006 performance which is also mentioned as being an upcoming release.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
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...
which existed from 1976 to 1996, with a brief return in 2006, although they had a period of inactivity between 1989 and 1994. Their music has been categorized as space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
, and lyrics are dominated by science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
themes. In November 2011, Cameron Hawkins has been quoted by the OhioProg 2012 organizers as having reformed the band with two new players.
Hawkins / Nash the Slash lineup
The bands's original 1976 lineup and presentation was very unusual; it consisted of just 2 people: Cameron Hawkins, appearing as a typical rock star at the front of the stage, playing synthesizer, occasional bass guitar, and lead vocals; and Nash the SlashNash the Slash
Nash the Slash is a Canadian musician. Though a multi-instrumentalist, he is known primarily for playing electric violin and mandolin, as well as harmonica, keyboards, glockenspiel, and other instruments .Nash worked as a solo artist beginning in 1975, then founded the progressive rock band FM in...
, a mysterious figure in dark clothes lurking in the shadows at the back of the stage, playing electric violin, electric mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, backing vocals, and operating a drum machine. Aside from Cameron's bass, the group did not use guitars. The duo first met each other while they were jamming with a band called Clear.
The group first recorded in July 1976 when they performed live in the studio, an event which was videotaped for TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
's Night Music Concert TV show, first broadcast on November 3. The half hour show, shown with no commercial breaks, presented the band playing three long pieces: "Phasors on Stun", "One O'Clock Tomorrow", and "Black Noise". It also included a nonsensical biography of the group resembling free-association
Free association (psychology)
Free association is a technique used in psychoanalysis which was originally devised by Sigmund Freud out of the hypnotic method of his mentor and coworker, Josef Breuer....
poetry, recited by David Pritchard (electronic musician, record producer and CHUM-FM
CHUM-FM
CHUM-FM is a Canadian radio station licensed to Toronto, Ontario and operated by Bell Media. It broadcasts at 104.5 MHz with a hot adult contemporary format that leans towards rhythmic adult contemporary...
DJ, 1960s-1970s), accompanied by electronic background music and a collage of photos and artwork by Paul Till, appearing between the first and second songs. Neither this music, nor any performances by the original 2-person lineup, were released on an album until 2001.
FM's first public performance took place in November 1976 at the A Space art gallery in Toronto shortly after the TV show first aired.
Hawkins / Nash the Slash / Deller lineup #1
Some time after February 1977 the group became a trio when they added Martin DellerMartin Deller
Martin Deller is a Canadian musician from Toronto. He is best known for his work with FM.- External links :*...
on drums. Deller had worked with Nash earlier in 1976 when they and David Pritchard played a 13 minute improvised piece titled "An Admission of Guilt" for Pritchard's album, Nocturnal Earthworm Stew.
After appearing on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
) TV variety show Who's New, FM were approached by the CBC to make an album, ultimately titled Black Noise, which the group presumed would be distributed in stores like a normal release. But the CBC chose to sell it by mail order, and only announced its availability during several radio shows. A mere 500 copies were pressed, which was sufficient to meet the demands of this limited promotion. The CBC edition's black and white cover shows a picture of a manhole cover
Manhole cover
A manhole cover is a removable plate forming the lid over the opening of a manhole, to prevent anyone from falling in and to keep unauthorized persons out....
; a different cover by Paul Till was used for later reissues on other labels.
In late 1977, Nash the Slash left the group for a solo career, stating that the addition of a drummer gave the band a sound which was too commercial for his liking. This comment would be frequently quoted in articles and reviews years later for irony, as some his later work, with and without FM, is viewed as being much more commercial and pop-oriented than the first FM album. Nash resumed his career as a solo performer in 1978, having also worked as a solo artist in 1975.
Hawkins / Mink / Deller lineup
Before the end of 1977, Nash was replaced by Ben MinkBen Mink
Ben Mink is a Canadian songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer.Born of Polish parents, Mink was raised in Toronto Ontario. He got his start performing with the rock/country group Mary-Lou Horner, which became the house band at bar and nightclub....
, ex Stringband
Stringband
Stringband was a Canadian folk music ensemble, fronted by Bob Bossin and Marie-Lynn Hammond. Founded in 1971, Stringband recorded four studio albums between 1973 and 1978, and was an active touring ensemble through 1986...
and Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan
Murray McLauchlan, CM is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player.-Biography:Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, he emigrated to Canada with his family when he was five years old...
's Silver Tractors, who also played electric violin and electric mandolin. Ben has also collaborated with Mendelson Joe
Mendelson Joe
Mendelson Joe is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, painter and outspoken political activist and uses his art to express political themes. His most famous painting depicted Prime Minister Brian Mulroney with his face superimposed on a pair of human buttocks...
and k.d. lang
K.D. Lang
Kathryn Dawn Lang, OC , known by her stage name k.d. lang, is a Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress...
.
Their first record was Direct to Disc
Direct to Disc (FM album)
Direct to Disc is the second album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, recorded late 1977 and released May 1978. It was also issued under the title Head Room...
(also released as Head Room, or Headroom, see article for explanation), and was made using the direct to disc recording
Direct to disc recording
Direct to disc recording refers to sound recording methods which bypass the use of magnetic tape recording and directly onto disc master; and record albums made using this process....
method, in which recording tape is not used. Several editions of the album exist.
Later in 1978 the group got is first proper record contract with Visa Records in the USA, and Passport Records in Canada, the latter distributed by GRT Records. (Passport was a sub-label of Visa, although Passport was the more prolific of the two labels.) Their first release for these labels was a reissue of the CBC album, Black Noise, now made available in stores for the first time. The USA edition was released in the summer of 1978, while the Canadian edition came out near the end of the year. A single from the album, "Phasors on Stun" helped to promote the album, for which the group were presented a gold record
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
award. However, Cameron Hawkins claims they never received royalty payments from any of the Canadian LP editions, as their contract specified all payments were to come through Visa Records in the USA, and none of the three Canadian distributors passed royalties on to Visa.
Black Noise was followed by Surveillance
Surveillance (FM album)
Surveillance is the third album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released on Passport Records in summer 1979.Surveillance was the group's first album to be widely issued upon release. Their first album was initially a limited edition, and their second was exclusively a...
in the summer of 1979, the first widely released album with the group's then-current lineup, although it was delayed because GRT Records went out of business one week before the intended release date. Canadian distribution of the Passport label was bought out by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
who subsequently released both albums. In 1981 the Passport label declared bankruptcy, but was rescued again the following year by new Canadian distributor A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
, who reissued Black Noise again.
In 1980 FM released another album, City of Fear
City of Fear
City of Fear is the fourth album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released in 1980 on Passport Records and distributed in Canada by Capitol Records, catalogue number PB-2028, and in the USA on Passport distributed by Jem Records, catalogue number PB-6004...
, produced by Larry Fast
Larry Fast
Lawrence Roger 'Larry' Fast is a synthesizer expert and composer. He is best known for Synergy, his 1975–1987 series of synthesizer music albums, and for his contribution to a number of popular music acts, including Peter Gabriel, Foreigner, and Hall and Oates.- Biography :Fast grew up in...
who under the name "Synergy" released a series of electronic music albums as well as playing keyboards on Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's early albums. Ben Mink also recorded an instrumental solo album, Foreign Exchange with the other members of FM as his backing band. Ben Mink left FM in 1983.
Hawkins / Nash the Slash / Deller lineup #2
In 1983 Nash the Slash proposed a future double bill tour with FM, as the two artists seemed to share a common audience, since FM's best known previous album was the one he made with them in 1977. But they had still not found a replacement for Ben Mink. Nash resolved the problem by rejoining the band. Just as work was beginning on a new album in 1984, Passport Records folded for the third and final time. Nash had been signed to Quality RecordsQuality Records
Quality Records is a Canadian entertainment company which released music albums in Canada on behalf of American record labels, and also released recordings by Canadian artists...
as a solo artist in 1983, and was about to release his solo album American Band-ages, which the originally proposed tour had been intended to promote, and was able to get FM signed to the label as well. The other two members of FM also play on Nash's album. The double bill concept was retained, with Nash playing a solo set as the opening act for FM concerts. The FM album, released in 1985, was titled Con-Test
Con-Test (FM album)
Con-Test is the fifth album by FM, a progressive rock band from Toronto, Canada, released in 1985.-Reformation of classic line-up:In 1983, former group member Nash the Slash proposed a future double bill tour with FM, as the two artists seemed to share a common audience. FM's best known previous...
. Ben Mink also appears on the album.
A live show at the Masonic Temple
Masonic Temple (Toronto)
The Masonic Temple, also known as the CTV Temple or the MTV Temple, is a six-storey building on the north-west corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
in Toronto was videotaped and aired by the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
as one of its Rock Deluxe TV specials in 1985.
FM seemed to be cursed by record labels going out of business. The Quality Records company had existed since the early 1950s, and by the 1960s was Canada's biggest domestic label; but they ceased operations shortly after the album was released. MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
picked up the reissue rights for Con-Test, as well as Nash's American Band-ages, but the abrupt change in record labels led to a near-absence of promotion for both records. Martin Deller left the band at the conclusion of its 1986 tour.
Hawkins / Nash the Slash / Brierly / Critchley lineup
In 1986 FM replaced Deller with Greg Critchley (ex Portland Bros. and The SpoonsSpoons (band)
Spoons are a Canadian New Wave new romantic synth pop music group, formed in 1979 in Burlington, Ontario. They recorded several Canadian chart hits between 1982 and 1989, and in 1983, they won Group of the Year at the U-Know awards...
) on drums, and added Simon Brierley (ex Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron , is a Canadian rock and jazz singer. She had several hits in the 1980s and early 1990s such as "Metal Queen", "Whatcha Do to My Body", and "Sex with Love".- Background :...
's band and Strange Advance
Strange Advance
Strange Advance was a Canadian New Wave band formed in 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were nominated for a 1983 Juno Award as Most Promising Group of the Year and again in 1985 as Group of the Year...
) on guitars. Before this time, FM (and Nash as a solo artist) were notable for not using electric guitars, therefore this change made a significant alteration to their sound. They recorded Tonight
Tonight (FM album)
Tonight is the sixth album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released on Duke Street Records in 1987. It was their last studio album, but further albums of live and demo material were issued later....
for Duke Street Records, with the first pressing issued on green vinyl. Duke Street also issued the album on CD, with five bonus tracks from Con-Test, followed by a CD edition of the earlier album. Five songs were also used in the horror film Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood
Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood is the seventh installment in the original Friday the 13th series, released in 1988. It also marked the first appearance of Kane Hodder in the role of Jason Voorhees.-Plot:...
(1988).
Hawkins / Nash the Slash / Brierly / Cooke lineup
In 1988 Randy CookeRandy Cooke
Randy Cooke is an established Canadian drummer, percussionist, session musician, and touring musician.-Biography:Influenced by his drummer father, Cooke picked up the drums as a child, learning and playing as part of a local drum corps before starting his own bands as a teenager...
replaced Greg Critchley on drums. The group disbanded in 1989.
Hawkins / Nash the Slash / Deller lineup #3
In 1994 Cameron Hawkins created a new record company called Now See Hear Records (initially self distributed, but later distributed by MCA RecordsMCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
as of 1996), and purchased the rights to Black Noise which was still owned by the CBC, but ownership was set to expire that year. Hawkins was surprised to find a competitor bidding for the rights, but his label emerged as the winning bidder. By this time, the CBC no longer possessed a master tape of the album. A search for the tape at the CBC turned up a reel tape box with an inferior cassette copy inside. Hawkins then travelled to the USA to search the former Passport Records vaults for the tapes of this, and the other Passport albums, without success. Ultimately, the Now See Hear reissue of Black Noise was made from a transfer from vinyl. Now See Hear also licensed the recording to One Way Records
One Way Records
One Way Records was a record label established by Larry Norman in 1970 to distribute his own work, and that of other Christian musicians including Randy Stonehill, after he had been released by Capitol Records in 1969.-History:...
, a company specializing in reissues, who released an American edition.
The reissue was followed by a reformation of the group's classic lineup for a series of concerts from 1994 to 1996, resulting in a new live CD titled RetroActive recorded November 1994 in Toronto, and issued on Now See Hear in 1995. The album included some previously unrecorded songs.
In 2001 Nash the Slash compiled unreleased and live FM recordings from the 1970s and 1980s on a CD titled Lost in Space on his own Cut-throat Records
Cut-throat Records
Cut-throat Records is a record label created and run by Canadian musician Nash the Slash. It has been active from 1978 to the present...
label. This release was not approved by the other members, and did not mention the name FM; the artist was listed as "Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins & Martin Deller". It includes recordings made by the original Hawkins / Nash the Slash lineup in 1976 and 1977, and demo versions of songs for Con-Test recorded in 1984.
Hawkins / Vena / Deller lineup
In 2006 FM reformed again for a live performance at NEARFest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA on June 24, and also gave a concert prior to this in Toronto on June 16. The new lineup included Italian musician Claudio Vena on electric violin and electric mandolin. No recordings by this lineup have been issued, and the band's website has not been updated since 2006.Recently, Martin Deller has uploaded a video on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, advertising for drumming and recording lessons. The video consists of clips from the NEARFest 2006 performance which is also mentioned as being an upcoming release.
2011 and into the future
Cameron Hawkins has "decided to reform and create a brand new incarnation" of the band. Joining Hawkins will be Paul DeLong on drums and Ivana Popovic on violin/mandolin. "They are currently working on new material that they hope to have recorded and released by September 2012." They are scheduled to perform as headliners on September 8, 2012.Albums
- Black Noise
- CBC Records LM-455 (Canada LP), 1977
- Visa Records VISA-7007 (USA LP), 1978
- Passport Records 9167-9831, distributed by GRT Records (Canada LP), 1978
- Passport Records 0060.232, distributed by Metronome Records (West Germany LP), 1978
- Passport Records, distributed by Capitol Records (Canada LP), 1979
- Passport Records, distributed by A&M Records (Canada LP), 1982
-
- Now See Hear Records NSHD-7007 (Canada CD), 1994
- Now See Hear Records NSBBD-7007, distributed by MCA Records (Canada CD), 1996
- One Way Records OW-33651 (USA CD), 1996
- Direct to DiscDirect to Disc (FM album)Direct to Disc is the second album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, recorded late 1977 and released May 1978. It was also issued under the title Head Room...
- Labyrinth Records LBR-1001 (Canada LP), 1978
- Labyrinth Records (on cover) / Kiras Music Works (on label) LBR-1001 (Canada LP), circa. 1980
- reissued as Head Room, Labyrinth Records (no name on label) LBR-1001 (Canada LP), circa. 1980
- Reissues have different takes of the track covering side two
- SurveillanceSurveillance (FM album)Surveillance is the third album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released on Passport Records in summer 1979.Surveillance was the group's first album to be widely issued upon release. Their first album was initially a limited edition, and their second was exclusively a...
- Passport Records PB-2001, distributed by Capitol Records (Canada LP), 1979
- Arista / Passport Records AB-4246 (USA LP), 1979
- Foreign Exchange (by Ben Mink, but featuring all of FM)
- Passport Records PB-2024, distributed by Capitol Records (Canada LP), 1980
- City of FearCity of FearCity of Fear is the fourth album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released in 1980 on Passport Records and distributed in Canada by Capitol Records, catalogue number PB-2028, and in the USA on Passport distributed by Jem Records, catalogue number PB-6004...
- Passport Records PB-2028, distributed by Capitol Records (Canada LP), 1980
- Passport Records PB-6004, distributed by Jem Records (USA LP), 1980
- American Band-ages (by Nash the Slash, but featuring all of FM)
- Quality Records SV-2132 (Canada LP), 1984
- MCA Records (Canada LP), 1986
- reissued as American BandAges with three bonus tracks, Cut-throat Records CUT-8CD (Canada CD), 2003
- Con-TestCon-Test (FM album)Con-Test is the fifth album by FM, a progressive rock band from Toronto, Canada, released in 1985.-Reformation of classic line-up:In 1983, former group member Nash the Slash proposed a future double bill tour with FM, as the two artists seemed to share a common audience. FM's best known previous...
- Quality Records SV-2138 (Canada LP), 1985
- MCA Records (Canada LP), 1986
- Duke Street Records (Canada CD), 1987
- TonightTonight (FM album)Tonight is the sixth album by FM, a progressive rock group from Toronto, Canada, released on Duke Street Records in 1987. It was their last studio album, but further albums of live and demo material were issued later....
- Duke Street Records DSR-31042 (Canada LP, green vinyl), 1987
- Duke Street Records DSR-31042 (Canada LP, black vinyl), 1987
- Duke Street Records DSRD-31042 (Canada CD with five bonus tracks from Con-Test), 1987
- RetroActive
- Now See Hear Records NSHSD-1194 (Canada CD), 1995
- Lost in Space (artist listed as Nash the Slash, Cameron Hawkins & Martin Deller)
- Cut-throat Records CUT-6CD (Canada CD), 2001
Singles
- "Phasors on Stun" / "Dialing for Dharma" – Passport Records, 1978
- "Shapes of Things" – Arista Records 0477 (USA), 1979
- "Just Like You" – Quality Records, 1985 – Canadian chart #38
- "All of the Dreams" – 1986 – Canadian chart #86
- "Why Don't You Take It" / "Just Like You" – MCA Records 52840 (with cover), 1986 – Canadian chart #90
- "Why Don't You Take It (Flight Mix)" / "Just Like You (Fun Mix)" – MCA Records 23634 (12 inch single with cover), 1986
- "She Does What She Wants" – MCA Records, 1986 – this song later appeared on the Duke Street album Tonight, 1987
- "Good Vibrations" / "Good Vibrations (instrumental)" – 1987 – only available with fan club membership
- "Dream Girl" / "The Real Thing" – Duke Street Records (with cover), 1987 – Canadian chart #41
- "Magic (in Your Eyes)" / "I'm Not Mad (Ready for the World)" – Duke Street Records, 1988 – Canadian chart #52
- "She Does What She Wants" / "She Does What She Wants (Front and Main Mix, Acapella Version)" – Duke Street Records 10042, 1988