Surveillance (FM album)
Encyclopedia
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 (Black Noise, 1977) was initially a limited edition, and their second (Direct to Disc
, 1978) was exclusively a limited edition. A non-limited reissue of Black Noise was the group's first release by Passport, even though it featured an earlier lineup with Nash the Slash
instead of his replacement, Ben Mink
, the change having taken place before the band signed to the label.
One week before the intended release date, Passport's Canadian parent company, GRT Records went out of business, but Capitol Records
bought the Canadian division of Passport from Visa Records (Passport's parent company in the USA), becoming its new parent company in Canada, and issued the album as the first of a new catalogue number sequence, PB-2001. It was also issued in the USA by Arista Records
as Arista / Passport AB-4246.
Larry Fast
of "Synergy" is credited with assistance; he would be the producer of FM's next album, City of Fear
.
The album cover depicts a group photo displayed on a giant TV screen attached to an urban office tower, a futuristic concept at the time.
, Ben Mink
, except as noted.
FM (Canadian band)
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...
, a progressive rock
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...
group 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...
, released on Passport Records in summer 1979.
Surveillance was the group's first album to be widely issued upon release. Their first album (Black Noise, 1977) was initially a limited edition, and their second (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...
, 1978) was exclusively a limited edition. A non-limited reissue of Black Noise was the group's first release by Passport, even though it featured an earlier lineup with Nash the Slash
Nash 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...
instead of his replacement, Ben Mink
Ben 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....
, the change having taken place before the band signed to the label.
One week before the intended release date, Passport's Canadian parent company, GRT Records went out of business, but 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...
bought the Canadian division of Passport from Visa Records (Passport's parent company in the USA), becoming its new parent company in Canada, and issued the album as the first of a new catalogue number sequence, PB-2001. It was also issued in the USA by Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
as Arista / Passport AB-4246.
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...
of "Synergy" is credited with assistance; he would be the producer of FM's next 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...
.
The album cover depicts a group photo displayed on a giant TV screen attached to an urban office tower, a futuristic concept at the time.
Track list
All compositions by Cameron Hawkins, Martin DellerMartin Deller
Martin Deller is a Canadian musician from Toronto. He is best known for his work with FM.- External links :*...
, Ben Mink
Ben 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....
, except as noted.
Side one
- "Rocket Roll" – 3:29
- "Orion" – 1:33
- "Horizons" – 4:21
- "Random Harvest" – 4:36
- "Shapes of Things" (Paul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-SmithPaul Samwell-Smith is best known as a founding member and bassist of the 1960s English band, The Yardbirds, a group that spawned such noteworthy musicians as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page...
, Keith RelfKeith RelfKeith William Relf , was a musician best known as the lead singer and harmonica player of The Yardbirds. After the Yardbirds broke up Relf formed the acoustic duo Together, with fellow Yardbird Jim McCarty, followed by Renaissance, which also featured his sister, singer Jane Relf, then hard rock...
, Jim McCartyJim McCartyJim McCarty is an English musician, best known as the drummer for The Yardbirds and Renaissance.-Early life:...
) – 3:07
Side two
- "Seventh Heaven" – 5:39
- "Father Time" – 4:23
- "Sofa Back" (Mink, B. Feldman) – 3:01
- "Destruction" – 6:00
Personnel
- Cameron Hawkins – lead vocals, synthesizers, bass guitar, piano
- Ben MinkBen MinkBen 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....
– electric violin, electric mandolin, vocals - Martin DellerMartin DellerMartin Deller is a Canadian musician from Toronto. He is best known for his work with FM.- External links :*...
– drums, percussion
Technical credits
- Recorded at Sounds Interchange, Toronto, Canada
- Produced by Keith Whiting by arrangement with Jake Productions
- Engineered by Mike Jones, assisted by Ed Stone
- Synthesizers produced and programmed with the assistance of Larry FastLarry FastLawrence 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...
- Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City, USA by George Marino
- Art direction: Murray Brenman
- Front cover photo: Paul Till
- Back cover and inner sleeve photos: John Herzog