File Type: FLAC Compression 6
Cd recorder: Plextor PX-716SA (for all rips)
Cd Ripper: Exact Audio Copy V0.99 prebeta 4 (Secure Mode) (for some rips);
Exact Audio Copy V1.0 Beta 1 (Secure Mode) (for other rips)
EAC Log: Yes
EAC Cue Sheet: Yes
M3U Playlist: Yes (for some rips)
Trackers:http://tracker.openbittorrent.com/announce;
Torrent Hash: F950FCBA1D963B76C3C0F30807D0BBF23440C639 
File Size: 3.37 GB
Label: Virgin



Albums, Years & Catalog # in this torrent: 


Big Blue Sky 1987 CDVM 3001 *
Secrets of the Alibi 1988 CDV 3041 * 
Snow in June 1990 CDV 3084 *
Neptune 1992 CDV 86501 *
Gig 1993 V2 7243 8 39191 2 3 *
Hits & Assorted Secrets 1999 72435-48219-2-9 *
Live 2000 NPR 001 *
Truest Inspiration 2001 (no catalog number) *
Jay Semko - Mouse 1995 77876-51004-2 *
Bryan Potvin - Heartbreakthrough 2000 76974 2199-2 *


* Denotes My Rip



Had some trouble ripping “Hits & Assorted Secrets” using EAC so the last 5 tracks are ripped with CDex. This is a newer, more complete Northern Pikes torrent than the one I made available a few years ago but its not quite complete. If anybody has any Northern Pikes that's not included in this torrent please do make available, especially their last studio album, 2003's "Its a Good Life". Granted, this isn't a true discography since its lacking the final album but its quite expensive to buy and to say the truth probably isn't very good compared to their earlier works (but I hope this isn't true). And just to add, Big Blue Sky is one of my favourite albums of all time! Love sitting back and listening to it right through... have been doing so for many years. Enjoy one of my favourite bands.



Thanks!




Kit 



Please help seed these FLACs! 



From Wiki:


The Northern Pikes are a Canadian rock band formed in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1984. The original members were Bryan Potvin, Jay Semko, Merl Bryck and Glen Hollingshead. Hollingshead left the band in 1985, and was replaced by Don Schmid in 1986. The band was active until 1993 and subsequently reunited in 1999.

The Northern Pikes released two independent EPs before being signed to Virgin Records in 1986, "The Northern Pikes" (1984) and "Scene in North America" (1985). Their first album for the label, Big Blue Sky, included the Semko-penned "Teenland", the band's first significant hit. The follow-up album Secrets of the Alibi contained two more minor Canadian hits, "Wait for Me" and "Let's Pretend" (both by Semko), as well as the slightly bigger hit "Hope Go Astray", written by Potvin.

Their 1990 album, Snow in June became their biggest seller in Canada and the US. That album's lead single, "She Ain't Pretty", was the band's biggest hit, and was written by Potvin. An innovative music video for that song received heavy play on MuchMusic and was nominated for a Juno Award. Overall, the band has been nominated for 5 Juno Awards, but have yet to record a win.

In 1992, the band released Neptune. The album's biggest hit, "Believe", was again written by Potvin. After touring to support the album, they announced their retirement as a group in July 1993.

In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring. They have since released three independent albums, including a live one aptly titled Live, with promises of more to come.

In 2006, the band was expected to release a hybrid collection of songs from Truest Inspiration and It's a Good Life under the name Beautiful Music. It was to include a bonus DVD of footage from the recording of Truest Inspiration and some promo clips from It's a Good Life. However, this has yet to see the light of day.[1]

Recently, the band has struck up a musical collaboration with Les Stroud. Throughout 2005 and 2006 they performed together live several times, and a collaborative album is currently being produced under the tentative name Les Stroud and the Pikes. The official Northern Pikes website, the album is scheduled to be released in 2008







Big Blue Sky 1987


Big Blue Sky is the first major label album by The Northern Pikes released in 1987. It featured two hit Canadian singles - "Teenland" and "Things I Do for Money". The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association on December 24, 1987.

The songs "Love Will Break You" and "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" were added to the album when it was released on CD in 1990. "Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" was the b-side to the "Teenland" single in 1987. "Love Will Break You" originally appeared on The Northern Pikes, the band's original independent release in 1984 and it was the b-side to the "Things I Do for Money" single. Additionally, the song "Dancing in a Dance Club" originally appeared on the band's 1984 independent release The Northern Pikes, while the songs "Lonely House", "You Sold the Farm", "Jackie T", and "Teenland" all appeared on the band's 1985 independent release Scene in North America.

The album is dedicated to the memory of Neil Morgan who played guitar, synth, and vocals for The Idols, an early incarnation of the band which also included Jay Semko, Merl Bryck, Don Schmid, and Robin Billinton.


Tracks:


1.	"Teenland" (Jay Semko) – 4:19
2.	"You Sold the Farm" (Semko, Merl Bryck, Bryan Potvin) – 3:18
3.	"Things I Do for Money" (Semko) – 4:21
4.	"Just Another Guy" (Semko) – 4:47
5.	"Dancing in a Dance Club" (Semko) – 4:01
6.	"Jackie T" (Semko, Potvin) – 4:08
7.	"Lonely House" (Semko) – 3:04
8.	"Love and Muscle" (Semko, Bryck) – 3:38
9.	"Never Again" (Semko) – 3:53
10.	"Love Will Break You" (Semko) – 3:43
11.	"Heartaches Heartbreaks (Open Up)" (Semko) – 9:08
12.	"Big Blue Sky"









Secrets of the Alibi 1988


Secrets of the Alibi is the second album by The Northern Pikes released in 1988. It featured two hit Canadian singles - "Wait for Me" and "Hopes Go Astray".

Although this was their second album, the Pikes were nominated for "Most Promising Group" at the 1989 Juno Awards. This was likely because no Juno Awards were presented in 1988, the year their debut album would have been up for nomination. They were also nominated for Best Video at the 1989 Juno Awards for their song "Wait for Me". They failed to win either award.

The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association on July 18, 1991.

About one year after recording their successful debut album, the Northern Pikes returned to the studio in the Spring of 1988 to record the follow-up. The resulting production had a more serious tone than their first, no longer talking about "Teenland" but themes of growing up and a political awareness of the world at large.

The first track on the album is "Place That's Insane", apparently about a pretty waitress who works in a smokey bar, as the lyrics describe "The girl that works in the club downtown / Knows all about life, man, she's been around". The guitar sound in this track is representative of the live sound throughout the album. A remixed version of this track was released on the 12" single.

The first single "Wait for Me" is a sad remembrance of love lost written and sung by Jay Semko. As guitarist Bryan Potvin recalls: "Our demo process was always an intense thorough exercise and we came very close to some true magic with this song. The demo version was very relaxed and rather meloncholy. Another killer chorus though, can't lose no matter how you play it." The video was directed by Ron Berti and nominated for "Best Video" at the 1989 Juno Awards.

The second single was the offbeat "Hopes Go Astray" written by Potvin, complete with a strange video of the band members in household situations in the middle of a prairie field. The song was one of Potvin's first attempts at song writing and dated back to 1986, before the band was signed to Virgin Records. Jay Semko said "I think this was a breakthrough for Bryan as a singer and a writer. I recall the sessions at Bearsville with Bryan singing the break ('Now the princess washes dishes...') as a pretty cool evolution."

The band would tour extensively to support this album, including the opening spot for Robert Palmer's 1989 tour.

Tracks: 


1.	"Place That's Insane" (Jay Semko) – 4:19
2.	"Walk Away" (Semko, Bryan Potvin, Don Schmid, Merl Bryck) – 3:18
3.	"Wait for Me" (Semko) – 4:21
4.	"One Good Reason" (Semko) – 4:47
5.	"Blood She Wants" (Semko) – 4:01
6.	"Let's Pretend" (Semko) – 4:08
7.	"Better Twice" (Bryck) – 3:04
8.	"Hopes Go Astray" (Potvin) – 3:38
9.	"Stars in the Sky" (Semko) – 3:53
10.	"Hole in the Ground" (Bryck) – 3:43
11.	"One Good Reason (Extended mix)" – 9:08







Snow In June 1990


Snow In June is the third major label album by The Northern Pikes released in 1990. It featured three hit singles - "Kiss Me You Fool", "She Ain't Pretty", and "Girl With a Problem". This was the band's most successful album and garnered them three nominations at the 1991 Juno Awards. The nominations were: Group of the Year, Single of the Year for "She Ain't Pretty", and Best Video for "She Ain't Pretty".

The album was certified Platinum in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association on October 31, 1990. To date, it is the band's only Platinum album.

The album features guest appearances from notable performers such as Crystal Taliefero, Garth Hudson, and John Sebastian.


Tracks: 


1.	"Dream Away" (Bryan Potvin)
2.	"Love These Hands" (Jay Semko)
3.	"Kiss Me You Fool" (Merl Bryck & Semko)
4.	"She Ain't Pretty" (Potvin)
5.	"Tomorrow Never Comes" (Bryck)
6.	"Shadow of Doubt" (Potvin)
7.	"Shotgun Morning" (Semko)
8.	"Isn't it Lovely" (Semko)
9.	"Unimportant" (Bryck)
10.	"Am I in Your Way" (Potvin & Semko)
11.	"Girl With a Problem" (Semko)
12.	"Green Fields" (Semko)
13.	"Snow in June" (Potvin)







Neptune 1992


Neptune is the fourth album by The Northern Pikes released in 1992. This was the band's last studio album until they reformed in 1999.

Although "Twister" and "Everything" were released as proper singles, with "Twister becoming a moderate hit. The song "Believe" was released as a promotional single, and was a top 40 hit. Meanwhile, "Everything" failed to chart -- instead, the b-side "Worlds Away" picked up airplay and peaked at #40 on the Canadian singles charts.

The album was certified Gold in Canada by the Canadian Recording Industry Association on December 10, 1992.

The album features co-vocals by Margo Timmins of Cowboy Junkies on two songs, and the playing of Ken Greer of Red Rider on two songs.


Tracks:


1.	"Twister" (Jay Semko, Bryan Potvin) – 3:25
2.	"Believe" (Potvin) – 4:35
3.	"All This Man Can Do" (Semko, Potvin, Merl Bryck, Don Schmid) – 3:52
4.	"Worlds Away" (Semko) – 4:19
5.	"Why Cry" (Semko, Potvin, Bryck, Schmid) – 3:37
6.	"Somedays" (Bryck) – 4:31
7.	"Crocodile Tears" (Potvin) – 4:24
8.	"What it's Really About" (Semko) – 3:57
9.	"Hold On" (Potvin) – 3:58
10.	"Chain of Flowers" (Semko, Potvin, Bryck, Schmid) – 5:11
11.	"Francesca" (Semko) – 5:10
12.	"Everything" (Semko) – 3:37
13.	"Straight Line" (Semko, Potvin, Bryck, Schmid) – 6:20
14.	"Black Cat" (Bryck) – 3:37
15.	"The Way You Are" (Potvin) – 5:15









Gig 1993

Gig is the first live by The Northern Pikes released in 1993. This album was recorded over two nights during the tour to support Neptune. Following the tour, the band would dissolve until reforming in 1999.

The live album is a combination of two "gigs": June 10, 1993 at the Le Spectrum in Montreal and June 11, 1993 at The Music Hall in Toronto. The shows were also released on video in VHS format, but this is long out of print.

The band was supported on the tour by Universal Honey, a band formed by Johnny Sinclair and Leslie Stanwyck both formerly of The Pursuit of Happiness. Leslie Stanwyck joined the band on stage to sing co-vocals on the song "Worlds Away".


Tracks: 


1.	"The Way You Are" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 6:39
2.	"Girl With a Problem" (from the album Snow in June, 1990) – 4:08
3.	"Believe" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 4:26
4.	"Unimportant" (from the album Snow in June, 1990) – 3:18
5.	"Things I Do for Money" (from the album Big Blue Sky, 1987) – 5:06
6.	"Teenland" (from the album Big Blue Sky, 1987) – 7:37
7.	"Worlds Away" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 4:54
8.	"Hopes Go Astray" (from the album Secrets of the Alibi, 1988) – 5:00
9.	"Why Cry" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 5:09
10.	"Dancing in a Dance Club" (from the album Big Blue Sky, 1987) – 6:36
11.	"She Ain't Pretty" (from the album Snow in June, 1990) – 3:40
12.	"Everything" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 3:28
13.	"Twister" (from the album Neptune, 1992) – 3:30







Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984 - 1993 1993


Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993 is a Greatest Hits album by The Northern Pikes released in 1999. Along with some of the band's biggest hits, the album included 3 previously unreleased tracks.

Following the tour in support of Neptune in 1993, the band decided to dissolve. However, in 1999 Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. To support the package, the band decided to do a short promotional tour. They found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring.


Tracks: 


1.	"Teenland"
2.	"Things I Do for Money" (radio edit)
3.	"Place That's Insane"
4.	"Hopes Go Astray"
5.	"Let's Pretend"
6.	"Wait for Me" (radio edit)
7.	"She Ain't Pretty" (radio edit)
8.	"Kiss Me You Fool"
9.	"Dream Away" (stasium re-mix)
10.	"Girl With a Problem"
11.	"Wasting Away" (previously unreleased)
12.	"What She Wants" (previously unreleased)
13.	"Beautiful Summer" (previously unreleased)
14.	"Chain of Flowers" (edit)
15.	"Believe"
16.	"Worlds Away"
17.	"Unimportant" (live)
18.	"Dancing in a Dance Club" (live)(edit)







Live 2000


Live is the second live album by The Northern Pikes released in 2000. The album was released independently.

In 1999, Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring.

The album Live was recorded on this tour over three nights in April 2000 in North Bay, ON, Wakefield, PQ, and Toronto, ON. It featured the song "Out of Love" which was unreleased at the time but would appear on their next studio album, Truest Inspiration.


Tracks:  


1.	"Better Twice" (from Secrets of the Alibi, 1988)
2.	"Green Fields" (from Snow in June, 1990)
3.	"Believe" (from Neptune, 1992)
4.	"Wait For Me" (from Secrets of the Alibi, 1988)
5.	"Out Of Love" (from Truest Inspiration, 2001)
6.	"Jackie T" (from Big Blue Sky, 1987)
7.	"Kiss Me You Fool" (from Snow in June, 1990)
8.	"Snow In June" (from Snow in June, 1990)







Truest Inspiration 2001


Truest Inspiration is the sixth studio album by The Northern Pikes released in 2001. This was their first album of new music since they reformed in 1999 after a 6 year break.

Following the release of Neptune in 1992 and the subsequent live album called Gig in 1993, the band decided to disband. During their time apart, Jay Semko and Bryan Potvin each released a solo album. However, in 1999 Virgin Records asked the band members for their input on a "greatest hits" package. The band decided to do a short promotional tour following the release of Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993, but found themselves enjoying the more relaxed independence of making their own schedule that they continued touring.

After a live album called Live released in 2000, the band decided to record a new album in the latter half of 2000. No longer signed to Virgin Records, the album was released independently by the band's Square Dog management group.

Tracks: 

1.	"Echo Off The Beach" (Bryan Potvin)
2.	"Little Boy Kelly" (Merl Bryck & Neil Morgan)
3.	"Swirl" (Jay Semko)
4.	"Christ" (Bryck)
5.	"I Can't Compare" (Potvin)
6.	"Favourite Cousin (Still In Prison)" (Semko)
7.	"Out Of Love" (Bryck)
8.	"Michigan" (Potvin)
9.	"Head First" (Semko)
10.	"Colour Into Colour" (Bryck)
11.	"Beautiful Music" (Semko)








Jay Semko - Mouse 1995


Jay Semko is a singer/songwriter and bassist with Canadian band, The Northern Pikes.[1] He is also a music composer for numerous film and television productions, most notably the successful Canadian television series Due South. Semko has been nominated for a Juno Award eight times as a member of the Northern Pikes, and also been nominated twice for a Gemini Award and received two awards from the Canadian Music Publishers Association for his songwriting.

Tracks: 


01. Adventure On My Breath 
02. Mouse In A Hole 
03. Who Cares 
04. Times Change 
05. Strawberry Girl 
06. Lake of Mud 
07. Of Shame 
08. Paris Or Somewhere 
09. Strange And Rich 
10. My-Y-Y-Rock And Roll








Bryan Potvin - Heartbreakthrough 2000


Bryan Potvin is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist, who is a band member of The Northern Pikes. With fellow band member Jay Semko, he co-wrote the theme for the television series Due South.

During The Northern Pikes' inactivity from 1993 to 1999, Potvin worked in an A&R capacity for PolyGram in Canada. He also released a solo recording project, Heartbreakthrough, in July 2000.


Tracks:


Read Between The Lines
Too Late
Heaven Is What You Leave Behind
If Memory Serves
You'll Just Have To Wait
Darling, You Live In A Dreamworld
Free As A Bird
Red Summer Sun
What Will I Do
Heartbreakthrough




Enjoy The Pikes :)