13 Engines

13 Engines was a Canadian alternative rock band active in the 1980s and 1990s.

13 Engines
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresAlternative rock
Years active1985–1997
LabelsSBK
EMI
Atlantic
Past membersJohn Critchley
Grant Ethier
Jim Hughes
Mike Robbins

Overview

Formed in 1985 as The Ikons, the band consisted of four York University students: vocalist John Critchley,[1] guitarist Mike Robbins, bassist Jim Hughes and drummer Grant Ethier.[2]They released a self-titled independent cassette in 1986 before changing their name to 13 Engines. This name was a reference to the automobile industry in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, which were the first two markets to embrace the band.[3][4]

13 Engines released two independent albums: Before Our Time[5] in 1987 and Byram Lake Blues[6] in 1989, before signing to SBK Records in the United States and EMI in Canada.[4]

In 1991, the band released their major label debut, A Blur to Me Now.[7] The band received airplay for the album's singles "King of Saturday Night" and "Big Surprise", however, SBK dropped them soon afterward.[4]

1993's Perpetual Motion Machine,[8] produced by Critchley,[9] was the band's breakthrough in Canada, spawning the hit singles "More", "Bred in the Bone" and "Smoke & Ashes", and led to a spot on The Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction tour.[4]

They followed up with Conquistador[10] in 1995, which gave them another hit, Beneath My Hand.[4] While the album is generally hailed as 13 Engines' finest work, it did not do well commercially[11] and two members left the band. Critchley contemplated carrying on under the 13 Engines name, but elected to retire the band.

Post-breakup

Following the break-up of 13 Engines, Critchley continued as a solo artist and, in 2000, recorded an album with ex-13 Engines guitarist Scott Stevenson, Crooked Mile. Both Critchley and Ethier went on to careers as producers.

Discography
  • Before Our Time (1987)
  • Byram Lake Blues (1989)
  • A Blur to Me Now (1991)
  • Perpetual Motion Machine (1993)
  • Conquistador (1995)

References
  1. "John Critchley Archives".
  2. Hendra, Peter. "Always sharing and caring, Oct 18, 2017". thewhig.com. The Kingston Whig Standard. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  3. "13 Engines". canpopencyclopedia.home.blog. The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  4. "13 Engines". Canadian Pop Encyclopedia. Canoe Inc. Archived from the original on 2013-01-15. Retrieved 2007-12-22.
  5. "13 Engines - Before Our Time". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  6. "13 Engines - Byram Lake Blues". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  7. "13 Engines - A Blur to Me Now, Full Album". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  8. Gibson, Kevin. "A Clean Running Machine, March 1994". louisvillemusicnews.net. Louisville Music News. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  9. "ArtistDirect" review of Perpetual Motion Machine
  10. "13 Engines - Conquistador (Full Album)". youtube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  11. "ArtistDirect" review of Conquistador
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