Wonderland Burlesque's Down The Rabbit Hole: Rough Trade

Wonderland Burlesque's 

Down The Rabbit Hole: 

Rough Trade

The other week, as part of a Let's All Go To The Movies post, I was doing a bit of research about the 1980 movie Cruising. and came across the name of a group that was asked, by the director, to contribute to the movie's soundtrack. The name was more than familiar; I had a file on Rough Trade - no, not the kind you pick up at certain gay bars - the musical duo from Canada.

Rough Trade's original stint (there have been a few reunions) lasted from 1968 to1988. The band revolved around singer Carole Pope and multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples. The two met while members of a folk trio known as 'O.' When the other member left, they carried on as The Bullwhip Brothers, until evolving into Rough Trade in 1973.

The band was noted for their provocative lyrics, a mix of R&B/Rock and stage antics which included Pope often performing in bondage attire. They quickly became fixtures and a popular draw on Toronto's live music scene. 

Their first album, 1976's Rough Trade Live, was recorded live, in the studio, with no breaks, no audience - the band just kept playing and the  tape just kept rolling.

Take Me / Birds Of A Feather - Rough Trade

On December 19, 1977, the band presented a newly-created live musical called Restless Underwear, which co-starred Divine. The show, noted for its outrageous (for the time) sexual satire, played at Toronto's prestigious Massey Hall - for one night only. Everyone quit in a dispute over payment the very next day.

After a six month hiatus, the band - reformed, with new members - returned as regulars on Toronto's live music circuit. The duo got a bit of a financial boost in 1978, when Tim Curry covered one of their songs, Birds Of A Feather. It served as the lead track on the A&M album, Read My Lips. In addition, they were writing music for film and television soundtracks, winning a 1978 Genie Award for their contributions to the made-for-TV movie, One Night Stand.

On Valentines Day, 1980, the band revived their musical Restless Underwear at Manhattan's Beacon Theatre. Unfortunately, the promoters decided to pitch it as a show starring Divine - who only sang two numbers in the second act - and the show was poorly received. 

Shakedown - Rough Trade

from the 1980 film, Cruising

The group's song, Shakedown, was chosen for the soundtrack to the William Friedkin's highly controversial 1980 film, Cruising. Released as a single, it failed to chart. The band also appeared in the 1980 Canadian horror/thriller film, Deadline. 

Signing on with True North Records, they finally recorded a second album, their breakthrough, cleverly titled Avoid Freud. Released in October of 1980. the lead single, What's the Furor About the Fuhrer? was considered too controversial for radio stations, who flipped the single and played the B-side - Fashion Victim, which became the group's first Top 40 hit in Canada. 

Victim Of Fashion - Rough Trade

The follow-up single proved equally controversial, but got plenty of airplay. In fact, it became one of their signature songs. 1981's High School Confidential was one of the first explicitly lesbian-themed Top 40 hits in the world. It became a Top 20 hit in Canada and, due to an appearance on the popular Canadian comedy show SCTV, which was broadcast in the US, the broke through a bit in that market.

High School Confidential - Rough Trade

Their next album, For Those Who Think Young (original title: For Those Who Think Jung,) contained their highest charting single, All Touch (#12). The album and single's release was delayed a whole year outside of Canada. Still, All Touch managed to hit #40 in Australia (spending 40 weeks in their Top 100) and would also be their sole charting single in the US, peaking at #58 in early 1983. The single had plenty of momentum in the US, however, their distributor, Boardwalk Records, abruptly declared bankruptcy, halting all promotional activities. As a result, the single ceased to be available for sale in record stores throughout the US.

All Touch - Rough Trade

Their fourth album, 1982's Shaking The Foundation, yielded the Canadian Top 20 hit, Crimes Of Passion. The album featured Dusty Springfield on backing vocals. Springfield was so taken with the band that she covered two of their songs, Softcore and I Am Curious on her sole album for Casablanca Records, 1982's White Heat. Staples plays clavinet, mini-moog, and acoustic piano on the two cuts.

It was later revealed that Springfield and Pope were in the midst of an intimate relationship during this time.

Crimes Of Passion - Rough Trade

In 1983, Rough Trade were featured in a Pepsi commercial which aired in Canada. However, the ad, due to clearance issues, was quickly pulled from the airwaves. It was the beginning of a marked decline in the band's popularity. Their next album, 1983's Weapons, failed to generate a charting single. This was followed by the band's 1984 final full-length album, O Tempora! O Mores!, which spun off two singles which just barely brushed the Canadian Top 100.

A greatest hits package (Birds Of A Feather) was accompanied by a final full-scale tour in 1986.

Since breaking up in 1988, there have been a number of reunion gigs. Since then, Staples has been concentrating on composing scores for film, television and theatre, while Pope enjoyed a moderately successful solo career. 

Grade B Movie - Rough Trade