Al Harlow | |
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| Birth name | Allen Steven Hawirko |
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| Born | 13 February 1951 North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | alharlow |
Allen Harlow is a Canadian songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist. He is currently endeavouring in a solo career, releasing his debut solo album in 2022, he is also the frontman for Canadian Rock band Prism. Harlow was also a member of the Vancouver based band Seeds of Time.
Biography edit
Early life and career edit
Al Harlow grew up in North Vancouver British Columbia, attending Carson Graham Secondary School. Harlow's first gig was in fifth grade at Ridgeway Elementary, 1962.
Harlow fronted his first band Segment 41 in 1966, as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. This was followed by his second band, The Trees, who opened for Rod Stewart & the Faces in 1970.
Harlow joined Vancouver-based band "Seeds of Time", from 1970 to 1973, a blues-oriented group who released two charted singles on the Canadian Top 100 in 1970, "My Home Town" reaching No. 76 and "Crying the Blues" reaching No. 90. A "bad-boy" image and heroin addiction led to the band's demise.
Harlow moved to London England early in 1973, forming "The London Rags" under manager Don Arden, cutting an EP at De Lane Lea Studios during the midnight downtime on the debut album sessions for newcomers Electric Light Orchestra.
Legendary bluesman, Long John Baldry, also became a mentor for Harlow, introducing him to London's music scene and nightlife, inviting him to recording sessions at IBC & Olympic Studios.[1]
Returning to Vancouver, in 1975 Harlow formed his eponymous band "Harlow", recording a solo album during 1976–'77, which was never released.[2]
Prism edit
In Autumn of 1977 Harlow was recruited to complete the lineup of Canadian Rock band Prism, to replace departing rhythm guitarist/bassist, Tom Lavin. Prism consisting of singer Ron Tabak, and Harlow's former Seeds of Time bandmates Lindsay Mitchell, John Hall, and Rocket Norton. With Prism's founder/Producer, Bruce Fairbairn, at the helm, Prism started recording sessions for their second studio album See Forever Eyes in January 1978. The album featuring Harlow's charting singles Take Me Away and Flyin', plus FM radio staple Nickels & Dimes and other co-writes.
In July 1978, Prism recorded a live album Live Tonite at the Royal Oak Music Theater in Detroit, Michigan. At the time a young Bryan Adams began writing songs for Prism with band founder and "Spaceship Superstar" writer Jim Vallance (a.k.a. "Rodney Higgs"). While the Adams-Vallance partnership would fuel Bryan's future career, the co-writing around Prism led to Harlow-Adams-Vallance compositions on later Prism recordings.
The 1979 Prism album Armageddon reached Double-Platinum status, with the 1980 follow-up Young and Restless featuring Harlow and Mitchell's compositions, including the title track. Harlow and Mitchell were nominated for composer of the year at the 1981 Juno awards for their song Young and Restless.
The band's first greatest hits album, All the Best from Prism came later that year, as Prism picked up Juno awards for Group of The Year in 1981 and Producer of The Year for Fairbairn's work on Armageddon in 1980.
In 1981 Prism recorded their fifth studio album Small Change with new lead singer Henry Small. Harlow left Prism in 1982 after the departures of Mitchell, Hall and Norton.
While Harlow is often cited as bassist for Prism, more often he can be heard on guitar and slide work, duetting with himself on Take Me Away, and slide solos on such tracks as "You're Like The Wind" & "Stay".
Inter-Prism Years (1982 - 1987) edit
After departing Prism, Harlow performed in several local Vancouver bands including acts such as Dawn Patrol with drummer John Cody, The Buzz with former Prism bandmate, John Hall, Aftermath with Cody and former Prism bandmate, Lindsay Mitchell, and Barracudas! with Cody and "Skip" Prest.
In 1984 after Prism, headed by manager Bruce Allan and fronted by Henry Small, ultimately spilt, Harlow and the other classic members of Prism were in talks of reforming. Plans were shut down however, after the death of lead vocalist, and Harlow's best friend, Ron Tabak, in December 1984.
During the mid 1980s, Harlow began guest lecturing at Capilano University. This resulted in Harlow taking on a full time position, teaching classes in songwriting, record production, music history and business. He remained at the university for 30 years, also stating he regularly had Jim Vallance guest lecture.[3]
Prism Reformed (1987 - Present) edit
Following the death of original vocalist Ron Tabak in 1984, Prism reformed in 1987 with members Harlow, Mitchell and Norton, adding vocalist Darcy Deutsch and keyboardist Andy Lorimer (formally of Simon Kaos). Harlow co-wrote the band's autobiographical single Good To Be Back with Jim Vallance and Bryan Adams, released in 1988. Prism recorded their next album "Jericho" in 1993 with Harlow contributing seven of the album's twelve tracks, including another Harlow-Adams-Vallance song "Way of the World".
In 1991, Harlow, along with former Seeds of Time bandmates, reformed to produce their standalone album Immortal, including songs recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as brand new songs.[4]
Harlow continued to perform with Prism, releasing the 2008 album "Big Black Sky" with Harlow on lead vocals and lead guitar. He wrote & co-wrote eleven of the thirteen tracks.
In 2009 Prism re-recorded the single "Don't Let Him Know", originally recorded in 1981, with Harlow on lead vocal and guitar.
The Authentics edit
After a Local Legends of Rock concert on May 22, 2015, Harlow and former bandmates John Hall, Rocket Norton, and Ab Bryant, decided to form a rock supergroup called The Authentics. The group was later joined by Skip Prest and Ray Ayotte to complete their six-piece lineup. The band played several sold out shows in the Vancouver area and were a regular at Blue Frog Studios. Prest and Ayotte both left the band before the original four went into the studio to record their self-titled, debut EP The Authenics, which was released in 2019. The EP featured Prism songs written by Harlow as well as other covers. [5]
Solo Career edit
2016 saw Harlow debut his first solo single Let it Go, mixed by John Webster, and in 2017 released his second single My Mind Is Runnin' Away With You, both heralded music videos and both were from his forthcoming debut studio album.
In 2021 Harlow was featured playing slide and rhythm guitar on Thor's song The Good Stuff from their album Alliance. A music video featuring Harlow was also released in January 2022.[6]
On January 11, 2022, Harlow officially announced the upcoming release of his debut solo album Now!, which was released on February 14, 2022.[7] During an interview with Global News, Harlow announced that he would be releasing an archival album titled "Then", sometime in late 2022 or 2023.[8]
Discography edit
Studio Albums edit
Prism
- See Forever Eyes (1978)
- Armageddon (1979)
- Young and Restless (1980)
- Small Change (1981)
- Jericho (1993)
- Big Black Sky (2008)
Seeds of Time
- Immortal (1991)
The Authentics
- The Authentics - EP (2019)
Solo
- Now! (2022)
Singles edit
Solo
- Let it Go (2016)
- My Mind is Runnin' Away With You (2017)
References edit
- ^ https://www.spreaker.com/user/deanosdustydiscs/liner-notes-al-harlow-public
- ^ https://www.seeingshowswithdebdraper.com/live-music-reviews/10602/
- ^ https://www.seeingshowswithdebdraper.com/live-music-reviews/10602/
- ^ http://citizenfreak.com/titles/299833-seeds-of-time-immortal
- ^ https://www.tomharrisonmusic.com/2020/02/06/the-authentics/
- ^ https://www.themetalvoice.com/post/new-thor-video-premiere-good-stuff-ft-prism-members-watch-here?fbclid=IwAR0MOGx2yPzNWUe-R3RIXqFkt9sz14cLe6UG6CEceSK5XJgHzt5SO_E-Ja0
- ^ https://www.coastreporter.net/local-arts/coast-rocker-al-harlow-launching-solo-album-4928131
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/video/8609869/bill-welychka-chats-with-prisms-al-harlow/?fbclid=IwAR2cXm5kdeMyXM7NKyr8Zic4-l1XpIF7mOTvZJqlJW4ZniPJMj-3iPx9ST8