Crackers - Hard On You

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Hard on You	03:26
	2	Double Trouble	03:04
	3	The Tit Man	02:37
	4	Visions	03:58
	5	Rock n' Roll Tonite	02:26

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	The Shove	04:10
	2	Snort	04:15
	3	Life is Just a Stage	03:35
	4	Arts of the Sailor (Pirate Song)	03:02
	5	Little Johnny	05:07

Photos

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Information/Write-up

Toronto’s Crackers carved out one of the most fearless niches in Canadian rock during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a bawdy, high-voltage collision of bar-band grit, slapstick theatre, and outrageous humour that earned them a loyal cult following and the self-styled title “Canada’s Original Lunatic Rock Show.” Formed by vocalist-multi-instrumentalist Reg Denis, singer Patricia “Delicia” Warden, drummer George “the Hole” Holyoke, and frontman Monte “the Hose” Hayze, the group built its reputation on Ontario’s touring circuit, where sharp musicianship, fearless comedy, and audience-provoking theatrics came together in a show unlike anything else in Canadian rock.

Although Crackers became notorious for comedic audacity, most infamously with the moon-shot cover of their 1978 debut Choice Cuts, their musical strength grounded the chaos. Songs like “Tomorrow” and the instrumental “Four Wheel Drive” highlighted Denis’ fiddle work and the band’s tight ensemble playing. Live, the group balanced talk-box theatrics, character skits, and comedic stunt work with serious chops. A signature drum feature routinely left the stage and moved across the room, from kit to mic stands to tables, bottles, and the bar itself, turning entire venues into percussion instruments and crowds into active participants.

Choice Cuts (1978)
Recorded at Hamilton’s Grant Avenue Studio with a young Dan Lanois, Choice Cuts introduced the band’s irreverence and energy. After a lengthy photo session for the album cover, the band assumed a joking mooning shot would never be used. They were informed only after printing that the image had been selected. Far from hindering them, the sleeve became one of the most infamous and collectible in Canadian rock, instantly marking the band as outsiders with no filter and no fear.

Hard On You (1980)
Crackers returned to Grant Avenue for Hard On You in 1980, again with Lanois engineering and co-producing. Released on Denis’ own Lunatic Records label in partnership with World Records (catalog number WRC1-1264), the album refined the group’s delivery without losing their wild edge. Tracks including “Double Trouble,” “Visions,” and the talk-box opener “Crackers in Concert” became staples across the Canadian university and festival circuit.

During these years the band toured across the country, sharing bills with Dutch Mason, the Matt Minglewood Band, and Downchild, and opening for Nazareth. They appeared on Hamilton’s CHCH-TV program Music ’Til Midnight, where Denis also wrote the theme. A memorable 1980 performance at Laurentian University saw them learn an entire set in French to appear alongside François Lemieux and bassist Michel Donato, underscoring their versatility beyond comedy and rock spectacle.

Later Years and Legacy
The original lineup remained together for nearly twenty years, a remarkable run for a touring act of their intensity and comedic edge. Denis and Warden later continued the Crackers name with drummer John Hanna and guitarist Mike Almas before shifting into a duo format. Long residencies followed, including eight consecutive years at Daytona Bike Week where they earned the tongue-in-cheek title “Ambassadors to the Motorcycle World,” along with a month-long residency in Key West and performances across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

Crackers continued recording in the 2000s. Their 2005 CD Rock Attack, recorded at Grant Avenue with production by Ian Thomas, featured new recordings of fan favourites. On the day they completed the track “Livin' in America,” James Brown released his own single of the same name, a coincidence received with humour. Their 2008 album Tongue in Cheek, recorded at Squidcake Studios in Smithville, Ontario, produced two songs that went viral and reintroduced Crackers to new listeners.

Beyond performance, Denis served as Secretary Treasurer of the Hamilton Musicians Guild (Local 293), where he played a key role in helping support musicians in the region and assisted in reviving the career of blues and jazz legend Jackie Washington. His contribution was formally recognized by the Guild.

Crackers remain a proudly Canadian story. Fearless, funny, musically capable, and fiercely independent, they blurred the line between concert and theatre, chaos and craft, while capturing an early chapter in the Grant Avenue and Dan Lanois saga. Their legacy endures through devoted fans, rare original LPs, wild road stories, and the continuing performances of Reg Denis and Patricia Warden. Denis is currently developing a documentary chronicling the band’s history, from Ontario bars to Daytona stages, always with humour, heart, and absolute commitment to entertaining audiences.
-Robert Williston

Reg Denis
George Holyoke
Patricia Worden
Monte Hayze

All selections written and recorded by Crackers
Produced by Dan Lanois and John Frere
Engineered by Dan Lanois
Recorded at Grant Avenue Studio, Hamilton, Ontario
Additional recording at:
– “Little Johnny,” Room 105 of the St. Vital Hotel, Winnipeg, Manitoba
– “Big Ben,” basement, and at Grant Avenue

Management by Pizazz Productions, 35 Hambly Avenue, Toronto, Canada, M4E 2R5
Photography by John Bentley

Special thanks to Fat Eddy and Blue, to Dan and Grant Avenue, to Bernie for knowing what to do when no one else did, to Mike for the sub-bass voice

This album is dedicated to the people who supported us along the way to Hard On You. We still need you.

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