Information/Write-up
Sailcats were a Calgary, Alberta–based pop-rock band active in the early to mid-1980s, known for their polished harmonies and radio-conscious songwriting. Formed in 1978, the group coalesced after key members met while working and performing at ski resorts in Ontario, where informal collaborations between musicians led to the band’s initial lineup. Their recorded output documents a clear stylistic evolution, moving from a roots-oriented country-rock approach in their earliest years toward a cleaner, melody-driven pop-rock sound as the decade progressed. In its formative period, Sailcats functioned as a bluegrass-leaning country band before adapting to changing musical and market conditions, a transition that would ultimately shape their later identity.
The band’s first album, An Era’s End (1982), was released independently on Sail Cats Records. Stylistically rooted in honky-tonk, country rock, and country blues, the album reflects an early phase in the group’s development that differs markedly from their later work. Recorded while Sailcats were still consolidating their sound and personnel, the album was produced by Brian Bell and pressed by Cinram. The record stands as a snapshot of the band prior to their shift toward a more contemporary pop-rock direction.
By 1983, Sailcats had issued their self-titled album The Sailcats on Calgary’s The Label, manufactured by Doug Wong Music. Produced by Joe Cool and recorded at Sundae Sound, Thunder Road Studio, and Metalworks, the album marked a decisive move toward a polished, harmony-forward pop-rock sound. Reflecting on the change in direction, the band later noted, “When that Urban Cowboy thing died out and we couldn’t get a job playing bluegrass anymore, we had to go pop.” All material was written by the band, with tracks such as “(We Don’t) Communicate,” “Sensation,” “Livin’ in a Movie,” and “Face the Music” highlighting strong vocal projection, balanced instrumentation, and a clear focus on contemporary radio formats. The single “Sensation” received attention from adult contemporary programmers, with the band observing that “It seemed to have the best response after we’d sent the record around to the radio stations,” helping position Sailcats beyond the strictly local circuit.
In addition to their vinyl releases, Sailcats remained active within Calgary’s independent music community throughout the mid-to-late 1980s. As lineups shifted and members pursued parallel musical paths, the band continued to participate in regional recording and documentation projects. Sailcats appeared alongside Cindy Warren on the 1985 cassette Home Cookin’, which featured reworked or alternate versions of Sailcats material. In 1988, the band took part in Alberta Rising, an interview-based cassette documenting Alberta artists, which also included Cal Kellett, Rob Bartlett, Logic of Dreaming, and Frank Liddy. Preserved by the Calgary Cassette Preservation Society (CCPS), the release serves as an oral-history snapshot of Alberta’s independent music scene during the late 1980s.
-Robert Williston
Musicians
Ted Woodhouse: keyboards, lead vocals
Jeff Heintzman: guitars, vocals
Mike Smith: guitars, vocals
Greg Sinclair: bass, vocals
Terry Paton: drums, percussion, vocals
Additional Musicians
Bob Lively
Miles Jackson
Dennis Marcenko
Jack Hiles
Songwriting
Written by Ted Woodhouse and Jeff Heintzman
Production
Produced by The Sailcats
Engineered by Nigel Blagborne
Recorded at Sundae Sound Studio & Thunder Road Studios
Mixed by Dan Lowe
Direction by Jeff Parry (Jeff Parry Promotions)
Notes
Published by Joe Cool Music
Special thanks to Doug Wong, Nigel Blagborne, and Dan Lowe, and FACTOR
Jeff Parry Promotions, P.O. Box 1234, Station “M”, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2L2.
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