Equus - You Decide b/w She's Gone

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	You Decide	03:52

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	She's Gone	04:32

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Equus formed in London, Ontario in 1980, when five high school friends began shaping what would become one of the city’s stronger early-1980s AOR hard-rock outfits. At a time when Southwestern Ontario still supported a thriving club and campus circuit, the band built its reputation the traditional way — rehearsing relentlessly, refining harmonies, and working the regional stage network with discipline and ambition.

The core lineup centred on Cameron Grant (vocals, guitars), Danny Allen (vocals, drums), Peter Schaefer (guitars, vocals), Ken Lucier (bass), and Duncan Grant (keyboards). Their sound reflected the era’s melodic hard-rock sensibility: layered guitars, prominent keyboards, dual-vocal interplay, and tightly structured songs that balanced arena-scale choruses with musicianship rooted in classic rock tradition.

By 1985, Equus entered the studio to document their material, resulting in the self-titled 5-song 12-inch mini-album Equus, released on London’s Auto Records (Auto 001). Produced by Peter Brennan, the EP captured the band at full stride, with tracks such as ‘Metal Man,’ ‘I’ll Be Waiting,’ ‘When You Gonna Find the Time,’ ‘Powerlife,’ and ‘Think of You’ presenting a confident blend of melodic rock and driving guitar work. Some copies were issued with a lyric/photo insert, and the record was manufactured and distributed through Auto Records, giving the band a tangible presence beyond the live circuit.

The following year, Equus issued the 7-inch single ‘You Decide’ b/w ‘She’s Gone’ (Auto 002). Again produced by Peter Brennan — this time for Jim Dunlop Productions with Metropolitan Productions — the single was recorded at EMAC Studios in London, Ontario, engineered by Joe Vaughan with assistance from Pauline VanderWerf, and mastered at Laquer Channel in Toronto. The release expanded the group’s sonic palette, incorporating guitar synthesizer textures and more polished studio layering while retaining the band’s vocal-forward identity.

During the mid-1980s, Equus shared stages with prominent Canadian acts including Gowan, Helix, and Blue Rodeo, positioning themselves within a competitive national scene that was rapidly evolving. Like many independent Canadian bands of the period, lineup adjustments and the realities of sustaining momentum without major-label backing eventually slowed their trajectory, but the music retained a loyal following in Southwestern Ontario.

Reunion performances in 1992 and again in 2011 brought the original core members back together, reaffirming both the strength of the material and the band’s enduring chemistry. Decades later, renewed interest in Canadian independent hard rock led to the restoration and expansion of their catalogue. In 2024, a remastered and expanded edition of Equus was issued in Europe by Pride & Joy Music Classixx, limited to 500 copies. Remastered by Paul Piccari, the release combined the original 1985 EP tracks with selections from the 1986 single and additional archival material, including new recordings and previously unreleased songs.
-Robert Williston

Musicians
Danny Allen: drums, lead vocals
Cameron Grant: guitar, guitar synthesizer, lead vocals
Peter Schaefer: guitars, vocals
Duncan Grant: keyboards
Deryck Black: emulator, programming
Ian Stewart: bass
Peter Brennan: backup vocals

Songwriting
‘You Decide’ written by P. Schaefer
‘She’s Gone’ written by D. Allen

Production
Produced by Peter Brennan for Jim Dunlop Productions with Metropolitan Productions
Recorded at EMAC Studios, London, Ontario
Engineered by Joe Vaughan and assisted by Pauline VanderWerf
Mastered at Laquer Channel, Toronto, Ontario

Artwork
Sleeve design and artwork by Jim Campbell for Bizart
Sleeve photo by Lynn Blumas

Notes
All selections ℗ 1986 Horsense Music / Capac Ltd.
Manufactured and distributed by Auto Records
A special thanks to MUSIC MART and once again to “Ted”
©1986 Auto Records. All rights reserved.
Auto 002 ES8607
Write to EQUUS, c/o Auto Records, 501 Wilkins Street, Suite 704, London, Ontario, Canada N6C 5G2

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