The Thin Red Line is the debut album by Canadian band Glass Tiger.Glass Tiger. canoe.ca. It was released by Manhattan Records in Canada on .
The album is most famous for the single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)". The song, which featured backup vocals by Bryan Adams, reached #1 on the Canadian charts and #2 in the United States. A follow-up single, "Someday", was also successful, reaching #7 in the United States and #14 in Canada.
Critical reaction Both Greg Burliuk of the Kingston Whig-Standard and Evelyn Erskine of the Ottawa Citizen compared the album to the music of Duran Duran. Erskine dismissed the album and opined that the band "has yet to find its own musical direction","Glass Tiger: The Thin Red Line". Ottawa Citizen, March 7, 1986. while Burliuk called the album uneven but praised the singles "Don't Forget Me", "Someday" and "You're What I Look For"."The Thin Red Line: Glass Tiger". Kingston Whig-Standard, March 29, 1986.
Reception
The album was certified quadruple platinum in Canada and went gold in the United States.
It debuted on the RPM100 album charts in RPM the week of March 1, 1986,RPM100. RPM, March 1, 1986. and peaked at #3 on the charts in the week of April 26.RPM100. RPM, April 26, 1986. It remained in the top 100 for 67 weeks overall, concluding its chart run in the week of July 20, 1987.RPM100. RPM, July 20, 1987. In the magazine's year-end charts, it placed as the 16th top-selling album of 1986,"Top 100 Albums of '86". RPM, December 27, 1986. and the 27th top-selling album of 1987."Top 100 Albums of '87". RPM, December 26, 1987. It was named the 14th top-selling album of the year in The Records year-end chart for 1986."Whitney, Elton rule roost on Canadian record charts in '86". Montreal Gazette, January 8, 1987.
In the United States, the album peaked at #27 in the Billboard 200 in the week of February 7, 1987."Glass Tiger - Chart history". Billboard.
Awards At the Juno Awards of 1986, the album won the Juno Award for Album of the Year."Glass Tiger sweeps Junos". The Globe and Mail, November 11, 1986. "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" also won for Single of the Year, and the band won Most Promising Group. "Someday" won Single of the Year at the Juno Awards of 1987, the first time in the award's history that the same artist won the award in two consecutive years for singles from the same album."Juno Awards caught in a time warp". Toronto Star, November 4, 1987.
At the Grammy Awards in 1987, the band were nominated for Best New Artist."Victory eluded Glass Tiger". Toronto Star, February 25, 1987.
The band swept the Rock Express magazine reader's poll in 1987, winning Top Canadian Group, Top Canadian Album for The Thin Red Line, and Top Canadian Single for "Don't Forget Me"."Glass Tiger roars to top of poll". Toronto Star, February 18, 1987.
Track listing
Personnel Glass Tiger Alan Frew – vocals Al Connelly – guitars Sam Reid – keyboards Wayne Parker – bass Michael Hanson – drums, backing vocals
Additional musicians Additional keyboards, background vocals: Jim Vallance Background vocals: Marc Lafrance, Paul Janz, Bryan Adams (on "Don't Forget Me", "I Will Be There"), Dalbello, and Sharon Lee Williams Additional guitars: Keith Scott Additional bass: Doug Edwards (on "Don't Forget Me") Harmonica: David Pickell Horns: Chase Sanborn, Charles Gray, Russ Little Arrangements: Glass Tiger, Jim Vallance, and Gerald O'Brien
Production Engineering: Mike Jones, Paul Northfield, Jim Vallance, Lorne Feld, Mike Baskerville, Hayward Parrott, and Robin Brouwers Assistance: Randy Staub, Angelo Civiero, Robert Digioia, and Steve Ibelshauser Mixing: Ed Thacker and Sam Reid ("The Secret") Producing on "The Secret": Sam Reid Mastering: Bob Ludwig Photography: Deborah Samuel Design: Heather Brown Cover Concept Deborah Samuel and Dal Heslip Logo: Shoot That Tiger!
Charts Chart (1986-87) PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report) 87
Certifications
References