When APRIL WINE split in 1984, following the Animal Grace album, and the One More For The Road tour across Canada, band members went off to do new things. First, there was the contractual obligation album Walking Through Fire in ’85, which was essentially a Myles Goodwyn solo project, which only featured Brian Greenway from the band’s last line-up. Soon after both Goodwyn and Greenway went off on solo ventures.

Brian Greenway’s solo album (released as GREENWAY) titled Serious Business came out in early 1988, produced by Marty Simon and Paul Northfield, and featured a number of guest players, including a few main players from Walking Through Fire (Daniel Barbe, Marty Simon). The single “In The Danger Zone” was the standout cut here, featuring Alex Lifeson performing a guitar solo, and was accompanied by a video – which wasn’t released until 6 months later!

For Serious Business, Greenway wrote (or co-wrote) every track; co-writers included Marty Simon (Mylon LeFevre, The Sharks) and Tracy Howe (Men Without Hats). There’s also a very 80s production/sound to this, with lots of keyboards played by Also Nova (this thing reminds me of Aldo’s Twitch album at times). Other favorite tracks here are “It’s Alright” and the upbeat “Right Track”, both of which would have made fine singles (if this album got more of a push). The title track is another gem here; the hardest rocker here.

Greenway went out and played live throughout Canada, In the summer of 1991 a show in Laval, Quebec was filmed and later was featured on TV in early 92 as Brian Greenway And Friends. His band, consisting of Jerry Mercer, Nanette Workman, Jeff Nystrom, Jimmy Tanaka, and Jeff Smallwood, performed songs from Serious Business, as well as a few he wrote for April Wine.

Serious Business was originally released on LP, cassette, and CD, but a remaster/reissue of it is long overdue! Could make a nice package with the original album and the live performance together (!?)

*Canadian band BEDROKK covered Greenway’s song “I Can’t Hold Back” on their 1996 album Undertow.

*For more on Serious Business check out my interview with Brian Greenway from a few years back – https://outsiderrock.ca/2021/04/14/brian-greenway-an-exclusive-interview/

GREENWAY – In The Danger Zone (4:08) – Atlantic (7-89118) – Windfall
Music-Roxamillion Music-Irrational Music-Sack Cymbal Music/BMI – B. Greenway-T. Howe – Producers: M. Simon-P. Northfield Former April Wine member Brian Greenway delivers a well designed and powerful cut from his Atlantic album Serious Business. Should do extremely well on AOR radio. (CashBox, 02-13-88)