Song:Raise A Little Hell
Album:Hot Shots
Trooper was very successful in their native Canada. They were never able to break into the US market. The 1978 single Raise A Little Hell is their signature song mostly because it is frequently used as a sports anthem. So I think folks have heard the song in that context but aren't familiar with the band. Trooper are from Vancouver led by lead singer Ra McGuire and guitarist Brian Smith. They write all the songs. In 1967 McGuire and Smith were in a band called Winter's Green who released a couple of singles. After changing the band name to Applejack, they had success playing live gigs in British Columbia. Randy Bachman saw them live and he signed them to his record label. The band name was changed to Trooper. After releasing the 1975 debut album Trooper and having success with the single General Hand Grenade, Bachman sold Trooper's contract to MCA Canada. Bachman produced Trooper's first four albums. Raise A Little Hell is from the 1978 album Thick as Thieves. Trooper added keyboard player Frank Ludwig in 1975. Doni Underhill replaced original bassist Harry Kalensky in 1977. Brian Stewart had been the drummer since they were Applejack. Raise A Little Hell reached #25 on the Canadian Singles chart. It was also their only song to chart in the US. It reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100. Though Raise A Little Hell was not Trooper's biggest hit in Canada, the song has had a long life as a sports anthem. Rolling Stone placed Raise A Little Hell #7 on Top Ten Sports Anthems of All Time. That's pretty good for a song that was not a big hit. You may have heard Raise A Little Hell in the Netflix series Stranger Things. Trooper continued to have success in Canada. This 1980 comp Hot Shots was their biggest selling album in Canada. It was certified 5XPlatinum. It's available as a budget CD. Bachman left and Trooper self produced the 1980 album Untitled. Then they left MCA for RCA for the 1982 album Money Talks with Heart producer Mike Flicker. Then Trooper released a couple of albums on their own label with WEA Canada distribution. Trooper last recorded in 1991. But they are still around. And they are still cashing royalty cheques for Raise A Little Hell. Here's Trooper performing Raise A Little Hell 1978.
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