Pat Travers
Pat Travers (born Patrick Henry Travers on April 12, 1954) is a Canadian ro… Read Full Bio ↴Pat Travers (born Patrick Henry Travers on April 12, 1954) is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s. Many noted musicians have been members of the Pat Travers Band over the years.
While most bluesy hard rock acts of the '70s and '80s hailed from the United States (the south, to be exact), there were several exceptions to the rule, such as Canadian singer/guitarist Pat Travers. Born in Toronto on April 12, 1954, Travers first picked up the guitar just prior to entering his teens, after witnessing a local performance by the great Jimi Hendrix. It wasn't long before Travers was studying the other top rock guitarists of the day (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, etc.), and paying his dues by playing in bar bands in the Quebec area.
His first true touring gig came his way when he hooked up with '50s rock n' roll vet Ronnie Hawkins (best known for performing with a backing cast that would eventually transform into The Band). But Travers' main love was hard rock, so after a year, he packed up his belongings and headed to London. Shortly after touchdown in the U.K., Travers recorded a demo that would land him a recording deal with Polydor and result in the release of his debut, Pat Travers, during the spring of 1976. A performance at England's annual Reading Festival the same year only peaked interest, which resulted in two more releases in 1977, Makin' Magic and Putting It Straight (both of which featured a pre-Iron Maiden Nicko McBrain on drums), before Travers returned to North America and set his sights on the U.S. rock market.
Hooking up with a fine backing band comprised of drummer Tommy Aldridge, guitarist Pat Thrall, and bassist Mars Cowling, the new Travers band lineup premiered on 1979's Heat in the Street. This led to Travers' most commercially successful period, resulting in a pair of Top 30 releases, 1979's Live! Go For What You Know (considered by many Travers fans to be his finest hour) and 1980's Crash and Burn. But soon after the dawn of the '80s, bluesy hard rock seemed to quickly fall out of favor amongst the U.S. record buying public, in favor of slickly produced arena rock, and later, MTV-approved bands. As a result, each subsequent Travers release sold less, as his last albums to appear on the U.S. album charts included 1981's Radio Active, 1982's Black Pearl, and 1984's Hot Shot.
Unhappy with Polydor, Travers opted to take a break from releasing albums for the remainder of the decade, but continued to tour. Travers' 1990 comeback album, School of Hard Knocks, failed to re-spark interest on the charts, although he continued to issue new studio albums (Blues Tracks, Just a Touch, Blues Magnet, etc.) and archival live sets (King Biscuit Flower Hour, BBC Radio One Live in Concert) throughout the decade.
Travers continues to tour and record regularly (playing alongside the likes of Night Ranger's Jeff Watson, Cinderella's Tom Keifer, and Rick Derringer), and in 2001, performed as part of the 'Voices of Classic Rock' tour. Travers emerged from the recording studio once more in 2003, with P.T. Power Trio, a recording that featured covers by the likes of Cream ("White Room"), Robin Trower ("Day of the Eagle"), and ZZ Top ("Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings"), among others. (Greg Prato - AllMusic Guide)
While most bluesy hard rock acts of the '70s and '80s hailed from the United States (the south, to be exact), there were several exceptions to the rule, such as Canadian singer/guitarist Pat Travers. Born in Toronto on April 12, 1954, Travers first picked up the guitar just prior to entering his teens, after witnessing a local performance by the great Jimi Hendrix. It wasn't long before Travers was studying the other top rock guitarists of the day (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, etc.), and paying his dues by playing in bar bands in the Quebec area.
His first true touring gig came his way when he hooked up with '50s rock n' roll vet Ronnie Hawkins (best known for performing with a backing cast that would eventually transform into The Band). But Travers' main love was hard rock, so after a year, he packed up his belongings and headed to London. Shortly after touchdown in the U.K., Travers recorded a demo that would land him a recording deal with Polydor and result in the release of his debut, Pat Travers, during the spring of 1976. A performance at England's annual Reading Festival the same year only peaked interest, which resulted in two more releases in 1977, Makin' Magic and Putting It Straight (both of which featured a pre-Iron Maiden Nicko McBrain on drums), before Travers returned to North America and set his sights on the U.S. rock market.
Hooking up with a fine backing band comprised of drummer Tommy Aldridge, guitarist Pat Thrall, and bassist Mars Cowling, the new Travers band lineup premiered on 1979's Heat in the Street. This led to Travers' most commercially successful period, resulting in a pair of Top 30 releases, 1979's Live! Go For What You Know (considered by many Travers fans to be his finest hour) and 1980's Crash and Burn. But soon after the dawn of the '80s, bluesy hard rock seemed to quickly fall out of favor amongst the U.S. record buying public, in favor of slickly produced arena rock, and later, MTV-approved bands. As a result, each subsequent Travers release sold less, as his last albums to appear on the U.S. album charts included 1981's Radio Active, 1982's Black Pearl, and 1984's Hot Shot.
Unhappy with Polydor, Travers opted to take a break from releasing albums for the remainder of the decade, but continued to tour. Travers' 1990 comeback album, School of Hard Knocks, failed to re-spark interest on the charts, although he continued to issue new studio albums (Blues Tracks, Just a Touch, Blues Magnet, etc.) and archival live sets (King Biscuit Flower Hour, BBC Radio One Live in Concert) throughout the decade.
Travers continues to tour and record regularly (playing alongside the likes of Night Ranger's Jeff Watson, Cinderella's Tom Keifer, and Rick Derringer), and in 2001, performed as part of the 'Voices of Classic Rock' tour. Travers emerged from the recording studio once more in 2003, with P.T. Power Trio, a recording that featured covers by the likes of Cream ("White Room"), Robin Trower ("Day of the Eagle"), and ZZ Top ("Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings"), among others. (Greg Prato - AllMusic Guide)
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Pat Travers Lyrics
Black Betty Whoa, black betty (bam-A-lam) Yeah, black betty (bam-A-lam) …
Boom Boom No kiddin' I'm ready to fight I've been lookin' for my baby…
Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights) BOOM BOOM, OUT GO THE LIGHTS as performed by Pat Travers No…
boom boom/ No kiddin' I'm ready to fight I've been lookin' for my baby…
Born Under A Bad Sign Rock me baby Born under a bad sign I been down since…
Bring It on Home to Me If you ever change your mind About leaving, leaving me behi…
Calling Card Blues Oh all right Down some lonely exit, off I -95... In just…
Cause I Love You Want to tell you that I love you, baby Don't you…
Cold shot Once was a sweet thing, baby We held that love in…
Crash & Burn I watched the sun come up on Portland I waved…
Elaine A little story about one man's pain, A mean old woman…
Gettin' Betta Gettin′ near the time To take you by the hand Gettin' way…
Go All Night She said she knew how to do it yeah so I…
Heat In The Street The pressure's all I'm feelin' It's the air in the street So…
Hooked On Music Going where the light shines bright You know that's where I…
Hot Shot Grab myself a bit of Hard black steel Nothing's gonna touch …
Houses of the Holy Let Me Take You To The Movies Can I Take You…
I Ain't Superstitious Oh I ain't superstitious, but a black cat crossed my trail. …
I Always Run Lost alone in the darkness On a boundless night I need you…
I Can Love You I think that it's amusing That all the winners Feel like the…
I Don't Wanna Be Awake Oh God, It's the morning again, ow I've sold my soul…
I Gotta Fight I gotta fight {whispered} I gotta fight It don't take long…
I Guess I'll Go Away Hey, Can't stop thinking 'bout you Wondering why you're no…
I La La La Love You Want to tell you that I love you, baby Don't you…
I'd Rather See You Dead We had a love that was so good, Ooh should…
I've Got News for You You said before we met That your life was awful tame Well,…
Ice Queen I been walking the dog, all night and all day.. Yeah…
In the Heat of the Night Well it's 7 o'clock And I'm coming alive When the sun goes…
Inside Looking Out I'm sittin here lonley like a... broken man, served my time…
It Ain't What It Seems You live in a dream, always hidin' It ain't what i…
Just Enough Money I dont ride in no Limosine's Can't afford no night club…
Life In London Life in London is bittersweet Spray can slogans along the st…
Lights Out No kiddin' I'm ready to fight I've been lookin' for my baby…
New Age Music Well this is the music I know I'm never gonna let…
Out Go The Lights No kiddin' I'm ready to fight I've been lookin' for my baby…
Outside Woman Blues (by "Blind Willie" Reynolds) Walk on over here! If you…
Play It Like You See It Play it like you see it Play the the game of…
Rock 'N' Roll Susie Oh, oh, look out Here it goes Oh, yes I'm gonna rock G…
Rock n' Roll Susie (Pat Travers) Oh-Oh, Look out Here it goes I'm gonna rock…
Rockin Yeaaah Down in the ghetto, out on mean street Or east side…
Rockin' Yeaaah Down in the ghetto, out on mean street Or…
Snortin Whiskey Snortin' whiskey and drinkin' cocaine We're snortin' whiskey…
Snortin' Whiskey Drinkin' Cocaine Snortin' whiskey and drinkn cocaine We're snortin whiskey an…
Snortin' Whiskey Live Snortin' whiskey and drinkin' cocaine We're snortin' whiskey…
Snortin' Whiskey, Drinkin' Cocaine Snortin' whiskey and drinkn cocaine We're snortin whiskey an…
Snortin’ Whiskey Snortin' whiskey and drinkin' cocaine We're snortin' whiskey…
Stand Up With our 45's burning in our hands, We rode for broke…
Statesboro Blues Wake up, mama, turn your lamp down low Wake up, mama,…
Stevie stevie I think that we should, sit right down and talk…
Superstitious Very superstitious, writing on the wall Very superstitious, …
The More Things Change Flying down the highway, the pedal threw the floor I got…
The Sky is Crying The sky is crying, Can you see the tears roll down…
Time Out I′m threw with feeling angry... I don't like to be that…
Walkin' by Myself Yeah, walking by myself I hope you'll understand Yeah, I ju…
Whipping Post I been run down, I been lied to, I don't know…
Whole Lotta Love You Need Coolin', Baby, I'm Not Foolin', I'm Gonna Send You…
Whole Lotta Rosie Wanna tell you a story 'Bout a woman I know When it…
Women On The Edge Of Love Up in the morning with a hungry heart Dynamite waiting for…