The original version of Moxy was actually one of a number of groups Buzz Shearman had been in. After the breakup of Sherman & Peabody (named after the cartoon 'Mr Peabody's Improbable History'), which also featured Greg Godovitz (Fludd & Goddo) and Gil Moore (Triumph) - he bounced around a few other Ontario groups which included Flapping. But when the nucleus of that group left Hamilton to become Ian Thomas' band Tranquility Base, Shearman returned to Toronto and joined the already-established Leigh-Ashford. Following that bands' demise in '73, he hooked up with guitarist Earl Johnson and drummer Bill Wade, who he'd played with before in Leigh-Ashford. They added Kim Frased on bass and began playing together in the spring of '74, still calling themselves Leigh-Ashford and carrying on the tradition of the 'original' band of putting on one of rock's better live shows without all the 'fluff'. After problems left them bassist-less, Johnson recommended Terry Juric, who he and Wade had played with in Outlaw Music. A name change later and they released "Can't You See I'm A Star" as a single for Yorkville Records in '74.
They landed a deal with Polydor the next year and flew to New York to record their first album with producer Mark Smith. While in The Big Apple, the rock-Gods were smiling. Legendary guitarist Tommy Bolin (James Gang, Deep Purple) happened to be in the studios and ended up working with them on the record. The eponymous debut was released that summer, with "Fantasy" as the first single. When they returned to Toronto they recruited Buddy Caine as a second guitarist and in no time at all they'd become regulars on the Ontario bar circuit, quickly gaining a reputation as a no-nonsense, to-the-bones rock band. MOXY II came out a year later and spawned the hit single "Take It Or Leave It". Their simple and blunt approach to music earned them several 'hot tour pockets', including Texas - where they travelled with Triumph - another Dixie-land fave.
But by the time they were on the road in support of '77's RIDIN' HIGH, Shearman's on-again off-again throat problems resulted in him having to quit the band after the tour. He would try his luck afterwards on his own with Buzzsaw. But the nagging problems also kept him from replacing the deceased Bon Scott in AC/DC. He would later do a duet with Lee Aaron on her solo debut called "Texas Outlaw". Moxy would go on - recruiting Mike Rynowski on vocals. Along with new drummer Danny Bilan on drums, they released UNDER THE LIGHTS in the spring of '78. But tracks like "Highschool Queen" and "Sailor's Delight" weren't what was expected - and dismal sales at the cash register spelled the temporary end of Moxy. Rynowski would change his name to Mike Reno and go on to front one of Canada's best-sellers of the '80's, Loverboy.
Shearman regrouped with Juric, Caine, Bilan and new guitarists Woody West and Doug MacAskill for the early part of the '80's while shopping around for a new record deal. But tragedy struck in 1983 when Shearman died in a motorcycle accident. His wife Valerie was an executive with the indie label Ahed Records and spearheaded a tribute album to her late husband in '84. Caine, Juric, and Bilan formed Voodoo while ex-drummer Bill Wade had earlier formed the short-lived Bongo Fury with Goddo's Gino Scarpelli. Both groups had songs featured on the El Mocambo Records compilation called TORONTO CALLING. A greatest hits compilation called SELF DESTRUCTION was released in '95 on Pacemaker Records. Containing material from the first 3 albums, it also featured the Buddy Caine Band's "Feed The Fire", written in tribute to Shearman.
Johnson & Caine weren't doing a whole lot near the end of the decade, so along with original drummer Bill Wade, they added vocalist Brian Maxim, who'd worked with Caine in Voodoo. They decided to give another kick at the cat, releasing MOXY V in 2000. Recorded at Wade's home studio and self-produced, it very much captured the essence of Moxy - wicked guitar riffs heavy on the blues, a thunderous backbeat and a shrieking vocalist. Tragedy struck Moxy once again however, when Wade succumbed to cancer in 2001. Nonetheless, revamped interest in classic rock landed them a deal with Bullseye Records, home to MANY Canadian classic acts, who promptly re-released MOXY V two years after its original release, including two live tracks previously unavailable.
Inspired by the renewed interest, the band carried on - recruiting new drummer Kim Hunt, ex of Zon & Urgent. Hunt's rhythm partner in Zon - bassist Jim Samson also joined the troops for MOXY RAW. The band's first full live album hit the stores in 2002, serving up a healthy 16 track dose of what was always considered the band's strongest point - the energy and electricity of their live show. Maxim left the group in 2003 but the void wasn't long-lived. Alex Machin, original vocalist for classic act Foot In Cold Water picked up the microphone shortly after and filled the lead pipes slot until 2008. At that point, Russ Graham, the quirky vocalist for Killer Dwarfs took up the mic and re-launched the band in front of 3,000 fans in Boerne, Texas.
For the 30th anniversary of Moxy's classic debut album in 2005, Moxy played the Voyageur Days Festival in Mattawa, Ontario, with Canadian classic rockers Chilliwack, Toronto, Trooper, Goddo, Killer Dwarfs and Ray Lyell. On 26 August 2005, Moxy performed "Can't You See I'm A Star" and "Cause There's Another", the band's two biggest Canadian hits, live on Citytv in Toronto. In December 2008, guitarist Buddy Caine retired to spend more time at home with his family.
For Moxy's 40th anniversary a new band was assembled by founding member Earl Johnson. A new album and DVD titled "40 Years And Still Riding High" was released in 2015 and included Juno award-winning vocalist Nick Walsh, Alexis Von Kraven (drums), Rob Robbins (guitar, background vocals) and Rod Albon (bass guitar). Moxy signed with Perris Records for the North American and South America release. In the UK and Europe the CD and DVD was released on the Escape Music label. The first pressing was a Limited Edition of 2,000 copies and includes the Live DVD in a triple CD boxset.
In Jan 2024, Slik Toxik and Famous Underground lead vocalist Nick Walsh has announced that he has left Moxy after a 10 year run with the band. Moxy released the albums 40 Years and Still Riding High (2015) and Live In Toronto (2015) with Walsh as their lead vocalist.
Take It Or Leave It
Moxy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see my little angel
Trying to put the pieces back together
Well it's been so long
I'm feeling like a stranger
But they tell me a good thing lasts forever
Who's to say we can't talk it over
That we'll work it out
Give it one more chance
Before it's too late
Baby until the last good-bye
Take it or leave it or leave me alone
Baby one (more) little sad reply
Take it or leave it or leave me alone
As time passed by
A thousand miles of ocean
I put you out of sight
And out of mind girl
And before too long promises were broken
Seemed no matter how we tried
(Repeat (1))
In Moxy's song Take It or Leave It, the singer is heading home to try to fix a relationship that has been strained for a long time. He is hopeful that they can talk through their problems and work things out before it's too late. He asks for one more chance, one more sad reply, and tells his partner to take it or leave it, but not to leave him alone.
The song seems to be about the ups and downs of long-distance relationships. The singer mentions being separated by a thousand miles of ocean, and how promises were broken despite their efforts. However, he still believes that they can work things out if they communicate and give each other another chance.
Overall, the song conveys a message of hope and persistence in love. It encourages listeners to not give up on relationships easily, and to keep trying to make things work even when it feels like there's no hope.
Line by Line Meaning
l'm on my way home
I am returning home
To see my little angel
To see my child
Trying to put the pieces back together
Attempting to fix things
Well it's been so long
There has been a lot of time that has passed
I'm feeling like a stranger
I do not feel familiar with my surroundings
But they tell me a good thing lasts forever
There is an optimistic outlook that the situation can be rectified
Who's to say we can't talk it over
Perhaps we can discuss the situation
'Cause in time I know
Over time, I am confident
That we'll work it out
We will resolve the problem
Give it one more chance
Provide one more opportunity
Before it's too late
Before the window of opportunity closes
Baby until the last good-bye
Until the end of the relationship
Take it or leave it or leave me alone
Either agree to the resolution or walk away
Baby one (more) little sad reply
An additional negative response
As time passed by
As time progressed
A thousand miles of ocean
A great deal of distance between us
I put you out of sight
I stopped thinking about you
And out of mind girl
I stopped considering your needs
And before too long promises were broken
Soon after, we both failed to keep our commitments
Seemed no matter how we tried
Our best efforts were insufficient
(Repeat (1))
Repeating the earlier lines
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
liveclassictunes
great awesome song...
Steve Berberovic
Going for a more funk/semi-disco sound here,perhaps in pursuit of the elusive AM airplay,at the time?That said,good playing and production as always,and a nice little tune.
Wayne Oneal
Heres the cold hard truth..their first album was AWESOME AND ONE OF THE. BEST HARD ROCK ALBUMS EVER!!! The rest of their music SUX AND IS GARBAGE IN COMPARISON!!!
Stephen Romano
Moxy II, Riding High, both great albums.