Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts – Something To Live For

I like many of the Canadian bands and artists I’ve listened to. I’m not going to mention all the popular ones like The Guess Who, Neil Young, etc, but artists like Sloan, Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, 54.40, Art Bergmann, Blue Northern, Blue Shadows, and now Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts. Their songs sound earnest and full of hooks that still sound fresh today.

Barney Bentall was born in Toronto, but he made his musical mark in Vancouver. By the early 1980s, he’d already put together the band that would carry his name: the Legendary Hearts. The lineup included longtime friends and collaborators, Colin Nairne, Jack Guppy, Barry Muir, Cam Bowman, and David Reimer. They were a real road band, a grassroots effort, slowly building a reputation as one of the tightest rock bands around

Their name was a nod to Lou Reed’s 1983 album Legendary Hearts. In 1988, after years of touring, the band signed with Epic Records and released their self-titled debut. This single was the first song released from that album. It peaked at #17 on the Canadian Charts in 1988. It was soon followed by “House of Love (Is Haunted)” and “Come Back to Me,” tracks that got serious radio play and earned the band a Juno Award for Most Promising Group of the Year in 1989.

Barney Bentall isn’t a household name here, but up in Canada, he charted quite a few songs. He is one of those artists who never quite hit the MTV rotation, but stayed on the radio in Canada. What I liked about Bentall is that he has a Mellencamp/Petty/Springsteen-grounded sound to him. The track itself feels like a heartland rocker. 

Give Barney Bentall a listen; Barney and his band are worth it. I’m including a bonus song…Living in the 90s from 1992. 

Something To Live For

WooAlright

Bobby drives a pickupFor the corner storeFour bucks an hourAnd he’s hoping for more

He’s twenty eight years oldAnd he still lives at homeBobby’s got ideasBut he ain’t alone

There’s a millionBobby’s across this landEverybody’s gotReal big plans

He’s got something to live forSomething so realHe’s got something to live forThat one, big deal

Bobby’s got an uncleHe talks a mean streakMakes more in an hourThan Bobby in a week

He tells the boyDon’t waste your timeBe useless like your fatherNickel and dime

There’s a millionBobby’s across this landEverybody’s gotReal big plans

He’s got something to live forOh, something so realHe’s got something to live forThat one, big deal

Well Bobby could’a done itIf he only triedCould’a been a contenderCould’a been a big guy

But he didn’t rob a bankOr write a hit songGot a raiseMarried Yvonne

YeaTurn it onTurn it up now babyLet’s go

He’s got something to live forSomething so realHe’s got something to live forThat one, big deal

He’s got something to live forThat one sweet dealHe’s got something to live forOhh oh one sweet dealHe’s got something to live forThat one big dealHe’s got something to live forOh oh

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

47 thoughts on “Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts – Something To Live For”

  1. Couple great tunes and we always appreciate your nods the North. I don’t recognize Something To Live For at all but I wasn’t a huge fan of his. Nothing to dislike at all. Certainly appreciate his talent though.

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    1. Thanks Randy…I just found the guy and I really enjoy a lot of his music. With the chart hits he had I’m surprised I never heard of him at all.

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  2. Pingback: Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts – Something To Live For – MobsterTiger

  5. Nice! I hadn’t heard the name of thought of Barney but as you say he did well in Canada for several years with pretty decent rock singles. Nice to give it a listen again. How’d you hear of him?

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    1. I have to credit CB for that. Even with me actually looking for Canadian artists I never heard of him before…him and Art Bergmann just doesn’t come up like the rest that I mentioned like Sloan and other Canadian bands…and this guy was quite successful. It’s pure heartland…I think it would have hit here if heard then. I would have listened!

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      2. Well M.Y….it would have helped if I would have had the right song at the bottom! I had the wrong one…my fault!

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      4. I hate when I do that. I couldn’t pick which song I wanted to do and that video was left from the other draft.

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  7. Been a long time since I heard that first cut and it sure sounded good. Enjoyed the video. Barney did it right. I didnt get ‘Something To Live For’ on my feed but ‘Life Could Be Worse’ which is a good cut also. Vancouver always had a good live music scene and BB was part of it.

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    1. Thanks for telling me that! Yea that was my mess up. I started this post with 4 different songs and I didn’t change it when I got to the video…sorry about that. It’s fixed now
      They were so tight musically. I listened to some live cuts by them…it really impressed me.

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      1. Noting to be sorry about. Sometimes because of regions things get messed up in communication. I’m sure Barney would be smiling if he knew people were still discovering his music. It’s good stuff like you say “tight”. I just read something ‘Practicing bands get good at practicing, playing gigs makes you a real band” something like that. BB and the Hearts did that.

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      2. I never heard that phrase before and it’s so true CB. From first hand experience, practicing helps learn the song but performing live makes you a band. A totally different animal. I loved how they paid their dues and got the pay off.

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    1. I like them as well….not including my all time favorite The Band….out of the more modern ones I probably like Sloane the best but I like Cowboy Junkies.

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  9. oh yes Barney! And first back in the 80s he was another Springsteen/Bryan Adams, but he grew on me…from a very rich family, but really down to earth, hell of a bike rider and his son Dustin is worth checking out

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    1. Thanks Warren! I’ll check him out…I know nothing about Dustin. I was really impressed man…I love that his band was so tight.

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      1. Not sure if you’ll like this or not, another of Barney’s efforts with the group the Hi Bar Gang…

        The High Bar Gang – Jailer Jailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZfFcyD-xDk&list=RDSZfFcyD-xDk&start_radio=1
        [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SZfFcyD-xDk/maxresdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCIAKENAF8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-CYAC0AWKAgwIABABGHIgQShBMA8=&rs=AOn4CLASV3pPyWyAq4RrxXUY1yKx7kpjpg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZfFcyD-xDk&list=RDSZfFcyD-xDk&start_radio=1
        The High Bar Gang – Jailer Jailer – YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZfFcyD-xDk&list=RDSZfFcyD-xDk&start_radio=1
        Recorded and filmed live off the floor at the Little Red Church in Bowen Island, BC Buy ‘Someday the Heart Will Trouble the Mind’ now:…more
        http://www.youtube.com

        Warren

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      2. I love this man! Remember I’m from Nashville and this is the real deal…no pop country but real…I really appreciate the link

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      3. Thats fantastic Warren. Sheri Ulrich plays with him in that group. Dont know if you were or are familiar with Rick Scott. He goes way back with Sheri. He just passed away. Great guy and human being. Played the “Electric Snowshoe” dulcimer.

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      4. oh yeah I am familar with the Kootney Bark….I think the last time I saw them was here at the edmonton media club…Joe Mock the most unsung singwriters ever..I loved the kids stuff Rick did as well…and yeah, or course Shari’s work with the Hometown band….so much Vancouver history, along with the Stringband, all are responsible for me wanting to be a happy during my misspent youth

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      5. You know that group of folks. Yes Rick was played in our house as te kids were growing up. I can still sing some of the tunes. I got o know him through circumstances and the pleasure was all mine. I’ll have to see if Max would like to do a take on ‘Angels Do’ . Great tune and video for so many reasons. Thanks for commenting on your history with this great music and people.

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      1. Funny thing is as a kid I hated the style, flat roofed WW2 concrete bunkers I thought. Later on, and after seeing some deco buildings painted in the right colours I began to change my mind.

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  15. Good track Max. Still played on rock radio here at times. Bentall reminds me of Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers. I’m not your man is a great track. Both Bentall and Conwell came out around and the same time I think so they were playing some good ol roots rock at the back end of the 80s

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