Shuffle Demons - Streetniks (1986/1994)

The debut album by Toronto's musical maniacs, the Shuffle Demons, Streetniks was recorded at Grant Avenue studio in Hamilton less than 2 years after the band had formed. This classic album produced 2 of the band's biggest hits and sold 15,000 vinyl copies, more than any indie band up to that point. A watershed in Canadian indie music, this record inspired countless horn players, bassists and drummers to become professional musicians and was one of if not THE first rap recordings in Canadian history.

When you think of big hit singles, you don't often imagine a band with three saxes, one bass, one drummer, and no guitars, but that's exactly what Canada got with a couple of songs from the Shuffle Demons' debut album, Streetniks. The hit singles in question were "Out of My House, Roach" and "Spadina Bus," which came from an album really more aimed at a jazz audience. All of the players are top-notch musicians, with a quirky sense of humor that came through loud and clear in the two singles, the lyrics of which were delivered in a style known by the band as "bop rap." Although their other albums featured similarly inspired playing and an offbeat style, this was their commercial high-point. Five tracks were added for the 1994 CD reissue.