This tune defines a time in my young childhood which was open and innocent, a time to be proud to be Canadian, all things were possible and you felt alive. The sky was the limit. Thank you Ian Thomas.
@carolinewoodward1016 That's bc of a dirty tactic w/in radio called PAYOLA (which essentially fucked ovr lots of Canadian musicians including Ian Thomas). Ironically; 2 of his best songs were covered by Santana (1982 w/"Hold On") & Manfred Mann's Earth Band (1984 w/"The Runner"). BTW; Ian's originals r both from 1981 (the latter's the title cut; "The Runner" as both songs r from that album).
Reminiscent of the sound America had with their band. Both groups made a great contribution to the 70s classic sound. I heard both groups on radio and my 4 track tape deck while driving around with my future wife in my 68 Nova SS rebuild. Great times, great memories.
I agree that both Ian Thomas and America are reminiscent of each other's sound and vibe albeit Ian's sound is a little more edgier than America's is. I would have loved to hear the Ian Thomas band doing America's (You can do) Magic and I bet you couldn't tell the bands apart! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tt4cR9szMS8.html Have a listen people as Bassinman200 knows what he's talking about!
Once again; MY CHILDHOOD ANTHEM!!!!!! Despite being wrongfully snubbed on the Billboard Charts; "Painted Ladies" is a BONA-FIDE CLASSIC!!!!! I SALUTE MY CANADIAN MUSICAL BRETHREN (IAN THOMAS in particular)!!!!!
Apparently, IAN THOMAS was often Compared to Neil Young because his Voice and Storytelling Style related to THIS particular Tune... SERIOUSLY! What a Compliment, TOO!!! ❤ 😂
Awesome song! I remember being 10 years old when I first heard this song! I've never forgotten it! Today, hearing it, it does sound a lot like the band AMERICA to me...❤❤
Thomas himself is criminally underrated in the United States. In Canada he was almost but not quite famous, and several of his singles charted in the Canadian top 40. In the U.S. his only song to chart was this one. But several of his songs have been covered by far better known American musicians.
This song is a forgotten but fabulous oldie. I remember hearing it on the radio while it was on the chart in December, 1973. Music was great back then. I'm proud to be able to remember it.
"C-K-L-W...the Motor City!" I still remember this song from my childhood, listening to it playing on that legendary radio station from across the Detroit River. MEMORIES!!!
Just now put it together that this dude wrote Hold On (covered by Santana) and Runner (covered by Manfred Mann). I listened to this tune a lot decades ago as a kid, courtesy of one of those K-Tel compilation LPs (remember those?).
I love that song he wrote and made popular by Santana with Alex Ligertwood singing it called Hold On. Man the words in that song produced so much Nostalgic type feelings within me that it was like it explained a lot and answered so many questions of why I felt the way I’ve felt all of my life. I wished i could harness every moment of my life of the times spent with friends and loved ones.
@@deaf19830 I hear ya, Dave. W/such irony; Santana's 20 yrs older than me (My DOB: 7/20/1967). I'm a big fan of Carlos Santana but a MASSIVE FAN OF IAN THOMAS (whose 17th b-day coincided w/the infamous Detroit Riots which occurred 3 days after I was born). That aside; being from Detroit, MI (stone's throw away from Windsor, ONT, CAN), Ian Thomas (via "Painted Ladies") became a major musical idol of mine (only yrs l8r did I learn of his older brother Dave "Doug McKenzie" Thomas). The Thomas Brothers (along w/Rick Moranis; a.k.a.: "Bob McKenzie") r ENTERTAINMENT ROYALTY!!!!! DON'T EVER 4GET THAT!!!!!
@@deaf19830 I loved the Santana version, and then the Ian version, once I heard it. I'm a musician and always wanted to do a mellow version of Hold On, but never worked with anyone to sing it; eventually I took up singing, 35 years after I heard the tune, and do it live now. You know it's a good song when you can completely change how you perform it, and it's still great.
@@JimClaytonJazzLikewise here. Grew up on the cover version by Santana but thanks 2 YT; I FINALLY HEARD THE ORIGINAL BY IAN THOMAS!!!!! IAN'S VERSION HAS SO MUCH GR8 VIBES 2 IT; I REFUSE 2 LISTEN 2 SANTANA'S VERSION EVER AGAIN!!!!! Likewise w/"The Runner" (Ian's original from 1981---"The Title Cut"--vs. Manfred Mann's Earth Band's cover version from 1984). Ian's original versions of both "Hold On" & "The Runner" (the latter in respectful honor of the L8, GR8 Terry Fox) has so much feeling 2 them that the cover versions (from Santana & MMEB, "respectively) lack. Again; if it wasn't 4 Ian Thomas, most Canadian musicians (from 1975-current & regardless of genre) wouldn't c the light of day in the USA). Musically speaking; CANADA #1!!!!! This is from an American-born MFer from Detroit, MI!!!!!
I'm Canadian but just found out Ian Thomas is SCTV's Dave Thomas younger brother. I never knew that before. Awesome song. Just one of many by Ian Thomas.
Wow, Im glad you mentioned that. I had no idea. I have been watching Grace on Fire a lot lately. Dave has a great character on that show as well as of course SCTV.
Such a great tune. Loved it so much as a kid in the 70's. Never forgot the words. Alot of people think this is 'America'. Great to hear it again after all these years.
Underated song! If anyone out there thinks that they can write a song like this......I want to hear it! I'm from Detroit and I know my music well. This song has stuck in my brain for years. Great tune. And oh yeah, those boys in Canada can produce great music....Neil Young, Burton Cummings etc.....
I myself without a word of a lie watched Ian Thomas Live in Sydney in 1972, Cape Breton County NS @ the University of Cape Breton Island, just the same as i had also watched April Wine in 1973 also @ the same venue behind the scenes just because of being a kid of 14, 15 years of age. and i extremely enjoyed to my hearts content both Concerts.!!!
Oh my God decade's later this song just popped into my head and I had to find it and listen. Brings me back to my childhood sure wish it was really still then.
@@lisasmith7530This song had so much airplay deserving of #1 yet Ian Thomas was ROYALLY SCREWED OVR IN A MANNER BEYOND DESCRIPTION!!!!! This song definitely represented my childhood (as a then 6 Y.O.). This song's in my personal Top 5 EVER!!!!!
What an amazing song, have always loved it and so glad to hear it being played again on the radio. BTW, for years I thought this was America, the band.
One of thee all time great Canadiana songs. Ian is such an amazing performer.....( I have seen everybody-except the Beatles), and when I saw Ian thomas in a small venue in Oshawa about 1998, to this day the best concert I have attended.
Saw this band in late 70s in my high school just north of Toronto in. Barrie. Like many bands at that time the musical talent was evident and we enjoyed many of this bands songs and still do today. Thanks for posting this. Nice memories
That's bc Ian Thomas was BLACKLISTED by the American Music Industry due 2 "Painted Ladies " not being justified a higher chart ranking. Please watch "Behind The Vinyl" (the "Painted Ladies" edition) & u''ll understand the whole fuckin' situation.
I just had the pleasure of spending an entire week and 3 concerts touring with him and his band along with Michelle Wright and Valdy. Many happy memories I will never forget, such humble people.
@@whoopygoldburgh5070U gotta remember; Ian's brother's Dave Thomas (a.k.a.: "Doug McKenzie" & the MC from "Stripes"). Humor runs deep in the Thomas family.
@@billybandyk0720 yeah, the thing is with Ian Thomas is that he is as funny as he is musically talented and he would be a great guy to sit and have a few beers with. I love these older grizzled musicians that have a million stories to tell from life on the road. I saw The Steve Miller Band last night in Niagara falls Canada. Another legend who I'd pay just to listen to his stories. I didn't know this , he was saying Les Paul was his godfather and he's pretty much the reason he became a musician. Very cool gentlemen🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸.
@@whoopygoldburgh5070 Dude; "funny" that u mentioned Steve Miller. On my 24th & 25th b,-days, he per4med @ PINE KNOB MUSIC THEATER (in Clarkston, MI; a Detroit suburb). 2 of the best concerts I've ever attended. W/that said; Ian Thomas was my childhood idol (courtesy of "Painted Ladies"). W/Windsor, ONT, CAN being a "stone's throw" away from Detroit; I was 4tun8 2 listen 2 his GR8 MUSIC!!!!! Bc of something called PAYOLA; IAN THOMAS GOT THE BIGGEST SCREW JOB EVER 4 AN ENTERTAINER!!!!! He simply put out CLASSICS (even as other artists covered him). Give me Ian's originals of "Hold On" (Santana; 1982) & "The Runner" (Manfred Mann's Earth Band; 1984) from 1981 & u have the BEST FUCKIN' ENTERTAINMENT EVER!!!!! Along w"Painted Ladies", "Liars", "Coming Home", "Strange Brew":(from his brother Dave's movie), & "Riders On Dark Horses" (my personal fave from Ian Thomas) along w/"Time Is The Keeper", "Harmony" (featuring Dave Thomas in the vid), & "Levity" (featuring Ryan Stiles in the vid,); Ian Thomas had MAJOR CONNECTIONS in the music industry (moreso than most people realize).
Great song. I had the K-tel record Music Power back in 1974 and that's where I heard it originally. They never played it on the air in Minnesota. This song has the style of the band America, especially the la la la la la la and do do do do do do do. If I didn't know this was Ian Thomas I would swear it was America. So much like "A Horse With No Name" sound.
"Painted Ladies" is a 1973 hit recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Thomas. It was released as part of his solo career on the album Ian Thomas. The song reached #4 on the Canadian charts and made the U.S. Top 40 (peaking at #34). Reportedly the chorus was written about his stay at a nightclub in the Kitchener-Waterloo area which had a strip club on a different level and rooms above. The painted ladies referenced in the song are about the dancers in the club. The streetcars and airplanes referenced the area of Toronto and Mississauga with the Toronto International Airport, another area famous for its strip clubs.
this is a terrific tune. I had heard hold on and pilot in the early 80s and really loved both songs. I hadn't realized this was his tune until later on. I had heard the song when I was really young but I thought America had sung it.
The opening riff in Pilot gets stuck in people's heads and they have to know more about the Musician. That was how I discovered Ian Thomas, by hearing Pilot on the radio.
grew up hearing this track on the radio and took me forever to find out that it was Ian Thomas...thanks itunes and youtube..you're reconnecting me to lost music...peace.
This song's my CHILDHOOD ANTHEM (I was 6 Y.O. when this CLASSIC SONG HIT THE AIRWAVES)!!!!! Only 8 yrs l8r did I recognize who Ian's bro was (Dave Thomas; a.k.a.: Doug McKenzie but it was the MC stint in "Stripes" that truly indic8d that Dave & Ian Thomas were rel8d).
Attn: 2 those 4 "likes" 2 my comment; I appreci8 ur "like" & knowledge behind my comment. U all have gr8 taste in humor (which makes it more appreciative). Thanks again 4 ur support (especially 4 our Canadian BROTHER ?IAN FUCKIN' THOMAS)!!!!! DON'T EVER FUCKIN' 4GET THAT!!!!!
Remember hearing this on the radio in the fall of 1973. Grew slowly on me but it sure stuck once it did. Like the funky clavinet riff over a nice simple folky tune with a great pop chorus.
Yes it was a great time as I was a junior in HS, I don't want to go off track, but another great song out about the same time was "Pretty Lady" by Lighthouse, great also
I just heard this song on the radio for the first time this morning and liked it right away. Makes it that much better of a find to know he's Canadian also :)
+Al McCullough Likewise :P lol. I discovered this song last summer and I cant get enough of it. I dont know if its just me, but more young people need to listen to stuff like this! And I am just 18 lol Stuff from the 70s and 80s rules!
Wow. I grew up with this song, I’m 🇨🇦 & never knew it was a Canadian who sang it. That shows how little publicity he got. Too bad because It’s a great song. OK I have now looked at all his top songs and remember everyone they were part of the backdrop of the 70s and I know every single word and note lol. Great stuff.
I remember setting out just to see what I could see Streetcars rolling by and airplanes flying high they all meant nothing to me No one ever looked my way or knew that I was there I kept walking and the rain kept raining Until all the streets were bare Ooh ooh feeling fine mama Painted ladies and a bottle of wine mama Ooh ooh Feeling good mama They took my money like I knew they would La la la la la la la La la la la la La la la la la la la La la la la la City lights were shining on me through my window pane I kept thinking 'bout the day when I'd be home again Rocking chairs and summer fairs and swimming in the sea I kept drinkin', sinkin' 'till there was nothing left of me Ooh ooh feeling fine mama Painted ladies and a bottle of wine mama Ooh ooh feeling good mama They took my money like I knew they would La la la la la la la La la la la la La la la la la la la La la la la la La la la la la la la La la la la la La la la la la la la La la la la la
