Harder… Faster is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock legends April Wine, released in 1979. Known for its heavier, more aggressive sound, the album solidified their status as one of Canada’s top hard rock acts. Featuring hits like I Like to Rock and Say Hello, it became a commercial success, reaching triple platinum and showcasing the band’s dynamic energy and sharp songwriting.
Harder, Faster is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band April Wine, released in 1979. It was their most successful album to date, reaching number one on the Canadian RPM Top 200 Albums chart and spawning the hit singles "I Like to Rock", "Say Hello".
The album was produced by Myles Goodwyn and Nick Blagona, and features a heavier sound than their previous albums. The songs are mostly about rock and roll, sex, and partying, and the album's title reflects the band's desire to make more aggressive and harder-edged music.
The album was a critical and commercial success, and helped to establish April Wine as one of the leading hard rock bands in Canada. It has been certified triple platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), and has sold over 300,000 copies in Canada.
Harder, Faster was met with positive reviews from critics. AllMusic gave the album a four-star rating, calling it "a classic hard rock album" and "one of April Wine's best". The album was also praised by Rolling Stone, which called it "a powerful and aggressive album" that "shows April Wine at their best".
Harder, Faster was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Canadian RPM Top 200 Albums chart and staying in the top ten for over six months. The album was also certified triple platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA), and has sold over 300,000 copies in Canada.
Harder, Faster is considered one of April Wine's best albums, and helped to establish them as one of the leading hard rock bands in Canada. The album's success also helped to pave the way for their international success in the 1980s.
The album's title track, "I Like to Rock", has become one of April Wine's signature songs, and is still played live today. The song was also featured in the 1980 film Heavy Metal.
Hard Rock
Capitol Records – 1A 062-86024, Aquarius Records – 1A 062-86024
Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram
1979 Netherlands
This album includes a custom inner sleeve with photos of the April Wine band, tracklisting and band details
Myles Goodwyn - Producer
Nick Blagona - Producer
Nick Blagona - Sound Engineer
George Marino at Sterling Sound - Mastering
This album was recorded at: Le Studio
Bob Lemm - Album Cover Design
Horst Prange - Photographer
Bob Anderson - Photographer
Ilse Ruppert - Photographer
Michael Marks - Photographer
The front cover of April Wine’s Harder… Faster album features a dynamic and vibrant design. It shows a blurred image of a car speeding down a street corner, conveying a sense of motion and urgency. The perspective looks slightly downward, capturing part of a street sign that reads “Boteler St.” on a utility pole, as well as a fire hydrant on the pavement. The background combines an urban aesthetic with subtle shadows and textures of the street.
The band’s name, April Wine, is prominently displayed in bold, stylized lettering at the top left corner, while the album’s title, Harder… Faster, is positioned diagonally at the bottom right in a sharp, italicized font with white letters outlined in red, matching the bold red border across the top and bottom of the cover. The design reflects the energy and rawness of the rock music on the album.
The back cover of April Wine’s Harder… Faster album features a photograph of the band members standing together in a casual yet confident pose. From left to right, the members are:
The setting appears to be an outdoor walkway or terrace, with a modern building in the background. The band logo, April Wine, is prominently displayed on the lower right corner in metallic gold lettering. The design gives a vibrant and personable view of the band, complementing their rock image.
This is the record label for Side 1 of April Wine’s Harder… Faster album, released under Capitol Records in 1979. The label features a deep maroon background with the iconic Capitol Records dome logo prominently displayed in white at the top. Surrounding the logo, text details the record’s production and legal information.
Highlighted elements include:
Production credits for Myles Goodwyn and Nick Blagona are also listed. The clean design emphasizes the classic style associated with Capitol Records at the time.
Capitol Records – 1A 062-86024 , 1979 , Netherlands
Harder, Faster is the ninth studio album by Canadian rock band April Wine, released in 1979. It was their most successful album to date, reaching number one on the Canadian RPM Top 200 Albums chart and spawning the hit singles "I Like to Rock", "Say Hello".
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Aquarius Records AQR 530 , 1981 , Canada
"April Wine - The Nature of the Beast" presents an exceptional tracklisting that showcases the band's immense talent and creativity. Each song contributes to the album's overall cohesiveness while offering a unique musical experience.
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Atlantic SD 19303 , 1975 , USA
Released in 1975, this 12" vinyl LP album remains a timeless classic that showcases the band's talent and innovation. Produced by April Wine themselves and recorded at Tempo Studios in Montreal, Canada, "Stand Back" captures the essence of the band's unique sound and marks a pivotal moment in their career.
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