#10: Draggin’ You Down by Streetheart

City: Regina, SK
Radio Station: CJME
Peak Month: June 1980
Peak Position in Regina ~ #3
Peak Position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Draggin’ You Down”
Lyrics: N/A

Kenny Shields was from Nokomis, Saskatchewan in 1947. When he was six years old he won an amateur talent contest. Once he graduated from high school he pursued music and in 1967 formed a band in Saskatoon named Witness Inc. The band had several Top Ten hits in local radio markets in the Canadian Prairies and in Ontario. These include “I’ll Forget Her Tomorrow”, “Jezebel” and “Harlem Lady”. In 1969 Shields had a near fatal car accident and had to undergo therapy and rehab for a number of years. This meant he had to quit the band. In 1975 Shields was back with Witness Inc. and by that time he was the only original member in the band. But the pseudo-psychedlic sound that Witness Inc. was known for was no longer in vogue. The band changed its name to Streetheart and with it got a newer rock ‘n roll sound. Bass player Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve and keyboard player, Daryl Gutheil, made the transition from Witness Inc. As Streetheart, they were joined by Paul Dean and Matt Frenette who both moved on to form Loverboy.

Now based in Regina, Streetheart released several singles that charted in the Top Ten in many Canadian record markets. In 1979 they released a cover of a song from 1965 by Them called “Here Comes The Night”. It made the Top 20 in Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Their next hit was a cover of the 1966 song by the Rolling Stones called “Under My Thumb.”

In 1980 the band won the Juno Award for most promising group of the year. That year they released the single “Draggin’ You Down”.

“Draggin’ You Down” is a song written by the band about the life of a rock ‘n roll band. They are always on the road touring. The pace of life moves very fast. For one bandmate it drags them down. Yet, “you still remained.” The ups and downs of the road life created tensions. At the end of the song the singer asks, “Did we still lose a friend?”

“Draggin’ You Down” reached #3 in Regina (SK), and #12 in Winnipeg (MB).

In 1981 they released a “Best of” album. As well, they released a cover of the Small Faces 1960s hit “Tin Soldier”.

Later in 1981, “Teenage Rage” cracked the Top Ten in Regina.

In 1982 they released a self-titled album, Streetheart. It included “What Kind Of Love Is This”. By this time their lineup also included Jeff Neil on guitar and vocals, Herb Ego on drums, as well as Sinnaeve, Gutheil and Shields. “One More Time” was a Top Ten hit in Winnipeg later that year. While “Look In Your Eyes” was a Top Ten hit in both Regina and Winnipeg. In 1983, “Comin’ True” was a number-one hit in Regina, and made it to #5 in Winnipeg. Their last notable regional hit single was “Snow White” which climbed to #3 in Regina.

After six studio albums and a double-live album, Streetheart dissolved in 1983. Shields continued to perform with the Kenny Shields Band. In the 1990’s Streetheart saw some of its’ old bandmates regroup for reunion tours. The band was inducted into the Western Canadian Music Association Hall of Fame in 2003. The band planned a 40th Anniversary tour that was disrupted when Kenny Sheilds took ill and died at age 69 after undergoing cardiac surgery. A tribute concert in remembrance of Kenny Shields in Winnipeg, on August 28, 2017, featured the Canadian bands, Loverboy, Harlequin and Honeymoon Suite.

May 9, 2026
Ray McGinnis

References:
Mick Dalla-Vee, Bob Deutscher, Herb Ego, Streetheart bio, Canadian Bands.com.
David Friend, “Streetheart lead singer Kenny Shields Dies,” Globe and Mail, Toronto, July 21, 2017.
Kenny Shields bio, Crazy 4 Streetheart blogspot, February 16, 2008
Darren Bernhardt, “He Was Magic”: Canadian Rock Legend Kenny Shields Dies,” CBC, July 21, 2017.
“Loverboy to Join Kenny Shields Tribute 8/29,” Broadway World.com, July 28, 2017.
Stephen Porschmann, “10 Reasons Why Steve Marriott’s Life Was a Greek Tragedy: 10 reasons why Talented Guitarist and Singer Steve Marriott’s Life in Rock Music, which Started out Promising, went to pot. And Why Few Know his Name Today,” Bedford Patch, Bedford, NH, October 26, 2013.

CJME 1300-AM Regina (SK) | June 6, 1980