#46: Romantic Traffic by the Spoons

City: Regina, SK
Radio Station: CKCK
Peak Month: January 1985
Peak Position in Regina ~ #9
Peak position in Vancouver ~ did not chart
Peak Position on Billboard Hot 100 ~ did not chart
YouTube: “Romantic Traffic”
Lyrics: “Romantic Traffic”

The Spoons were a band formed in 1979 in Burlington, Ontario. After several lineup changes they released their debut album, Stick Figure Neighbourhood. But they had to wait until 1982 with the release of their second album, Arias & Symphonies to get national attention. By that time the band consisted of Spoons co-founders Gordon Deppe (on lead vocals and guitar) and Sandy Horne on bass and vocals. The Spoons second drummer, Derrick Ross, joined the band in late 1979. The keyboard player, Rob Preuss, was the band’s second keyboard player after Brett Wickens departed.

The debut single from Arias & Symphonies was “Nova Heart”. A followup single from Arias & Symphonies was the title track which climbed to #18 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart for Canada. A Third single, “Smiling In Winter” reached the Top 30. It also topped the alternative radio chart on CFMB in Montreal in December 1982. In 1983, The Spoons released Talkback and from the album came a Top 30 hit across Canada titled “Old Emotions”.

In 1984, Gordon Deppe released a solo album titled Listen to the City. The album was a soundtrack for a Canadian dramatic film of the same name which featured Sandy Horne as part of the cast. While the album was officially Gordon Deppe’s solo effort, he was supported in the recording studio with Derrick Ross, Rob Preuss and Sandy Horne. The lead single from the album, “Tell No Lies”, peaked at #34 on the RPM Top 100 Singles chart in Canada. A second single from the album was titled “Romantic Traffic”.

“Romantic Traffic” was written by the band. The song uses traffic as a metaphor for seeking romantic partners. When you follow another vehicle in traffic, sometimes they lose you. And so forth. The major arteries, the side roads and laneways take you places where you encounter new drivers. Sometimes, “someone hits you from behind.” In an accident scene, possibly a fender bender, you’d report it to the police and auto insurance and be on your way. But with romantic traffic, you’d be sure to get the other drivers’ phone number for a little romantic followup.

“Romantic Traffic” reached #9 in Regina (SK), and #12 in Edmonton (AB).

By 1985 it was reported in the news that The Spoons were now featured on TV commercials for Thrifty’s grocery stores, Maxwells coffee brand and Pepsi-Cola.

In 1986, both Derrick Ross and Rob Preuss left the band. Preuss played on the Honeymoon Suite 1988 album Racing After Midnight. He also played keyboards for the musicals Cats and Miss Saigon, both at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. In 2012, Preuss was the associate music director for Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City in 2001.

Derrick Ross became head of indie label, FRE Records, and eventually became Vice President of EMI Music Canada.

Meanwhile, The Spoons released Bridges Over Borders. The album was a commercial flop which failed to crack the Top 100 on the RPM pop album chart in Canada. Three singles released from the album also failed to catch on.

A fifth studio album, Vertigo Tango, was released in 1988. Two minor hits, “When Time Turns Around” and “Waterline” charted on the RPM Top 100, but failed to crack the Top 40 in Canada.

Through the 1980s, Gordon Deppe was a programmer for the 1980s music channel on Galaxie digital radio.

In 2011, the Spoons consisting of Gordon Deppe and Sandy Horn released the band’s first album since 1988 titled Static in Transmission. They followed up with their ninth studio album in 2019 titled New Day New World. The two original co-founders were joined in the studio by Chris McNeill on drums and Casey MQ on keyboards.

In addition to being a bandmate with The Spoons, Gordon Deppe started up two sideline bands called Five Star Fall, and the Lost Boys. While Sandy Horne formed two sideline bands, Hurricane Jane and Dog Won’t Bite.

Since 2018, Gordon Deppe has also been performing with A Flock of Seagulls.

January 12, 2026
Ray McGinnis

References:
T-MAK, “The Spoons and Images In Vogue Concert Announcement and Interview,” Tmakworld.com, September 25, 2013.
Ezzy Pearson and Chris Lintott, “T Coronae Borealis nova could become a ‘new star’ in the sky any day now, and will be as bright as the North Star,” BBC, May 7, 2024.
Post Punk Monk, “Rob Pruess, Interviewed On 40 years Of ‘Arias & Symphonies’ And Beyond [part 1],” postpunkmonk.com, November 7, 2022.
“Spoons: An Interview with Gordon Deppe,” musiclifemamgazine.net, March 29, 2015.
John Beaudin, “The Spoons Sandy Horne on Dealing with Fame,” johnbeaudin.com, March 22, 2022.
Mary Belgraver, “Commercial Band Does Commercials,” 1985.

Top 40 CJME 620-AM Regina (SK) | January 24, 1985