A Lost Song Finds New Life: Partners in Crime Revisit “Randy Girls” with New Single and Album
Canadian duo Partners in Crime have released a newly restored version of their track “Randy Girls,” a song they originally recorded in their early 20s and recently rediscovered. Out now as the new single from their self-titled album Partners in Crime, the track brings a nostalgic mix of danceable pop and rock back into the spotlight.
Written by Colin Whiteford and Doug Pegg, “Randy Girls” was recorded decades ago at Kinck Sound with engineer Fred Kinck Petersen and co-produced by Terry Gadsden.
“Fred had the best ears of anyone we ever worked with,” the band recalls. “We recorded almost everything at Kinck Sound — even after we signed with A&M.”
The original recording was long thought to be lost. But after tracking down an old cassette and having it restored, the band decided to give it another shot. The remixing was handled by Doug McClement and the track was mastered by Noah Mintz.
“It’s humbling to hear it now,” says Pegg. “We never expected this song to get a second chance.”
The lyrics reflect a simple, fun story about meeting people while on vacation and enjoying the moment:
“We’ll just be partying, that’s the life for me / So if you’re not hard to please and need some company…”
Both Pegg and Whiteford grew up in Toronto, first meeting in grade school and starting the band in high school. They began recording in the early 1980s, eventually becoming the first bands of the 1990s to play on MuchMusic’s Electric Circus, quickly a distribution deal with A&M Records for their release Abnormal Psychotic Behaviour, which received radio play across Canada and now has over 300,000 YouTube views.
Influenced by classic British rock, the Beach Boys’ harmonies, and The Beatles, Partners in Crime always leaned into melody and rhythm. “I always thought the Beach Boys had the best harmonies of any band ever,” says Whiteford. “You can hear some of that in ‘Randy Girls.’”
The new version of “Randy Girls” has started to catch the attention of community and digital radio stations in Canada and abroad, including outlets in the U.K., Mexico, Brazil, and France. The band is grateful for the response.
“Thanks to everyone who’s given it a listen,” says Pegg. “It’s really just a lighthearted track we wrote when we were young. We’re glad it found its way back.”
Their self-titled album Partners in Crime is available now. It features a mix of older recordings and new material — all rooted in their shared love of pop, rock, and groove.
Hi, guys! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers for those not familiar with your music?
We are “Partners in Crime” . Colin Whiteford and Doug Pegg. We started playing and recording together in the mid 80s after a chance meeting at a corner store and we started talking about music. We knew each other from years earlier from grade school and even in our grade 8 class picture we were side by side. We have worked on other projects over the years each playing in different bands but there was always something there about those songs that still sound fresh to this day and I am so happy that we were able to release our songs on a self titled album “Partners in Crime”
How does it feel to see “Randy Girls” gaining traction internationally after so many years?
It is such a cool tune and a little off the beaten track, which makes it cool and proves that sometimes you just have to swim up stream to be noticed and the fact to see it being played all over the world, is absolutely amazing. I have to give a special shout out to all the people that listen to us and our song. Our video is even being played in China!
You were among the first bands on MuchMusic’s Electric Circus — how did that early exposure influence your career?
We were the first band of the 1990s
January 6 1990, We walk on their stage and we went from playing small bar gigs, to having probably millions of people watching us for 3 minutes, at that time we weren’t even signed, just two guys from burbs, at a time that we were just just hearing no, we finally got to hear yes ! It was instrumental for us in dealing with and getting a deal to get released on A&M Records.- also on a side note I think we have the record for most views for any video on EC at over 3 hundred thousand views.
George Logiagianis was one of the cameraman filming us. We went on to be played on Canada’s top radio stations like CFTR ( Canada’s largest Hit Radio) station at the time. Also CHUMFM and CFNY now the edge. They have huge Rotation on those stations.
We had Terry Kelly do the dance mixes who worked with Chris Sheppard at the time DJing at RPM club. Radio played the 12 Inch Vinyl. Deborah Cox is on backup vocals on the B Side with a band called Uncertain Edge.
We could go into A&M Records anytime and see the A &R Rep Max Hutchinson who I am Friends to this day and bring our Demos into his office and play them. He has done well in Nashville as a Song Plugger to this day.
So yes being on Much music’s Electric Circus really got us going in so many ways and we made so many great contacts with great people in the music Industry.
Randy Girls” was written in your early 20s — how do its lyrics resonate with you now, decades later?
It is a song about youth, Funny story after recording this, I went on a working holiday to London, England passing out demo tapes and going to any record company I could think of, all over London, After my work was over. The lyrics became a reality and as I poured my self on the plane to come back home and I heard the stewardess say OMG ! Those memories still make me smile. Every one needs to smile once and a while ! (Whiteford)
I think that the Lyrics are Timeless and still hold up today. (Pegg)
“Today we still Live a Vacation and leave our cares at home” (Pegg)
When you first heard the restored version of “Randy Girls,” what specific memories or emotions came flooding back?
The first thing that came back to me was Fred Kinck Petersen and recording in his studio. He was a great producer and Friend. After he passed away a couple of years ago, It was hard to work in someone elses studio, make music so good and not have some kind of a bond with them. We would like to thank everyone else including the Horn Section who were Professors (Teachers) at Humber College co Producer Terry Gadsden’s Friends. We really hope that Fred would Pleased that Randy Girls is out to the World now.
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