Texas (band)
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| Texas | |
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 Texas live in Glasgow, 2006.
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Genres | Alternative rock |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Mercury Records, Universal |
| Associated acts | Kizzy Star |
| Website | www.texas.uk.com |
| Members | |
| Sharleen Spiteri Johnny McElhone Tony McGovern Alistair McErlaine Eddie Campbell Michael Bannister Neil Payne |
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| Former members | |
| Richard Hynd Stuart Kerr Steve Washington Mikey Wilson Mark One Charlotte Hodson Nicole Patterson |
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Texas is a rock band from Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland. They were founded by Johnny McElhone (formerly of the bands Altered Images and Hipsway) in 1986 and had their performing debut in March 1988 at Scotland's University of Dundee. They took their name from the 1984 Wim Wenders movie Paris, Texas. Their musical sound went from blues rock on their debut album Southside via the blue-eyed soul of White on Blonde to the disco pop of Red Book.
[edit] History
Texas scored a UK hit in 1989 with their debut single "I Don't Want a Lover." This was taken from their debut album Southside, which went on to sell two million copies worldwide. The follow-up albums Mothers Heaven (1991) and Ricks Road (1993) were less successful and failed to provide the band with any further big hit singles in the UK. Although these albums sold well in France and Spain, this was not sufficient for the record company, and the band faced a lot of pressure with their fourth release. In the meantime Ellen DeGeneres had approached the band, and Sharleen Spiteri and Ally McErlaine flew to the U.S. to re-record a song from the third album, "So Called Friend", which went on to become the theme song to DeGeneres' US sitcom Ellen. Sharleen also supplied backing vocals on the Scottish rock band Gun's albums Taking on the world and Gallus during this period. Spiteri being original Gun singer Mark Rankin's cousin.
In 1997 Texas came back with "Say What You Want"; this became their biggest hit single yet, peaking at #3. The album White on Blonde followed, entering at #1, after heavy promotion from Chris Evans on his UK channel four show, Tfi Friday. The band appearing on the Frisay evening show several times. It would return there a year later. Other hit singles from the album were "Halo", "Black Eyed Boy", and "Put Your Arms Around Me"; a reworking of "Say What You Want" with Method Man was released alongside album track "Insane".
In 1998, Texas's song "Put Your Arms Around Me" was the lone vocal track for the Andy Tennant film, "Ever After - A Cinderella Story", starring Drew Barrymore.
The band's fifth album, The Hush, was released in 1999 with the lead-off single "In Our Lifetime" which was a huge hit in the UK reaching number 4 and was included in the "Notting Hill" Soundtrack. This album went straight into the UK album charts at #1 like its predecessor. The second single, "Summer Son", became a massive hit across Europe reaching the Top 5 in the UK and France, also making #1 in Croatia and Lebanon, leading the album to become their best selling so far.
In 2000, a greatest-hits album was released that included three new songs ("In Demand", "Inner Smile", and "Guitar Song"). The video for "In Demand" featured actor Alan Rickman, and in the video for the anthemic follow-up single, co-written by Gregg Alexander, Spiteri dressed up as Elvis Presley. "Inner Smile" was a big hit in Europe and was later featured prominently in the 2002 feature film Bend It Like Beckham. The song "Like Lovers (Holding On)" is featured during the ending credits of the animated feature film Titan A.E.
In September 2002, Spiteri gave birth to her daughter Mysty Kyd, although this did not prevent her from working on another album. Careful What You Wish For was released in late 2003 and was promoted by the lead single "Carnival Girl", which reached #9 in the UK. This was a very different style from previous singles and featured the rapper Kardinal Offishall. Unfortunately, many disliked this perceived change in direction, and although the album was more traditional pop, it sold far fewer than the previous three releases. A ballad, "I'll See It Through", was released at Christmas time, but by then the project was dead and buried.
In the television show The Office, fictional character David Brent claims that Texas used to open for his band, "Foregone Conclusion", before he gave up music to manage the Slough office of Wernham Hogg, a paper supply firm.
The band returned in mid-2005 with the single "Getaway", which entered the UK Top 10, the video for which was shot by Christopher Doyle and directed by Tim Royes. The single "Can't Resist" and album Red Book followed in the autumn. On Red Book the band collaborated with The Blue Nile singer Paul Buchanan on a track called "Sleep", which entered the UK charts at #6 in January 2006. British comedian Peter Kay scripted the music video to this song, which mainly consisted of spoofs of famous love scenes. The BBC One charity show Children in Need showed a preview on November 18, 2005, featuring a spoof on Lionel Richie's "Hello", Ghost, and An Officer and a Gentleman. Surprisingly, "Sleep" outsold the lead single. The potential fourth single "What About Us" was released as a promo-only issue.
In 2005 Sharleen Spiteri was featured in the song "Stirb nicht vor mir // Don't die before I do" by the German band Rammstein on the album Rosenrot.
On September 24, 2007 the band released The BBC Sessions, including radio sessions spanning from 1989 to 2005, with extensive liner notes and interviews with Sharleen Spiteri. Cover songs include Elmore James's "It Hurts Me Too", the Beatles' "I've Got a Feeling", and Ashford & Simpson's "You're All I Need to Get By."
On September 11, 2009 Ally McErlaine was hospitalized after he collapsed with a massive brain aneurysm at the age of 41. His chances of recovery are unclear for the moment.
[edit] Sharleen Spiteri's Solo Career (2008 - present)
In 2008, lead singer Sharleen Spiteri embarked on a solo career. her debut album Melody was released in July 2008 and debuted at #3 in the UK. Worldwide the album sold over 300,000 copies. She released her debut solo single All The Times I Cried which made the UK Top 40 at #26. She also released the singles Stop, I Don't Love You Anymore, It Was You and Don't Keep Me Waiting was released in Switzerland.
[edit] Southside and I Don't Want A Lover (1989 - 1991)
Texas released their debut album titled Southside in March 1989. The album included the hit single I Don't Want a Lover. The album's highest position in the UK was #3. In France the album peaked at #3 and has so far sold 548,500 in France. In the UK it has sold over 100,000 copies.
[edit] Mothers Heaven (1991 - 1993)
The bands second album titled Mothers Heaven was released in 1991. The album charted at a low #32 in the United Kingdom. In France it peaked at #11 with sales of 322,300. In Spain the album debuted at #15 and in Sweeden at #35.
[edit] Ricks Road (1993 - 1996)
The bands third studio album titled Ricks Road was released in 1993. The album managed to make the UK Top 20 album charts at #18 and has sold over 100,000 copies in the UK. In France however the album has so far sold over 286,500 copies and the albums highest French position was #4.
The album debuted at #17 in Spain and #50 in Sweeden.
[edit] White on Blonde (1996 - 1999)
The bands fourth album and most successful to date, White on Blonde was released on October 16, 1996. The album became the UK's #1 Album twice (Feb 15, 1997 - Feb 21, 1997) and (August 23, 1997 - August 27, 1997). The album has so far sold over 1 million copies alone in the United Kingdom. In France the album debuted at #2 with sales 440,000 copies. In Germany, the album peaked at #44. In Spain #4 and Sweeden #12.
It included some of their biggest singles to date including Say What You Want, Halo, Black Eyed Boy and Put Your Arms Around Me.
The album was also nominated for the 1997 BRIT Awards.
In 1998, Q Magazine readers voted the album the 86th best album of all time.
[edit] The Hush (1999 - 2000)
The bands fifth album titled The Hush was released on 18 May, 1999. The album debuted at #1 in the UK. It included the singles Summer Son, In Our Lifetime and When We Are Together.
The album sold 900,000 in the UK to date, and over 1 million in France.
[edit] The Greatest Hits (2001)
The band released a Greatest Hits album in 2001. The Greatest Hits. It debuted at #1 in 2 different countries, United Kingdom and France. Selling 1,800,000 copies in the UK and 522,190.
It included the singles Inner Smile and In Demand.
[edit] Careful What You Wish For (2003 - 2005)
The band release their sixth studio album titled Careful What You Wish For on October 20, 2003. It debuted at #5 in the UK with sales over 100,000 copies. It included the singles Carnival Girl and I'll See It Through.
[edit] Red Book and Hiatus (2005 - 2009)
The band released their seventh studio album titles Red Book on November 7, 2005. The album debuted at #16 in the UK and spent 10 weeks on the UK Charts. It sold over 100,000 copies in the UK and over 130,000 copies in France where it debuted at #9. In Ireland the album debuted at a low #79.
The album included the hit top 10 UK Singles, Getaway, Can't Resist and Sleep which featured Paul Buchanan of fellow Scottish band Blue Nile, but the video featured the British comedian Peter Kay lip syncing to Buchanan's vocals.
The band recorded a live album in 2007 titled The BBC Sessions.
In 2008, Sharleen Spiteri embarked on a solo career.
[edit] Membership
- Sharleen Spiteri, Vocals and guitar (1988— )
- Tony McGovern, vocals and guitar (1999— )
- Ally McErlaine (Alistair Manson McErlaine), guitar (1988— )
- Johnny McElhone, bass guitar (1988— )
- Eddie Campbell, keyboards (1991— )
- Michael Bannister, keyboards (2005— )
- Neil Payne, drums (2003— )
[edit] Former members
- Richard Hynd, drums (1991–1999)
- Stuart Kerr, drums (1989–1991)
- Steve Washington, drums (2001)
- Mikey Wilson, drums (1999–2001)
- Mark One, DJ (1999–2001)
- Charlotte Hodson, backing vocals (2001)
- Nicole Patterson, backing vocals (1999–2001)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Southside (1989) UK #3 (Gold), US #88
- Mothers Heaven (1991) UK #32
- Ricks Road (1993) UK #18 (Gold)
- White on Blonde (1997) UK #1 (6x Platinum)
- The Hush (1999) UK #1 (3x Platinum)
- The Greatest Hits (2000) UK #1 (6x Platinum)
- Careful What You Wish For (2003) UK #5 (Gold)
- I Don't Want a Lover (2004)
- Red Book (2005) UK #16 (Gold)
- The BBC Sessions (2007)
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
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