The Rubettes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Rubettes | |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Genre(s) | Pop, glam rock |
| Years active | 1973-present |
| Label(s) | Polydor Records, State Records |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| The Rubettes featuring Alan Williams[1] Alan Williams John Richardson Mick Clarke Mark Haley The Rubettes featuring Bill Hurd |
|
| Former members | |
| John Richardson Alan Williams Mick Clarke Tony Thorpe Bill Hurd Pete Arnesen |
|
The Rubettes (often referred as Rubettes since 1975) were an English pop band of the 1970s, assembled in 1973 by the songwriting team of Wayne Bickerton, the then head of A&R at Polydor Records, and his co-songwriter, Tony Waddington, after their doo-wop and 1950s American pop-influenced songs had been rejected by a number of existing acts.[2] The band duly emerged at the tail end of the glam rock movement, wearing trademark white suits and cloth caps on stage.[2] Their first release, "Sugar Baby Love" was an instant hit remaining at number one in the UK for four weeks in May 1974, while denting the U.S. chart at number 37 that August,[3] and remains their best-known record.[2] Subsequent releases would be less successful, but the band soldiered on and continued to tour on the nostalgia circuit well into the 2000s.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Career
The Rubettes’ first and biggest hit was "Sugar Baby Love" (1974) which was a UK number one, going on to sell around 500,000 copies in the UK and a reported global sale of three million copies.[4] Two million copies being sold in France alone, an achievement matched by no other British group.[citation needed] With more three songs, "Sugar Baby Love" was recorded for Polydor in October 1973 at Landsdown Studios in Holland Park, London by some session musicians featuring the distinctive falsetto lead vocal by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer), but then he didn't seize the opportunity to actually become a member of the band put together by John Richardson and went for solo work.[5] To be The Rubettes' debut single, "Sugar Baby Love" was their only UK #1 and sole U.S. Top 40 entry.[6] In November 1974 NME music magazine reported that The Rubettes, The Glitter Band and Mud were among the UK bands who had roles in a new film titled Never Too Young To Rock.[7]
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits across Europe during the mid 1970s such as "Tonight", "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It" sung by Alan Williams, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington songwriting team. The Rubettes success encouraged Bickerton and Waddington to set up State Records, so that ten months after the release of "Sugar Baby Love", the fourth Rubettes single "I Can Do It" was on State (catalogue reference STAT 1).[5]
None charted in the States, though, and the band evolved glammy nostalgia into more serious territory.[2] "Under One Roof" (1976) a sensitive portrayal of a gay man disowned and later murdered by his father; along with Rod Stewart's "The Killing of Georgie", was one of very few songs tackling the difficult topic of homophobia.[2] Their most successful self composed hit was the country rock styled ballad "Baby I Know", which reached number 10 in the UK and Germany in 1977. They played as a quintet since early 1975 and always as a quartet since mid 1976 (Bill Hurd became an out-off-staff member). After Thorpe's departure in 1979, The Rubettes fell silent in the face of dwindling success and soon had disbanded.[2]
But the band continued releasing records into the 1980s, then re-grouped in 1983 in order to exploit the German market for 1970s nostalgia.[2]
In 1994, the group's profile was raised by the inclusion of "Sugar Baby Love" in the hit movie, Muriel's Wedding. This song was also featured in the 2005 Neil Jordan film, Breakfast on Pluto soundtrack.
In 2002, the group hit the headlines once more when, following an acrimonius split and legal action, the Rubettes became the latest in a long line of bands (including Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Spandau Ballet) who ended up in the courts in a dispute over ownership of the band's name. The court ruled that both Williams and Hurd could tour as the Rubettes, as long as it was clear which member was fronting the band.[1] Originals John Richardson and Mick Clarke, along with ex-Kinks keyboardist Mark Haley, feature with Alan Williams in his band; while Hurd is the only member of his group connected with the original line up.[1]
All was well until 2005 when Williams and Hurd were back in court following an appearance by Hurd's band on the German television station ZDF, with Williams claiming Hurd had breached the terms of the original agreement. On 2 February 2006, a High Court judge found that Hurd and Williams had both been guilty of breaching the 2002 agreement. Costs of the trial were however awarded to Williams in view of the severity of Hurd's breaches.[1] Hurd appealed against this decision, but on 3 November 2006 the Appeal Court in London ruled against him, awarding the costs of the appeal to Williams.[1] Hurd has since gone bankrupt.[1]
On 28 March 2008 "Sugar Baby Love" was declared to be the most successful oldie of all time by the German television station RTL.
In May and June 2008, The Rubettes were part of the 'Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz' tour of the UK alongside Sweet and Showaddywaddy.
On June 19 2009, Bill Hurd's Rubettes played at the East Kilbride ArtBurst Festival.[1]
[edit] Personnel
The original line-up of the band was:-
- Alan Williams (born Alan James Williams, 22 December 1948, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire[8]) - vocals, guitar
- John Richardson (born John George Richardson, 3 May 1947, South Ockendon, Essex[4]) - drums, vocals
- Mick Clarke (born Michael William Clarke, 10 August 1946, Grimsby, Lincolnshire[4]) - bass, vocals
- Tony Thorpe (born Anthony John Thorpe, 20 July 1947, London[4]) - lead guitar, vocals
- Pete Arnesen (born Peter Arnesen, 25 August 1947, Austria) - piano
- Bill Hurd (born William Frederick George Hurd, 11 August 1948, East London[4]) - organ, piano
[2]
Of the original Rubettes line-up only Richardson, Williams and Arnesen participated in the recording of "Sugar Baby Love". All official original sextet is presented on first three singles as well as on the first album (all 1974). After results of 1974 shows the band's management decided to reduce the group to quintet, and Pete Arnesen was elected to leave for personal reasons; Bill Hurd played as out-of-stuff member since mid 1976 and finally left in 1978.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Wear It's At (1974)
- We Can Do It (1975) - UK #41
- Rubettes (1975)
- Sign Of The Times (1976)
- Baby I Know (1977)
- Some Time In Oldchurch (1978)
- Still Unwinding (1978)
- Riding On A Rainbow (1992)
- Making Love In The Rain (1995)
[edit] UK Top 40 Singles
- "Sugar Baby Love" (January 1974) - UK #1; U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #37[3]
- "Tonight" (July 1974) - UK #12
- "Juke Box Jive" (November 1974) - UK #3
- "I Can Do It" (March 1975) - UK #7
- "Foe-Dee-O-Dee" (June 1975) - UK #15
- "Little Darling" (October 1975) - UK #30
- "You're The Reason Why" (April 1976) - UK #28
- "Under One Roof" (August 1976) - UK #40
- "Baby I Know" (January 1977) - UK #10
[edit] See also
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of British pop musicians of the 1970s
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Therubettes.de - accessed April 2009
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Biography by Joseph McCombs". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THE|RUBETTES&sql=11:3pfixq95ldje~T1. Retrieved on 10 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Allmusic ((( The Rubettes > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles)))". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THE|RUBETTES&sql=11:3pfixq95ldje~T5.
- ^ a b c d e f Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 350. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ a b Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 157/158. ISBN 0-85112-250-7.
- ^ Roberts, David (2001). British Hit Singles (14th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 44. ISBN 0-85156-156-X.
- ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. pp. 270. CN 5585.
- ^ Rubettes.uwstart.nl - accessed April 2009
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 473. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Allmusic ((( The Rubettes > Discography > Main Albums Singles)))". http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=THE|RUBETTES&sql=11:3pfixq95ldje~T2.
