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Racey

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For other uses, see Racey (disambiguation).

Racey
The original lineup of Racey, 1979.
The original lineup of Racey, 1979.
Background information
OriginWeston-super-Mare, United Kingdom
GenresPower pop, glam rock (before 1980), new wave
Years active1976–1985
LabelsRAK Records
Past membersRichard Gower
Phil Fursdon
Pete Miller (†2003)
Clive Wilson
Websitewww.racey.net www.raceyweb.com/history.htm

Racey were a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, by Clive Wilson and Phil Fursdon.[1] They achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits such as "Lay Your Love on Me" and "Some Girls".[2] Their 1979 song "Kitty" was an international hit in 1981 for Toni Basil when she reworked it into "Mickey".

Career

The original line-up featured Richard Gower (born 1955, Hackney, London, England; vocals and keyboards), Phil Fursdon (vocals and guitar), Pete Miller (vocals and bass) and Clive Wilson (vocals and drums). After early success in their local pub circuit, they came to the attention of Mickie Most.[1] Racey's first single, "Baby It's You", was penned by Smokie members Chris Norman and Pete Spencer and released in 1978. Their second single, "Lay Your Love on Me", was the group's first hit single, peaking at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1978 through to early 1979.[1] The third single, "Some Girls", was written for the American band Blondie, for whom Mike Chapman also produced, but was instead given to Racey as a follow-up to "Lay Your Love on Me".[1] ("Some Girls" was later recorded by Barry Manilow for his 1982 "Here Comes the Night" album.) The band then parted company with Chinn and Chapman after the album was released and although they continued to play and tour they released only a few more singles that did not match their previous successes. The only album they made under the original line-up was their 1979 debut album Smash and Grab. The band's hits were either written and/or produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn.[1]

The band formally split in 1985, and since then two separate groups named Racey exist, one featuring band member Richard Gower and the other featuring Clive Wilson, Phil Fursdon and Pete Miller, the original bass player.[1] Miller died of cancer on 6 May 2003.[2] Several albums and CDs with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material are available from both of the present-day versions of the group.

In May 2009, the reissue of Racey's Smash And Grab album was available on a double CD through 7Ts Records, a division of Cherry Red Records in London. It included the original 1979 album along with all other recordings made for RAK Records between 1978 and 1982.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[3]
Smash and Grab
  • Released: 1979
  • Format: LP
  • Label: RAK (SRAK 537)
 5

Compilation albums

List of albums, with details
Title Album details
The Best of Racey
  • Released: 1993
  • Format: CD
  • Label: EMI (7895382)
Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest)
  • Released: 1996 (Denmark)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: CMC Records (24248-2)
Lay Your Love On Me
  • Released: 1996
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Disky (SE 865702)
Some Girls
  • Released: 1998 (Europe)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Wise Buy (WB 885562)
The Very Best of Racey
  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Go On Deluxe (1016-2) / Rem!nd (5300252)
Lay Your Love On Me
  • Released: 1999 (Netherlands)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Digimode Entertainment Ltd. (BT-33029)

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Title Peak chart
positions 		Album
UK AUS
[3] 		IRE RSA
1978 "Baby It's You" (Chris Norman, Pete Spencer) / "Rudi" (Richard Gower) - - - - non album single
"Lay Your Love on Me" (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman) / "I Believed You"
(Richard Gower) 		3 1 2 - Smash and Grab
1979 "Some Girls" (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman) / "Fighting Chance"(Richard Gower) 2 1 2 1
"Boy Oh Boy" (Gloria Macari, Roger Ferris) / "Sensational Buzz" (Richard Gower) 22 12 9 2
1980 "Such a Night" (Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns) / "There's a Party Going On" (Jimmie Cameron) - 94 - -
"Rest of My Life" (R. Scott - S.Wolfe) / "Cry Baby Cry"" (Richard Gower) - 45 - - non album single
"Runaround Sue" (Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca) / "Hold Me Close" (Richard Gower) 13 91 9 - non album single
1981 "Shame" (Richard Gower) / "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" - - - - non album single
"Little Darlin'" (Maurice Williams) / "Rock It" (Richard Gower) - - - - non album single
"There's a Party Going On" (Jimmie Cameron) / "High Street Sunset" - - - - non album single
1982 "Not Too Young to Get Married" (Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry) / "Love Games"(Richard Gower) - - - - non album single
1992 "Little Girls Don't, But Big Girls Do" - - - - non album single
1996 "Cry Cry Time"[4] - - - - non album single

List of Songs

The following is a sortable table of all songs by Racey:

  • The column Song list the song title; bold means released as a single.
  • The column Writer(s) lists who wrote the song.
  • The column Time shows the length of the song.
  • The column Album lists the album the song is featured on.
  • The column Producer lists the producer of the song.
  • The column Year lists the year in which the song was released.
Song Writer(s) Time Producer Album Year Other
Baby It's You Chris Norman, Pete Spencer 4:32 Mickie Most non-album-song 1978 A-side of Rudi
Big Big Christmas Richard Gower unknown unknown 1994 [1]
Boy Oh Boy Gloria Macari, Roger Ferris 2:54 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979 A-side of Sensational Buzz
Crazy 3:40 The Best Of 2006 2006
Cry Baby Cry Richard Gower 2:37 Racey The Best Of Racey 1980 B-side of Rest of My Life
Cry Cry Time ? 4:04 non-album-song 1986 A-side of ?
Fighting Chance Richard Gower 3:47 Mickie Most The Best Of Racey 1979 B-side of Some Girls
High Street Sunset Richard Gower Racey non-album-song 1981 B-side of There's A Party Going On (1981)
Hold Me Close Richard Gower 2:44 Racey The Best Of Racey 1980 B-side of Runaround Sue
I Believed You Richard Gower 3:07 The Best Of Racey Mickie Most 1978 B-side of Lay Your Love on Me
I Mean It This Time 3:10 Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest) 1996
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) John Fred, Andrew Bernard 3:44 unknown The Best Of 2006
Kitty Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman 3:38 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
Lay Your Cards On The Table Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns 3:08 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
Lay Your Love on Me Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman 3:16 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1978 A-side of I Believed You
Let Me Take You Home Tonight Richard Gower 3:26 Mickie Most non-album-song 1981 B-side of Shame
Little Darlin' Maurice Williams 2:40 Mickie Most non-album-song 1981 A-side of Rock It
Little Girls 2:50 unknown The Best Of 2006 2006
Little Girls (beach Mix) 2:46 2006
Love Games Richard Gower 3:19 Richard Gower non-album-song 1982 B-side of Not Too Young to Get Married
Love's A Riot Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman 2:54 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
Mad About The Girl 3:14
Not Too Young to Get Married Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry 3:01 Steve Glen non-album-song 1982 A-side of Love Games
Rah Stateway Richard Gower 3:47 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
Rest of My Life Steve Wolfe, Ronnie Scott 3:36 Mickie Most The Best Of Racey 1980 A-side of Cry Baby Cry
Rock It Richard Gower 2:42 Mickie Most non-album-song 1978 B-side of Little Darlin"
Rudi Richard Gower 2:53 Mickie Most non-album-song 1978 B-side of Baby It's You
Runaround Sue Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca 2:57 Mickie Most The Best Of Racey 1980 A-side of Hold Me Close
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie 2:22 unknown unknown 1994 [2]
Satin 'N' Lace 4:13 unknown The Best Of 2006 2006
Say Wow 3:53
Sensational Buzz Richard Gower 3:23 Mickie Most The Best Of Racey 1979 B-side of Boy Oh Boy
Shame Richard Gower 2:35 Mickie Most non-album-song 1981 A-side of Let Me Take You Home Tonight
She's A Winner Richard Gower 2:49 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
She's Different 3:52 unknown Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest) 1996
Some Girls Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman 3:46 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979 A-side of Fighting Chance
Still The One 4:08 unknown The Best Of 2006 2006
Such a Night Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns 2:40 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1980 A-side of There's A Party Going On
There's A Party Going On Jimmie Cameron 3:10 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1980 B-side of Such a Night
There's A Party Going On Jimmie Cameron 3:10 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1981 A-side of High Street Sunset
We Are Racey Richard Gower 3:05 Mickie Most Smash and Grab 1979
Worlds Apart 3:43 unknown The Best Of 2006 2006

Cover songs

Song Writer(s) Original artist Album Year Other
Baby It's You Chris Norman, Pete Spencer Smokie Bright Lights & Back Alleys 1977
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) John Fred, Andrew Bernard John Fred & His Playboy Band Agnes English 1967
Little Darlin' Maurice Williams The Gladiolas 1957 successful cover version by The Diamonds
Not Too Young to Get Married Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah 1963
Runaround Sue Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca Dion Runaround Sue 1961
Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie Harry Reser non-album-song 1934

Racey songs covered by others

Song Writer(s) First artist Name Album Year Other
Kitty Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Toni Basil Mickey Word of Mouth 1981
Lay Your Love on Me Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman a) Kikki Danielsson
b) De Strangers
c) Benny Schnier		 a) Lay Your Love on Me
b) Melksjoekkelat mè neutjes (Dutch)
c) Wenn deine Süße einmal sauer ist (German)		 a) Rock'n Yodel
b) Te Pakke Of Te Late
c) Amigo Charly Brown 		1979
Some Girls Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Streaplers Flickor (Swedish) Om Jag Säger Att Jag Älskar.. 1979
Such a Night Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns Boy Jede Nacht 'ne Muppet-Party (German) 1980

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Racey | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Racey". Racey. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 244. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 447. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Bibliography

  • Kacey Traver. The Life of Racey Raver, 2009, Penguin House Books.
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