Jump to content

Colin Young

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Barbadian singer. For the British film educator, see Colin Young (film educator).

Colin Young
Also known asColyn Young, Joe E. Young, Joey Young
Born (1944-09-12) 12 September 1944 (age 80)
OriginBarbados, West Indies
Genres
OccupationMusician
Years active1960s–present
LabelsPye Records, Trend Records, Ensign Records, Island Records, Ripe Music
Formerly ofJoe E. Young & The Toniks, The Foundations, Development, The New Foundations, Mercy, Mercy

Colin Young (born 12 September 1944, Barbados) is an English singer who led Joe E. Young & The Toniks in the 1960s. He is known for being a member of the British soul band the Foundations. He also led a progressive rock band and was part of a hit making dance band of the 1980s.

Background

[edit]

In the mid-1960s, Young came to England for a holiday with his father and decided to stay. He was a former bookkeeper who prior to joining The Foundations was lead singer of a group called Joe E. Young & The Toniks.[1]

Young joined The Foundations when two members, lead singer Clem Curtis and tenor saxophonist Mike Elliott left in 1968.[2] He replaced Clem Curtis as lead singer and went on to sing on two more of The Foundations' big hits, "Build Me Up Buttercup" and "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)".[2]

Career

[edit]

1960s

[edit]

The Toniks

[edit]

Young fronted the group Joe E. Young & the Toniks. He formed it with guitarist Oscar Knight, sax player Anthony Barman (aka Bauman), bass player Sam Southwell and drummer John Seally.[3] The group was discovered when they auditioned at the at the All-Star club at Liverpool Street.[4] The group would record for Vicki Wickham's Toast label.

It was in the period of late 1966 to early 1967 that Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel took over from Sam Southwell, and Conrad Isidore replaced John Seally. Also keyboard player Ken Cumberbatch and second sax player Denis Overton joined. The line up of the group was then comprised of Colin Young on vocals, Oscar Knight on lead guitar, Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel on bass, Ken Cumberbatch on keyboards, Tony Bauman and Denis Overton on saxophones and Conrad Isidore on drums.[5]

While with the Toniks, Young and co recorded the Soul Buster! album that was released in 1968. [6][7]

The group were still performing in June 1968, where they were booked to appear at the Rhodes Centre.[8]

The group's single "Good Day Sunshine" bw "Lifetime of Lovin'" was released on Toast TT 514. It was reviewed in the 8 February 1969 issue of Record Mirror and given five stars. The reviewer said that it was a Record of the Week. With the right tempo being noted, the great swinging bluesy powerful droning attacking sounds were also mentioned.[9]

The Foundations

[edit]

It was reported in the 14 September issue of Melody Maker with Clem Curtis leaving The Foundations, the group was also trying out a line of singers which included Warren Davis of the Warren Davis Monday Band for the position of lead singer.[10] Colin Young referred to as Joey Young in the 5 October issue of Melody Maker was the successful replacement for the departing Curtis.[11][12] Young had joined the Foundations in late September / early October. He had been rehearsing with them for the week of October 5 and was ready to make his debut on Friday October 4 at Aberdeen University.[13][14]

It was mentioned in the 12 October issue of Melody Maker that the Foundations would record their next single "Build Me Up Buttercup" as soon as legal complications for the release of Joey Young (Colin Young) were sorted out with Major Minor Records which was his former label.[15] With Young, the group released "Build Me Up Buttercup".[16] It entered the UK chart on 26 November 19 1968 and made the no. 2 spot on 31 December. It spent a total of fifteen weeks in the chart.[17]

With Young on vocals the group recorded "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)".[18] Backed with Young's own composition "Give Me Love", it was released on Pye 7N 17702.[19] The song peaked at no. 8 in the UK and spent a total of ten weeks in the chart there.[20]

The Digging the Foundations album was reviewed in the 5 July 1969 issue of Disc and Music Echo. In addition to "In the Bad, Bad Old Days", the album also included Young's composition, "A Penny, Sir".[21]

Among the selection of lower priced records listed in the 18 October 1969 issue of New Musical Express was the self-titled Foundations album on Marble Arch MALS 1157.[22] It featured stereo re-recordings of songs previously recorded by The Foundations.[23][24] The songs "Any Old Time (You're Lonely and Sad)", "Back on My Feet Again", "Harlem Shuffle", "Tomorrow" and "We Are Happy People" appeared on the Rocking the Foundations album released the previous year.[25][26] "Baby Now That I've Found You" with Colin Young on vocals from the Marble Arch LP[27] has the same backing track as the original Clem Curtis version.[28][29] The new version of "Tomorrow" years later has been referred to as the alternate version. This version has Colin Young on vocals instead of Clem Curtis' vocals which appeared on the live version. They too have the same backing track. However, the Colin Young re-recording is a longer edit.[30][31] It was originally on the Rocking the Foundations album[32] which was a mixture of actual live and studio tracks. It's likely that there were some recordings with Clem Curtis on lead vocals in existence, but his vocals were replaced with those by Colin Young.[citation needed]

Young's singing on Foundations hits didn't end with "Build Me Up Buttercup" and "In the Bad Bad Old Days",[33][34] He also sang on the hits, "My Little Chickadee" which was minor hit in the U.S. and Canada, "Born to Live, Born to Die" which was a hit in the UK.[35] and "Baby, I Couldn't See". He also composed the song on the B side, "Penny Sir"[36] which was adopted as the official song for the Save the Children Fund. The Foundations were donating the royalties from "Penny Sir" to the fund as well as performance royalties. The group was also planning a concert at the Royal Albert Hall to support the cause.[37] "Baby, I Couldn't See" was a hit in the Netherlands where it got on to the Dutch Tipparade chart. Peaking at no. 8 on week three,[38][39] it spent a total of four weeks in the chart.[40][41]

1970s

[edit]

It was reported in the 10 October 1970 issue of New Musical Express that lead singer Colin Young had left The Foundations to pursue a solo career.[42] The Foundations broke up in late 1970.[43] Young's claim later would be that the rest of the band had got above themselves. The band was hardly rehearsing, staying in the biggest most expensive hotels in the US and some members failing to turn up for bookings.[44]

Development

[edit]

Having left The Foundations and having signed with Barry Class for himself and his new group called Development in October 1970, Young was quoted in the 10 October issue of Melody Maker, saying that with his new group he would be singing his own songs from now on.[45]

Under the management of Rodney Harrod and Philip Peverley, Development went to Argentina in early 1971.[46] Having arrived in Argentina the group portrayed themselves as The Foundations, Development was pictured on the front page of the 3 January, 1971 issue of Argentinian newspaper Crónica,[47][48] as well as on page 2 with the accompanying article. The newspaper that wrote that the group having arrived in Ezeiza from London, they were to perform at the Expo show. Describing the band members, the article said that the group would be incorporating Latin rhythms into their music.[49]

A year after Development's time in South America, the 4 March 1972 issue of Disc and Music Echo wrote that Development was looking forward to the release of their album that month. Recounting their success in Argentina, Colin Young also said that they were desperately hoping to get work in London. He was hoping that it would be known by the public how different from The Foundations they were.[50][51]

An album credited to Colin Young's Development was actually released in Italy. In the Beginning was released on Stateside 3C O62- 92933) in 1971.[52][53] The musicians on the album were, Steve Bingham, Roger Cawkwell, Laurie Jerryman, Gaspar Lawal, Peter Lynch, Graham Preskett, Tim Mason, Paul Nieman, Jean Roussel, Tony Priestland, Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton and Colin Young.[54]

Further activities

[edit]

New Foundations

[edit]

The New Foundations name was probably first used in 1968 by Astor Records in Australia when "Build Me Up Buttercup" was released there.[55] It was also used again in 1969 when Clem Curtis' group, Clem Curtis and The New Foundations were touted as alternative attraction when the Foundations had to leave the US a week early due to the cancellation their week's booking at a Detroit cabaret.[56]

In the mid-1970s, while Clem Curtis and The Foundations were on the road after having reformed The Foundations, there was also another Foundations line-up, led by Colin Young, who were on the road at the same time and were playing basically the same material. This eventually led to court action that resulted in Clem Curtis being allowed to bill his group as either The Foundations or Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Young was allowed to bill himself as The New Foundations or Colin Young & The New Foundations.[57]

Also in January 1976, Young and his group released a lone 45, "Something for My Baby" / "I Need Your Love" on Pye 7N 45533.[57][58] The previous year, a group with the same name New Foundations recorded a song, "Darling (You're All I Need)", a soul ballad which was released on Atlantic 45-322 in 1975. That recording was produced by George Kerr. This New Foundations was an American group.[59][60]

1980s

[edit]

Mercy, Mercy

[edit]

In the 1980s, as the lead singer of UK group Mercy, Mercy, he had a hit with "It Must Be Heaven".[61] He formed the band with Luke Tunney.[62]

On the week of 17 November 1984, "It Must Be Heaven" made its debut at no. 48 in the Music Week Disco and Dance Top Singles chart.[63]

He co-wrote the song, "What Are We Gonna Do About It" with Luke Tunney.[64] The Mercy Mercy single made its debut at no. 54 on the Music Week Top 75 Disco & Dance Singles chart on the week of 17 August 1985.[65] It also debuted on the Airplay Action Bubbling chart.[66] It debuted at no. 85 on the Music Week The Next 25 chart on the week of 24 August[67] and by the week of 21 September, it had made its debut at no. 59 in the Music Week Top 75 Singles chart.[68] On the week of 6 October, James Hamilton said that Young and Tunney were causing quite a stir with the "98bpm reggae-soul jogger".[69]

1990s

[edit]

In 1999, a version of The Foundations was reformed that included Colin Young (vocals), Alan Warner (Guitar), Steve Bingham (bass), Gary Moberly (keyboards), Tony Laidlaw (sax) and Sam Kelly then Steve Dixon (drums). This version of the group was formed due to the popularity of the film There's Something About Mary and the interest created resulting from the 1968 hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" being featured in the film. Some time later Young left this version of the group and was replaced by Hue Montgomery (aka Hugh Montgomery).[citation needed]

2000s

[edit]

In 2003 Young recorded an updated version of "Build Me Up Buttercup" backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The proceeds from the sale of the CD go to Milly's Fund, a trust set up in memory of murdered school girl Milly Dowler. Apparently the song was a favourite of hers.[70]

2010s to 2020s

[edit]

In 2010, Young appeared in Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, where he performed a song for dinner party guests. The performance was well received, but only one guest recognised him as he was number one in the year of her birth.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]
7" singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Colin Young "Any Time at All" / "You're No Good" Trend 6099 005 1971 (B side of UK and German release Trend 6099 005
credited to Colin Young Introducing Development[71])
Issued in the US on UNI 55286[72]
New Foundations "Something for My Baby" / "I Need Your Love" PYE 45533 1975 [73]
Mercy, Mercy "It Must Be Heaven" / "It Must Be Heaven" (Part 2) Ensign ENY 515 1984 [74] Also in Germany on Island Records 106 996[75]


12" singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Mercy, Mercy "It Must Be Heaven" (Dancemix Part 1) / "It Must Be Heaven" (Dancemix Part 2) Ensign Records 12ENY 515 1984 [76]
Mercy, Mercy "What Are We Gonna Do About It" (Extended Mix) / (Dub Mix) Ensign Records 12ENY 522 DJ 1985 [77]
CD singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Colin Young & The Offbeats, For Milly's Fund "Build Me Up Buttercup" / "Buttercup Too" / "No Man Is An Island" Ripe Music RIPEMCD1 2003 [78]
Colin Young and The Come Dine With Me Crew "Woman, Get Back To the Kitchen!" Dave Lamb Records DLCD1 2010 [citation needed]


References

[edit]
  1. ^ New Musical Express, No. 1147 Week ending 4 January 1969 - Page 3 HOW FOUNDATIONS ESCAPED THE ONE HIT WONDER TRAP
  2. ^ a b Bruce Eder. "The Foundations | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  3. ^ Garage Hangover, March 26, 2017 - JOE E YOUNG & THE TONIKS
  4. ^ Record Mirror, No. 380 Week Ending June 11. 1968 - Page 7 LEAP TO TOAST - Peter Jones
  5. ^ Garage Hangover, March 26, 2017 - JOE E YOUNG & THE TONIKS
  6. ^ New Musical Express, No. 1147 Week ending 4 January 1969 - Page 3 HOW FOUNDATIONS ESCAPED THE ONE HIT WONDER TRAP
  7. ^ Gripsweat - Joe E Young & the Tonics 'Soulbuster!' 1968 Toast LP
  8. ^ Herts and Essex Observer, Friday 14 June 1968 - RHODES CENTRE-MONDAY AT 8.0 p.m.— the spectacular all-coloured JOE E. YOUNG AND THE TONICS From ..
  9. ^ Record Mirror, No. 413 Week ending February 8, 1969 - Page 8 new singles reviewed by Peter Jones, JOE E. YOUNG AND THE TONIKS: Good Day Sunshine; Lifetime Of Lovin' (Toast TT 514)
  10. ^ Melody Maker, September 14, 1968 - Page 4 Clem finally quits
  11. ^ Melody Maker, October 5, 1968 - Page 5 JOEY REPLACES CURTIS
  12. ^ The Foundations, Baby Now That I've Found You CD Sequel Records – NEECD 300 Notes by Roger Dopson
  13. ^ Time and Date - Calendar for Year 1968 (United Kingdom)
  14. ^ Melody Maker, October 5, 1968 - JOEY REPLACES CURTIS
  15. ^ Melody Maker, October 12, 1968 - Page 5 FOUNDATION SINGLE
  16. ^ New Musical Express, 1969 Summer Extra Special - Page 13 MONEY (TOO MUCH) BREAKS UP GROUPS, Happier are the Foundations
  17. ^ Official Charts - BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP by FOUNDATIONS
  18. ^ All Music Guide to Soul
    The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul, Vladimir Bogdanov, August 2003 - ISBN:9781617134968, 1617134961 - The Foundations
  19. ^ Popsike - the foundations in the bad bad old days
  20. ^ Official Charts - IN THE BAD, BAD OLD DAYS by FOUNDATIONS
  21. ^ Disc and Music Echo, 5 July 1969 - Page 12 Digging the Foundations, Digging their new album, track by track, A PENNY, SIR
  22. ^ New Musical Express, October 18, 1969 - Page 12 UNDER A£
  23. ^ Last Dodo - The Foundations 1970 LP: MALS 1157
  24. ^ The Foundations, Baby Now That I've Found You CD Sequel Records – NEECD 300 Notes by Roger Dopson
  25. ^ Popsike - Foundations The Foundations Marble Arch Records MAL1157 Mono Vinyl LP Album
  26. ^ Popsike - Foundations Rocking The Foundations UK vinyl LP album record NPL18227 PYE 1968
  27. ^ The Second Disc, August 24, 2022 - NEWS, Build Me Up, Buttercup: Cherry Red Collects The Foundations on "Am I Groovin' You", CD2 Plus:, 16. Baby, Now That I've Found You (Colin Young Vocal/Stereo) (from The Foundations, Marble Arch LP MALS 1157, 1969)
  28. ^ The Foundations channel, Jan 4, 2023 - The Foundations - Baby Now That I've Found You (Stereo) (Colin Young Version) (Official Audio)
  29. ^ The Foundations channel, Dec 22, 2022 - The Foundations - Baby Now That I've Found You (Mono) (Official Audio)
  30. ^ The Foundations channel, Jan 4, 2023 - The Foundations - Tomorrow (Alternate Version) (Official Audio)
  31. ^ The Foundations Channel, Jul 21, 2021 - Tomorrow (Live)
  32. ^ Amazon - The Foundations - Rocking The Foundations - Pye Records - NSPL 18227 NM/NM LP
  33. ^ New Musical Express, 1969 Summer Extra Special - Page 13 MONEY (TOO MUCH) BREAKS UP GROUPS, Happier are the Foundations
  34. ^ All Music Guide to Soul
    The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul, Vladimir Bogdanov, August 2003 - ISBN:9781617134968, 1617134961 - The Foundations
  35. ^ The Second Disc, August 24, 2022 - NEWS, Build Me Up, Buttercup: Cherry Red Collects The Foundations on "Am I Groovin' You" By Joe Marchese
  36. ^ New Musical Express, November 15, 1969 - Page 11 FOUNDATIONS, CLIFF, TRASH AID CHARITY
  37. ^ New Musical Express, November 15, 1969 - Page 11 FOUNDATIONS, CLIFF, TRASH AID CHARITY
  38. ^ Top 40 - TIPPARADE-LIJST VAN WEEK 49, 1969, BABY, I COULDN'T SEE, the foundations 13 8 3 WEKEN
  39. ^ Top 40 - TIPPARADE-LIJST VAN WEEK 50, 1969, BABY, I COULDN'T SEE, the foundations 8 16 4 WEKEN
  40. ^ Top 40 - TIPPARADE-LIJST VAN WEEK 50, 1969, BABY, I COULDN'T SEE, the foundations 8 16 4 WEKEN
  41. ^ Top 40 - TIPPARADE-LIJST VAN WEEK 51, 1969
  42. ^ New Musical Express, 10 October 1970 - Page 8 Foundations lose their lead singer
  43. ^ Times Series, 4th February 2012 - Original Foundations guitarist Alan Warner talks to Rosy Moorhead about the band and growing up in Borehamwood and Edgware
  44. ^ Disc and Music Echo, 4 March 1972 - Page 10 A SOLID FOUNDATION
  45. ^ Melody Maker, October 19, 1970 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/70s/70/Melody-Maker-1970-1010-OCR.pdf Page 2 YOUNG LEAVES
  46. ^ Crónica, 17 de Enero de 1971 - Página 13 HIPPIES EN FA MAYOR.., Su Definición
  47. ^ Disc and Music Echo, March 4, 1972 - Page 10 A SOLID FOUNDATION
  48. ^ Crónica, 3 de Enero de 1971 - Página 1 UVENTUD. Colorido y pintoresquismo definen al conjunto “beat” “The Foundations”, que llegó
    a neustro páis.
  49. ^ Crónica, 3 de Enero de 1971 - Página 2 LLEGO “THE FOUNDATIONS” EMBAJADA DE MUSICA “BEAT”
  50. ^ Crónica, 17 de Enero de 1971 - Página 13 HIPPIES EN FA MAYOR.., Su Definición
  51. ^ Disc and Music Echo, March 4, 1972 - Page 10 A SOLID FOUNDATION
  52. ^ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, Colin Young's Development In The Beginning
  53. ^ Popsike - IN THE BEGINNING COLIN YOUNG'S DEVELOPMENT PROG.RARISS.
  54. ^ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, Colin Young's Development In The Beginning
  55. ^ 45Cat - The Foundations - Discography, Australia, New Foundations (UK), A: Build Me Up Buttercup
  56. ^ Melody Maker, June 7, 1969 - Page 3 FOUNDATIONS IN ROW WITH PYE RECORDS
  57. ^ a b Dopson, Roger. Baby Now That I've Found You, Sequel Records NEECD 300 (1st ed.). UK: Sequel Records.
  58. ^ Music Week, January 31, 1976 - Page 7 Internationally yours PYE RECORDS, NEW FOUNDATIONS - SOMETHING ABOUT MY BABY 7N 45533
  59. ^ Cash Box, January 25, 1975 - [ Page 21 cash box / singles reviews, newcomer picks, NEW FOUNDATIONS (Atlantic 45-3225)]
  60. ^ Billboard, January 25, 1975 - Page 58 Billboard's Top Single Picks, Soul, recommended, NEW FOUNDATIONS - Darling (You're All I Need)
  61. ^ Music Metason - ArtistInfo, Colin Young
  62. ^ Collins complete UK hit singles 1952-2006, By Graham Betts · 2006 - ISBN:9780007200771, 0007200773 - Page 545 MERCY MERCY
  63. ^ Music Week, November 17, 1984 - Page 14 MUSIC WEEK DISCO and dance TOP SINGLES, This Week 48, NEW, IT MUST BE HEAVEN
  64. ^ Music Week, August 31, 1985 - Page 13 THE NEXT 25, This Week 81, Last Week 85, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
  65. ^ Music Week, August 17, 1985 - Page 49 MUSIC WEEK DISCO and dance TOP 75 SINGLES, 54 NEW WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT
  66. ^ Music Week, August 17, 1985 - Page 10 AIRPLAY action BUBBLING, 5 (-) MERCY MERCY: What Are We Gonna Do About It?
  67. ^ Music Week, August 24, 1985 - Page 13 THE NEXT 25, This Week 85, Last Week -, WHAT ARE WE GONNA 00 ABOUT IT?
  68. ^ Music Week, September 21, 1985 - Page 21 TOP 75 SINGLES, This Week 59, NEW, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
  69. ^ James Hamilton's Disco Page, October 6, 1984 - October 6, 1984: Chaka Khan, Paris, Dazz Band, Hi-Tension, Linda Clifford, ODDS ‘N’ BODS, MERCY MERCY: ‘It Must Be Heaven’ (Ensign 12ENY 515)
  70. ^ "Manfred Mann's Earth Band – Mike d'Abo's Bands of Gold". Platform-end.co.uk. 23 August 2003. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  71. ^ 45Cat - Colin Young - Discography, All Countries
  72. ^ Soulful Kinda Music - Uni, 55286 - Colin Young - You're No Good / Any Time At All - 1971
  73. ^ The Second Disc, August 24, 2022 - Build Me Up, Buttercup: Cherry Red Collects The Foundations on "Am I Groovin' You" By Joe Marchese CD 3, Plus 23. Something for My Baby - The New Foundations (Pye single 7N 45533, 1975)
  74. ^ 45Cat - Mercy, Mercy - Discography, UK
  75. ^ 45Cat - Mercy, Mercy - Discography, Germany
  76. ^ "Mercy, Mercy – It Must Be Heaven (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  77. ^ "Mercy, Mercy – What Are We Gonna Do About It (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  78. ^ Too Many Golden Oldies - SONGWRITER FILE, Tony Macaulay Song List, 2003 Colin Young
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colin_Young&oldid=1251093872"