Kenny (band)
Kenny | |
|---|---|
| Origin | London |
| Genres | Pop, glam rock, bubblegum pop |
| Years active | 1974–1979 |
| Labels | RAK Records, Polydor Records |
Kenny were an English pop and glam rock band who had several hit singles in the UK in the mid-1970s, including "The Bump" and "Fancy Pants".
Career
In 1973, Irish showband singer Tony Kenny, former lead singer with The Sands and The Vampires, recorded a single "Heart of Stone", written by Bill Martin and Phil Coulter and produced by Mickie Most. It was released under the name Kenny, and, after the singer returned to Ireland, the single became a hit in Britain, as did a follow-up release, "Give It To Me Now".[1]
Most then decided to capitalise on their success by renaming a completely unconnected North London band called Chuff, as Kenny.[2] Former child actor Keith Chegwin was considered as lead singer but he declined.[3] Martin and Coulter wrote the bulk of the successful songs for the group, starting with "The Bump", which reached the Top 3 in the official UK singles chart. They had three further records reach the charts in the UK: "Fancy Pants", "Baby I Love You OK", and "Julie Anne".[2] The band were at one stage managed by John Morris, the husband of singer Clodagh Rodgers[4].
Uncredited lead and background vocals on "The Bump" were performed by Barry Palmer.[5]
In 1996, lead singer Rick Driscoll appeared on the 'Identity Parade', on the BBC Television programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He is based in Corfu, where he skippers charter yachts.[6].
Members
- Rick Driscoll — vocals, guitar, born 1 May 1957,[7] Enfield, Middlesex,
- Yan Style (born Ian Stile) — guitar, born 16 January 1955, Enfield, Middlesex
- Chris Redburn — bass, born 14 March 1956, Enfield, Middlesex
- Chris Lacklison — keyboards, born 15 October 1956, London
- Andy Walton — drums, born 1 October 1956, Enfield, Middlesex
Discography
Albums
- 1975 The Sound Of Super K. (RAK Records) UK No. 56
- 1976 Ricochet (Polydor) (Germany only)
- 1994 The Best Of Kenny (compilation album) (Repertoire Records)
- 2004 The Singles Collection Plus... (compilation) (7T's Records)[5]
Singles
| Year | A-Side | B-Side | Label | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | "Heart Of Stone" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"Buttons" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
RAK 144 | UK # 11, sung by Tony Kenny |
| 1973 | "Give It To Me Now" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"Rollin"" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
RAK 153 | UK # 38, sung by Tony Kenny |
| 1974 | "The Bump" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
RAK 186 | UK # 3; originally recorded by the Bay City Rollers as the B-side of their October 1974 hit, "All of Me Loves All of You" |
| 1975 | "Fancy Pants" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"I'm a Winner" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
RAK 195 | UK # 4 |
| 1975 | "Baby I Love You, OK!" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"The sound of Super K" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
RAK 207 | UK #12 |
| 1975 | "Julie Anne" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"Dancin' Feet" (Rick Driscoll, Yan Style) |
RAK 214 | UK # 10, Australia # 4 |
| 1975 | "Nice to Have You Home" (Bill Martin-Phil Coulter) |
"Happiness Melissa" (Rick Driscoll, Yan Style) |
RAK 225 | |
| 1976 | "Hot Lips" (Craig, Adamberry) |
"Bangin' My Head Against A Brick Wall" (Rick Driscoll, Yan Style) |
Polydor | Germany # 20 |
| 1976 | "Red Headed Lady" (Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway) |
"Alone Together" (Rick Driscoll, Yan Style) |
Polydor | Germany # 49 |
| 1976 | "Old Songs Never Die" (Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway) |
"Don't Hold On" |
Polydor | (did not chart) |
| 1979 | "Reach Out I'll Be There" (Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier) |
"Time Is The Healer" (Nash, Style) |
Decca | (did not chart)[5] |
List of songs
The following is a sortable table of all songs by Kenny:
| Song | Writer(s) | Album | Producer | Year | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abes Lament | Yan Style | The Best Of Kenny | Kenny | 1977 | |
| Alone Together | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | B-side of Red Headed Lady |
| Baby I Love You Ok | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | A-side of The sound of Super K |
| Bangin' My Head Against A Brick Wall | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | B-side of Hot Lips |
| Be My Girl | Andy Walton, Chris Redburn | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| Buttons | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1973 | B-side of Heart of Stone | |
| Cryin' | Miki Dallon | The Best Of Kenny | Kenny | 1977 | |
| Dancin' Feet | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | B-side of Julie Anne | |
| Don't Hold On | ? | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | B-side of Old Songs Never Die | |
| End Of A Love Affair | Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| Fancy Pants | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | A-side of "I'm a Winner |
| For Ever And Ever | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1974 | B-side of The Bump | |
| Give It To Me Now | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Best Of Kenny | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1973 | A-side of Rollin |
| Glad, Glad, Glad | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Go Into Hiding | Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| Happiness Melissa | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | B-side of Nice To Have You Home | |
| Heart of Stone | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Best Of Kenny | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | A-side of Buttons |
| Hey! Mr. Dream Seller | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Hot Lips | Eddie Adamberry, Anthony Craig | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | A-side of Bangin' My Head Against A Brick Wall |
| I Won't Cry | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| I'm Coming Home | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| I'm a Winner | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | B-side of Fancy Pants | |
| Julie Anne | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | A-side of Dancin' Feet |
| Just A Word Away | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Little Darlin' | Maurice Williams | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Long Lost Summers | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Make Up, Break Up | Yan Style, Andy Walton | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| Memories | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | |
| Nice To Have You Home | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | A-side of Happiness Melissa |
| Old Songs Never Die | Tony Macaulay, Roger Greenaway | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | A-side of Don't Hold On |
| Reach Out I'll Be There | Holland–Dozier–Holland | Kenny, Gwynn Mathias | 1979 | A-side of Time Is The Healer | |
| Red headed Lady | Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | A-side of Alone Together |
| Rollin' | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1975 | B-side of Give It To Me Now | |
| The Bump | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | The Sound Of Super K | Bill Martin-Phil Coulter | 1974 | A-side of Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens |
| Time Is The Healer | Yan Style, George Nash | Kenny, Gwynn Mathias | 1979 | B-side of Reach Out I'll Be There | |
| You Wrote The Words | Rick Driscoll, Yan Style | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 | |
| (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher | Gary Jackson, Carl Smith | Ricochet | Miki Dallon, Kenny | 1976 |
See also
References
- ^ "Tony Kenny". Irish-showbands.com. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
- ^ a b Allmusic biography
- ^ Brightwell, Eric. "Kenny - Biography". Amoeba Music. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ Wilde, Diana: The Glam Rock Files. Independent September 2017. ISBN-13: 978-1549647253. Pages 62-63
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 299. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ http://www.sailblueplanet.co.uk/Who-are-we/Skipper-Rick-Driscoll/blue-planet-skippered-sailing-holidays.html
- ^ "This Day In Music - May 1st - BuzzJack Music Forum". Buzzjack.com. Retrieved 14 December 2012.