Smokie (band)

Already at the St. Bedes Grammar School in 1965, Chris Norman, Terry Uttley and Alan Silson formed a band named 'Essence', which toured through small clubs in their hometown Bradford and the surrounding communities. Ron Kelly (age 13) was their drummer at that time, a guy who was four years younger than the others.

Related Topics:
St. Bedes - 1965 - Chris Norman - Terry Uttley - Alan Silson - Essence - Bradford - Ron Kelly

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In May 1968, the group found a manager in Mark Jordan, who advised them to rename into 'The Elizabethans' later that year. The group now became fully professional, which also yielded higher salaries for the boys. In fall of 1968, Ron decided to continue studying, which urged the group to perform with various different drummers on almost each gig. December saw the group having a first TV appearance in the show "Calendar". In August 1969, the four performed two songs for the BBC show "High Jinx". Enthused with this successful performance Jordan had them record a first demo tape. In early 1970 RCA signaled interest in the band and suggested a name change to 'Kindness'. A single was recorded, but due to a strike "Light Of Love / Lindy Lou" only hit the market months later (1972). 300 copies of that release were sold, followed by a second single release, "Oh Julie / I Love You Carolina". In late 1970, Dave Eager approached the group and offered to manage them. The band agreed. Subsequently, an arrangement was made with Rory Storm, and the group backed the singer (who is the brother of Alvin Stardust's wife), performing as 'Rory Storm and the Failures'. In late 1971, singer Chris Norman got a serious infectious cold which also affected his vocal cords. After getting over the sickness his voice sounded much rougher and razing, which the other group members considered an interesting addition to their sound. Manager Dave Eager now introduced them to Decca, which resulted in recordings in February 1972. Shortly thereafter their next single was released: "Let The Good Times Roll / Oh Yeah!"

Related Topics:
1968 - Mark Jordan - The Elizabethans - Calendar - 1969 - BBC - High Jinx - 1970 - RCA - Kindness - 1972 - Dave Eager - Rory Storm - Alvin Stardust - Rory Storm and the Failures - 1971 - Chris Norman - Decca

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Around this time the band was offered to accompany Peter Noon, formerly lead vocalist of Herman's Hermits, on tour. Noon was also helpful in recording their next single for Decca, "Make It Better / Lonely Long Lady". Noon didn't bring the boys any luck, but during the tour a man offered to manage them: Bill Hurley. Hurley convinced Eager to release the boys from the contract with him. The Elizabethans recruited an old school mate for the drums, Pete Spencer, who had played drums in various groups, among them in a line-up which performed on a sightseeing boat in Frankfurt, Germany. Hurley introduced the four to Mike Chinn and Mike Chapman (aka Chinnichap), two very successful and well-known composers and producers (who also charted with acts like Sweet, Mud, Suzi Quatro and Hot Chocolate). At first 'Chinnichap' turned them down, but Hurley's tenacity eventually convinced the composers/producers to give the young group a chance. Hurley and Chinnichap started working intensely with the band, and suggested yet another name change to Smokey. Reluctantly, the band agreed. An attempt to dress the band up in leather clothes (similar to Suzi Quatro) was dropped, and the four won acceptance for their jeans outfit.

Related Topics:
Peter Noon - Herman's Hermits - Bill Hurley - Pete Spencer - Frankfurt, Germany - Mike Chinn - Mike Chapman - Chinnichap - Sweet - Mud - Suzi Quatro - Hot Chocolate

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New instruments were bought and in late 1974 recordings for their debut album commenced. On February 14th, 1975, Pass It Around was released. The album spawned the title song as a single but failed significant attention of the British audience. In April that year Smokey went on tour with Pilot as their opening act. On September 22nd, 1975, album #2 was released, Changing All the Time. This long-player sounded much softer than the debut, contained string arrangements on some songs, and heavily leaned toward acoustic guitar arrangements with close harmony vocals. The typical Smokie sound was born. The first single from the new album, "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", quickly became a big hit in many European countries and made Smokey known to a wide audience. It was followed by "Don't Play Your Rock'n'Roll to Me". Around this time the American soul legend Smokey Robinson threatened to file a law suit, alleging that the band's name would confuse the audience. In order to avoid legal action it was decided to drop the "ey" and undergo another name change into 'Smokie'. Shortly after the release of the second album, a first tour as headline act commenced.

Related Topics:
1974 - February 14 - 1975 - Pass It Around - British - Pilot - September 22 - Changing All the Time - If You Think You Know How to Love Me - European - American - Smokey Robinson

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The next album was partly produced in America, where Nicky Chinn had moved for various reasons (the tax situation being just one of them). Midnight Café picked up where Changing All the Time left off and established the group as a new pop phenomenon. The following years yielded a long string of chart busters: "Something's Been Making Me Blue", "Wild Wild Angels" and "I'll Meet You at Midnight" gained a faithful following among younger listeners. When their single "Living Next Door to Alice" was released in November 1976, it quickly became the group's biggest hit, followed by the equally successful "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone". Smokie now found themselves European superstars with sold-out tours and million-selling albums. The next two albums were to emphasize their stature: Bright Lights & Back Alleys (10/1977) as well as The Montreux Album (11/1978) both went high into the charts.

Related Topics:
Midnight Café - Living Next Door to Alice - 1976 - 1977 - 1978

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At the peak of Smokie's success another shrewd move made the waves: lead singer Chris Norman teamed up with Suzi Quatro (who had just decided to return to Chinnichap after pursuing to separate from them) and released a duet single, "Stumblin' In / A Stranger With You", yet another Chinnichap production. With the sound of Smokie and Suzi Quatro's latest single successes this became the next big hit with Chris Norman's highly recognizable voice.

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Chris Norman & Suzi Quatro were on top of the European charts for weeks. Smokie's subsequent 45 was "Mexican Girl / You Took Me By Surprise" (composed by Chris Norman and Pete Spencer). The group now definitely strived to emancipate from Chinnichap. A first move was to produce British soccer star Kevin Keegan's first single, "Head Over Heels In Love". It charted in many European countries. In 1979, the album The Other Side Of The Road was released, a long-player entirely recorded in Australia. It spawned two more hits for the band, "Do To Me / Cryin'" and "Babe It's Up To You / Did She Have To Go Away", but the decreasing sales figure were now undeniably notable. Only a subsequent single release, the melancholy "Run To Me / Look What You're Doin'" (which wasn't contained on any of their official albums) became another hit. Apparently Smokie now took a creative break and after a hiatus Solid Ground hit the market in 1981. The advance single was neither a Chinnichap composition nor penned by any Smokie member, but a new version of an oldie: "Little Town Flirt / I'm In Love With You". This was the last single which made it into the charts.

Related Topics:
Kevin Keegan - 1979 - Australia - Solid Ground - 1981

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In early 1982 the last album for EMI/BMG was released, Strangers In Paradise, which almost became a complete failure with its weak compositions and the half-a-heart production. The departure from Chinnichap became notable, the four musicians apparently didn't manage to repeat the success using their own song material and being produced by others. But very quickly two new, parallel albums were recorded for a new label, one which hit the market as Smokie's following album Midnight Delight, the other one which became Chris Norman's solo debut, Rock Away Your Teardrops. Neither release did sell very well, and so the four musicians decided to take a long break. Smokie ceased to exist for the time being.

Related Topics:
1982 - Midnight Delight

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In 1986, Chris Norman - enthused with the success of his second solo album Some Hearts are Diamonds - announced to his fellow band mates that his solo career was going so well that he could no longer sustain service with the band, which was just about to revive. But how could Smokie go on without their trade mark, Chris' significant voice? Chris had a friend named Alan Barton whom he knew to sound pretty similar to himself, unique and rough. During a jam session with the band (Chris Norman was also present), it was decided that Barton would replace Chris Norman on lead vocals and guitar. Smokie also decided to recruit a steady keyboard player, which was found in Martin Bullard. Pete Spencer also quit, which is how Steve Pinnell became the next drummer of Smokie. This renewed line-up released All Fired Up! in 1988, which yielded some attention and contained a new version of "Rock Away Your Tear Drops", the song which was initially the title track to Chris Norman's debut album.

Related Topics:
1986 - Alan Barton - Martin Bullard - Steve Pinnell - 1988

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A string of releases followed over the next years: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, Chasing Shadows, up to the 1994 album Celebration, which contained old hits in new arrangements, and accompanied by an orchestra. Tragically, in early 1995, Smokie's tour bus careered off in a freak hailstorm in Germany. Singer Alan Barton was injured so badly that after five days of intensive care he passed away.

Related Topics:
1994 - 1995 - Germany

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But the remaining musicians felt that they ought to continue with the band. Smokie now had to find their third lead singer. A friend of the band was invited to audition: Mike Craft. Allegedly, it only took one song to come to a decision: Mike became Smokie's third lead vocalist. The World And Elsewhere was released later that year, followed by the Christmas album Light A Candle - The Christmas Album. In 1996, Alan Silson terminated his membership, claiming he intended to pursue a solo career and to work with other acts as well. In addition, he no longer wanted to be on the road all the time. Mick McConnell became the group's new lead guitarist. This formation produced the next album Wild Horses - The Nashville Album (1998), precisely in Nashville, TN, USA. In February 2001, the group released two albums, Uncovered and Uncovered Too, which consist entirely of cover versions of their own material, with no original new songs added. Today, with only one founding member left, Smokie has been reduced to a tribute band to their own former glory.

Related Topics:
Mike Craft - Christmas - 1996 - Alan Silson - Mick McConnell - 1998 - Nashville - USA - 2001

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