Classix Nouveaux

Last updated

Classix Nouveaux
Lyceum-Classix-Nouveau3.jpg
Sal Solo, onstage with Classix Nouveaux at The Lyceum Theatre in London, supporting XTC (1980).
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres New wave
Years active1979–1985, 2021-
Labels EMI
Cherry Red Records
ESP Records
Liberty Records
Parlophone Records
Members Sal Solo
Mik Sweeney
B. P. Hurding
Gary Steadman
Past members Jak Airport
Jimi Sumen
Rick Driscoll
Andy Qunta [1]
Paul Turley
Pandit Dinesh
S Paul Wilson

Classix Nouveaux is an English new wave band. During a six-year career between 1979 and 1985 they released three albums and eleven singles, the most commercially successful of which was the single "Is It A Dream" that reached No.11 in the UK Singles Chart.

Contents

The band were successful in several other international territories including Portugal, Finland, Australia, Israel, Poland and Iceland. [2] [3] [ citation needed ]

Formation

The break-up of X-Ray Spex triggered an advertisement placed in Melody Maker , searching for a new lead singer. [4] Sal Solo (formerly with The News) answered the advertisement. Jak Airport and B.P. Hurding left X-Ray Spex to form Classix Nouveaux with Mik Sweeney and Sal Solo. Their first gig was on 25 August 1979 at London's Music Machine (which would later become the Camden Palace and is now called KOKO). With publicity growing for the band, their dramatic and heavily made-up image led to the music press associating them with the burgeoning New Romantic movement. [4] Jak Airport was replaced by Gary Steadman during the same year.

In 1980, the band recorded a four track session for Capital Radio and one track, "Robot's Dance", was played regularly by DJ Nicky Horne. This attracted the interest of the United Artists record company (then part of the EMI group), but as negotiations dragged on, the band decided to release the track as their debut single on their own ESP label. [4] They also performed for the first time on television on Thames TV in London. "Robot's Dance" spent eleven weeks on the UK Indie Chart, reaching #22, and became a popular alternative dance floor track. The group's second single, "Nasty Little Green Men", followed on 10 November 1980.

Career

In 1981, the first Classix Nouveaux album Night People was released along with two moderately successful singles "Guilty" and "Tokyo". Both singles reached the UK Top 75, and "Guilty" reached the Top 20 in Sweden and #25 in Australia. [5] The album itself peaked at #66 in the UK. The group filmed a colourful music video for "Guilty" directed by Russell Mulcahy, that caught the attention, and received airplay on MTV in America. [3] [6]

The second Classix Nouveaux album La Verité was released in 1982 and the single release "Is It A Dream" brought the group its only British Top 20 hit, peaking at #11. [7] Even though they were not part of the 'Blitz Kids' scene [8] [9] the band were often seen as a New Romantic act due to their stark image.

Their next single, "Because You're Young", peaked at #43 in the UK, while the album itself peaked at #44. The album rose to #1 in Portugal, and the group toured Asia and India. [10] After the tour supporting La Verité, Classix Nouveaux hired Finnish guitarist Jimi Sumen to replace Gary Steadman. Sumen had been a member of the support act at their Helsinki gig.

The third and final Classix Nouveaux album, Secret , was released in 1983, produced by Alex Sadkin. Several weeks into the recording, their A&R from their record company came to the studio and announced that the band had already spent their entire budget, and the recording wasn't even completed. Anne Dudley arranged an orchestra for the single "Forever and a Day". The record company didn't promote the album, and immediately fired the band from their contract. [11] [12] The album, and its singles, were unsuccessful in the UK, but the band had number one hit singles in Poland with "Never Never Comes" and "Heart from the Start". The band toured and played to 25,000 people in Helsinki, but by now Solo was the only original member remaining after Jimi Sumen was replaced by Rick Driscoll and BP Hurding was replaced by Paul Turley.

Break-up

Classix Nouveaux broke up in 1985, by which time Sal Solo had already begun a solo career. He had a UK Top 20 hit with "San Damiano" which reached #15 in early 1985. [13] He released an album, Heart and Soul, the same year, and further singles, "Music and You" (#52) and "Forever Be", but none of these were particularly successful. He went on to record and perform with the French space-rock and electronic band Rockets, before becoming heavily involved in Catholicism and releasing several Christian-oriented albums.

Mik Sweeney moved to Los Angeles where he built fretless bass guitars and did studio session work; he currently lives in Ireland. Gary Steadman went on to join A Flock of Seagulls for their 1986 Dream Come True tour. Jimi Sumen became a record producer in Finland and released a number of solo works there.

The first Classix Nouveaux compilation album was released in 1997 via EMI Records and was reissued with a slightly different track listing in 2003. Beginning that same year, the band's original albums saw reissue on CD by Cherry Red Records. In 2005 River Records released The River Sessions, a live album recorded at Strathclyde University in 1982 and, in February 2021, all the band's singles and associated B-sides saw release as The Liberty Singles Collection, again via Cherry Red Records.

Reformation

In May 2021, the band surprised fans with a new single, which was a remake of "Inside Outside" from their first album. [14] On 29 May 2022, [15] their single "Fix Your Eyes Up" charted at number 10 on The Heritage Chart (as broadcast with Mike Read on Talking Pictures TV). On 17 November 2023 the line-up of Sal Solo, BP Hurding, Mik Sweeney and Gary Steadman released their first studio album in 40 years, "Battle Cry". [16] [17] [18]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[19] 		AUS
[20] 		FIN
[21] 		ICE
[22] 		POR
[23] 		SWE
[24]
Night People 668518——11
La Verité
  • Released: 5 April 1982 [25]
  • Label: Liberty
  • Formats: LP, MC
44—63117
Secret
  • Released: 14 November 1983 [26]
  • Label: Liberty
  • Formats: LP, MC
——————
Battle Cry
  • Released: 17 November 2023 [27]
  • Label: Cherry Red
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download
——————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

TitleAlbum details
The River Sessions
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: River
  • Formats: CD

Compilation albums

TitleAlbum details
Singles
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Liberty
  • Formats: LP
  • Japan-only release
The Very Best of Classix Nouveaux
  • Released: September 1997
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD
The Very Best of Classix Nouveaux
  • Released: December 2003
  • Label: EMI
  • Formats: CD
  • Different from 1997 compilation
The Liberty Singles Collection
  • Released: 18 January 2010
  • Label: Cherry Red
  • Formats: CD
The Liberty Recordings 1981–83

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[19] 		UK Indie
[28] 		AUS
[20] 		FIN
[21] 		ICE
[29] 		IRE
[30] 		POL
[31] [32] 		POR
[33] 		SPA
[34] 		SWE
[35] 		US Dance
[36]
"The Robots Dance"1980—22—————————Non-album singles
"Nasty Little Green Men"———————————
"Guilty"198143—25————17——66Night People
"Tokyo"67——————————
"Inside Outside"45——————————
"Run Away" (France-only release)———————————
"Never Again (The Days Time Erased)"44——13——311319—La Verité
"Is It a Dream"198211——11329—9———
"Because You're Young"43——————————
"The End... Or the Beginning?"60——25———————Non-album single
"Forever and a Day"1983———26——5————Secret
"Never Never Comes"——————2————
"Heartbeat" (credited as Sal Solo with Classix Nouveaux)1985——————3————Heart & Soul (by Solo)
"Inside Outside 2021"2021———————————Non-album single
"Fix Your Eyes Up"2022———————————Battle Cry
"Battle Cry" (Single Edit)2024———————————
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Other charted songs

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
POL
[31]
"Heart from the Start"19841Secret
"When They All Have Gone"10

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Flock of Seagulls</span> English new wave and synth-pop band

A Flock of Seagulls are an English new wave band formed in Liverpool in 1979. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised Mike Score, Ali Score, Frank Maudsley and Paul Reynolds, hit the peak of their chart success in the early 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty Records</span> US and UK record label

Liberty Records was a record label founded in the United States by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Alvin Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mezzoforte (band)</span> Icelandic jazz fusion group

Mezzoforte is an instrumental jazz-funk fusion band from Iceland, formed in 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transvision Vamp</span> English alternative rock band

Transvision Vamp were an English pop rock band. Formed in 1986 by Nick Christian Sayer and Wendy James, the band enjoyed chart success in the late 1980s, particularly in 1989. James, the lead singer and focal-point of the group, attracted media attention with her sexually charged and rebellious image. The band had 10 UK chart hits and also enjoyed considerable success in Australia. Transvision Vamp's top single was 1989's "Baby I Don't Care", which reached number three in the UK and Australian charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul McCartney discography</span>

The discography of British musician Paul McCartney consists of 26 studio albums, four compilation albums, nine live albums, 37 video albums, two extended plays, 111 singles, seven classical albums, five electronica albums, 17 box sets, and 79 music videos. Before his career as a solo artist, McCartney enjoyed success as a member of the rock band the Beatles.

Eater are an early British punk rock band from North London who took their name from a Marc Bolan lyric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sal Solo</span> Musical artist

Sal Solo is an English singer.

<i>Pride</i> (White Lion album) 1987 studio album by White Lion

Pride is the second studio album by the American-Danish glam-metal band White Lion, released on June 22, 1987, by Atlantic Records. The album featured the two top ten hits "Wait" and "When the Children Cry". It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 and remained in the Billboard Top 200 for a full year, selling two million copies in the US alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're the Voice</span> Song by John Farnham

"You're the Voice" is a song recorded by the British-born Australian singer John Farnham released in 1986, which became an immediate hit in Australia as well as several European countries, his native country the United Kingdom, and Ireland. It was released as a single in September 1986 ahead of his album Whispering Jack, and was written by Andy Qunta, Keith Reid, Maggie Ryder, and Chris Thompson.

<i>Eye of the Tiger</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Survivor

Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It reached #2 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimi Jamison</span> American singer (1951–2014)

Jimmy Wayne Jamison was an American singer. Best known as Jimi Jamison, he earned recognition as the frontman for the rock bands Target, Cobra, and Survivor from 1984 to 1989, performing the songs "Burning Heart" from the film Rocky IV, "The Moment of Truth" from The Karate Kid, along with other top-20 Survivor hits "I Can't Hold Back", "High On You", "The Search Is Over" and "Is This Love". He officially rejoined Survivor in 2000, remaining in the group until 2006, and rejoined again in 2011. Acclaimed for his vocal abilities, Jamison is also known for having co-written and performed the theme song "I'm Always Here" for the 1990s TV series Baywatch.

<i>Whispering Jack</i> 1986 studio album by John Farnham

Whispering Jack is the twelfth studio album by Australian adult contemporary pop singer John Farnham. It was produced by Ross Fraser and released on 29 September 1986, peaking at No. 1 on the Australian Kent Music Report albums chart. Whispering Jack became the second-best-selling album in Australia, behind only Meat Loaf's album Bat Out of Hell, and the highest-selling album in Australia by an Australian artist―24× platinum, indicating over 1.68 million copies sold; it remains the third-best-selling album of all time in Australia, as Shania Twain's Come On Over eventually eclipsed it. It spent 25 weeks at the No. 1 spot on the albums chart during 1986–1987, it was awarded the 1987 ARIA Award for Album of the Year, and it was the best-charting album for the decade of the 1980s in Australia. It was the first Australian-made album to be released on compact disc within Australia. One of Farnham's biggest hits, "You're the Voice", was issued as the lead single from the album and peaked at No. 1 on the Kent Music Report singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bombay Bicycle Club</span> English indie rock band

Bombay Bicycle Club is an English indie rock band from Crouch End, London, consisting of Jack Steadman, Jamie MacColl, Suren de Saram, and Ed Nash. They are guitar-fronted and have experimented with different genres, including folk, electronica, world music and indie rock.

<i>Night People</i> (Classix Nouveaux album) 1981 studio album by Classix Nouveaux

Night People is the debut studio album by English new wave band Classix Nouveaux, released in 1981 by record label Liberty. It reached number 66 in the UK Albums Chart. It peaked at number 85 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet discography</span>

The following is a comprehensive discography of British rock band Sweet.

Anderson Amos Temba "Andy" Qunta is an English singer, songwriter, composer and musician. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Qunta is best known as the keyboardist of the Australian rock band Icehouse from between 1982 and 1988. As a popular musician, he has been influenced by artists including the Who, Cliff Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Genesis, Manfred Mann, Yes, Todd Rundgren and Queen.

Jak Airport was the guitarist of 1970s punk band X-Ray Spex and new wave band Classix Nouveaux.

<i>La vérité</i> (Classix Nouveaux album) 1982 studio album by Classix Nouveaux

La vérité is the second studio album by English new wave band Classix Nouveaux, released in 1982 by record label Liberty. It reached number 44 in the UK Albums Chart, their highest-charting album to date.

<i>Secret</i> (Classix Nouveaux album) 1983 studio album by Classix Nouveaux

Secret is the third and final studio album by English new wave band Classix Nouveaux, released in 1983 by record label Liberty. It was the band's only album not to chart in the UK.

Spargo are a Dutch band, formed in 1975, known for their hits "You and Me", "Head Up to the Sky", "One Night Affair", "Just For You" and "Hip Hap Hop" in the 1980s.

References

  1. ↑ Andy Qunta Biography AndyQunta.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015]
  2. ↑ "allmusic/classix-nouveaux". 26 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 "classix-nouveauxs-sal-solo-and-his-guilty-feeling". 26 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Sal Solo history – Classix Nouveaux Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine SalSolo.com. Retrieved 14 September 2013]
  5. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. ↑ "filmaffinity". 28 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 110. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  8. ↑ "Watch Blitzed: The 80s Blitz Kids Story Online – Stream Full Episodes".
  9. ↑ Blitzed: The 80s Blitz Kids Story, Sky Arts 2020
  10. ↑ CD Sleeve Notes, La Verité, CDMRED 217, 2002
  11. ↑ "revengeofthe80sradio interview". 26 September 2023.
  12. ↑ Secret CD, CDM RED 303-Sleeve Notes by Sal Solo 2006.
  13. ↑ "Sal Solo". Official Charts. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "The Return of Classix Nouveaux – Town Square Bonus Cast". 31 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Week 97 29 May 2022".
  16. ↑ The Heritage Chart with Mike Read, Sunday nights in 2022 on Talking Pictures TV
  17. ↑ "classix-nouveaux-battle-cry-cd-digipak-edition". 17 November 2023.
  18. ↑ "classix-nouveaux-battle-cry". 17 November 2023.
  19. 1 2 "CLASSIX NOUVEAUX | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 65. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  21. 1 2 "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit CHU – COA". Sisältää hitin. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  22. ↑ "Tímarit.is". timarit.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  23. ↑ "Vendas de discos 1982". VENDAS DE DISCOS EM PORTUGAL. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  24. ↑ "swedishcharts.com – Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  25. ↑ "Classix capers" (PDF). Record Mirror . 27 March 1982. p. 3. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  26. ↑ "Classix on the never never" (PDF). Record Mirror . 5 November 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  27. ↑ https://classixnouveaux.bandcamp.com/album/battle-cry [ bare URL ]
  28. ↑ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980–1989'. Cherry Red Books. ISBN   0-9517206-9-4.
  29. ↑ "Tímarit.is". timarit.is (in Icelandic). Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  30. ↑ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  31. 1 2 "Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego – Classix Nouveaux". lp3.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  32. ↑ "Lista Przebojów Programu Trzeciego – Sal Solo". lp3.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  33. ↑ João, Mário (15 July 2013). "RECORTES & RETALHOS: Musica&Som Nº 66 Capa/Top's". RECORTES & RETALHOS. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  34. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (2015). Sólo éxitos 1959–2012 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   978-84-8048-866-2.
  35. ↑ "swedishcharts.com – Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  36. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco 1974–2003 (illustrated ed.). Record Research Incorporated. ISBN   9780898201567.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.