Eddy and the Soul Band

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Eddy and the Soul Band
Also known asEddy & The Soul Band, Eddy and the Soulband, Eddy C. & The Soulband
OriginHolland
GenresDisco
Years active1980s
Labels Philips, Club

Eddy and the Soul Band was a Dutch-based musical ensemble who were active during the 1980s. Led by Eddy Conard they had hits with their versions of Soul Cha Cha", and "Theme from Shaft".

Contents

Background

Band leader Eddy Conard is from Gary, Indiana. Growing up he was obsessed with Isaac Hayes' hit song "Theme from Shaft". It was apparently the first record he purchased. [1] Moving to Holland he studied sociology and he became a resident there. A percussionist from the age of twenty he played in bands who supported acts such as The Supremes, The Stylistics, Natalie Cole and Crown Heights Affair. He had a big hit in Holland with his version of Van McCoy's "Soul Cha Cha". Apparently a remark by a Dutch disk jockey gave him the encouragement to record his version of "Theme from Shaft". [2]

In 1982, Conard had some success with the single, "You Are Unique". Credited to Eddy Conard & The American Dance Band, it charted for five weeks in the Netherlands. [3]

Career

Soulchacha aka Soul Cha Cha

The group covered Van McCoy's song, "Soul Cha Cha", but had the title as "Soulchacha". It was backed with "In the Night". Both sides were produced by Jacques Zwart. It was released in the Netherlands on Philips Philips 818 237–7. [4] The single peaked at no. 24 in the Dutch charts during the first quarter of 1984. [5] [6] It was also a hit in Belgium, spending a total of three weeks in the chart there, peaking at no. 28. [7]

Theme from Shaft

Eddy and the Soulband recorded their version of the "Theme from Shaft" which was released in the UK in 12" format on Beat Records 308467 (Hot Pursuit Mix), [8] [9] and in 7" format on Club JAB 11. [10] [11]

On the week of January 26, 1985, the 12" Hot Pursuit Mix version which was issued on Break 308467 [12] [13] made its debut in at no. 50 in the Record Mirror Disco chart. [14] On the week of February 23, 1985, the 7" version of the record debuted in the UK singles chart at no. 30. [15] [16] The Hot Pursuit Mix also reached its peak position of no. 3 in the Disco chart that same week. [17] [18] On the week of March 9, 1985, the "Hot Persuit Mix" version of the song had dropped down from no. 4 to no. 5 in the Record Mirror RM Disco chart. [19] At week three, the 7" version of "Shaft" had moved up from 19 to 13. [20] The single 7" version would spend a total of seven weeks in the UK chart, peaking at no. 13. [21] [22] The week of April 6 was also the last week the 12" version was in the Disco chart. [23] [24]

Further activities

The group recorded the single, "The World Turns On (Peace Version)" which was backed with "The World Turns On (Dub Version)". Produced by Jacques Zwart and Albert Boekholt, it was released in the UK on Club JABX 19 in 1985. It was also credited to Eddie C, and the Soulband. In the November 2 issue of Music Week, James Hamilton referred to it as an "oddball Eurodisco instrumental medley of originally Norman Whitfield-produced Temptations/Edwin Starr oldies with unpredictable appeal". [27] [28] It was also in the Airplay Action Bubbling chart that week. [29] It was still in the Bubbling chart on the week of November 9. [30]

Later years

Conard was the featured vocalist on " A Swingin' Safari" by Afringo. It spent four weeks in the Dutch charts, peaking at no. 72 in August, 1992. [31] [32]

Discography

Singles (Netherlands)
ActReleaseCatalogueYearNotes
Eddy and the Soulband"Soulchacha" / In the Night" Philips 818 237–71983
Eddy and the Soulband"Theme From Shaft" / "Love-Train"Philips 880 089–71984
Eddy and the SoulbandTheme From "Shaft" (Special U.K. Mix) / "Vision of Love"Philips 880 089–71985 [33] [ citation needed ]
Eddie C. And The Soul Band"The World Turns On (Young & Strong Edit)" / "Boogalized" Casablanca 884 026–71985 [34] [ citation needed ]

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References

  1. ↑ Oxford Reference - OVERVIEW, Eddy And The Soul Band
  2. ↑ Record Mirror, March 9, 1985 - Page 9 REVISITED - MIKE GARDNER
  3. ↑ Dutch Charts - EDDY CONARD & THE AMERICAN DANCE BAND - YOU ARE UNIQUE
  4. ↑ hitparade.ch - Eddy And The Soulband – Soul Chacha
  5. ↑ Dutch Charts - EDDY AND THE SOULBAND - SOUL CHACHA
  6. ↑ Top 40.nl - SOUL CHACHA eddy and the soulband
  7. ↑ Charts.org.nz - EDDY AND THE SOULBAND - SOUL CHACHA (SONG)
  8. ↑ Discogs - Eddy And The Soulband* – Theme From Shaft, Label: Break Records – 308467
  9. ↑ Record Mirror, January 26, 1985 - Page 25 Discos On the Go-Go:JAMES HAMILTON, ODDS 'N' BOD'S
  10. ↑ 45Cat - Eddy And The Soulband - Discography, UK
  11. ↑ Record Mirror, February 23, 1985 - Page 29 UK Singles, THIS WEEK 30, LAST WEEK _, WEEKS ON CHART 1, SHAFT, Eddy And The Soul Band, Club JAB11
  12. ↑ Discogs - Eddy And The Soulband* – Theme From Shaft, Label: Break Records – 308467
  13. ↑ Record Mirror, January 26, 1985 - Page 25 Discos On the Go-Go:JAMES HAMILTON, ODDS 'N' BOD'S
  14. ↑ Record Mirror, January 26, 1985 - Page 24 Record Mirror Disco, 50 — THEME FROM 'SHAFT', Eddy and the Soulband, Dutch Break 12in
  15. ↑ 45Cat - Eddy And The Soulband - Discography, UK
  16. ↑ Record Mirror, February 23, 1985 - Page 29 UK Singles, THIS WEEK 30, LAST WEEK _, WEEKS ON CHART 1, SHAFT, Eddy And The Soul Band, Club JAB11
  17. ↑ Record Mirror, February 23, 1985 - Page 31 Record Mirror Disco, 3 8 THEME FROM ' SHAFT' ( HOT PURSUIT MIX), Eddy and the Soulband, Club 12in
  18. ↑ Record Mirror, March 2, 1985 - Page 29 Record Mirror Disco, 4 3 THEME FROM ' SHAFT' ( HOT PURSUIT MIX), Eddy and the Soulband, Club 12in
  19. ↑ Record Mirror, March 9, 1985 - Page 25 RM DISCO, 5 4 THEME FROM ' SHAFT' (HOT PURSUIT MIX), Eddy and the Soulband
  20. ↑ Record Mirror, March 9, 1985 - Page 38 UK SINGLES THIS WEEK 13 LAST WEEK 19 WEEKS IN CHART 3 SHAFT, Eddy And The Soul Band, Club
  21. ↑ Official Charts - THEME FROM SHAFT, by EDDY AND THE SOUL BAND
  22. ↑ Record Mirror, April 6, 1985 - Page 42 Official Top Of The Pops/ Radio One Charts compiled by Gallup, Week ending April 6, 1985, UK SINGLES, THIS WEEK 69, LAST WEEK 46, WEEKS IN CHART 7, SHAFT, Eddy And The Soul Band, Club
  23. ↑ Record Mirror, April 6, 1985 - Page 29 RM DISCO, 28 22 THEME FROM ' SHAFT', Eddy and the Sou!band, Club 12in
  24. ↑ Record Mirror, April 13, 1985 - Page 29 RM DISCO
  25. ↑ Record Mirror, April 30, 1985 - Page 34 N I G H T C L U B, POP JOX are playing
  26. ↑ Record Mirror, January 4, 1986 - Page 37 YEAR END DISCO, 61 YHEME FROM SHAFT, Eddy And The Soul Band, Club I 2in
  27. ↑ Discogs - Eddie C. & The Soulband* – The World Turns On
  28. ↑ Music Week, November 2, 1985 - Page 35 DISCO, JAMES HAMILTON
  29. ↑ Music Week, November 2, 1985 - Page 12 Airplay action Bubbling, 6 (-) EDDIE C. AND THE SOULBAND: The World Turns Club/Phonogram/JAB 19 (F)
  30. ↑ Music Week, November 9, 1985 - Page 14 Airplay action Bubbling, 6 (6) EDDIE C. AND THE SOULBAND: The World Turns Club/Phonogram/JAB 19 (F)
  31. ↑ Discogs - Afringo – A Swingin' Safari
  32. ↑ Dutch Charts - EDDY CONARD DISCOGRAFIE / FAN WORDEN, A Swingin' Safari (Afringo)
  33. ↑ 45Cat - Eddy And The Soulband - Discography, Netherlands
  34. ↑ Discogs - Eddie C. And The Soul Band* – The World Turns On
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