Kenny (band)

Last updated

Kenny
Origin London, England
Genres Pop, rock, glam rock, bubblegum pop
Years active1974–1979
Labels RAK, Polydor
Past membersRick Driscoll
Yan Stile
Chris Redburn
Chris Lacklison
Andy Walton

Kenny was an English pop, rock and glam rock band that formed in London in 1974. They had several hit singles in the UK in the mid-1970s, including "The Bump" and "Fancy Pants".

Contents

History

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 Enfield band named 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 UK Singles Chart. They had three further records reach that chart 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 backing vocals on "The Bump" were performed by Barry Palmer. [5]

In 1989, lead singer Rick Driscoll played lead guitar for Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel as part of Steve Harley's comeback tour, aptly named "The Come Back, All Is Forgiven Tour". The show at Northampton's Derngate Theatre in June 1989 was released on home video later that year. Driscoll was replaced by Robbie Gladwell in 1990, who as of 2021 continues to play lead guitar in the band. In 1996, Driscoll also appeared on the 'Identity Parade', on the BBC Television programme Never Mind the Buzzcocks . As of 2021 he is based in Corfu, where he skippers charter yachts. [6]

Members

Discography

Albums

Singles

YearA-SideB-SideLabelPeak chart positions
AUS
[8]
BE
[9]
GER
[7]
IRE
[10]
UK
[11]
1974"The Bump"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
"Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
RAK 18671301923
1975"Fancy Pants"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
"I'm a Winner"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
RAK 1961434
"Baby I Love You, OK!"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
"The Sound of Super K"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
RAK 20721912
"Julie Anne"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
"Dancin' Feet"
(Rick Driscoll, Yan Style)
RAK 2146141010
"Nice to Have You Home"
(Bill Martin-Phil Coulter)
"Happiness Melissa"
(Rick Driscoll, Yan Style)
RAK 22530
1976"Hot Lips"
(Anthony Craig, Edward Adamberry)
"Bangin' My Head Against a Brick Wall"
(Rick Driscoll, Yan Style)
Polydor2020
"Red Headed Lady"
(Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway)
"Alone Together"
(Rick Driscoll, Yan Style)
Polydor49
1977"Old Songs Never Die"
(Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway)
"Don't Hold On"
(Rick Driscoll, Yan Style)
Polydor
1979"Reach Out I'll Be There"
(Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier)
"Time Is the Healer"
(Nash, Style)
Decca

List of songs recorded by Kenny

  • The column Song list the song title; bold means released as a single.
  • The column Writer(s) lists who wrote the song.
  • The column Time shows its length.
  • The column Album lists the album the song is featured on.
  • The column Producer lists the producer of the song.
  • The column Year lists the year in which the song was released.
SongWriter(s)TimeProducerAlbumYearOther
"Alone Together"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:14Miki DallonRicochet1976B-side of "Red Headed Lady"
"Baby I Love You, OK!" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:54 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975A-side of "The Sound of Super K"
"Bangin' My Head Against a Brick Wall"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:22Miki DallonThe Singles Collection Plus...1976B-side of "Hot Lips"
"Be My Girl"Andy Walton, Chris Redburn2:13Miki DallonRicochet1976
"Dancin' Feet"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:00 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Singles Collection Plus...1975B-side of "Julie Anne"
"Don't Hold On"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style2:59Edward Adamberrynone1977B-side of "Old Songs Never Die"
"End of a Love Affair"Yan Style3:03Miki DallonRicochet1976
"Fancy Pants" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:24 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975A-side of "I'm a Winner"
"Forever and Ever" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:30 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975UK No. 1 for Slik
"Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:11 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Singles Collection Plus...1975B-side of "The Bump"
"Glad, Glad, Glad"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:59 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Go into Hiding"Yan Style3:07Miki DallonRicochet1976
"Happiness Melissa"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style2:29 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Singles Collection Plus...1975B-side of "Nice to Have You Home"
"Hey! Mr. Dream Seller"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:14 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Hot Lips"Anthony Craig, Edward Adamberry2:53Miki DallonRicochet1976A-side of "Bangin' My Head Against a Brick Wall"
"I Won't Cry"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style4:02Miki DallonRicochet1976
"I'm a Winner" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:09 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Singles Collection Plus...1975B-side of "Fancy Pants"
"I'm Coming Home"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style2:58Miki DallonRicochet1976
"Julie Anne" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 2:59 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975A-side of "Dancin' Feet"
"Just a Word Away" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Little Darlin'" Maurice Williams 4:15 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Long Lost Summers"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style3:08 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Make Up, Break Up"Andy Walton, Yan Style2:59Miki DallonRicochet1976
"Memories"Rick Driscoll, Yan Style Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975
"Nice to Have You Home" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:43 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1975A-side of "Happiness Melissa"
"Old Songs Never Die" Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway 3:16Edward Adamberrynone1977A-side of "Don't Hold On"
"Reach Out I'll Be There" Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier 3:13Kenny & Gwen Mathiasnone1979A-side of "Time Is the Healer"
"Red Headed Lady" Tony Macaulay-Roger Greenaway 2:30Miki DallonRicochet1976A-side of "Alone Together"
"The Bump" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 2:33 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Sound of Super K1974A-side of "Forget the Janes, the Jeans and the Might Have Beens"
"The Sound of Super K" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter 3:14 Bill Martin-Phil Coulter The Singles Collection Plus...1975B-side of "Baby I Love You, OK!"
"Time Is the Healer"Nash, Style3:03Kenny & Gwen Mathiasnone1979B-side of "Reach Out (I'll Be There)"
"You Wrote the Words"Andy Walton, Yan Style2:49Miki DallonRicochet1976
"When You Dance, I Can Really Love" Neil Young  ?unknownnone1979not published
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher"Carl Smith, Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner4:22Miki DallonRicochet1976

Cover songs

SongWriter(s)Original artistAlbumYearOther
"Little Darlin'" Maurice Williams The Gladiolas 1957
"Reach Out I'll Be There" Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier Four Tops Reach Out 1967
"The Bump" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter Bay City Rollers Rock 'N' Rollers: The Best of Bay City Rollers1974Originally as the B-side of their October 1974 hit, "All of Me Loves All of You"
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher"Carl Smith, Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner Jackie Wilson Higher and Higher1967

Kenny songs covered by others

SongWriter(s)First artistNameAlbumYearOther
"Forever and Ever" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter a) Slik
b) Peter Orloff Sound Orchester
c) Michael Born
d) Délizia
e) Jean Guinéa
f) Pippis
g) Bobby Vinton
h) Terrorvision
i) Motown Corps
a) Forever and Ever
b) Forever and Ever (instrumental)
c) Ich will dir für immer gehören (German)
d) Le procès de l'amour
e) Des tonnes de soleil
f) Det måste vara kärlek (Swedish)
g) Forever and Ever
h) Forever and Ever
i) Forever and Ever
a) Slik
b) Disco Hits Instrumental
c) none
d) none
e) none
f) Fyllda Segel!
g) none
h) The Essential Terrorvision
i) none
a) 1975
b) 1976
c) 1976
d) 1978
e) 1978
f) 1978
g) 1981
h) 1997
h) unknown
"Julie Anne" Bill Martin-Phil Coulter a) James Last
b) Billy Larkin
c) Tonix
a) Julie Anne
b) Julie Anne
c) Juliet (Swedish)
a) Non Stop Dancing 1976
b) Uptown Country
c) Shang-A-Lang
a) 1975
b) 1976
c) 1976

See also

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References

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  2. 1 2 "Kenny - Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  3. Brightwell, Eric. "Kenny - Biography". Amoeba Music. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
  4. Wilde, Diana: The Glam Rock Files. Independent September 2017. ISBN   978-1549647253. Pages 62-63
  5. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 299. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  6. "Rick Driscoll owner of Blue Planet and your Captain/Your Skipper". Sailblueplanet.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Suche - Offizielle Deutsche Charts". www.offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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  11. "KENNY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 29 December 2020.