The Icicle Works are an English alternative rock band, named after the 1960 short story "The Day the Icicle Works Closed" by science fiction author Frederik Pohl. They had a top 20 UK hit with "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" (1983). In the US and Canada, they had one top 40 hit, the 1984 single "Birds Fly ".
"Birds Fly (Whisper to a Scream)", given the reversed title "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)" in some markets, is a song by the British band The Icicle Works. It was released in 1983 as the first single from the band's 1984 debut eponymous album The Icicle Works, and re-released in March 1984. The song was written by Ian McNabb, the band's lead singer, and produced by Hugh Jones.
Robert Ian McNabb is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Previously the frontman of The Icicle Works, McNabb has since embarked on a solo career and performed with Ringo Starr, Neil Young/Crazy Horse, Mike Scott, and Danny Thompson of folk band Pentangle.
Richard Naiff is a British pianist and flautist from London who has performed with the bands Soulsec, The Catacoustics, The Waterboys and The Icicle Works. Naiff is a classically trained musician, having joined the Guildhall School of Music at age ten. The Irish music website Cluas.com describes Naiff as "phenomenally talented".
Cloudcuckooland is the debut album by British band the Lightning Seeds, released in 1990. "Pure" was the band's first hit in the United Kingdom, and their only top 40 entry in the United States.
Merseybeast is the title of Ian McNabb's third solo album after disbanding The Icicle Works. It is also the title of the first song on the album. The name is a play on the idea of the "Mersey Beat", a 1960s musical genre and movement. Merseybeast is also the title of Ian McNabb's autobiography, published in 2008. A second CD entitled North West Coast was also released in limited quantities. The album peaked at No. 30 on the official UK charts.
Chris Layhe is an English musician, and founding member of Liverpool alternative rock band, The Icicle Works.
Truth and Beauty is the debut solo album of Ian McNabb, after he left the Icicle Works. The album peaked at No. 51 on the official UK charts. It was reissued in September 2013 as an expanded edition, including a second disc of B-sides.
A Party Political Broadcast on Behalf of the Emotional Party is the title of Ian McNabb's 4th solo album after leaving The Icicle Works. The album peaked at No. 162 on the official UK charts.
Ian McNabb is Ian McNabb's eponymous 5th solo album after leaving The Icicle Works. The album peaked at No. 185 on the official UK charts.
Little Episodes is Ian McNabb's ninth solo album, only available through his official website. The album produced no singles, although a music video was released for the lead track 'Ancient Energy'.
"Great Dreams of Heaven" is the first solo single released by Ian McNabb after disbanding the Icicle Works. It was first released in 1991, then re-released in 1993 from the album Truth and Beauty.
"You Must Be Prepared to Dream" is the sixth solo single released by Ian McNabb after disbanding the Icicle Works. The song was the second to be released from the album Head Like a Rock. The single charted at number 54 on the official UK charts, and would be McNabbs' best charting single for the next ten years. The 12" single was printed on purple vinyl.
Robert Ian McNabb is an English singer-songwriter and musician from Liverpool, England. Although known best for his work as leader and songwriter-in-chief of The Icicle Works in the 1980s, he has also led a critically acclaimed solo career. This article documents his solo releases, followed by a more detailed description of a selection of his releases.
The Icicle Works is the eponymous debut album by The Icicle Works. The album was released in 1984 and charted at number 24 in the UK and number 40 in the US.
The Small Price of a Bicycle is the second studio album by The Icicle Works. The album was released in 1985 and charted at number 55 in the UK Despite the success of the band's first album in North America, it was not released in either the US or Canada, with Arista Records in the US memorably rejecting it as "punk-rock demos".
If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song is the third album by The Icicle Works. The album was released in 1987.
Blind is the fourth album by the English band the Icicle Works, released in 1988. It was the band's final album with their original lineup. The album peaked at No. 40 on the UK Albums Chart. "High Time" peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.
Permanent Damage is the fifth and final album by The Icicle Works. The album was released in 1990.
