Messengers (Scottish band)

Last updated
Messengers
Origin Glasgow
Years active1982 (1982)–1985 (1985)
Labels Chrysalis Records
Associated acts Ultravox
MembersDaniel Mitchell
Colin King

Messengers were a Scottish new wave duo consisting of Danny Mitchell (keyboards and programming) and Colin King (vocals and percussion). The duo were originally part of Modern Man, a Glasgow post punk/new wave band discovered by Midge Ure of Ultravox. Modern Man disbanded after releasing one album produced by Ure, Concrete Scheme (1980), after which Ure stayed as producer with Mitchell and King as Messengers. [1]

Contents

Messengers toured as support band to Ultravox, contributing to the live album Monument (1982), and with Mitchell co-writing Midge Ure's "If I Was". [2] Enough material for an album was recorded by 1984, but Ure's label Chrysalis declined to release an album after offering a three singles deal only.

An album was finally released in November 2004 when Mitchell and King re-recorded many of their songs, written during the period of 1979 and 1985, for release via the official Ultravox website. Of the thirteen tracks released on the album, only three were new compositions: "(Did) You Take Me For A Ride", "Send That Letter Home" and "The Reformation Waltz". [3]

Discography

Messengers

Singles:

All tracks written by Daniel Mitchell/Colin King, except "I Turn In (To You)" and "Plains Of Siberia" by Daniel Mitchell and "Andy Warhol" by David Bowie.

Album:

...It's Been Twenty Years, Let's Try Turning Up The Volume..., MESSCD200401, released 10 November 2004 (via the official Ultravox website).

  1. "Woman In The Dunes" – 4:33
  2. "(Did You) Take Me For A Ride" – 4:46
  3. "Strawboy" – 3:17
  4. "Art" – 5:34
  5. "You'd Better Go" – 3:41
  6. "The Dancing Bear" – 4:08
  7. "Departure" – 5:05
  8. "Send That Letter Home" – 5:33
  9. "The Three D Men" – 6:09
  10. "T.D.P." – 7:52
  11. "The Scars" – 4:14
  12. "A Song From A Cage" – 4:14
  13. "The Reformation Waltz" – 3:20

Modern Man

Singles:

All tracks written by Danny Mitchell, except "Things Could Be Better" by Jim Cook.

Album:

'Side 1:'

  1. "Good Time Ideology" – 1:56
  2. "Wonderful World" – 3:43
  3. "Cosmetics" – 2:15
  4. "All The Little Idiots" – 3:10
  5. "Little White Boys" – 3:45
  6. "Wastelands" – 6:07

'Side 2:'

  1. "I Think You Better Go Home" – 4:51
  2. "Body Music" – 3:43
  3. "I Couldn't Stop" – 4:16
  4. "Advance" – 4:07
  5. "War" – 5:02

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References

  1. ↑ Midge Ure: If I Was - The Autobiography - p. 112 - 2004 -"Danny Mitchell and Colin King, the Messengers, who were opening up for Ultravox, travelled with us because they couldn't stand the nannying."
  2. ↑ The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music - Donald Clarke - 1990, p. 1189, "single 'If I Was': co-wrote most songs with Danny Mitchell, half of former Ultravox tour support the Messengers (he also played in Ure's live band that toured to promote LP)."
  3. ↑ "wordpress". 1 March 2021.
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