Page Three (band)

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Page Three
Genres
Years active1976–77
Labels Warner Brothers
Past membersClare Russell
Felicity Buirsky
Stephanie Marrian

Page Three was a British girl group briefly active in the late 1970s. They had a national hit with "Hold on to Love".

Contents

Background

The group was made up of three Page 3 models from UK tabloid, The Sun (Felicity Buirski, Clare Russell and Stefani Marrian) [1] , who met up while on a modelling shoot in Portugal in 1976. [2]

Stephanie Marrian, who was born Stefanie Khan in 1948, was the first Page Three model in The Sun. Her appearance was in the 17 November 1970 issue of the tabloid. [3] Felicity Buirski was the daughter of a musician. In her teens she was a journalist but left that when she entered into the world of modelling. [4]

Career

Felicity Buirsky's brother, who had industry connections, agreed to manage the group, and, after sending a demo disc to various labels, the trio was picked up by Warner Brothers. They recorded two tracks with Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett of The Shadows, [5] and, although they preferred "Oh My Baby" as a single, the a-side choice was "Hold On to Love". [6]

"Hold On to Love"

After an initial trademark claim from the Sun, the parties reached an agreement, and the single bag was designed in imitation of the Sun's tabloid style. [7] The group performed the single on Seaside Special [8] and Top Of The Pops [9] in August 1977.

The song came close to getting into the top 50 of the UK pop chart, making the Bubbling Under listings that month. [10] For the week of 13 August, the record reached the Record Mirror Star Breaker chart. [11] For the week of 27 August, it was at the top of both the Record Mirror and Music Week Star Breakers charts, thereby effectively being number 51 on the national charts. [12] [13] While it dropped off the Music Week Star Breakers chart, [14] it stayed at the top of the Record Mirror Star Breakers chart for another week. [15] [16] The single's failure to make more of an impact, despite the publicity, meant that the release remained a one-off.[ citation needed ]

Further activities

While their single was starting to work its way up the charts it was reported in the 30 July issue of Record Mirror that the group wanted to do something heavier next time and they wanted more control. [17]

Later years

In 1987, Felicity Buirski's solo album, Repairs & Alterations was released on the Run River Records label. [18] She would go on to be a recognized and respected folk musician. [19] [20] [21]

Stephanie Marrian would work as an actor, appearing as Lady Marie in the Mel Brooks 1981 film, History of the World, Part I , [22] [23] and hosting The Cut Price Comedy Show in 1982. [24]

Line up

Discography

Singles

YearSinglePeak chart positions
UK
1977"Hold On To Love"
51
(number 1 in the Star Breakers chart)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Music Week, July 9, 1976 - Page 1 Front cover
  2. Henderson, Jon (30 August 1977). "Clare reveals a new pop talent". Dorset Echo: 9.
  3. World Histories, 5 Feb 2018 - the Page-Three girl of the British tabloid The Sun
  4. Musician, No. 129 JULY 1989 - Page 13 NO MORE POSES, Felicity Buirski
  5. Record Mirror, July 9, 1977 - Page 5 News In Brief
  6. Henderson, Jon (30 August 1977). "Clare reveals a new pop talent". Dorset Echo: 9.
  7. "Turning on to Page Three". Guardian: 13. 25 August 1977.
  8. "Programme index". BBC Genome.
  9. "25/08/1977". BBC Two - Top of the Pops. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  10. "1970 to 1975 BMRB chart 'Bubblers'". UK Mix. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
  11. Record Mirror, August 13, 1977 - Page 2 Star Breakers, HOLD ON TO LOVE, Page Three Warner Brothers
  12. Record Mirror, August 27, 1977 - Page 2 Star Breakers, HOLD ON TO LOVE, Page Three Warner Brothers
  13. Music Week, August 27, 1977 - Page 49 STAR BREAKERS, HOLD ON TO LOVE, Page Three, Warner Brothers K16976
  14. Music Week, September 3, 1977 - Page 57 STAR BREAKERS
  15. Record Mirror, September 3, 1977 - Page 2 Star Breakers, HOLD ON TO LOVE, Page Three Warner Brothers
  16. Record Mirror, September 10, 1977 - Page 2 Star Breakers
  17. Record Mirror, July 30, 1977 - Page 6 MCP PAGE, ROBIN SMITH reveals all (well almost all)
  18. Musician, No. 129 JULY 1989 - Page 13 NO MORE POSES, Felicity Buirski
  19. Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian, Thursday 30 March 1989 - Page 17 Felicity in concert
  20. In every style of passion : the works of Leonard Cohen, By Jim Devlin, 1996 - ISBN: 0.7119.5496.8 - Page 130
  21. The Catalogue, Issue 72 July 1989 - Page 4 PRODUCT
  22. TV Guide - Stephanie Marrian, Credits
  23. The Hitler Filmography
    Worldwide Feature Film and Television Miniseries Portrayals, 1940 Through 2000, By Charles P. Mitchell · 2015 - ISBN: 9781476609843 - Page 91 34. History of the World - Part One (1981)
  24. TV Time - Stephanie Marrian, Filmography