Rhyming slang is a form of slang word construction in the English language. It is especially prevalent among Cockneys in England, and was first used in the early 19th century in the East End of London; hence its alternative name, Cockney rhyming slang. In the US, especially the criminal underworld of the West Coast between 1880 and 1920, rhyming slang has sometimes been known as Australian slang.
Cockney is a dialect of the English language, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by Londoners with working-class and lower middle-class roots. The term Cockney is also used as a demonym for a person from the East End, or, traditionally, born within earshot of Bow Bells.
Chas & Dave were an English pop rock duo, formed in London by Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock.
Charles Nicholas Hodges was an English musician and singer who was the lead vocalist of musical duo Chas & Dave.
David Victor Peacock is an English musician and bass guitarist. He was brought up in Ponders End and the Freezywater areas of Enfield. Peacock is best known as having been one half of the English musical duo Chas & Dave between 1974 and the death of Chas Hodges in 2018.
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" is a song by the British rock band Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, which was released in 1975 by EMI as the lead single from the band's third studio album The Best Years of Our Lives. The song was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons. In February 1975, the song reached number one on the UK chart and received a gold certification from the British Phonographic Industry in October 2021. It spent nine weeks in the Top 50, and as of 2015, has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
"Night Boat to Cairo" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness from their debut 1979 album One Step Beyond.... It was written by Mike Barson and Suggs and was also included on the 1980 EP Work Rest and Play, which peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and reached the top 30 in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. The song was later re-issued in the UK in 1993 following the success of the re-issued version of "It Must Be Love" but failed to reach the top 40, peaking at number 56. It was remixed slightly for inclusion on the band's eponymous 1983 album compiled for the United States. The song is featured in the 2011 Wii video game Just Dance 3.
"Any Old Iron" is a British music hall song written by Charles Collins, Fred E. Terry and E.A. Sheppard. Harry Champion sang it as part of his act, and recorded it in 1911.
"Come Dancing" is a 1982 song written by Ray Davies and performed by British rock group the Kinks on their 1983 album State of Confusion. The song was inspired by Davies' memories of his older sister, Rene, who died of a heart attack while dancing at a dance hall. The lyrics, sung from the perspective of an "East End barrow boy," are about the boy's sister going on dates at a local Palais dance hall.
"Gertcha" is a song from Chas & Dave's 1979 album Don't Give a Monkey's, which was released as a single in May 1979 and entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 67. The song stayed in the charts for 8 weeks and peaked at number No. 20 on 30 June 1979. The song was used as the music behind a notable television commercial for Courage Bitter.
"Ossie's Dream " is a single by the English football team Tottenham Hotspur, released as a souvenir to commemorate the team reaching the 1981 FA Cup Final. It was written by Dave Peacock of Chas & Dave and produced by the duo. The song reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart after Tottenham won the FA Cup that year. It is still frequently chanted by Spurs supporters during matches. The B-side of the single is "Glory, Glory, Tottenham Hotspur".
"Tottenham, Tottenham" was a single released by the English football team Tottenham Hotspur, with uncredited accompaniment by Chas & Dave, in 1982. It reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart.
"Ain't No Pleasing You" is a song by Chas & Dave from the album Mustn't Grumble, which was released as a single on 5 March 1982 and entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 62. The song stayed in the charts for 11 weeks, peaking at No. 2 on 17 April 1982. It was also the duo's first and biggest hit in Ireland, peaking at No. 3 on the Irish Singles Chart in April 1982.
"Margate" is a song from the album Job Lot by Chas & Dave. It was released as a single on 11 July 1982 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 67. The song stayed in the charts for 4 weeks and peaked at number 46 on 24 July 1982.
"London Girls" is a song by Chas & Dave from the album Job Lot, which was released as a single on 13 February 1983 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number 99. The song stayed in the charts for 9 weeks and peaked at number 63 on 26 March 1983.
"Stars Over 45" is a song by Chas & Dave which was released as a single on 6 December 1981 and entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 59. The song stayed in the charts for 8 weeks and peaked at number No. 21 on 2 January 1982.
"The Sideboard Song" is a song by Chas & Dave from their album Don't Give a Monkey's, which was released as a single on 26 August 1979 and entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 66. The song stayed in the charts for three weeks and peaked at number No. 55 on 15 September 1979.
"I Can't Even Touch You" is a song by the British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, which was released in 1982 as a non-album single under his band's name Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. The song was written by Harley and produced by Midge Ure.
"Mr. Soft" is a song by the British rock band Cockney Rebel, fronted by Steve Harley, which was released in 1974 as the second single from their second studio album The Psychomodo. The song was written by Harley, and produced by Harley and Alan Parsons. "Mr. Soft" peaked at number 8 in the UK Singles Chart.
Job Lot is a studio album by Chas & Dave, released in December 1982 on the band's own Rockney label.
