Shanks & Bigfoot

Last updated

Shanks & Bigfoot
Also known asDoolally
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active1998–2001
Labels Jive
Past members
  • Steven Meade
  • Danny Langsman

Shanks & Bigfoot were a British duo of UK garage producers Steven Meade and Danny Langsman, known principally for their single "Sweet like Chocolate", which topped the UK Singles Chart in 1999. They were originally known as Doolally, recording the pirate anthem "Straight from the Heart" under this name in 1998. Upon its first release, "Straight from the Heart" peaked at number twenty on the UK chart. It was subsequently re-released in 1999 on the back of their chart success with "Sweet Like Chocolate", and reached number nine on the chart.

Contents

Success

The single "Sweet Like Chocolate" was a success even before commercial release, receiving months of club play before debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained for two weeks. Much to the surprise of the duo, the song became one of the most popular singles of the late 1990s. The single went on to become Britain's eighth-biggest selling single of 1999.

"We think it must have captured people's imaginations somehow", said Shanks in an interview. "I don't think you ever think 'this is a big record' when you make one... it was something that just happened." Vocals on the track were sung by Sharon Woolf, who also sung "Straight from the Heart" for them the year before.

The video for "Sweet Like Chocolate" was computer-animated and popular at the time. It featured a girl walking along in an area where almost everything is made of chocolate. The video was created by Visualisation Services Ltd (Darren Lee) and was nominated for a BRIT and a MOBO in 1999, but failed to win on either occasion.

Aftermath

At the annual MOBO Awards in 1999, Shanks & Bigfoot received three nominations and won one, for Best British Dance Act, beating out Fatboy Slim, Armand van Helden and Phats & Small. Additionally, they were nominated for two Ivor Novello Awards and two BRITs. A bidding war for Shanks & Bigfoot soon resulted, with the duo eventually signing to Zomba Records. They were also in hot demand as songwriters, with Britney Spears asking them to write for her, as well as Beyoncé and Destiny's Child reporting in the now-defunct Ministry magazine, that they loved the record and had taken copies of "Sweet Like Chocolate" back to the US where it was never released. However, it would later show up in a compilation album that was released Stateside by Epic in 2001. [1]

In late 1999, the duo remixed Jamiroquai's song "Canned Heat" as a B-side for their "King for a Day" single.

In 2000, they released their debut and only album Swings and Roundabouts along with the follow-up single to "Sweet Like Chocolate", "Sing-A-Long", which failed to match the commercial success of "Sweet Like Chocolate", peaking at No. 12. English soul singer Terri Walker, an unknown at the time, provided vocals for all of the album except for "Sweet Like Chocolate". In the same year, they also mixed a Ministry of Sound compilation entitled Ayia Napa – The Album.

Discography

Albums

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
UK
[2] 		UK Dance AUS
[3] 		BEL
(FL)
[4] 		GER
[5] 		IRE
[6] 		NL
[7] 		NZ
[8] 		SWE
[9] 		SWI
[10]
"Straight from the Heart" (as Doolally)1998201————————Non-album singles
The EP1998——————————
"Sweet Like Chocolate"1999116422292492532Swings and Roundabouts
"Straight from the Heart" (re-release)91————————Non-album singles
"Watch This Space" (as Doolally)2000——————————
"Sing-A-Long"200012184———————Swings and Roundabouts
"Trust in Me"2001——————————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remixes

Related Research Articles

<i>Dig Your Own Hole</i> 1997 album by the Chemical Brothers

Dig Your Own Hole is the second studio album by the English electronic music duo the Chemical Brothers. It was released on 7 April 1997 in the United Kingdom by Freestyle Dust and Virgin Records and in the United States by Astralwerks. It was recorded between 1996 and 1997, and features Noel Gallagher of Oasis and Beth Orton as guest vocalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Weather Girls</span> American female musical duo

The Weather Girls are an American female duo whose best-known line-up comprised Martha Wash and Izora Armstead. Formed in 1976 in San Francisco, California, Wash and Armstead began their musical careers as Two Tons O' Fun, the female backup duo for disco singer Sylvester. After several years of singing background for Sylvester, the duo was signed in 1979 to Fantasy Records as Two Tons O' Fun. The duo changed their name to The Weather Girls and were launched into somewhat more mainstream recognition following the release of the single, "It's Raining Men" (1982), which became their first number-one song on the US Dance Chart and their biggest hit. Despite having several hit songs on the Dance Chart as Two Tons O' Fun and The Weather Girls, the duo never achieved a top 40 hit on the main US Hot 100 and ultimately disbanded in 1988 after the release of their self-titled fifth album The Weather Girls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Safri Duo</span> Danish electronic percussion duo

Safri Duo is a Danish electronic percussion duo composed of Uffe Savery and Morten Friis. Initially classically oriented, they later made a track mixing both tribal sound and modern electronica. Released in 2000, "Played-A-Live ", became one of the most popular songs in Europe in 2001. The single and subsequent album, Episode II each sold one million units worldwide, making Safri Duo the most internationally successful Danish act since Aqua.

<i>A Funk Odyssey</i> 2001 studio album by Jamiroquai

A Funk Odyssey is the fifth studio album by English funk band Jamiroquai. The album was released on 3 September 2001 in the United Kingdom by Sony Soho Square and 11 September 2001 by Epic Records in the United States.

<i>Travelling Without Moving</i> 1996 studio album by Jamiroquai

Travelling Without Moving is the third studio album by English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai, released on 28 August 1996 in Japan, then on 9 September 1996 in the United Kingdom under Sony Soho Square. Front-man Jay Kay intended for the album to have a more universal style, revolving around "cars, life and love". Critics have generally praised the album for being more focused and refined than the band's previous work while others panned its lyrics and found the album too derivative. Kay also faced backlash from the press for his use of sports cars in this period despite his environmental beliefs.

<i>Synkronized</i> 1999 studio album by Jamiroquai

Synkronized is the fourth studio album by English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai. It was released on 8 June 1999 by Work Group in the United States, and on 14 June 1999 by S2 Records in the United Kingdom. Bassist Stuart Zender left the band during recording, and Nick Fyffe was hired as a replacement. The album contains funk, acid jazz and disco elements.

<i>Dynamite</i> (Jamiroquai album) 2005 studio album by Jamiroquai

Dynamite is the sixth studio album by English funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai. It was released on 15 June 2005 in Japan, 20 June 2005 in the United Kingdom, 21 July 2005 in Australia and 20 September 2005 in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Roachford</span> British singer-songwriter

Andrew Roachford is a British singer-songwriter and the main force behind the band Roachford, who scored their first success in 1989 with the hits "Cuddly Toy" and "Family Man". He has also had a successful solo career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet like Chocolate</span> 1999 single by Shanks & Bigfoot

"Sweet like Chocolate" is a song by British garage music duo Shanks & Bigfoot with vocalist Sharon Woolf. It was released as a single on 17 May 1999 and was included on the duo's debut album, Swings and Roundabouts, the following year. Vocals on the track are sung by Sharon Woolf, who had also sung on their track "Straight from the Heart", which was released under their previous band name, 'Doolally'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurythmics discography</span>

The discography of Eurythmics, a British rock/pop duo, consists of eight studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one soundtrack album, one extended play, and 33 singles. Their first studio album, In the Garden, was released in 1981 but they did not gain any commercial success until their second album, Sweet Dreams , released in 1983. The album reached number three in the UK and was certified platinum. The album's title track was released as a single, and reached #2 in the UK and #1 in the United States and Canada. Later in 1983, the duo released their third album, Touch. It topped the UK album chart, and produced three UK top 10 singles; "Who's That Girl?", "Right by Your Side", and "Here Comes the Rain Again".

<i>High Times: Singles 1992–2006</i> 2006 greatest hits album by Jamiroquai

High Times: Singles 1992–2006 is a compilation album by the British band Jamiroquai that was released on 6 November 2006 in the United Kingdom and 8 November 2006 in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King for a Day (Jamiroquai song)</span> 1999 single by Jamiroquai

"King for a Day" is the fourth single from British funk and acid jazz band Jamiroquai's fourth studio album, Synkronized (1999). The song was written by Jay Kay and is a "tribute" to bassist Stuart Zender, who left the band shortly before Synkronized was completed. Jay Kay subsequently rerecorded all the songs on the album without Zender, and added "King for a Day" as the final track on the album. Upon its release on 29 November 1999, the song reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. The video features Jay Kay walking around an old mansion, where each room has a member of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Chemical Brothers discography</span>

British big beat duo The Chemical Brothers have released ten studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums, two remix albums, five mix albums, one soundtrack album, two video albums, six extended plays, thirty-seven singles, fifteen promotional singles and thirty-two music videos.

<i>Swings and Roundabouts</i> 2000 studio album by Shanks & Bigfoot

Swings and Roundabouts is the debut album by the British dance duo Shanks & Bigfoot. The album was released on 31 July 2000 but failed to break the UK top 75 despite the success of its two singles. It is best known for the 1999 hit single "Sweet Like Chocolate", which reached No. 1 in the UK as well as being a top 10 hit in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabriella Cilmi discography</span>

Gabriella Cilmi, an Australian pop singer, has released three studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), thirteen singles and seven music videos on record label Island. Cilmi's music spans a range of musical genres including pop, rock and soul.

The discography of British N-Dubz singer Tulisa consists of one studio album, seven singles and six music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will You Wait for Me?</span> 1999 single by Kavana

"Will You Wait for Me?" is a song by British singer-songwriter Kavana. The ballad was released on 8 March 1999 as the third single from his second album, Instinct (1998). The song peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 22 on the New Zealand Singles Chart. The track is one of Kavana's personal favourites in his repertoire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sing-A-Long</span> 2000 single by Shanks & Bigfoot

"Sing-A-Long" is a song by UK garage duo Shanks & Bigfoot, released on 17 July 2000. The song did not match the success of their previous UK number-one hit, "Sweet like Chocolate", but was still a hit single, peaking at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and number one on both the UK Dance and Independent charts. Terri Walker provides vocals on the song.

"Straight from the Heart" is the debut single of UK garage duo Doolally, later known as Shanks & Bigfoot, with vocals provided by Sharon Woolf. The song was first released in 1998, and reached the top 20 in the United Kingdom, peaking at No. 20. After the success of their UK number-one single "Sweet Like Chocolate" the following year, "Straight from the Heart" was re-released and peaked at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart in both 1998 and 1999.

References

  1. ↑ Release from Discogs
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 166. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Peaks in Australia:
    • "Sweet Like Chocolate": "Discography Shanks & Bigfoot". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
    • "Sing-A-Long": Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 250.
  4. ↑ "Discografie Shanks & Bigfoot". ultratop.be (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  5. ↑ "charts.de: Shanks & Bigfoot (Single)" (in German). Media Control Charts. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Discography Shanks & Bigfoot". irish-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  7. ↑ "Discografie Shanks & Bigfoot". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  8. ↑ "Discography Shanks & Bigfoot". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  9. ↑ "Discography Shanks & Bigfoot". swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Discographie Shanks & Bigfoot". hitparade.ch (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "British single certifications – Shanks & Bigfoot – Sweet Like Chocolate". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1999 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Shanks & Bigfoot – Sweet Like Chocolate". Recorded Music NZ . Retrieved 3 October 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.