The Flying Lizards

Last updated

The Flying Lizards
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active1976–1984
Labels Virgin, Statik
Past members

The Flying Lizards were an experimental English new wave band, formed in 1976. They are best known for their eccentric cover version of Barrett Strong's "Money", featuring Deborah Evans-Stickland on lead vocals, which reached the UK and North American record charts in 1979. [2] They followed this with their self-titled album that year, which reached number 60 on the UK Albums Chart. [4]

Contents

Career

Formed and led by record producer David Cunningham, the group were a loose collective of avant-garde and freely improvising musicians, including David Toop and Steve Beresford as instrumentalists, with Deborah Evans-Stickland, Patti Palladin and Vivien Goldman as main vocalists.

In August 1979 the Flying Lizards appeared twice on the BBC's Top of the Pops performing their hit single "Money (That's What I Want)".[ citation needed ] They also appeared in February 1980, performing follow-up single "TV". Virgin Records extended the band's recording contract after the success of "Money". [2] The group released their début album The Flying Lizards in 1979. The album included two songs – "Her Story" and "The Window" – written and sung by Goldman. [5] Their single issues included their postmodern cover versions of songs such as Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" and "Money". [4]

The 1981 album Fourth Wall received praise from critics but did not sell well. [2] Top Ten (1984), with vocalist Sally Peterson, released by Statik records, consisted entirely of covers, done in a similarly deliberately emotionless, and robotic, style (described by the NME at the time as "Sloane Rap"), including two singles, James Brown's "Sex Machine" and "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy", as well as an album track of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne". Cunningham and Peterson worked together on music production for film and advertising after Top Ten was released, [2] including a re-recording of "Money".

The Flying Lizards version of Barrett Strong's "Money" remained popular, and was used in the film soundtracks for The Wedding Singer , Empire Records , Charlie's Angels and Lord of War , as well as in the Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American television medical drama Nip/Tuck , documentary series People's Century , and in Ashes to Ashes , the follow-up to the UK TV drama Life on Mars . It was also used in the episode "Venus Rising" of WKRP in Cincinnati , the episode "Follow the Money" of Family Guy , and in a commercial for Taco Bell in 2011.

An album of dub instrumentals, The Secret Dub Life of the Flying Lizards, recorded by David Cunningham mostly in 1978, was finally released in 1995. [2] The first two albums, The Flying Lizards and Fourth Wall, were re-released by RPM in 2010, with the catalogue number RETROD883.[ citation needed ]

"Money" reached the UK top 40, and was the band's only single to do so. [6]

Band members

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumChart positionsLabel
UK
[6] [8]
AUS
[9]
CAN
[10]
US
[11]
1979 The Flying Lizards 60378099 Virgin
1981 Fourth Wall
1984Top TenStatik
1996The Secret Dub Life of the Flying LizardsPiano Records
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[4]

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions Certifications
UK
[6] [8]
AUS
[9]
CAN
[12]
US
[11]
1978"Summertime Blues"75
1979"Money"511750
1980"TV"43
"The Laughing Policeman" (as The Suspicions)
"Move On Up"
1981"Hands 2 Take" (with Michael Nyman)
"Lovers and Other Strangers"
1984"Sex Machine"
"Dizzy, Miss Lizzy"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire and Rain (song)</span> 1970 single by James Taylor

"Fire and Rain" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter James Taylor, released in August 1970 by Warner Bros. Records as the second single from Taylor's second studio album, Sweet Baby James. The song follows Taylor's reaction to the suicide of Suzanne Schnerr, a childhood friend, and his experiences with drug addiction and fame. After its release, "Fire and Rain" peaked at number two on RPM's Canada Top Singles chart and at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Lizard</i> (album) 1970 studio album by King Crimson

Lizard is the third studio album by British progressive rock band King Crimson, released on 11 December 1970 by Island Records in the UK, and in January 1971 by Atlantic Records in the United States and Canada. It was the second consecutive King Crimson album recorded by transitional line-ups of the group that did not perform live, following In the Wake of Poseidon. This is the only album by the band to feature singer and bass guitarist Gordon Haskell and drummer Andy McCulloch as official members of the band.

Marshall Hain were a British pop-rock duo known for their 1978 hit "Dancing in the City", a UK No. 3 hit single on the UK Singles Chart in mid-1978 and number 3 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money (That's What I Want)</span> 1959 single by Barrett Strong

"Money (That's What I Want)" is a rhythm and blues song written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, which was the first hit record for Gordy's Motown enterprise. Barrett Strong recorded it in 1959 as a single for the Tamla label, distributed nationally on Anna Records. Many artists later recorded the tune, including the Beatles in 1963 and the Flying Lizards in 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey Joe</span> 1962 song written and composed by Billy Roberts

"Hey Joe" is an American song from the 1960s that has become a rock standard and has been performed in many musical styles by hundreds of different artists. The lyrics tell of a man who is on the run and planning to head to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife. In 1962, Billy Roberts registered "Hey Joe" for copyright in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Because the Night</span> Song written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith

"Because the Night" is a pop-rock song from 1977 written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith that appears on the Patti Smith Group album Easter, which was released in 1978. On March 2, 1978, the song was released as a single, and was commercially successful, reaching No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and No. 5 in the United Kingdom, which helped propel Easter to mainstream success.

<i>Jamaican Heroes</i> 1980 studio album by Prince Far I

Jamaican Heroes is a 1980 reggae album by Prince Far I. The musicians included Roots Radics and The Flying Lizards. The album was mixed by Anthony "Crucial Bunny" Graham at Studio One, Jamaica. The cover was designed by Jill Mumfield.

David Cunningham is a composer and record producer from Northern Ireland. His first significant success came with The Flying Lizards' single 'Money', an international hit in 1979.

<i>Get Close</i> 1986 album by the Pretenders

Get Close is the fourth studio album by rock band the Pretenders, released on 20 October 1986 in the United Kingdom by Real Records and on 4 November 1986 in the United States by Sire Records. The album contains the band's two highest-charting Mainstream Rock Tracks entries, "Don't Get Me Wrong" and "My Baby", both of which reached number one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivien Goldman</span> British journalist, writer and musician (born 1952)

Vivien Goldman is a British journalist, writer and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen song)</span> 1984 single by Bruce Springsteen

"Cover Me" is a song written and performed by American rock singer Bruce Springsteen. It was the second single released from his 1984 album Born in the U.S.A.. Springsteen wrote the song for Donna Summer. However, his manager, Jon Landau, decided the song had hit potential, and so he kept it for the upcoming Springsteen album. It has been certified Gold in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rush Rush (Debbie Harry song)</span> 1983 single performed by Debbie Harry

"Rush Rush" is a song written by Giorgio Moroder and performed by American singer Debbie Harry. It was released as the fourth and final single from the soundtrack to the 1983 film Scarface.

"In This Life" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin, and recorded by American country music singer Collin Raye that reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was released in July 1992 as the first single and title track from his CD In This Life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Get Here</span> 1988 single by Brenda Russell

"Get Here" is a pop ballad written by American singer and songwriter Brenda Russell. The title track of her fourth studio album, Get Here (1988), it became a moderate hit on the US Billboard R&B chart after the album's successful first hit, "Piano in the Dark".

<i>The Flying Lizards</i> (album) 1980 studio album by The Flying Lizards

The Flying Lizards is the 1980 debut album by The Flying Lizards and was released on the Virgin Records label.

"This Night Won't Last Forever" is a song written by Bill LaBounty and Roy Freeland, and originally recorded by LaBounty in 1978, whose version of the song was a minor Adult Contemporary and pop hit, reaching number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whenever You Come Around</span> 1994 single by Vince Gill

"Whenever You Come Around" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Vince Gill. It was released in April 1994 as the first single from the album When Love Finds You. The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. It was written by Gill and Pete Wasner. The song was covered by Willie Nelson in 2014 for his Band of Brothers album.

"Sitting in the Park" is a 1965 song written and performed by Billy Stewart. The single was Stewart's fourth and most successful entry on the soul chart in the United States. "Sitting in the Park" peaked at number four on the soul chart and number twenty-four on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured on his 1965 album, I Do Love You.

<i>Fourth Wall</i> (album) 1981 studio album by The Flying Lizards

Fourth Wall is the second studio album by English rock band the Flying Lizards. It was released in 1981 by record label Virgin. The album features numerous collaborators, including Robert Fripp.

Patti Palladin is an American singer and musician of the punk rock and post-punk / new wave genres. She is primarily known for her work with Snatch, Johnny Thunders, and the Flying Lizards.

References

  1. Greene, Doyle (2014). The Rock Cover Song: Culture, History, Politics. McFarland & Company. p. 11. ISBN   978-0-7864-7809-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Deming, Mark. "The Flying Lizards – Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  3. Cheal, David (25 September 2015). "The Life of a Song: 'Money (That's What I Want)'". Financial Times . London. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate. ISBN   1-84195-335-0.
  5. Allen, Mark (April 2001). "The Flying Lizards: A Pop Band Arranged According to the Laws of Chance". No. 6. Sound Collector. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 206. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  7. "The Flying Lizards – Fourth Wall" . Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 "FLYING LIZARDS – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 114. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  10. "RPM Top 100 Albums – April 12, 1980" (PDF).
  11. 1 2 "The Flying Lizards – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  12. "RPM Top 100 Singles – April 19, 1980" (PDF).
  13. "Flying Lizards – Money". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 8 September 2022.