Timex Social Club | |
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| Also known as |
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| Origin | Berkeley, California |
| Genres | Contemporary R&B, go-go, funk, urban contemporary, soul |
| Years active | 1985–1987, 2011–present |
| Labels | Jay Records/ Danya/ Fantasy Records |
| Spinoffs | Club Nouveau |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1985 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors". [1]
Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founder), Gregory "Greg B" Thomas, Michael Marshall, Craig Samuel, and Darrien Cleage. By 1986, Samuel, Cleage, and Thomas had departed, Alex Hill and Kevin Moore were added, and the name Timex Social Club was adopted [1] (despite the group's name, Timex Group USA bears no sponsorship of the group). They fused funk and urban R&B.
In 1986, the group released the Vicious Rumors album produced by Jay Logan on Danya/Fantasy Records (A&M in Canada; Mercury in Europe). Its one major hit, "Rumors", written by Thompson, Hill and Marshall, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 in the UK, [2] and No. 1 on the Billboard R&B, Hot Dance Club Play, and Hot Dance/Disco-12 inch Singles-Sales charts. The two follow-up singles, "Thinkin' About Ya" and "Mixed-Up World", reached the R&B Top 20. [3]
The success of the single "Rumors" prompted hip hop impresario Russell Simmons to hire the group as the opening act for 38 dates on Run DMC's Raising Hell tour in 1986. [4] Other acts on the tour were Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, and Whodini. Besides solo dates, the group also opened for New Edition, Midnight Star, the S.O.S. Band, Kool & the Gang, and Jermaine Jackson. [5]
Timex Social Club disbanded shortly after the success of "Rumors". The band's producer Jay King, Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy formed Club Nouveau, whose first single was "Jealousy", an answer song to "Rumors" that references Timex Social Club's split. Club Nouveau subsequently had a #1 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1987 with a go-go cover of Bill Withers's "Lean on Me". [6]
As of 2011, the current Timex Social Club roster consisted of founding member Marcus Thompson as DJ and Samuelle Prater on vocals.
| Year | Album | US R&B [7] |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Vicious Rumors | 29 |
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 100 [3] | US R&B [3] | US Dance [3] | CAN | UK [8] | ||
| 1986 | "Rumors" | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| "Mixed Up World" | — | 15 | — | — | 81 | |
| "Thinkin' About Ya" | — | 15 | ― | — | ― | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. | ||||||
| Year | Source [5] | Song | Result | Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | CRIA/Music Canada | "Rumors" | Gold single | Certification/Label A&M |
| 1986 | CRIA/Music Canada | "Rumors" | Platinum single | Certification/Label A&M |
| 1986 | Commendation | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Awarded (key to city) | Mayor Richard L. Berkley Kansas City MO. |
| 1986 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Won | Governor John D. Ashcroft state of MO. | |
| 1986 | The 1986 NARM Awards | "Rumors" | Won | Best Selling New Artist |
| 1986 | Bay Area Top Star Music Awards | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Won | — |
| 1987 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — | |
| 1987 | Bammies/Bay Area Music Awards | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
| 1987 | Juno Awards (CANADA) | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
| 1987 | "Rumors" / Vicious Rumors | Nominated | — |
Club Nouveau is an American R&B group formed by record producer/performer Jay King in 1986 in Sacramento, California, following the breakup of the Timex Social Club. The group's name was changed from its original incarnation, "Jet Set", to capitalize on the breakup. The group was signed by Warner Bros. Records, on which Club Nouveau released its first three albums. Club Nouveau's go-go version of Bill Withers's song "Lean on Me" won a Grammy award for Best R&B Song in 1987.
Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy are an American R&B record production and songwriting duo, releasing recordings under the names Foster & McElroy and Fmob. They have written and produced songs for musicians such as Club Nouveau, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Alexander O'Neal, Regina Belle, and Swing Out Sister. Their music has been sampled in hit songs by the Luniz, Puff Daddy, Ashanti, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Jessica Simpson, and others. Foster & McElroy are best known as the founders of the group En Vogue, listed by Billboard as one of the Top 10 Girl Groups of All Time. In addition to producing music for various television shows, they are also credited for songs in numerous movie soundtracks including The Great White Hype, Lean on Me, and Who's That Girl.
Susan Moonsie-Mohan is a Trinidadian-born American singer. She is best known as a member of the 1980s musical groups Vanity 6 and Apollonia 6 that were associated with recording artist Prince.
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"Real Love" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige from her debut studio album, What's the 411? (1992). Based on real life experiences, it was written and produced by Cory Rooney and Mark Morales, and samples Audio Two's 1987 song "Top Billin'". The song was issued as the album's second single on July 28, 1992 by Uptown and MCA. It became Blige's first top-10 hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rhythmic charts and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 4, 1992. Marcus Raboy directed the song's music video. Rolling Stone included "Real Love" in their list of "500 Best Songs of All Time" in 2021 at number 327.
"Two of Hearts" is a song by American singer Stacey Q, first issued as an independent 12-inch dance club single by On the Spot Records, then picked up by Atlantic after achieving regional sales. Written by John Mitchell, the song was Stacey Q's biggest hit; its global sales success fueled the recording of her debut album Better Than Heaven (1986), which included the song.
"Cool It Now" is a 1984 hit single by American group New Edition, is the first single from their eponymous second album, New Edition. In the US, the song entered the Hot Black Singles chart on September 1, 1984. The song peaked at number 4 in January 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lyrically, the song with lead vocals by Ralph Tresvant depicts a guy professing his love for a girl, despite growing concerns from his friends.
"Domino Dancing" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released in September 1988 by Parlophone as the lead single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). The song reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart and topped the charts in Finland and Spain. Its music video was directed by Eric Watson and filmed in Puerto Rico.
"She Wants You" is a song originally performed by Slovak singer Dara Rolins. The song, written by Tim Lawson and Pam Sheyne, was issued on Rolins' studio album What You See Is What You Get in 1996. The song then became a hit single in 1998 when English singer turned actress Billie covered it.
"Why You Treat Me So Bad?" is a 1987 single by Club Nouveau from their 1986 album Life, Love & Pain. The basic melodic hook of the song is taken from a hit by Club Nouveau member Jay King's previous project as producer, Timex Social Club.
"Hit That Perfect Beat" is a song by British synthpop trio Bronski Beat from their second album, Truthdare Doubledare (1986). It reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in January 1986 and entered the top 10 in several European countries, Australia, and South Africa.
"Be Happy" is a song by American singer Mary J. Blige. It was written by Blige, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Arlene DeValle, and Jean-Claude Olivier from duo Poke & Tone for her second studio album, My Life (1994), while production was helmed by Combs and Olivier. "Be Happy" contains an instrumental sample of the song "You're So Good to Me" (1979) by musician Curtis Mayfield and a re-sung vocal portion of the record "I Want You" (1976) by Marvin Gaye.
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"Rumors" is a song by San Francisco Bay Area-based music group Timex Social Club, from their debut album Vicious Rumors. It was a top-10 hit in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, reaching No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also topped the US R&B and dance charts.
"Let's Dance" is a 1987 single by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea. The song first appeared in an early form as a B-side to the "It's All Gone" single in 1986 and was re-recorded for his 1987 album, Dancing with Strangers, serving as its lead single. "Let's Dance" peaked at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 81 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In New Zealand, it reached No. 2 for three non-consecutive weeks, and it also peaked within the top 10 in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa.
"Thinkin' About Ya" is a 1986 song by San Francisco Bay Area-based music group Timex Social Club, from their debut album Vicious Rumors. The song was mixed by Shep Pettibone. It reached a Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs peak chart position of 15 in the United States.
Jay King is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, record label executive, music manager, and radio show host. In 1986, he produced, independently released, and promoted Timex Social Club's, Rumors, which charted at #1 on Billboard's R&B chart. He later formed the music group, Club Nouveau, whose remake of, Lean on Me, was nominated for a Grammy Award, charted at #1 on Billboard's R&B chart, and certified Platinum.
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