Timex Social Club

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Timex Social Club
Also known as
  • TSC
  • The Social Club
  • The Timex Crew
Origin Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres R&B, new jack swing
Years active1985–1987, 2011–present
LabelsJay Records, Danya, Fantasy Records
Spinoffs Club Nouveau
Members
Past members
  • Michael Marshall
  • Alex Hill
  • Kevin Moore
  • Greg Thomas (Timex Crew)
  • Craig Samuel (Timex Crew)
  • Darrien Cleage (Timex Crew)

Timex Social Club is an American R&B group, formed in 1983 and best known for the 1986 hit single "Rumors". [1]

Contents

History

Originally known as the Timex Crew, members included Marcus Thompson (founding member), 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] They fused funk rap and urban R&B.

The group's major hit, "Rumors", reached number one on Billboard 's Hot Black Singles, Hot Dance/Disco Club Play, and Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales charts and peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and number 13 in the UK, [2]

Recording

Thompson, Hill and Marshall wrote the song "Rumors" in 1983. The lyrics Thompson wrote were inspired by student life at Berkeley High School. [3] In late 1985, aspiring Sacramento-area producer and promoter Jay King heard the demo and arranged for Timex Social Club to record it at Starlight studios in Richmond, CA. "Rumors" was released as a seven and a twelve-inch single on King's fledgling Jay Records and distributed by Macola Records.

By May of 1986, while "Rumors" was rising on the charts, the unsigned group recorded an album with Danya Records. The album Vicious Rumors was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, CA and distributed by Fantasy Records in the US (A&M in Canada; Mercury in Europe; CBS/Sony in Japan) and produced by Jay Logan. [3] "Rumors" was re-recorded for the album [3] and a music video was made to this new version. Two follow-up singles, "Thinkin' About Ya" and "Mixed-Up World", both reached number 15 on the Black Singles chart. [2] [4] As "Rumors" became popular outside of the US in the fall of 1986, it was this re-recorded version that charted in Canada and Europe.

The album debuted on Billboard's Black Albums chart on 6 December 1986 and peaked at number 29 (on 21 March 1987), but failed to chart on the Billboard 200 albums chart. [2]

Touring

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. [5] 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. [6]

Split

Timex Social Club disbanded in 1987, shortly after the success of "Rumors". [7]

Revival

As of 2025, the Timex Social Club roster consists of founding member Marcus Thompson (DJ), Samuelle (vocals) and Val Watson (vocals).

Book

In 2011, Thompson authored "How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club", his history of the group and his take on the rap music scene in the mid 1980s.

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum US R&B
[8]
1986 Vicious Rumors 29

Singles

YearTitlePeak chart positions
US 100
[4] 		US R&B
[4] 		US Dance
[4] 		CAN
UK
[9]
1986"Rumors"811113
"Mixed Up World"—15——81
"Thinkin' About Ya"—15―—―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

YearSource [6] SongResultMisc.
1986
"Rumors"
Gold single
Certification/Label A&M
1986
"Rumors"
Platinum single
Certification/Label A&M
1986
Commendation
"Rumors" / Vicious RumorsAwarded (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"Rumors" / Vicious Rumors
Nominated
—
1987
Juno Awards (CANADA)
"Rumors" / Vicious Rumors
Nominated
—
1987"Rumors" / Vicious Rumors
Nominated
—

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Wynn, Ron. "Timex Social Club - Artist Biography". AllMusic . Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Billboard magazine archives.
  3. 1 2 3 Gross, Jonathan (February 1987). "Cold Busted: Timex Social Club Takes a Licking and Stops Ticking". Flash. Spin . Vol. 2, no. 11. Bob Guccione, Jr. p.  10. ISSN   0886-3032.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Timex Social Club Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. ↑ Michaels, Randolph (2005). Flashbacks to Happiness: Eighties Music Revisited. US: iUniverse. pp. 196, 198. ISBN   978-0-595-37007-8.
  6. 1 2 Thompson, Marcus (2011). How Do Rumors Get Started: The True Story of Timex Social Club. US: Self-published. pp. 6, 173. ISBN   978-1-257-28542-6.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Timex Social Club - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "TIMEX SOCIAL CLUB - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company . Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  10. Goodman, Fred (August 23, 1986). "A Hit Single on a Shoestring: Jay King Produced Timex's 'Rumors'". Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 34. p.  79. ISSN   0006-2510.
  11. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 560. ISBN   1-904994-10-5."Rumors Surround Timex Social Club: Splinter Group—Jet Set—Forms". Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 28. July 12, 1986. p.  24. ISSN   0006-2510."Black/Urban". Out of the Box. Billboard . Vol. 98, no. 18. May 3, 1986. p.  10. ISSN   0006-2510. [10] [3] <ref name='Wynn'>Wynn, Ron (2003). "Timex Social Club". In Bogdanov, Vladimir (ed.). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. All Media Guide. Backbeat Books. p.  unk. ISBN   9781617134968.

Further reading

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