Chart entered : 8 June 1985
Chart peak : 8
Number of hits : 11
This story of course begins with the break-up of The Beat in 1983. Guitarist Andy Cox and bassist David Steele wanted to continue working together but needed a new singer. They fastened on the singer with The Akrylykz , a ska band of the early eighties who had supported most of the big 2 Tone acts.
Roland Gift , of very mixed race, was born in Birmingham in 1961 but moved to Hull when he was 11. He attended the School of Art where he formed The Akrylykz in 1978 with other students there. His role was originally that of tenor saxophonist. He performed that role on their first double A-sided single, "Spyderman / Smart Boy " released on an independent label in January 1980. Roland co-wrote the former song, an energetic Bad Manners romp with a very catchy sax refrain, marred by a tone deaf vocal from singer Steve Pears . Polydor were impressed enough to sign the band. They re-released the single two months later but made "Smart Boy " the sole A-side. The formula's much the same but it has a less shouty vocal.
Roland had been promoted to lead singer by the time of their next single in June 1980 , "J.D." which he wrote. Taking its lyrical cues from Frankie Lymon's ( I'm Not A ) Juvenile Delinquent and its bass-heavy sound from The Specials' debut LP it's OK but still strictly second division ska. Roland 's vocal is recognisable but not as smooth as on FYC's material. The band went on to play on Desmond Dekker's album Black And White but then found themselves without a label as Polydor, recognising that the ska boom had peaked, closed their account. They split up the following year.
Roland relocated to London and was in a band called The Bones when The Beat boys came calling in 1984. Roland lived in their houses for nine months while they worked on a demo tape. Once it was completed they struggled to find any record company interested, not helped by the conspicuous failure of General Public to make any headway. Then an appearance on The Tube, where Roland's striking looks and distinctive quavering voice made a big impression, proved a game changer and they were quickly snapped up by London.
"Johnny Come Home" is something of a successor to Bronski Beat's Smalltown Boy but from the point of view of the parents, worried about their son adrift in the big city. The guitar and bass work hark back to Too Nice To Talk To but the mournful jazz trumpet, beefy rock drumming and most of all Roland's spare , soulful vocal prevent it from sounding too much like The Beat Mark II. Their inability to write enough songs would eventually prevent them from becoming superstars but the future looked pretty bright at this point.
No comments:
Post a Comment