Racey

Racey
The original lineup of Racey, 1979.
Background information
Origin Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom
Genres Power pop, glam rock (before 1980), new wave
Years active 1976–1985
Labels RAK Records
Associated acts Richard Gower's Racey (1992 to present), The Original Racey (1990 to present)
Website www.racey.net www.raceyweb.com/history.htm
Past members Richard Gower
Phil Fursdon
Pete Miller
Clive Wilson

Racey were a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, by Clive Wilson and Phil Fursdon.[1] They achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits such as "Lay Your Love on Me" and "Some Girls".[2] Their 1979 song "Kitty" was an international hit in 1981 for Toni Basil when she reworked into "Mickey".

Career

The original line-up featured Richard Gower (born 1955, Hackney, London, England; vocals and keyboards), Phil Fursdon (vocals and guitar), Pete Miller (vocals and bass) and Clive Wilson (vocals and drums). After early success in their local pub circuit, they came to the attention of Mickie Most.[1] Racey's first single, "Baby It's You", was penned by Smokie members Chris Norman and Pete Spencer and released in 1978. Their second single, "Lay Your Love on Me", was the group's first hit single, peaking at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1978 through to early 1979.[1] The third single, "Some Girls", was written for the American band Blondie, for whom Mike Chapman also produced, but was instead given to Racey as a follow-up to "Lay Your Love on Me".[1] ("Some Girls" was later recorded by Barry Manilow for his 1982 "Here Comes the Night" album.) The band then parted company with Chinn and Chapman after the album was released and although they continued to play and tour they released only a few more singles that did not match their previous successes. The only album they made under the original line-up was their 1979 debut album Smash and Grab. The band's hits were either written and/or produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn.[1]

The band formally split in 1985, and since then two separate groups named Racey exist, one featuring band member Richard Gower and the other featuring Clive Wilson, Phil Fursdon and Pete Miller, the original bass player.[1] Miller died of cancer on 6 May 2003.[2] Several albums and CDs with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material are available from both of the present-day versions of the group.

In May 2009, the reissue of Racey's Smash And Grab album was available on a double CD through 7Ts Records, a division of Cherry Red Records in London. It included the original 1979 album, along with all other recordings made for RAK Records between 1978 and 1982.

Discography

Albums

Smash and Grab (1979)

    1. "Love’s A Riot" (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman)
    2. "Such A Night" (Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns)
    3. "There’s A Party Going On" (Jimmie Cameron)
    4. "Lay Your Cards On The Table" (Glen, Most, Burns)
    5. "She's A Winner" (Richard Gower)
    6. "Some Girls" (Chinn, Chapman)
    7. "Lay Your Love On Me" (Chinn, Chapman)
    8. "Kitty" (Chinn, Chapman)
    9. "Rah Stateway" (Gower)
    10. "Boy Oh Boy" (Gloria Macari, Roger Ferris)
    11. "We Are Racey" (Gower)

    (produced by Mickie Most in 1979)

    Lay Your Love On Me (1996)

      1. Some Girls
      2. Lay Your Love On Me
      3. She's A Winner
      4. There's A Party Going On
      5. Rah Stateway
      6. Runaround Sue
      7. Love's A Riot
      8. Such A Night
      9. Lay Your Cards On The Table
      10. Boy Oh Boy
      11. Kitty
      12. Not Too Young to Get Married
      13. Rock It
      14. Little Darling
      15. Rest Of My Life
      16. Baby It's You
      17. We are Racey

      (recorded between 1978-1996)

      Singles

      Year A-Side B-Side Label Other
      1978"Baby It's You"
      (Chris Norman, Pete Spencer)
      "Rudi""
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 277
      1978"Lay Your Love on Me
      (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman)
      "I Believed You"
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 284UK #3, Ireland #2, Australia #1
      1979"Some Girls"
      (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman)
      "Fighting Chance""
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 291UK #2, Ireland #2, South Africa #1) (1979, Australia #1)
      1979"Boy Oh Boy"
      (Gloria Macari, Roger Ferris)
      "Sensational Buzz""
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 297UK #22, Ireland #9, South Africa #2
      1980"Such a Night"
      (Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns)
      "There's A Party Going On""
      (Jimmie Cameron)
      RAK 301
      1980"Rest of My Life"
      (R. Scott - S.Wolfe)
      "Cry Baby Cry""
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 317
      1980"Runaround Sue"
      (Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca)
      "Hold Me Close"
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 325UK #13, Ireland #9
      1981"Shame"
      (Richard Gower)
      "Let Me Take You Home Tonight"
      RAK 329
      1981"Little Darlin'"
      (Maurice Williams)
      "Rock It"
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 335
      1981"There's A Party Going On"
      (Jimmie Cameron)
      "High Street Sunset"
      RAK 338
      1982"Not Too Young to Get Married"
      (Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry)
      "Love Games"
      (Richard Gower)
      RAK 348
      1996"Cry Cry Time"

      CMC records[3]

      List of Songs

      The following is a sortable table of all songs by Arrows:

      • The column Song list the song title; bold means released as a single.
      • The column Writer(s) lists who wrote the song.
      • The column Album lists the album the song is featured on.
      • The column Producer lists the producer of the song.
      • The column Year lists the year in which the song was released.
      Song Writer(s) Album Producer Year Other
      Baby It's YouChris Norman, Pete Spencer non-album-songMickie Most 1978A-side of Rudi
      Boy Oh BoyGloria Macari, Roger Ferris Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979A-side of Sensational Buzz
      Cry Baby CryRichard Gower The Best Of RaceyRacey 1980B-side of Rest of My Life
      Cry Cry Time? non-album-song 1986A-side of ?
      Fighting ChanceRichard Gower The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1979B-side of Some Girls
      High Street SunsetRichard Gower non-album-songRacey 1981B-side of There's A Party Going On (1981)
      Hold Me CloseRichard Gower The Best Of RaceyRacey 1980B-side of Runaround Sue
      I Believed YouRichard Gower The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1978B-side of Lay Your Love on Me
      KittyNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Lay Your Cards On The TableSteve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Lay Your Love on MeNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Smash and GrabMickie Most 1978A-side of I Believed You
      Let Me Take You Home TonightRichard Gower non-album-songMickie Most 1981B-side of Shame
      Little Darlin'Maurice Williams non-album-songMickie Most 1981A-side of Rock It
      Love GamesRichard Gower non-album-songRichard Gower 1982B-side of Not Too Young to Get Married
      Love’s A RiotNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Not Too Young to Get MarriedPhil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry non-album-songSteve Glen 1982A-side of Love Games
      Rah StatewayRichard Gower Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Rest of My LifeSteve Wolfe, Ronnie Scott The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1980A-side of Cry Baby Cry
      Rock ItRichard Gower non-album-songMickie Most 1978B-side of Little Darlin"
      RudiRichard Gower non-album-songMickie Most 1978B-side of Baby It's You
      Runaround SueDion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1980A-side of Hold Me Close
      Sensational BuzzRichard Gower The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1979B-side of Boy Oh Boy
      ShameRichard Gower non-album-songMickie Most 1981A-side of Let Me Take You Home Tonight
      She's A WinnerRichard Gower Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Some GirlsNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979A-side of Fighting Chance
      Such a NightSteve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns Smash and GrabMickie Most 1980A-side of There's A Party Going On
      There's A Party Going OnJimmie Cameron Smash and GrabMickie Most 1980B-side of Such a Night
      There's A Party Going OnJimmie Cameron Smash and GrabMickie Most 1981A-side of High Street Sunset
      We Are RaceyRichard Gower Smash and GrabMickie Most 1979
      Crazy The Best Of 2006 2006
      Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)John Fred, Andrew Bernard The Best Of 2006
      Little Girls The Best Of 2006 2006
      Mad About The Girl
      Satin 'N' Lace The Best Of 2006 2006
      Say Wow
      Still The One The Best Of 2006 2006
      Worlds Apart The Best Of 2006 2006

      References

      1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Racey | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
      2. 1 2 "Racey". Racey. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
      3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 447. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

      Bibliography

      • Kacey Traver. The Life of Racey Raver, 2009, Penguin House Books.
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