Bentley Rhythm Ace
Encyclopedia
Bentley Rhythm Ace are a duo
formed in Birmingham
, England in 1997, consisting of Mike Stokes and Richard March.
was formed in Birmingham
by Richard March, formerly with the group Pop Will Eat Itself
, and Mike Stokes, with guest appearances by James Atkin, a member of indie
band EMF
. "Both more or less penniless, they drank in the same pub and were forced to buy their records at the cheapest place possible - car boot sales". Their live drummers were Keith York
and Fuzz Townshend, alongside whom March previously played in Pop Will Eat Itself.
BRA signed on the Brighton
based record label
Skint and released their eponymous debut album, Bentley Rhythm Ace
in 1997, which spawned the popular single
"Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!".
A second album
, For Your Ears Only
, was released in 2000 on Parlophone
but was less popular. A further single "Madam, Your Carriage Awaits" was released. The group also compiled a two CD
FSUK compilation album
. In 2004, the Bentleys released a 4-song record with Sophia Lolley called Angel Face.
The name probably refers to the Rhythm Ace line of analogue drum machines manufactured by Ace Tone
, some of which were rebranded and distributed by Bentley Pianos in the UK.
The group epitomises the Big Beat
era. Signed to Skint Records
, they enjoyed commercial success with their music being used on television advertisements and having an underground following.
The group split in 2000, but they played the occasional low-key DJ
set. However, in 2009, they reformed and managed by Cut La Roc signed to Rocstar Records, with a string of tour dates set for 2010.
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
formed in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England in 1997, consisting of Mike Stokes and Richard March.
Career
The bandBand (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
was formed in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
by Richard March, formerly with the group Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself
Pop Will Eat Itself are an English alternative rock band, originally formed in Stourbridge in 1986, with members from Birmingham, Coventry and the Black Country. Initially known as a Grebo act, their style changed to incorporate sample driven indie and industrial rock...
, and Mike Stokes, with guest appearances by James Atkin, a member of indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band EMF
EMF (band)
EMF were an indie dance band from the United Kingdom. The band, from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During its initial eight year run , EMF had released three studio albums and had gone on hiatus and reformed twice...
. "Both more or less penniless, they drank in the same pub and were forced to buy their records at the cheapest place possible - car boot sales". Their live drummers were Keith York
Keith York
Keith York is a professional session drummer who has toured and sessioned throughout the world and worked with a range of bands, including Pitchshifter, The Lightning Seeds, Bivouac, Ladytron, and Esoteric, Bentley Rhythm Ace , Broadcast and Love Amongst Ruin...
and Fuzz Townshend, alongside whom March previously played in Pop Will Eat Itself.
BRA signed on the Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Skint and released their eponymous debut album, Bentley Rhythm Ace
Bentley Rhythm Ace (Album)
Bentley Rhythm Ace, released in 1997, was the debut album of Bentley Rhythm Ace, an electronic music duo from Birmingham, England.The album is best known for the single "Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!" which featured in a few TV adverts at the time and was also praised in multiple music magazines...
in 1997, which spawned the popular single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!".
A second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, For Your Ears Only
For Your Ears Only
For Your Ears Only, released in 2000, is Bentley Rhythm Ace's second album. It did not have a hit single on par with "Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!" from their previous album, and as such it did not sell as well...
, was released in 2000 on Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
but was less popular. A further single "Madam, Your Carriage Awaits" was released. The group also compiled a two CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
FSUK compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
. In 2004, the Bentleys released a 4-song record with Sophia Lolley called Angel Face.
The name probably refers to the Rhythm Ace line of analogue drum machines manufactured by Ace Tone
Ace Tone
Ace Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone was a manufacturer of musical instruments, including electronic organs and analogue drum machines, and effects pedals. Founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi with an investment by Sakata Shokai, Ace Tone can be considered an early incarnation of the Roland...
, some of which were rebranded and distributed by Bentley Pianos in the UK.
The group epitomises the Big Beat
Big beat
Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...
era. Signed to Skint Records
Skint Records
Skint Records is a Brighton based dance music record label owned by JC Reid, Tim Jeffery and Damian Harris. It was created as a sublabel of Loaded Records, also founded by Reid and Jeffery...
, they enjoyed commercial success with their music being used on television advertisements and having an underground following.
The group split in 2000, but they played the occasional low-key DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
set. However, in 2009, they reformed and managed by Cut La Roc signed to Rocstar Records, with a string of tour dates set for 2010.
Albums
| Year | Album | UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... | Record Lebel | Certification Certification Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Bentley Rhythm Ace Bentley Rhythm Ace (Album) Bentley Rhythm Ace, released in 1997, was the debut album of Bentley Rhythm Ace, an electronic music duo from Birmingham, England.The album is best known for the single "Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!" which featured in a few TV adverts at the time and was also praised in multiple music magazines... |
13 | Skint Skint Records Skint Records is a Brighton based dance music record label owned by JC Reid, Tim Jeffery and Damian Harris. It was created as a sublabel of Loaded Records, also founded by Reid and Jeffery... /Parlophone Parlophone Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which... |
UK British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
| 2000 | For Your Ears Only For Your Ears Only For Your Ears Only, released in 2000, is Bentley Rhythm Ace's second album. It did not have a hit single on par with "Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!" from their previous album, and as such it did not sell as well... |
48 | Parlophone |
Singles
| Year | Single | UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out! | - |
| 1996 | Midlander (There Can Only Be One) | - |
| 1997 | Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!/Run on the Spot | 17 |
| 2000 | Theme from Gutbuster | 29 |
| 2000 | How'd I Do Dat??? | 57 |
| 2004 | Angel Face with Sophia Lolley | - |
Band members
- Richard March (born 4 March 1965, YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England) - bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments... - Mike Stokes - keyboardistKeyboardistA keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
External links
- Bentley Rhythm Ace page on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. - Bentley Rhythm Ace discography on DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
.