Brooks (group)
Encyclopedia
Brooks was a London-based pop vocal group formed in the late 1970s. The group is noteworthy since two of its members went on to have successful musical careers, independently of each other: Mike Nolan
, of Bucks Fizz
, and Chris Hamill, a.k.a. Limahl
, of Kajagoogoo
.
The group was put together in 1976 by manager Freya Miller and husband Peter Pereira. Miller had previously worked with The New Seekers
, and Pereira had been a member of Co-Co
. They recruited singers Nolan, Hamill, and Ricky Gallahad through ads in The Melody Maker and The Stage
, to complete the line-up.
In 1978 Hamill was replaced by John Humphreys. Shortly after, the group signed a contract with Polydor Records
. Tony Eyers, who had worked with the group 5000 Volts
, was hired as producer. The first single, released in 1979, was "The Sound of Your Love", with Pereira singing the lead. Nolan's voice was featured in the second single, "Cry (Till My Eyes Run Dry)". Both singles were arranged by Steve Gray
. Despite television appearances on ITV's
The Saturday Morning Show, The Dick Emery Show
, and the BBC's
Lena Zavaroni and Music
, neither of the group's first singles made an entry into the pop charts.
Roger Greenaway
took over as producer for the group in late 1979. Greenaway had written a string of hits with Roger Cook
, including "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
" and "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing."
Brooks' next single was "What a Great Night For Making Love", a Greenaway/Barry Mason composition. The BBC
expressed reservations over the title and lyrics, so the single was re-recorded as "What a Great Night for Falling in Love". Once again, Nolan sang the lead. By 1980, singer Gallahad had been replaced by Ben Ellison. The group released two more singles written and produced by Greenaway; "Don't You Know a Lady (When You See One)?", featuring Nolan, and "We Are United", with Humphreys taking the lead.
During this time, the group continued to promote themselves with television and radio appearance. The members appeared individually on the covers of Oh Boy! magazine. In 1980, the group travelled to Yugoslavia
as the U.K. entry in the Ljubljana '80
song festival, which was telecast over most of Europe. Despite these efforts, none of the group's later singles fared any better than their previous offerings, when it came to breaking into the charts.
After considerable investment, and two years without a hit, Polydor declined to take up the options on their contract. Miller's interest in Brooks waned after she split with Pereira, and began managing Shakin' Stevens
. The members had little in common musically or personally, and without their contractual obligations holding them together, there was nothing left.
As mentioned previously, Mike Nolan went on to success with Bucks Fizz, winning the Eurovision Song Contest
in 1981, with "Making Your Mind Up
". Chris Hamill, transformed into Limahl, had a huge hit with "Too Shy
", with Kajagoogoo in 1983. Ben Ellison returned to his acting career, appearing on stage and television, and in film. His best-known work is his lead role in the 1989 film Looking for Langston
. John Humphreys performed at folk clubs and on radio with "Home and Colonial" before returning to his native Canada in 1981.
)
Mike Nolan (singer)
Mike Nolan is a singer and was one of the four original members of the British pop group, Bucks Fizz. He was born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, but raised in the UK, where he still resides.- Early career :...
, of Bucks Fizz
Bucks Fizz (band)
Bucks Fizz are an English pop group who achieved success in the 1980s, most notably for winning the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up". The group was formed in January 1981 specifically for the contest and comprised four vocalists: Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and...
, and Chris Hamill, a.k.a. Limahl
Limahl
Christopher Hamill better known by his stage name Limahl is an English pop singer. He rose to fame as the lead singer of the 1980s pop group Kajagoogoo, before embarking on a briefly successful solo career, which reached its peak with the 1984 hit "The NeverEnding Story", taken from the film of...
, of Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo
Kajagoogoo are a British pop band, best known for their hit single, "Too Shy", which reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 5 on the U.S...
.
The group was put together in 1976 by manager Freya Miller and husband Peter Pereira. Miller had previously worked with The New Seekers
The New Seekers
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences...
, and Pereira had been a member of Co-Co
Co-Co (band)
Co-Co were a five piece British band who represented the UK for the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, staged at the Palais de Congrès in Paris, France, on 22 April 1978, with the song, "The Bad Old Days". The song was written by the husband and wife team of Stephanie de Sykes and Stuart Slater...
. They recruited singers Nolan, Hamill, and Ricky Gallahad through ads in The Melody Maker and The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
, to complete the line-up.
In 1978 Hamill was replaced by John Humphreys. Shortly after, the group signed a contract with Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. Tony Eyers, who had worked with the group 5000 Volts
5000 Volts
5000 Volts is the name of a British disco recording act that achieved success throughout Europe during the 1970s. The group consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musicians.-Career:...
, was hired as producer. The first single, released in 1979, was "The Sound of Your Love", with Pereira singing the lead. Nolan's voice was featured in the second single, "Cry (Till My Eyes Run Dry)". Both singles were arranged by Steve Gray
Steve Gray (musician)
Steve Gray was a pianist, composer, and arranger.Gray was born in Middlesbrough, England. At ten, he began teaching himself to play the piano. He joined the Middlesbrough Junior Orchestra, at first playing the bassoon, but later switching to the saxophone...
. Despite television appearances on ITV's
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
The Saturday Morning Show, The Dick Emery Show
Dick Emery
Richard Gilbert "Dick" Emery was an English comedian and actor. Beginning on radio in the 1950s, an eponymous television series ran from 1963 to 1981. He was the brother of Ann Emery.-Life and career:...
, and the BBC's
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Lena Zavaroni and Music
Lena Zavaroni
Lena Hilda Zavaroni was a Scottish child singer and a television show host. With her album Ma! He's Making Eyes At Me at ten years of age, she is the youngest person in history to have an album in the UK album chart top ten. Later in life she hosted TV shows and appeared on stage...
, neither of the group's first singles made an entry into the pop charts.
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
took over as producer for the group in late 1979. Greenaway had written a string of hits with Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
, including "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress
"Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" is a song written by Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, and Roger Greenaway and performed by the British pop group The Hollies...
" and "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing."
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...
Brooks' next single was "What a Great Night For Making Love", a Greenaway/Barry Mason composition. The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
expressed reservations over the title and lyrics, so the single was re-recorded as "What a Great Night for Falling in Love". Once again, Nolan sang the lead. By 1980, singer Gallahad had been replaced by Ben Ellison. The group released two more singles written and produced by Greenaway; "Don't You Know a Lady (When You See One)?", featuring Nolan, and "We Are United", with Humphreys taking the lead.
During this time, the group continued to promote themselves with television and radio appearance. The members appeared individually on the covers of Oh Boy! magazine. In 1980, the group travelled to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
as the U.K. entry in the Ljubljana '80
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
song festival, which was telecast over most of Europe. Despite these efforts, none of the group's later singles fared any better than their previous offerings, when it came to breaking into the charts.
After considerable investment, and two years without a hit, Polydor declined to take up the options on their contract. Miller's interest in Brooks waned after she split with Pereira, and began managing Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
. The members had little in common musically or personally, and without their contractual obligations holding them together, there was nothing left.
As mentioned previously, Mike Nolan went on to success with Bucks Fizz, winning the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
in 1981, with "Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up
"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was the winner of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and a UK Number-one single...
". Chris Hamill, transformed into Limahl, had a huge hit with "Too Shy
Too Shy
Too Shy is a song written and recorded by English New Wave/pop music band Kajagoogoo, released in 1983. The first single from their debut album White Feathers, the song was an immediate hit and reached no.1 on the UK Singles Chart...
", with Kajagoogoo in 1983. Ben Ellison returned to his acting career, appearing on stage and television, and in film. His best-known work is his lead role in the 1989 film Looking for Langston
Looking For Langston
Looking for Langston is a 1989 British black-and-white film directed by Isaac Julien. It combines authentic archival newsreel footage of Harlem in the 1920s with scripted scenes to produce a non-linear impressionistic story line celebrating black gay identity and desire during the artistic and...
. John Humphreys performed at folk clubs and on radio with "Home and Colonial" before returning to his native Canada in 1981.
Discography
Singles: (all released on Polydor RecordsPolydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
)
- 1979 "Sound of Our Love"
- 1979 "Cry (Till My Eyes Run Dry)"
- 1979 "What a Great Night for Making Love"
- 1980 "Don't You Know a Lady (When You See One)?"
- 1980 "We Are United"