Double (band)
Encyclopedia
Double was a Swiss
music duo
best remembered for their hit single
"The Captain of Her Heart".
, Switzerland
by Felix Haug
(drums and keyboards) and Kurt Maloo
(guitar and vocals) out of the trio Ping Pong of which both Maloo and Haug were members. Ping Pong formed in 1981, had some early success with a single entitled "Rhythm Walk," and also recorded some never-released tracks (due to legal issues) with Phil Manzanera
of Roxy Music
.
Double had some success with singles and several appearances around Europe
in music festival
s.
Prior to releasing their debut album
, the duo issued several singles, of which "Nanningo", "Rangoon Moon", and "Woman of the World" were the most popular, & Nanningo
, of which, unlike their later albums, it began with Post-punk
. The high point of Double's career came shortly after the late-1985 release of their first full length album, Blue. The album contained two of the band's earlier singles as well as the international smash hit, "The Captain of Her Heart," a plaintive, atmospheric, piano-led ballad
which was an immediate success throughout Europe upon its 1986 single release. It reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart
, and eventually hit the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100
at the end of the year, climbing to #16.
Their next album, Dou3le followed in 1987 but, despite including the acclaimed single "Devils Ball", it failed to emulate the success of its predecessor and Double split shortly after. Kurt Maloo pursued a solo
career, in the course of which he has released four albums Single (1990), Soul and Echo (1995), Loopy Avenue (2006) and Summer Of Better Times (2009). Felix Haug died following a heart attack
on 1 May 2004.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
music duo
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...
best remembered for their hit 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...
"The Captain of Her Heart".
Biography
Double formed in 1983 in ZürichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
by Felix Haug
Felix Haug
Felix Haug was the drummer and keyboardist for the Swiss band Double from the time of its creation in 1981 to its disbandment in 1987. He died of a heart attack in 2004....
(drums and keyboards) and Kurt Maloo
Kurt Maloo
Kurt Maloo is a Swiss singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. He first achieved international success in 1986, as the singer and front man of the pop-jazz duo Double, with the hit single “The Captain of Her Heart”.-Biography:Kurt Meier was born in Zurich, Switzerland, as the only child...
(guitar and vocals) out of the trio Ping Pong of which both Maloo and Haug were members. Ping Pong formed in 1981, had some early success with a single entitled "Rhythm Walk," and also recorded some never-released tracks (due to legal issues) with Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
of Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
.
Double had some success with singles and several appearances around Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s.
Prior to releasing their debut 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...
, the duo issued several singles, of which "Nanningo", "Rangoon Moon", and "Woman of the World" were the most popular, & Nanningo
Nanningo
Nanningo is the first album of Swiss band Double. Unlike their later albums, the duo began with Post-punk....
, of which, unlike their later albums, it began with Post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
. The high point of Double's career came shortly after the late-1985 release of their first full length album, Blue. The album contained two of the band's earlier singles as well as the international smash hit, "The Captain of Her Heart," a plaintive, atmospheric, piano-led ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
which was an immediate success throughout Europe upon its 1986 single release. It reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart
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 ...
, and eventually hit the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
at the end of the year, climbing to #16.
Their next album, Dou3le followed in 1987 but, despite including the acclaimed single "Devils Ball", it failed to emulate the success of its predecessor and Double split shortly after. Kurt Maloo pursued a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career, in the course of which he has released four albums Single (1990), Soul and Echo (1995), Loopy Avenue (2006) and Summer Of Better Times (2009). Felix Haug died following a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
on 1 May 2004.
Members
- Kurt MalooKurt MalooKurt Maloo is a Swiss singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. He first achieved international success in 1986, as the singer and front man of the pop-jazz duo Double, with the hit single “The Captain of Her Heart”.-Biography:Kurt Meier was born in Zurich, Switzerland, as the only child...
- Vocals and Acoustic Guitar (1983–1987) - Felix HaugFelix HaugFelix Haug was the drummer and keyboardist for the Swiss band Double from the time of its creation in 1981 to its disbandment in 1987. He died of a heart attack in 2004....
- Drums, Keyboards and Piano (1983–1987)
Albums
- 1983 - NanningoNanningoNanningo is the first album of Swiss band Double. Unlike their later albums, the duo began with Post-punk....
(EP) - 1985 - BlueBlue (Double album)Blue is the second album from Swiss band Double. In addition to containing updated versions of two of the band's earlier singles , the album included the international smash hit, "The Captain of Her Heart," a plaintive, atmospheric, piano-led ballad which was an immediate success throughout Europe...
- #69 UK, #51 U.S. - 1987 - Dou3leDou3leDou3le is the last album of Swiss band Double. Despite including the acclaimed single, "Devils Ball," it failed to emulate the success of its predecessor and Double split shortly after.-Track listing:# Fire in Disguise # Gliding...
Singles
- 1983 - "Nanningo"
- 1984 - "El Dorado"
- 1984 - "Es"
- 1984 - "Rangoon Moon"
- 1984 - "Woman of the World"
- 1985/86 - "The Captain of Her Heart" - #3 Dominican RepublicDominican RepublicThe Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, #3 ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, #4 CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, #8 UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
, #9 FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, #9 NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, #10 GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, #11 SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, #14 South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, #15 AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, #16 U.S. - 1985/86 - "Your Prayer Takes Me Off"
- 1986 - "Tomorrow"
- 1987 - "Devils Ball" - #71 UK
- 1987 - "Gliding"
External links
- Kurt Maloo's official website
- Double's official website