Floy Joy (band)
Encyclopedia
Floy Joy was a Synthpop
band formed in Sheffield
which recorded two albums and had minor success with a small few singles.
By 1984, Elana Harris was replaced by Carroll Thompson
. The group released three singles, with two of the three being minor hits in the UK. "Until You Come Back to Me" peaked at #91 whilst "Operator" peaked at #86. The album which the singles came from was released that year titled "Into the Hot
", produced by Don Was
. The album peaked at #40 in New Zealand.
After the album, Thompson and Shaun Ward subsequently left the band, leaving Michael Ward to draft singer Desy Campbell and bassist/drum programmer/co-writer Robert E. Clarke and put together a new all-male Floy Joy. An album came out in 1986 titled "Weak in the Presence of Beauty
, which was also produced by Don Was
, like the last album. Although the album was overall unsuccessful, the lead single, also called "Weak in the Presence of Beauty
" peaked at #85 in the UK. The song was later covered by Alison Moyet
which became a large European hit.
The group split shortly after due to the commercial failure of the album. By 1990, Shaun Ward and Desy Campbell worked under the name "Everyday People" with Paul Dolby, releasing one album titled "You Wash... I'll Dry". Two singles in 1990 were minor hits in the UK, "Headline News" peaked at #99 and "I Guess It Doesn't Matter" peaked at #93.
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
band formed in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
which recorded two albums and had minor success with a small few singles.
History
The band formed in 1983, consisting of Elana Harris, Michael Ward and Shaun Ward. This line-up released only one single that year titled "Answer Through Me", produced by Andy Hernandez.By 1984, Elana Harris was replaced by Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson
Carroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
. The group released three singles, with two of the three being minor hits in the UK. "Until You Come Back to Me" peaked at #91 whilst "Operator" peaked at #86. The album which the singles came from was released that year titled "Into the Hot
Into the Hot (Floy Joy album)
Into the Hot is the debut album by synth-pop band Floy Joy. It was released in 1984. The album featured three singles "Until You Come Back To Me", "Burn Down A Rhythm" and "Operator"...
", produced by Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
. The album peaked at #40 in New Zealand.
After the album, Thompson and Shaun Ward subsequently left the band, leaving Michael Ward to draft singer Desy Campbell and bassist/drum programmer/co-writer Robert E. Clarke and put together a new all-male Floy Joy. An album came out in 1986 titled "Weak in the Presence of Beauty
Weak in the Presence of Beauty (album)
Weak in the Presence of Beauty was the second and last album by synth-pop band Floy Joy. It was released in 1986. The album featured the minor hit, Weak in the Presence of Beauty....
, which was also produced by Don Was
Don Was
Don Was is an American musician, bassist and record producer.-Life and career:Was was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Oak Park High School in the Detroit suburb of Oak Park, then attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor but dropped out after the first year...
, like the last album. Although the album was overall unsuccessful, the lead single, also called "Weak in the Presence of Beauty
Weak in the Presence of Beauty
"Weak in the Presence of Beauty" is a song written by Michael Ward and Rob Clarke which was first released by their band, Floy Joy, in 1986. The song was later covered by singer Alison Moyet in 1987 and became a hit for her.-Floy Joy version:...
" peaked at #85 in the UK. The song was later covered by Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
which became a large European hit.
The group split shortly after due to the commercial failure of the album. By 1990, Shaun Ward and Desy Campbell worked under the name "Everyday People" with Paul Dolby, releasing one album titled "You Wash... I'll Dry". Two singles in 1990 were minor hits in the UK, "Headline News" peaked at #99 and "I Guess It Doesn't Matter" peaked at #93.
1983
- Elana Harris - vocals
- Michael Ward - hornsHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
- Shaun Ward - keyboards, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
1984
- Carroll ThompsonCarroll ThompsonCarroll Thompson is an English lovers rock singer, best known for her work in the 1980s.-Biography:Thompson sang in school and church choirs as a girl, but initially studied for a career in pharmacy. In the mid-1970s, she began working as a backing singer at several recording studios after...
- vocals - Michael Ward - hornsHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
- Shaun Ward - keyboards, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
1985
- Desy Campbell - vocals
- Michael Ward - hornsHorn (instrument)The horn is a brass instrument consisting of about of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. A musician who plays the horn is called a horn player ....
- Rob Clarke - keyboards, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
Albums
- Into the HotInto the Hot (Floy Joy album)Into the Hot is the debut album by synth-pop band Floy Joy. It was released in 1984. The album featured three singles "Until You Come Back To Me", "Burn Down A Rhythm" and "Operator"...
(1984) - Weak in the Presence of BeautyWeak in the Presence of Beauty (album)Weak in the Presence of Beauty was the second and last album by synth-pop band Floy Joy. It was released in 1986. The album featured the minor hit, Weak in the Presence of Beauty....
(1986)
Singles
- Answer Through Me (1983)
- Until You Come Back to Me (1984)
- Burn Down a Rhythm (1984)
- Operator (1985)
- Weak in the Presence of Beauty (1986)
- Friday Night In This Cold City (1986)