Strike (band)
Encyclopedia
Strike are a British
dance
band
formed in 1994 consisting of Matt Cantor, Andy Gardner and the vocalist Victoria Newton.
in Ladbroke Grove
, landed her the role as the lead singer.
Strike’s first non-charting
single
was "Formula One". They did not break through until "U Sure Do
" was released in December 1994 originally charting at number 31 in the UK Singles Chart
, only to re-enter the chart and climb to number 4 in April 1995. This was likely due to the track's being an instantaneous monster of a club
hit. They then began to tour extensively, appearing on television program
s such as Top of the Pops
, Deal or no Deal
and MTV
and playing to audiences as large as 70,000. "U Sure Do" achieved chart success in many territories and this took the band to Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Germany and Japan.
Strike went on to produce another four UK
Top 40 hits
and a critically acclaimed album
I Saw the Future released in 1997 on Fresh Records. They toured with and supported many international artists
including the Backstreet Boys
, Jocelyn Brown
and the Spice Girls
.
A Sol Bros remix
, in 1998, of Strike's track "I Saw The Future" appeared on a compilation album
; a clip of which appeared online too.
recording contract
with Strike's label
, Fresh. In September 1999, she made her debut release with "Martha's Harbour
"', a cover
of the All About Eve
hit, including mixes by Mike Koglin and Blu
. Although it failed to reach the UK Singles Chart, it was a #8 UK club hit and a favourite of DJ
, Paul Van Dyk
.
A solo album was recorded
and planned for release for late 1999, entitled 'Live For Today' but was cancelled. In the 2000s, Newton turned her attention to jazz and Latin music, and in 2003 released a solo album of jazz and Brazilian music entitled The Song is You.
In 2006, remixes of "U Sure Do" were released.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
formed in 1994 consisting of Matt Cantor, Andy Gardner and the vocalist Victoria Newton.
Career
Strike formed towards the end of 1994. A chance vocal session for Victoria Newton at the studios of Fresh RecordsFresh Records (UK)
Fresh Records was an independent record label, and distributor based in the United Kingdom. Most popular in the latter 1970s, the label once supported punk groups like UK Decay, Play Dead, Family Fodder, Cuddly Toys, The Dark, Wilko Johnson and Big Hair competed with labels such as 4AD.The label...
in Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove
Ladbroke Grove is a road in west London, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is also sometimes the name given informally to the immediate area surrounding the road. Running from Notting Hill in the south to Kensal Green in the north, it is located in North Kensington and straddles...
, landed her the role as the lead singer.
Strike’s first non-charting
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
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...
was "Formula One". They did not break through until "U Sure Do
U Sure Do
"U Sure Do" is a song by Strike. Released in December 1994 this was Strike's second single and reached number 31 in the UK charts. The song was a big UK club hit and after receiving regular play in clubs throughout 1994/1995 it was re-released and re-entered the chart in April 1995 reaching number...
" was released in December 1994 originally charting at number 31 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 ...
, only to re-enter the chart and climb to number 4 in April 1995. This was likely due to the track's being an instantaneous monster of a club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
hit. They then began to tour extensively, appearing on television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s such as Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, Deal or no Deal
Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal is the name of several closely related television game shows, the first of which was the Dutch Miljoenenjacht produced by Dutch producer Endemol. It is played with up to 26 cases with certain sums of money...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and playing to audiences as large as 70,000. "U Sure Do" achieved chart success in many territories and this took the band to Spain, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Holland, Germany and Japan.
Strike went on to produce another four UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Top 40 hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
and a critically acclaimed 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...
I Saw the Future released in 1997 on Fresh Records. They toured with and supported many international artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
including the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
, Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Brown
Jocelyn Lorette Brown is an American R&B and dance music singer...
and the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
.
A Sol Bros remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
, in 1998, of Strike's track "I Saw The Future" appeared on a 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...
; a clip of which appeared online too.
Victoria Newton
Newton was offered a soloSolo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Strike's 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,...
, Fresh. In September 1999, she made her debut release with "Martha's Harbour
Martha's Harbour
"Martha's Harbour" is the 1988 hit single by British rock group, All About Eve. It has become known as the group's signature song, reaching #10 in the UK Singles Chart and helping the group's self-titled debut album reach #7 in the UK albums chart....
"', a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
hit, including mixes by Mike Koglin and Blu
Blu (rapper)
Johnson Barnes , better known by the stage name Blu, is an American rapper and producer from Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his debut album, Below the Heavens, which was produced entirely by Exile of Emanon....
. Although it failed to reach the UK Singles Chart, it was a #8 UK club hit and a favourite of 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...
, Paul Van Dyk
Paul van Dyk
Matthias Paul, better known by his stage name Paul van Dyk is a German Grammy Award-winning Electronic Dance Music DJ, musician and record producer...
.
A solo album was recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and planned for release for late 1999, entitled 'Live For Today' but was cancelled. In the 2000s, Newton turned her attention to jazz and Latin music, and in 2003 released a solo album of jazz and Brazilian music entitled The Song is You.
In 2006, remixes of "U Sure Do" were released.
Singles
- "Formula One" - 1994
- "U Sure DoU Sure Do"U Sure Do" is a song by Strike. Released in December 1994 this was Strike's second single and reached number 31 in the UK charts. The song was a big UK club hit and after receiving regular play in clubs throughout 1994/1995 it was re-released and re-entered the chart in April 1995 reaching number...
" - 1994, #31 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 ...
; re-entry 1995, #4 UK; #9 AUS; #13 Netherlands - "The Morning After (Free At Last)" - 1995, #38 UK
- "Inspiration" - 1996, #27 UK, #46 AUS
- "My Love Is For Real" - 1996, #35 UK
- "I Have Peace" - 1997, #17 UK
- "U Sure Do '99" - 1999, #53 UK
- "U Sure Do 2006" - 2006
Sources
- Jazz CDs. Biography of Victoria Newton. Last accessed 8 May 2007.