The Farm (band)
Encyclopedia
The Farm were a British
band
from Liverpool
, popular through the early 1990s. Their album Spartacus
reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart
when it was released in March, 1991.
The band initially comprised Peter Hooton, Steve Grimes, John Melvin and Andrew John "Andy" McVann, who was killed in a police chase on October 1, 1986 at the age of 21, and to whose parents the band's subsequent album, Spartacus
, would be dedicated.
The band evolved out of an earlier group called The Excitements, initially including Phil Stephenson on bass, Neil (Cad) Campbell on drums, as well as Grimes on guitar & Thomas (the bands dancer). They became The Farm after Martin Dunbar (vocals) left and Peter Hooton joined, although they did play several gigs as The Excitements with Hooton on vocals. In 1984, they released the single
, "Hearts and Minds," produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson
, lead vocalist with Madness
. In 1986, after McVann's death, Melvin left the band to pursue a varied career as the director of his own construction firm, but he eventually returned to music in 1990 under the guise of Mr. Smith, a two-piece band that would tour frequently, but not release anything of note.
In 1987, the band supported The Housemartins on their UK tour.
After the departure of Melvin and the death of McVann, Hooton promptly brought in a new line-up. They released four Indie
singles, but failed to earn themselves a big break until 1990.
In 1989, the band had been given a cameo role in the movie The Final Frame starring Suggs. They were signed after this and hired Suggs as their producer. Their first single under new management was "Stepping Stone," a dance remake of Paul Revere & the Raiders
and The Monkees
' single "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," a 1966 single that in its day reached #20 in the U.S. Billboard
charts for The Monkees.
They were soon featured in The Face
, an influential popular culture
magazine in the UK, and their promotion of "No alla violenza" anti-hooligan
t-shirt
s during the Italia 90 helped raise their profile further.
The Farm's first song to reach the upper end of the UK singles chart
was "Groovy Train
," which reached the Top 10 in September, 1990. In late November that year they released their most famous song, "All Together Now
," which instantly became a hit.
It was on the crest of this wave that their album Spartacus reached #1 in the UK. However, this success was short-lived, and their first single for a major label (Sony Records), "Love See No Colour" (1992), did not perform well, which led to a split from producers Pete Heller and Terry Farley. The band joined up with Mark Saunders
, the man who had produced Erasure
and The Cure
. They released a cover of The Human League
's "Don't You Want Me
," which reached the Top 20.
In 1994, they released the album Hullabaloo
on the Sire
label, followed by their last major single. Despite being a group largely supporting Liverpool F.C.
, they released a single to accompany the presence of their cross-city rivals, Everton
, in the 1995 FA Cup
Final.
Their most recent release was "Alltogethernow 2004," featuring the S.F.X. Boys Choir, Liverpool, as the official anthem of the England National Football Team
at Euro 2004. It was issued on May 31, 2004 and as the name suggests, in a slightly remixed format, with radio commentary from the Euro 2004 Qualifiers added to the track, whilst a bonus remix also featured on the single with the help of DJ Spoony
. The Farm were also central to the commemorative Hillsborough track "The Fields of Anfield Road
," the proceeds going to the families of those killed in the disaster.
Others
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...
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...
from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, popular through the early 1990s. Their album Spartacus
Spartacus (The Farm album)
Spartacus is the 1991 debut album of Liverpool-based pop group The Farm, released in April 1991 in the height of Madchester. It reached number one in the UK album chart, staying there for a week...
reached the top position on the UK Albums Chart
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...
when it was released in March, 1991.
History
They formed in early 1983.The band initially comprised Peter Hooton, Steve Grimes, John Melvin and Andrew John "Andy" McVann, who was killed in a police chase on October 1, 1986 at the age of 21, and to whose parents the band's subsequent album, Spartacus
Spartacus (The Farm album)
Spartacus is the 1991 debut album of Liverpool-based pop group The Farm, released in April 1991 in the height of Madchester. It reached number one in the UK album chart, staying there for a week...
, would be dedicated.
The band evolved out of an earlier group called The Excitements, initially including Phil Stephenson on bass, Neil (Cad) Campbell on drums, as well as Grimes on guitar & Thomas (the bands dancer). They became The Farm after Martin Dunbar (vocals) left and Peter Hooton joined, although they did play several gigs as The Excitements with Hooton on vocals. In 1984, they released the 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...
, "Hearts and Minds," produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson
Suggs (singer)
Graham McPherson , better known as Suggs, is an English singer, actor, former radio DJ, TV personality, and most famous as the frontman of the band Madness.-Early life:...
, lead vocalist with Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
. In 1986, after McVann's death, Melvin left the band to pursue a varied career as the director of his own construction firm, but he eventually returned to music in 1990 under the guise of Mr. Smith, a two-piece band that would tour frequently, but not release anything of note.
In 1987, the band supported The Housemartins on their UK tour.
After the departure of Melvin and the death of McVann, Hooton promptly brought in a new line-up. They released four Indie
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
singles, but failed to earn themselves a big break until 1990.
In 1989, the band had been given a cameo role in the movie The Final Frame starring Suggs. They were signed after this and hired Suggs as their producer. Their first single under new management was "Stepping Stone," a dance remake of Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Paul Revere & the Raiders is an American rock band that saw considerable U.S. mainstream success in the second half of the 1960s and early 1970s with hits such as "Kicks" , "Hungry" , "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be?" and the 1971 No...
and The Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
' single "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," a 1966 single that in its day reached #20 in the U.S. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts for The Monkees.
They were soon featured in The Face
The Face (magazine)
The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
, an influential popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
magazine in the UK, and their promotion of "No alla violenza" anti-hooligan
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
s during the Italia 90 helped raise their profile further.
The Farm's first song to reach the upper end of 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 ...
was "Groovy Train
Groovy Train
"Groovy Train" was the second single released by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm. It was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus , having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness and Terry Farley. The single reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart and...
," which reached the Top 10 in September, 1990. In late November that year they released their most famous song, "All Together Now
All Together Now (The Farm song)
"All Together Now" is a song by Liverpudlian pop band The Farm from their album Spartacus, and is said to link many of the band's favourite themes, socialism, brotherhood and football....
," which instantly became a hit.
It was on the crest of this wave that their album Spartacus reached #1 in the UK. However, this success was short-lived, and their first single for a major label (Sony Records), "Love See No Colour" (1992), did not perform well, which led to a split from producers Pete Heller and Terry Farley. The band joined up with Mark Saunders
Mark Saunders
Mark Saunders, is a British record producer who has worked on a number of albums. He relocated to New York City in 1996 and currently works from his facility in Manhattan - Beat360 Studios....
, the man who had produced Erasure
Erasure
Erasure are an English synthpop duo, consisting of songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell. Erasure entered the music scene in 1985 with their debut single "Who Needs Love Like That"...
and The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
. They released a cover of The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
's "Don't You Want Me
Don't You Want Me
"Don't You Want Me" is a single by British synthpop group Human League, released from their album: Dare on 27 November 1981.It is the band's best known and most commercially successful recording to date, and was the Christmas number one in the UK, in 1981, where it sold over 1,400,000 copies,...
," which reached the Top 20.
In 1994, they released the album Hullabaloo
Hullabaloo (The Farm album)
Hullabaloo is the third and final studio album released by Liverpool-based indie dance group The Farm. It was released on the Sire Records label in 1994 and was not critically well received.-Track listing:#"Messiah" – 4:26#"Shake Some Action" – 4:05...
on the Sire
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
label, followed by their last major single. Despite being a group largely supporting Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, they released a single to accompany the presence of their cross-city rivals, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, in the 1995 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
Final.
Their most recent release was "Alltogethernow 2004," featuring the S.F.X. Boys Choir, Liverpool, as the official anthem of the England National Football Team
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Euro 2004. It was issued on May 31, 2004 and as the name suggests, in a slightly remixed format, with radio commentary from the Euro 2004 Qualifiers added to the track, whilst a bonus remix also featured on the single with the help of DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony
DJ Spoony is the stage name of Johnathan Joseph who is a British DJ, and former BBC Radio 1 presenter.-Radio and Dj career:...
. The Farm were also central to the commemorative Hillsborough track "The Fields of Anfield Road
The Fields of Anfield Road
The Fields of Anfield Road is a football song sung by supporters of Liverpool Football Club. It proceeds to the tune of The Fields of Athenry; composed by singer-songwriter Pete St. John in 1979...
," the proceeds going to the families of those killed in the disaster.
Line-up
- Peter HootonPeter HootonPeter Hooton was the vocalist of Liverpool-based group The Farm. He was also its sole founder member in the 1980s....
- vocals - Steve GrimesSteve GrimesSteve Grimes was the rhythm guitarist and keyboardist of Liverpool based pop group, The Farm. He was also one of its founder members in 1983 under the name 'Soul of Socialism'....
- Rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and programming - Keith Mullin - Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Carl HunterCarl HunterCarl Hunter was the English bassist in the Liverpool-based pop group The Farm.He was part of the second wave of members who joined in 1983, and apart from his musical contributions, he also helped to design their CD jackets and sleeves. Hunter has released a feature film on DVD as a producer and...
- Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Roy BoulterRoy BoulterRoy Boulter was the drummer in the Liverpool based pop group The Farm. He joined the band a replacement for Andy McVann, who died in a car crash on 1 October 1986....
- DrumDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s - Ben LeachBen LeachBen Leach was the keyboard and synthesizer player in the Liverpool-based pop band, The Farm. He joined in 1986 at the age of 17 after the death of Andy McVann in a car crash on 1 October that year, and was the band's youngest member, still being with them at the height of their success in autumn...
- Keyboards and programming - Paula David - Backing VocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
Others
- Andy McVann - Drums
- George Maher - TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Kevin SampsonKevin Sampson (writer)Kevin Sampson is a British novelist, best known for his novels Awaydays and Powder . Sampson is from the Wirral, England and was educated at Birkenhead School.-Career:...
- Manager 1990 onwards
Studio albums
- 1986 - Pastures Old And New
- 1991 - SpartacusSpartacus (The Farm album)Spartacus is the 1991 debut album of Liverpool-based pop group The Farm, released in April 1991 in the height of Madchester. It reached number one in the UK album chart, staying there for a week...
- #1 UKUK Albums ChartThe 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... - 1992 - Love See No Colour
- 1994 - HullabalooHullabaloo (The Farm album)Hullabaloo is the third and final studio album released by Liverpool-based indie dance group The Farm. It was released on the Sire Records label in 1994 and was not critically well received.-Track listing:#"Messiah" – 4:26#"Shake Some Action" – 4:05...
Compilation albums
- 1998 - The Best of The FarmThe Best of The FarmThe Best of The Farm is a compilation album by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm. It was released four years after their previous album Hullabaloo and two years after their break up...
- 2001 - The Very Best of The FarmThe Very Best of The FarmThe Very Best of The Farm is an album released in May 2001 by Liverpool-based The Farm, although by this time they had long disbanded. It includes all of the songs from their debut album, Spartacus, excluding remix versions.-Track listing:...
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 ... | US Modern Rock |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Stepping Stone / Family of Man | 58 | - |
| 1990 | Groovy Train Groovy Train "Groovy Train" was the second single released by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm. It was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus , having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness and Terry Farley. The single reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart and... |
6 | 15 |
| 1990 | All Together Now All Together Now (The Farm song) "All Together Now" is a song by Liverpudlian pop band The Farm from their album Spartacus, and is said to link many of the band's favourite themes, socialism, brotherhood and football.... |
4 | 7 |
| 1991 | Sinful!" (Pete Wylie Pete Wylie -Studio albums:- Extended Plays :-Singles:-External links:***... with The Farm) |
28 | - |
| 1991 | Don't Let Me Down Don't Let Me Down (The Farm song) "Don't Let Me Down" was a single by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm released as the third and final single off their album Spartacus. It was released on 22 April 1991 , having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness... |
36 | - |
| 1991 | Mind Mind (song) "Mind" was a single by Liverpool-based pop group The Farm, released as the first single off their second album Love See No Colour. It was released in 12 August 1991, having been produced by Graham "Suggs" McPherson of Madness... |
31 | - |
| 1992 | Love See No Colour | 58 | - |
| 1992 | Rising Sun | 48 | - |
| 1992 | Don't You Want Me Don't You Want Me "Don't You Want Me" is a single by British synthpop group Human League, released from their album: Dare on 27 November 1981.It is the band's best known and most commercially successful recording to date, and was the Christmas number one in the UK, in 1981, where it sold over 1,400,000 copies,... |
18 | - |
| 1992 | Love See No Colour (re-mix) | 35 | - |
| 1994 | Messiah | - | - |
| 1994 | Comfort | - | - |
| 1995 | All Together Now (Everton FA Cup Final version) | 24 | - |
| 2004 | All Together Now" (England Euro 2004 version, The Farm featuring SFX Boys Choir, Liverpool) | 5 | - |
External links
- Something from the BBC (BBCBBCThe 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...
)