The Jetset
Encyclopedia
The Jetset were a 1980s English
pop band, who were associated with the British Mod revival
.
and Melvyn J Taub
, the band
developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair
drummer
, Paul Bultitude
. After recording a few demos with Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub pulled together a makeshift band for promotional photos, enlisting keyboardist Angus Nanan and bassist Paul Bonin
.
Gaining valuable live experience as a touring support act to Secret Affair in 1981 and 1982, through their connection with Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub temporarily joined Mari Wilson
's Wilsations as backing vocalist
s in 1981. Bevoir soon left to focus on his own music, while Taub went on to enjoy chart
success with the Wilsations, before returning to work with Bevoir in The Jetset.
In 1983 Bultitude signed the band to his Dance Network label in 1983 and released their debut, The Best of the Jetset EP
. From the beginning The Jetset presented themselves as being as famous as their heroes The Monkees
. The band's marketing sowed the seeds of the Jetset myth before they were even well known. Their eye-catching EP
sleeve included the band clowning around in stills "from their forthcoming TV series", hanging out of the Monkee-influenced 'Jetsetmobile' (a Ford Capri
with customised 'JETSET' number plates). On the musical side, Bevoir had penned a quartet of tunes for the EP, including "The Jetset Theme", billed as an 'original soundtrack recording'. With an inspired promotional push, the EP was sent to the press accompanied by merchandise including Jetset posters, badges, stickers, key rings and bubblegum cards. Mod fanzine
s followed suit, helping to stoke the fires of Jetsetmania. Soon a Jetset cartoon strip appeared in Shadows & Reflections, the underground magazine
of long-time Jetset champion Chris Hunt
. The group even released their own Christmas
flexi-disc through Shadows & Reflections in December 1983.
There Goes the Neighborhood, their first full-length album was released in 1985. The album was well reviewed in the UK music press and it was followed by Go Bananas, an album which featured commercials for Jetset products between songs. Bevoir retired from touring to concentrate on his songwriting and together with Bultitude created the lushly orchestrated Vaudeville Park.
The band released their final album
, Five, shortly before their acrimonious demise in 1988.
Records released Swings & Roundabouts: The Very Best of the Jetset.,
In 2009 Twist Records released, Do You Wanna Be In The Show: A Pop Tribute to The Jetset, featuring 17 artists covering Bevoir's compostitions, including The Risk, The Spring Collection, The Shambles and The Cola Jet Set.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
pop band, who were associated with the British Mod revival
Mod Revival
The mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in England in 1978 and later spread to other countries . The mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence has lasted for decades...
.
Career
Formed in 1979 by teenage friends Paul BevoirPaul Bevoir
Paul Bevoir , is a pop/rock songwriter and musician. He is probably best known as a member of the 1980s English pop band The Jetset, who were associated with the British Mod revival.-Early life:...
and Melvyn J Taub
Melvyn J Taub
Melvyn J Taub is a London-based pop/rock singer and some-time actor, primarily known for his role as singer in 1980s bubblegum pop band The Jetset and as a part of Mari Wilson's touring revue band The Wilsations.-Early life:...
, the band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
developed their style under the guidance of former Advertising and Secret Affair
Secret Affair
Secret Affair were a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982. They reformed to perform and record in the 2000s.-Career:In a period of a little over two years, Secret Affair posted five releases in the UK Singles Chart and released three albums...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
, Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude
Paul Bultitude is an English musician and record producer. He was the drummer in power pop band Advertising, working with his cousin Dennis Smith, Tot Taylor and Simon Boswell, before replacing Seb Shelton as the drummer in Secret Affair...
. After recording a few demos with Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub pulled together a makeshift band for promotional photos, enlisting keyboardist Angus Nanan and bassist Paul Bonin
Paul Bonin
Paul Bonin is a singer and musician and a songwriter/composer. His body of published recorded work spans from 1980 to the present day.Bonin was born in Hammersmith, London and grew up in north London...
.
Gaining valuable live experience as a touring support act to Secret Affair in 1981 and 1982, through their connection with Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub temporarily joined Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson
Mari Wilson is an English singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s-influenced pop music songs, and her beehive hairstyle.-Career:...
's Wilsations as backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
s in 1981. Bevoir soon left to focus on his own music, while Taub went on to enjoy chart
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....
success with the Wilsations, before returning to work with Bevoir in The Jetset.
In 1983 Bultitude signed the band to his Dance Network label in 1983 and released their debut, The Best of the Jetset EP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. From the beginning The Jetset presented themselves as being as famous as their heroes 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,...
. The band's marketing sowed the seeds of the Jetset myth before they were even well known. Their eye-catching EP
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
sleeve included the band clowning around in stills "from their forthcoming TV series", hanging out of the Monkee-influenced 'Jetsetmobile' (a Ford Capri
Ford Capri
Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...
with customised 'JETSET' number plates). On the musical side, Bevoir had penned a quartet of tunes for the EP, including "The Jetset Theme", billed as an 'original soundtrack recording'. With an inspired promotional push, the EP was sent to the press accompanied by merchandise including Jetset posters, badges, stickers, key rings and bubblegum cards. Mod fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
s followed suit, helping to stoke the fires of Jetsetmania. Soon a Jetset cartoon strip appeared in Shadows & Reflections, the underground magazine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
of long-time Jetset champion Chris Hunt
Chris Hunt
Chris Hunt is a magazine editor, journalist and author. He has worked in journalism for over twenty years, most often writing about football or rock music. He was managing editor of Match from 1993 to 2001, a period that saw the weekly title become Britain's biggest selling football magazine...
. The group even released their own Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
flexi-disc through Shadows & Reflections in December 1983.
There Goes the Neighborhood, their first full-length album was released in 1985. The album was well reviewed in the UK music press and it was followed by Go Bananas, an album which featured commercials for Jetset products between songs. Bevoir retired from touring to concentrate on his songwriting and together with Bultitude created the lushly orchestrated Vaudeville Park.
The band released their final 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...
, Five, shortly before their acrimonious demise in 1988.
Legacy
The Jetset's music has been reissued numerous times. In 2010, Cherry RedCherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
Records released Swings & Roundabouts: The Very Best of the Jetset.,
In 2009 Twist Records released, Do You Wanna Be In The Show: A Pop Tribute to The Jetset, featuring 17 artists covering Bevoir's compostitions, including The Risk, The Spring Collection, The Shambles and The Cola Jet Set.
Albums
- There Goes the Neighbourhood (1985)
- Go Bananas (1986)
- April, May, June and the Jetset (1986)
- Vaudeville Park (1987)
- Five (1988)