The Mobiles
Encyclopedia
The Mobiles were a UK
1980s synth pop band
, whose existence was notable for their one major hit
single
, early in 1982, with the song
"Drowning in Berlin". It reached #9 in the UK Singles Chart
. The follow-up single "Amour, Amour" (#45 in the UK) continued the European flavour.
, but with band members hailing from Hastings
, Bexhill-on-Sea
and Eastbourne, and were led by Anna Maria. A slimmed down version of Mobiles (just Maria and Madge) and renamed The Avengers, released a couple of singles for RCA. They were signed by Nick Heath
and Tim Heath, sons of British bandleader Ted Heath, who owned the successful record label Rialto.
, Spain
, and Maria, who lives in Seaford
, East Sussex
and works in the health profession, said they were delighted the album was now available on CD. "Back in the 1980s CDs weren't around," said Dave. "Everything was on vinyl". "It was all such an adventure for us. We were just a band practicing in The Drive pub. The first week "Drowning in Berlin" was released, it appeared in their local record shop
, Max Records at the bottom of Grove Road.
Blundell said "One minute we were doing gigs in Eastbourne and the next minute we got a call saying they wanted us to do Top of The Pops. They were very exciting times for us all and we had a wonderful time doing it all."
The reissue of the original album
includes their best known hit along with further singles "Amour Amour" and "Partners in Fiction" the first time on CD
. The video
for "Drowning In Berlin" is still a fixture on MTV
to this day. The comprehensive reissue features their debut album in its entirety, and a wide selection of rare bonus material including remix
es and b-sides
. Drowning In Berlin - The Best of The Mobiles also encompasses comprehensive packaging, with track by track liner notes from bass player David Blundell, a history, interviews with the band's one-time record label manager, numerous photographs and a complete discography.
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...
1980s synth pop 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...
, whose existence was notable for their one major hit
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...
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...
, early in 1982, with the song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
"Drowning in Berlin". It reached #9 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 ...
. The follow-up single "Amour, Amour" (#45 in the UK) continued the European flavour.
Career
The Mobiles were based in EastbourneEastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, but with band members hailing from Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea
Bexhill-on-Sea is a town and seaside resort in the county of East Sussex, in the south of England, within the District of Rother. It has a population of approximately 40,000...
and Eastbourne, and were led by Anna Maria. A slimmed down version of Mobiles (just Maria and Madge) and renamed The Avengers, released a couple of singles for RCA. They were signed by Nick Heath
Nick Heath
Nick Heath is an English music, television and film producer, publisher, designer and founder of Birdland Film, Nick Heath Design Group and Heath Media....
and Tim Heath, sons of British bandleader Ted Heath, who owned the successful record label Rialto.
Band members
- David Blundell - bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer... - Anna Maria - vocalist
- Chris Downton - guitaristGuitaristA guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, songwriter - Russ Madge - guitarist
- John Smithson - 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...
, songwriter - Eddie Smithson - drumDrumThe drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s - Tony Norman - managerManagementManagement in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
, songwriter - Paul Lynton - songwriter and producer
Post Mobiles
Blundell now lives in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Maria, who lives in Seaford
Seaford, East Sussex
Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Lying east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne, it is the largest town in Lewes district, with a population of about 23,000....
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
and works in the health profession, said they were delighted the album was now available on CD. "Back in the 1980s CDs weren't around," said Dave. "Everything was on vinyl". "It was all such an adventure for us. We were just a band practicing in The Drive pub. The first week "Drowning in Berlin" was released, it appeared in their local record shop
Record shop
A record shop or record store is an outlet that sells recorded music. Although vinyl records and audio cassettes are no longer sold in the majority of music stores, in favour of compact discs and home video recordings products, people in some countries, like the UK, still use the term "record...
, Max Records at the bottom of Grove Road.
Blundell said "One minute we were doing gigs in Eastbourne and the next minute we got a call saying they wanted us to do Top of The Pops. They were very exciting times for us all and we had a wonderful time doing it all."
The reissue of the original 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...
includes their best known hit along with further singles "Amour Amour" and "Partners in Fiction" the first time on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
. The video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for "Drowning In Berlin" is still a fixture on 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....
to this day. The comprehensive reissue features their debut album in its entirety, and a wide selection of rare bonus material including 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 ....
es and b-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
. Drowning In Berlin - The Best of The Mobiles also encompasses comprehensive packaging, with track by track liner notes from bass player David Blundell, a history, interviews with the band's one-time record label manager, numerous photographs and a complete discography.
Singles
- ”You're Not Alone” - 1982 - Did not chart - Rialto MOB3
- ”Drowning in Berlin” - 1982 - 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 ...
Number 9 - Rialto RIA 3 - ”Amour Amour” - 1982 - UK Number 45 - Rialto RIA 5
- "Partners In Fiction" - 1982 - Did not chart - Rialto RIA10
Albums
- Drowning in Berlin - 1982
- Drowning in Berlin: The Best of The Mobiles - 2006 - Cherry Red labelRecord labelIn 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,...
- CDM RED 309