Wax (pop band)
Encyclopedia
Wax was a 1980s pop rock
group consisting of Andrew Gold
and 10cc
guitarist/bassist Graham Gouldman
. In the US, they were listed as Wax UK. The band is best known for the hit
single
s "Right Between the Eyes" and "Bridge to Your Heart
".
were working on what would become their album Ten Out of 10
. Andrew Gold was invited to record with the band by Lenny Waronker
, head of A&R
at Warner Bros
. It led to an offer to join the band – an offer Gold declined because of other commitments.
After 10cc split in 1983, Gouldman persuaded Gold to return to England to write and spent some time together. He ended up staying for seven months. During this period they wrote enough songs for an album. They chose World In Action as the band name and released a single "Don't Break My Heart". Soon afterwards they changed the name to Common Knowledge. A second single "Victoria" was released, but both singles failed to get any attention and the album was shelved.
They started working on songs for a new album, changed labels, and took the name Wax. Wax released three studio albums between 1986 and 1989. Their only British hit was "Bridge to Your Heart
" which reached #12 in autumn 1987. A Top of the Pops
appearance and a tour followed. The duo were about to split in 1990 when Gouldman was offered the chance to reform 10cc with Eric Stewart. Gold appeared on the comeback album ...Meanwhile
playing guitar on "Charity Begins at Home" and sang lead vocal on "Ready to go Home" from 10cc's last album Mirror Mirror
, which he had intended to be a guide vocal only - but Eric Stewart liked what he had done with the track and his vocals remained.
In 1998 their Common Knowledge album was finally released as common knowledge.com with four new tracks under the Wax name. A collection of out-takes and rarities, Wax Bikini was released in 2000 through Gold's website.
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
group consisting of Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
and 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
guitarist/bassist Graham Gouldman
Graham Gouldman
Graham Keith Gouldman is an English songwriter and musician who is a long-time member of British band 10cc.-Early life and 1960s pop career: 1946–1968:Gouldman was born in Broughton, Salford, England...
. In the US, they were listed as Wax UK. The band is best known for the 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...
s "Right Between the Eyes" and "Bridge to Your Heart
Bridge to Your Heart
"Bridge to Your Heart" is a song by English pop duo Wax from their second studio album American English .The song became the group's most popular single in their home country of the United Kingdom, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top ten in other European countries such as the...
".
History
In 1981, 10cc10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
were working on what would become their album Ten Out of 10
Ten Out of 10
Ten Out of 10 is the eighth studio album by 10cc and was released in 1981. It failed to chart in the US or UK. The album marked the first involvement with the band by American singer-songwriter Andrew Gold, who was also invited to join the band, but declined because of other commitments.Gouldman...
. Andrew Gold was invited to record with the band by Lenny Waronker
Lenny Waronker
Lenny Waronker is a record producer for Warner Bros. Records.-Career:He produced recording sessions for Nancy Sinatra, The Everly Brothers, Van Dyke Parks, The Beau Brummels, Harpers Bizarre, Randy Newman, Ry Cooder, Arlo Guthrie, Maria Muldaur, Gordon Lightfoot, Rickie Lee Jones, James Taylor, ...
, head of A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
at Warner Bros
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. It led to an offer to join the band – an offer Gold declined because of other commitments.
After 10cc split in 1983, Gouldman persuaded Gold to return to England to write and spent some time together. He ended up staying for seven months. During this period they wrote enough songs for an album. They chose World In Action as the band name and released a single "Don't Break My Heart". Soon afterwards they changed the name to Common Knowledge. A second single "Victoria" was released, but both singles failed to get any attention and the album was shelved.
They started working on songs for a new album, changed labels, and took the name Wax. Wax released three studio albums between 1986 and 1989. Their only British hit was "Bridge to Your Heart
Bridge to Your Heart
"Bridge to Your Heart" is a song by English pop duo Wax from their second studio album American English .The song became the group's most popular single in their home country of the United Kingdom, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top ten in other European countries such as the...
" which reached #12 in autumn 1987. A 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...
appearance and a tour followed. The duo were about to split in 1990 when Gouldman was offered the chance to reform 10cc with Eric Stewart. Gold appeared on the comeback album ...Meanwhile
...Meanwhile
...Meanwhile is the 10th studio album by British pop band 10cc. It was recorded at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, The Hit Factory, New York, River Sound Studios, New York, Bill Schner Studio, Los Angeles and Village Recorders, Los Angeles and released in 1992.The album was the band's...
playing guitar on "Charity Begins at Home" and sang lead vocal on "Ready to go Home" from 10cc's last album Mirror Mirror
Mirror Mirror
- Literature :* "Mirror, mirror on the wall...", a famous phrase uttered by the wicked queen in Snow White* Mirror, Mirror , a 2003 novel by Gregory Maguire based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs...
, which he had intended to be a guide vocal only - but Eric Stewart liked what he had done with the track and his vocals remained.
In 1998 their Common Knowledge album was finally released as common knowledge.com with four new tracks under the Wax name. A collection of out-takes and rarities, Wax Bikini was released in 2000 through Gold's website.
Singles
- "Don't Break My Heart (World in Action)" (1984)
- "Victoria" (Common Knowledge)" (1985)
- "Ball And Chain" (1985)
- "Shadows of Love"(1986)
- "Right Between the Eyes" (1986) U.S. #43, 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 ...
#60, Neth #24 - "In Some Other World" (1986)
- "Bridge to Your HeartBridge to Your Heart"Bridge to Your Heart" is a song by English pop duo Wax from their second studio album American English .The song became the group's most popular single in their home country of the United Kingdom, reaching #12 on the UK Singles Chart and reaching the top ten in other European countries such as the...
" (1987) UK #12, U.S #43, Neth #6, SWE #9 - "American English" (1987) Neth #96
- "Wherever You are" (1989)
- "Anchors Aweigh" (1989)
Albums
- Magnetic HeavenMagnetic HeavenMagnetic Heaven is a 1986 album by Wax. The album cover, painted by Jason Bradley, shows the band members.-Track listing:All songs were written, arranged and performed by Andrew Gold and Graham Gouldman.-Side one:# "Right Between The Eyes" – 4:08...
(1986) U.S. #101 - American EnglishAmerican English (album)American English is a 1987 album by Wax, and includes their hit single "Bridge to Your Heart". The album cover, designed by Storm Thorgerson, shows objects that all refer to wax.-Track listing:...
(1987) 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...
#59 - A Hundred Thousand in Fresh Notes (1989)
- The Wax Files (1997), (compilation/unreleased material) released as by Andrew Gold & Graham Gouldman
- common knowledge.com (1998)
- Wax Bikini (2000)
Other collaborations
Other Gold-Gouldman collaborations can be found on:- 10cc - Ten Out of 10Ten Out of 10Ten Out of 10 is the eighth studio album by 10cc and was released in 1981. It failed to chart in the US or UK. The album marked the first involvement with the band by American singer-songwriter Andrew Gold, who was also invited to join the band, but declined because of other commitments.Gouldman...
(1981) - 10cc - …Meanwhile (1992)
- 10cc - Mirror Mirror (1995)
- Andrew Gold - Since 1951 (1996)
- Graham Gouldman - And Another Thing... (2000)
- AsiaAsia (band)Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
- AuraAura (Asia album)Aura is an album by the progressive rock band Asia, recorded in 2000 and first released in 2001. Roger Dean created the cover art for this album...
(2001)
External links
- Wax at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...