'Til Tuesday

'Til Tuesday (often written as ’til tuesday) was an American new wave and alternative rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.[1] The band, consisting of Aimee Mann (lead vocals, bass), Robert Holmes (guitar), Joey Pesce (keyboards), and Michael Hausman (drums), was active from 1982 to 1989.[1] They are best known for their 1985 hit single "Voices Carry".

'Til Tuesday
'Til Tuesday in 1985
Background information
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S
GenresNew wave
Years active1982–1989
LabelsEpic
Past membersAimee Mann
Robert Holmes
Joey Pesce
Michael Hausman

History

'Til Tuesday first gained fame six months after its formation when it won Boston's WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble in 1983. Their original composition "Love in a Vacuum" (credited to all members of the group) received a fair amount of airplay on the station, and the group was eventually signed to Epic Records.[2]

"Love in a Vacuum" was re-recorded for the Epic debut album, 1985's Voices Carry; however, the breakthrough song turned out to be the title track.[1] The "Voices Carry" single peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,[3] and is said to have been inspired by an argument between Mann and Hausman, who had broken off a relationship before the album's release. According to producer Mike Thorne on his Stereo Society web site, "The title track was originally written and sung by Aimee as if to a woman.... The record company was predictably unhappy with such lyrics."[4] Rolling Stone magazine would later report that Epic Records labelmate Cyndi Lauper was interested in recording "Voices Carry" with the original lyric, but only if the band did not put it on their own release.

The band became an early MTV staple with the "Voices Carry" video, which depicts an oppressive boyfriend trying to convert Mann to his upper-class lifestyle; she finally lashes out at him during a concert at Carnegie Hall, though filmed at the Strand Theatre in Dorchester, Massachusetts, standing up from her seat in the audience and belting the lyrics, "He said, shut up! He said, shut up! Oh God, can't you keep it down...?" as she removes her cap to reveal her signature spiky, rat-tailed hair. As a result, the group won that year's MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.

By the 1986 follow-up Welcome Home, Mann was beginning to write more of the songs herself and the band was moving away from the slick new wave sound of their debut.[1] But while critical reaction was generally strong, the #26 placing for the lead single, "What About Love", was a commercial disappointment, especially after the top-ten success of "Voices Carry". Even more problematic, the album just barely sneaked into the U.S. top 50,[5] also a letdown after the #19 placing for their debut.[5]

After the album's release Pesce left the band and was replaced by Michael Montes. At about the same time, Mann's two-year relationship with singer-songwriter Jules Shear,[1] whom she had been dating since the release of the Voices Carry album, came to an end.[6] This breakup somewhat informed the band's final album, 1988's Everything's Different Now,[1] particularly in the song "J for Jules", though Mann insisted that not every song on the LP was about the relationship. Shear collaborated with Matthew Sweet on the album's title track; it also featured "The Other End (of the Telescope)", a collaboration between Mann and Elvis Costello on which Costello provides a guest vocal.[1]

While critical praise continued to flow, Everything's Different Now was not a commercial success. The album peaked at No. 124, while the lead single "(Believed You Were) Lucky" (co-written with Shear) reached number 95.

'Til Tuesday essentially broke up after the release of Everything's Different Now.[1] However, for a short time Mann continued to tour under the 'Til Tuesday name with various session players (including guitarists Jon Brion and Clayton Scoble) while legal problems with the band's label Epic prevented her from beginning work on a solo record for several years. (Mann's solo career officially began in 1992). Hausman, meanwhile, became Mann's manager, a position he holds to this day.

Personnel

Touring members
  • Jon Brion – guitar, bass guitar
  • Clayton Scoble – guitar
  • Dave Darby – bass guitar

Discography

Albums

Compilation albums

Singles
Year Song U.S. Hot 100
[3]		 U.S.
Main. Rock
[8]		 U.S.
Mod. Rock
[9]		 AUS
[7]		 Album
1985 "Voices Carry" 8 14 – 15 Voices Carry
"Looking Over My Shoulder" 61 – – –
"Love in a Vacuum" – – – –
1986 "What About Love" 26 9 – 92 Welcome Home
1987 "Coming Up Close" 59 37 – –
1988 "(Believed You Were) Lucky" 95 – 30 – Everything's Different Now
"Rip in Heaven" – – – –
"Everything's Different Now" – – – –
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

References
  1. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 1180/1. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. Brooks, E. (May 1985). 'til tuesday – Voices Carry (Epic). Spin. Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  3. "Billboard > Artists / 'Til Tuesday > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  4. Thorne, Mike (March 1999). "The making of Til Tuesday's Voices Carry". StereoSociety.com. Archived from the original on 2008-09-08. Retrieved 2009-06-17.
  5. "Billboard > 'Til Tuesday > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  6. Willman, Chris (November 20, 1988). "'Til Tuesday: Art From a Broken Heart". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 310. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and June 12, 1988.
  8. "Billboard > Artists / 'Til Tuesday > Chart History > Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  9. "Billboard > Artists / 'Til Tuesday > Chart History > Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
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