Floy Joy (band)

Floy Joy was an English group formed in Sheffield, England, who recorded two albums and had minor success with several singles.

Floy Joy
OriginSheffield, England
GenresJazz-funk,[1] pop[2]
Years active1983–1986
LabelsVirgin Records
Associated actsEveryday People, Carroll Thompson, Desi Campbell

History

The band formed in 1983, consisting of Elana Harris, Michael Ward and Shaun Ward. This line-up released only one single that year titled "Answer Through Me", produced by Andy Hernandez.

By 1984, Elana Harris was replaced by Carroll Thompson. The group released three singles, with two of the three being minor hits in the UK. "Until You Come Back to Me" peaked at No. 91 whilst "Operator" peaked at No. 86.[3] The album which the singles came from was released that year titled Into the Hot, produced by Don Was at The Sound Suite in Detroit. The album peaked at No. 40 in New Zealand.[4]

After the album, Thompson and Shaun Ward subsequently left the band, leaving Michael Ward to draft singer Desi Campbell and bassist/drum programmer/co-writer Robert E. Clarke and put together a new all-male Floy Joy.[5] An album came out in 1986 titled Weak in the Presence of Beauty, which was also produced by Don Was, like the last album.[6] Although the album was overall unsuccessful, the lead single, also called "Weak in the Presence of Beauty" peaked at No. 29 in Australia[7] and No. 85 in the UK.[3] The song was later covered by Alison Moyet which became a large European hit, including reaching the top 10 in the UK.[8]

The group split shortly after due to the commercial failure of the album. By 1990, Desi Campbell and Shaun Ward worked under the name Everyday People with Lloyd T Richards and producer Stewart Levine, releasing one album titled You Wash... I'll Dry.[9] Two singles in 1990, "Headline News" and "I Guess It Doesn't Matter", reached the charts in both the UK and Germany,[10][11] and the album also charted in Germany.[11] The group released two more singles in Germany and toured Europe extensively.

After the demise of the group Desi Campbell started a solo career which resulted in the release of two self produced singles "Stranger" and "L.O.V.E Poem". Having previously sung backing vocals with Was (Not Was) on the album What Up, Dog? he went on to work with Errol Brown, the dance outfit Fraud Squad, Bludog and Concrete Nation.

Members

1983

1984

1985

  • Desi Campbell - vocals
  • Michael Ward - horns
  • Rob Clarke - keyboards, bass

Discography

Albums

Singles

References
  1. Zuberi, Nabeel; Stratton, Jon, eds. (2014). Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945. Ashgate Publishing. p. 80.
  2. "Floy Joy - Into the Hot".
  3. "Official Charts > Floy Joy". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  4. "charts.nz > Floy Joy in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  5. "Floy Joy". TrouserPress.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  6. "Floy Joy - Weak In The Presence Of Beauty at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  7. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). St. Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 114. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. N.B. the Kent Report chart was licensed by ARIA between mid-1983 and 19 June 1988.
  8. "Official Charts > Alison Moyet". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  9. "Everyday People Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  10. "Official Charts > Everyday People". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  11. German chart peaks for Everyday People:
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