Racey

Racey were a British pop group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, by Clive Wilson and Phil Fursdon.[1] They achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits such as "Lay Your Love on Me" and "Some Girls".[2] Their 1979 song "Kitty" was an international hit in 1981 for Toni Basil when she reworked it into "Mickey".

Racey
The original lineup of Racey, 1979.
Background information
OriginWeston-super-Mare, United Kingdom
GenresPower pop, glam rock (before 1980), new wave
Years active1976–1985
LabelsRAK Records
Associated actsRichard Gower's Racey (1992 to present), The Original Racey (1990 to present)
Websitewww.racey.net www.raceyweb.com/history.htm
Past membersRichard Gower
Phil Fursdon
Pete Miller (†2003)
Clive Wilson

Career

The original line-up featured Richard Gower (born 1955, Hackney, London, England; vocals and keyboards), Phil Fursdon (vocals and guitar), Pete Miller (vocals and bass) and Clive Wilson (vocals and drums). After early success in their local pub circuit, they came to the attention of Mickie Most.[1] Racey's first single, "Baby It's You", was penned by Smokie members Chris Norman and Pete Spencer and released in 1978. Their second single, "Lay Your Love on Me", was the group's first hit single, peaking at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1978 through to early 1979.[1] The third single, "Some Girls", was written for the American band Blondie, for whom Mike Chapman also produced, but was instead given to Racey as a follow-up to "Lay Your Love on Me".[1] ("Some Girls" was later recorded by Barry Manilow for his 1982 "Here Comes the Night" album.) The band then parted company with Chinn and Chapman after the album was released and although they continued to play and tour they released only a few more singles that did not match their previous successes. The only album they made under the original line-up was their 1979 debut album Smash and Grab. The band's hits were either written and/or produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn.[1]

The band formally split in 1985, and since then two separate groups named Racey exist, one featuring band member Richard Gower and the other featuring Clive Wilson, Phil Fursdon and Pete Miller, the original bass player.[1] Miller died of cancer on 6 May 2003.[2] Several albums and CDs with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material are available from both of the present-day versions of the group.

In May 2009, the reissue of Racey's Smash And Grab album was available on a double CD through 7Ts Records, a division of Cherry Red Records in London. It included the original 1979 album along with all other recordings made for RAK Records between 1978 and 1982.

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
AUS
[3]
Smash and Grab
  • Released: 1979
  • Format: LP
  • Label: RAK (SRAK 537)
5

Compilation albums

List of albums, with details
Title Album details
The Best of Racey
  • Released: 1993
  • Format: CD
  • Label: EMI (7895382)
Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest)
  • Released: 1996 (Denmark)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: CMC Records (24248-2)
Lay Your Love On Me
  • Released: 1996
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Disky (SE 865702)
Some Girls
  • Released: 1998 (Europe)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Wise Buy (WB 885562)
The Very Best of Racey
  • Released: 1998
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Go On Deluxe (1016-2) / Rem!nd (5300252)
Lay Your Love On Me
  • Released: 1999 (Netherlands)
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Digimode Entertainment Ltd. (BT-33029)

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Title Peak chart
positions
Album
UK AUS
[3]
IRE RSA
1978 "Baby It's You" (Chris Norman, Pete Spencer) / "Rudi" (Richard Gower) ---- non album single
"Lay Your Love on Me" (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman) / "I Believed You"
(Richard Gower)
312- Smash and Grab
1979 "Some Girls" (Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman) / "Fighting Chance"(Richard Gower) 2121
"Boy Oh Boy" (Gloria Macari, Roger Ferris) / "Sensational Buzz" (Richard Gower) 221292
1980 "Such a Night" (Steve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns) / "There's a Party Going On" (Jimmie Cameron) -94--
"Rest of My Life" (R. Scott - S.Wolfe) / "Cry Baby Cry"" (Richard Gower) -45-- non album single
"Runaround Sue" (Dion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca) / "Hold Me Close" (Richard Gower) 13919- non album single
1981 "Shame" (Richard Gower) / "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" ---- non album single
"Little Darlin'" (Maurice Williams) / "Rock It" (Richard Gower) ---- non album single
"There's a Party Going On" (Jimmie Cameron) / "High Street Sunset" ---- non album single
1982 "Not Too Young to Get Married" (Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry) / "Love Games"(Richard Gower) ---- non album single
1992 "Little Girls Don't, But Big Girls Do" ---- non album single
1996 "Cry Cry Time"[4] ---- non album single

List of Songs

The following is a sortable table of all songs by Racey:

  • The column Song list the song title; bold means released as a single.
  • The column Writer(s) lists who wrote the song.
  • The column Time shows the length of the song.
  • The column Album lists the album the song is featured on.
  • The column Producer lists the producer of the song.
  • The column Year lists the year in which the song was released.
Song Writer(s) Time Producer Album Year Other
Baby It's YouChris Norman, Pete Spencer4:32 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1978A-side of Rudi
Big Big ChristmasRichard Gower unknownunknown 1994
Boy Oh BoyGloria Macari, Roger Ferris2:54 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979A-side of Sensational Buzz
Crazy3:40 The Best Of 2006 2006
Cry Baby CryRichard Gower2:37 RaceyThe Best Of Racey 1980B-side of Rest of My Life
Cry Cry Time?4:04 non-album-song 1986A-side of ?
Fighting ChanceRichard Gower3:47 Mickie MostThe Best Of Racey 1979B-side of Some Girls
High Street SunsetRichard Gower Raceynon-album-song 1981B-side of There's A Party Going On (1981)
Hold Me CloseRichard Gower2:44 RaceyThe Best Of Racey 1980B-side of Runaround Sue
I Believed YouRichard Gower3:07 The Best Of RaceyMickie Most 1978B-side of Lay Your Love on Me
I Mean It This Time3:10 Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest) 1996
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)John Fred, Andrew Bernard3:44 unknownThe Best Of 2006
KittyNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman3:38 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
Lay Your Cards On The TableSteve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns3:08 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
Lay Your Love on MeNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman3:16 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1978A-side of I Believed You
Let Me Take You Home TonightRichard Gower3:26 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1981B-side of Shame
Little Darlin'Maurice Williams2:40 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1981A-side of Rock It
Little Girls2:50 unknownThe Best Of 2006 2006
Little Girls (beach Mix)2:46 2006
Love GamesRichard Gower3:19 Richard Gowernon-album-song 1982B-side of Not Too Young to Get Married
Love's A RiotNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman2:54 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
Mad About The Girl3:14
Not Too Young to Get MarriedPhil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry3:01 Steve Glennon-album-song 1982A-side of Love Games
Rah StatewayRichard Gower3:47 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
Rest of My LifeSteve Wolfe, Ronnie Scott3:36 Mickie MostThe Best Of Racey 1980A-side of Cry Baby Cry
Rock ItRichard Gower2:42 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1978B-side of Little Darlin"
RudiRichard Gower2:53 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1978B-side of Baby It's You
Runaround SueDion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca2:57 Mickie MostThe Best Of Racey 1980A-side of Hold Me Close
Santa Claus Is Comin' to TownJ. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie2:22 unknownunknown 1994
Satin 'N' Lace4:13 unknownThe Best Of 2006 2006
Say Wow3:53
Sensational BuzzRichard Gower3:23 Mickie MostThe Best Of Racey 1979B-side of Boy Oh Boy
ShameRichard Gower2:35 Mickie Mostnon-album-song 1981A-side of Let Me Take You Home Tonight
She's A WinnerRichard Gower2:49 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
She's Different3:52 unknownSay Wow! (Greatest & Latest) 1996
Some GirlsNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman3:46 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979A-side of Fighting Chance
Still The One4:08 unknownThe Best Of 2006 2006
Such a NightSteve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns2:40 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1980A-side of There's A Party Going On
There's A Party Going OnJimmie Cameron3:10 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1980B-side of Such a Night
There's A Party Going OnJimmie Cameron3:10 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1981A-side of High Street Sunset
We Are RaceyRichard Gower3:05 Mickie MostSmash and Grab 1979
Worlds Apart3:43 unknownThe Best Of 2006 2006

Cover songs

Song Writer(s) Original artist Album Year Other
Baby It's YouChris Norman, Pete Spencer SmokieBright Lights & Back Alleys 1977
Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)John Fred, Andrew Bernard John Fred & His Playboy BandAgnes English 1967
Little Darlin'Maurice Williams The Gladiolas 1957successful cover version by The Diamonds
Not Too Young to Get MarriedPhil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry Bob B. Soxx & the Blue JeansZip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah 1963
Runaround SueDion DiMucci and Ernie Maresca DionRunaround Sue 1961
Santa Claus Is Comin' to TownJ. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie Harry Resernon-album-song 1934

Racey songs covered by others

Song Writer(s) First artist Name Album Year Other
KittyNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman Toni BasilMickeyWord of Mouth 1981
Lay Your Love on MeNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman a) Kikki Danielsson
b) De Strangers
c) Benny Schnier
a) Lay Your Love on Me
b) Melksjoekkelat mè neutjes (Dutch)
c) Wenn deine Süße einmal sauer ist (German)
a) Rock'n Yodel
b) Te Pakke Of Te Late
c) Amigo Charly Brown
1979
Some GirlsNicky Chinn, Mike Chapman StreaplersFlickor (Swedish)Om Jag Säger Att Jag Älskar.. 1979
Such a NightSteve Glenn, David Most, Mike Burns BoyJede Nacht 'ne Muppet-Party (German) 1980

References

  1. "Racey | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  2. "Racey". Racey. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 244. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 447. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

Bibliography

  • Kacey Traver. The Life of Racey Raver, 2009, Penguin House Books.
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