5000 Volts
Encyclopedia
5000 Volts is the name of a British
disco
recording act that achieved success throughout Europe
during the 1970s. The group
consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musician
s.
in the mid 1970s, but did not achieve success until radio station
s began playing the B-side
to their 1975 single
, "Bye Love". The song
, "I'm on Fire", was released in its own right and became a major hit
throughout Europe
, peaking at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart
;
and at number 1 on the German
Top100 Singles chart
and the Swedish chart and also number 10 in South Africa. It also charted
in the United States
where it reached number 26.
Although Tina Charles provided the vocals
, she was not publicly acknowledged as the group's singer and for the band's 1975 appearance on BBC Television
's Top of the Pops
they were fronted by singer/actress Luan Peters
(best remembered for her role as Raylene Miles, an Australian tourist in an episode of Fawlty Towers
), first broadcast in 1979.
In 1975 the group was expanded by record producer
Tony Eyers into a permanent five piece, with the inclusion of Martin Cohen (bass and vocals), Kevin Wells (drums) and Mike Nelson (keyboards). Subsequent singles failed to attract widespread interest in the UK, although the group became popular in South Africa and Germany. On the eve of a German tour, Charles left the group after a dispute with the record label
and continued with her solo career, she was replaced by Linda Kelly.
The next single "Doctor Kiss Kiss
" reached number 8 in the UK
, and number 6 in South Africa, but the band struggled to maintain public interest. A handful of further UK singles and a self-titled album followed, as the band tried to come back with "Light the Flame of Love", "Take Me Back" and "(Walkin' On) A Love Cloud" throughout 1976/77. ("(Walking On) A Love Cloud" did top the South African charts in June 1977), but no other songs registered with the UK commercial mainstream. The last single, "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" (South Africa #12), appeared the following year before the band, who never fully recovered from Charles' departure, disbanded.
Martin Jay launched a solo career without success, before returning to his earlier role as a session musician, working for bands such as Enigma
, Tight Fit
in 1981 and the UK Mixmasters
in 1990.
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...
disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
recording act that achieved success throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during the 1970s. The group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
consisted of vocalists Tina Charles and Martin Jay, with a changing group of session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s.
Career
They released several singlesSingle (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...
in the mid 1970s, but did not achieve success until radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s began playing the B-side
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...
to their 1975 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...
, "Bye Love". 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...
, "I'm on Fire", was released in its own right and became a 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...
throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, peaking at number 4 on 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 ...
;
and at number 1 on the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Top100 Singles chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
and the Swedish chart and also number 10 in South Africa. It also charted
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where it reached number 26.
Although Tina Charles provided the vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
, she was not publicly acknowledged as the group's singer and for the band's 1975 appearance on BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's 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...
they were fronted by singer/actress Luan Peters
Luan Peters
Luan Peters , also known as Karol Keyes, is an English actress.Born as Carol Hirsch, she made her stage debut in a pantomime aged four, then went on to win a drama scholarship at aged 16 after a performance of Twelfth Night...
(best remembered for her role as Raylene Miles, an Australian tourist in an episode of Fawlty Towers
The Psychiatrist
"The Psychiatrist" is the second episode of the second series of BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.-Synopsis:Sybil flirts with a young male guest named Mr. Johnson . Meanwhile, two doctors arrive at the hotel, and Basil becomes concerned when he realises one is a psychiatrist...
), first broadcast in 1979.
In 1975 the group was expanded by record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Tony Eyers into a permanent five piece, with the inclusion of Martin Cohen (bass and vocals), Kevin Wells (drums) and Mike Nelson (keyboards). Subsequent singles failed to attract widespread interest in the UK, although the group became popular in South Africa and Germany. On the eve of a German tour, Charles left the group after a dispute with the record label
Record label
In 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,...
and continued with her solo career, she was replaced by Linda Kelly.
The next single "Doctor Kiss Kiss
Doctor Kiss Kiss
Doctor Kiss Kiss is the second single by British Disco Band 5000 Volts.-Personnel:* Linda Kelly - Lead vocals* Martin Jay - guitar, backing vocals* Martin Cohen - bass, backing vocals* Mike Neslon - keyboards* Kevin Wells - drums...
" reached number 8 in the UK
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...
, and number 6 in South Africa, but the band struggled to maintain public interest. A handful of further UK singles and a self-titled album followed, as the band tried to come back with "Light the Flame of Love", "Take Me Back" and "(Walkin' On) A Love Cloud" throughout 1976/77. ("(Walking On) A Love Cloud" did top the South African charts in June 1977), but no other songs registered with the UK commercial mainstream. The last single, "Can't Stop Myself from Loving You" (South Africa #12), appeared the following year before the band, who never fully recovered from Charles' departure, disbanded.
Martin Jay launched a solo career without success, before returning to his earlier role as a session musician, working for bands such as Enigma
Enigma (musical project)
Enigma is an electronic musical project founded in Germany by Michael Cretu, David Fairstein and Frank Peterson in 1990. The Romanian-born Cretu conceived the Enigma project while working in Germany, but has based his recording studio A.R.T. Studios in Ibiza, Spain, since the early 1990s until May...
, Tight Fit
Tight Fit
Tight Fit are a British pop group who had a number of hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982...
in 1981 and the UK Mixmasters
Nigel Wright
Nigel Wright is a record producer from England. His career as music producer, orchestrator and songwriter has scored five Number one singles, 31 Top 20 singles and a string of platinum albums with recording artists as diverse as Madonna, Shakatak, Mezzoforte, Barbra Streisand, Boyzone, Sonia,...
in 1990.