Colin Young
Encyclopedia
Colin Young is a singer known for being a member of The Foundations
. In the mid-sixties, he came to England
for a holiday with his father and he decided to stay. He was a former bookkeeper who prior to joining The Foundations was lead singer of a group called The Tonicks.
Colin Young joined The Foundations after two members, lead singer Clem Curtis
and tenor saxophonist Mike Elliott
left in 1968. He replaced Clem Curtis as lead singer and went on to sing on 2 more of the Foundations big hits, "Build Me Up Buttercup
" and "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)
". He stayed with The Foundations until their break up in late 1970.
In the mid-1970s, while Clem Curtis and The Foundations were on the road after having re-formed The Foundations, there was also another Foundations line up, led by Colin Young, who were on the road at the same time and were playing basically the same material. This eventually led to court action which resulted in Clem Curtis being allowed to bill his group as either The Foundations or Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Young was allowed to bill himself as The New Foundations or Colin Young & The New Foundations.
Also the mid-1970s, Colin Young and his group released a lone 45 on the Pye label, "Something For My Baby" / "I Need Your Love".
In the 1980s, as the lead singer of UK group Mercy, Mercy, he had a hit with "It Must Be Heaven".
In 1999, a version of The Foundations was re formed that included Colin Young (vocals), Alan Warner
(Guitar), Steve Bingham
(bass), Gary Moberly (keyboards), Tony Laidlaw (sax) and Sam Kelly then Steve Dixon (drums). This version of the group was reformed due to the popularity of the film There's Something About Mary
and the interest created resulting from the 1968 hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" being featured in the film. Some time later Colin Young left this version of the group and was replaced by Hue Montgomery
(aka Hugh Montgomery).
In 2003 Colin Young recorded an updated version of "Build Me Up Buttercup" backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The proceeds from the sale of the CD go to Milly's Fund. The fund is a trust set up in memory of murdered school girl Amanda Dowler
. Apparently the song was a favourite of hers.
In 2010, Colin Young appeared in Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, where he performed a song for some people. Apart from the one that booked him, only one person recognised him as the artist that was number one the year they were born.
12 Singles
CD Single
The Foundations
The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...
. In the mid-sixties, he came to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
for a holiday with his father and he decided to stay. He was a former bookkeeper who prior to joining The Foundations was lead singer of a group called The Tonicks.
Colin Young joined The Foundations after two members, lead singer Clem Curtis
Clem Curtis
Clem Curtis is a singer and former lead vocalist of sixties British soul group The Foundations.-Early years:...
and tenor saxophonist Mike Elliott
Mike Elliott (saxophonist)
Mike Elliott is a saxophonist who was born in Jamaica on 6 August 1929. He played on Ska recordings in the early 1960s as well as some Pop / Soul hits in the late 1960s.-Early 1960s:...
left in 1968. He replaced Clem Curtis as lead singer and went on to sing on 2 more of the Foundations big hits, "Build Me Up Buttercup
Build Me Up Buttercup
"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit...
" and "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)
In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)
"In The Bad Bad Old Days" was a hit for The Foundations in 1969. It was the fourth hit single for the group. It was written by Tony Macaulay and John McLeod. It went to #8 in the UK Singles Chart...
". He stayed with The Foundations until their break up in late 1970.
In the mid-1970s, while Clem Curtis and The Foundations were on the road after having re-formed The Foundations, there was also another Foundations line up, led by Colin Young, who were on the road at the same time and were playing basically the same material. This eventually led to court action which resulted in Clem Curtis being allowed to bill his group as either The Foundations or Clem Curtis & The Foundations. Young was allowed to bill himself as The New Foundations or Colin Young & The New Foundations.
Also the mid-1970s, Colin Young and his group released a lone 45 on the Pye label, "Something For My Baby" / "I Need Your Love".
In the 1980s, as the lead singer of UK group Mercy, Mercy, he had a hit with "It Must Be Heaven".
In 1999, a version of The Foundations was re formed that included Colin Young (vocals), Alan Warner
Alan Warner (musician)
Alan Warner is a musician.As a boy he originally wanted to play trumpet but ended up with a toy accordion...
(Guitar), Steve Bingham
Steve Bingham
Steve Bingham is a bass guitarist who joined The Foundations in 1969 replacing their former bass player and stayed with them until their break up 1970....
(bass), Gary Moberly (keyboards), Tony Laidlaw (sax) and Sam Kelly then Steve Dixon (drums). This version of the group was reformed due to the popularity of the film There's Something About Mary
There's Something About Mary
There's Something About Mary is a 1998 American comedy film, directed by the Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter. It stars Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon and Ben Stiller, and it is a combination of romantic comedy and gross-out film....
and the interest created resulting from the 1968 hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" being featured in the film. Some time later Colin Young left this version of the group and was replaced by Hue Montgomery
Hue Montgomery
Following the success of the film There's Something About Mary, the sixties hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" became a hit all over again. The Foundations were reformed in the late 1990s....
(aka Hugh Montgomery).
In 2003 Colin Young recorded an updated version of "Build Me Up Buttercup" backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The proceeds from the sale of the CD go to Milly's Fund. The fund is a trust set up in memory of murdered school girl Amanda Dowler
Amanda Dowler
Amanda Jane "Milly" Dowler was a 13-year-old English girl who was abducted on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on 21 March 2002, and subsequently murdered...
. Apparently the song was a favourite of hers.
In 2010, Colin Young appeared in Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, where he performed a song for some people. Apart from the one that booked him, only one person recognised him as the artist that was number one the year they were born.
Discography
7" Singles- Colin Young - Any Time At All / You're No Good - UNI 55286 - 1971 (UK and German release Trend 6099 005)
- New Foundations - Something For My Baby / I Need Your Love - PYE 45533 - 1975
- Mercy, Mercy - It Must Be Heaven / It Must Be Heaven (Part 2) - Island Records - 106 996 - 1984
12 Singles
- Mercy, Mercy - It Must Be Heaven (Dancemix Part 1) / It Must Be Heaven (Dancemix Part 2) - Ensign Records - 12ENY 515 - 1984
- Mercy, Mercy - What Are We Gonna Do About It (Extended Mix) / (Dub Mix) - Ensign Records - 12ENY 522 DJ - 1985
CD Single
- Colin Young & The Offbeats, For Milly's Fund - Build Me Up Buttercup / Buttercup Too / No Man Is An Island - Ripe Music RIPEMCD1 - 2003
- "' Colin Young and The Come Dine With Me Crew'" - Woman, Get Back To the Kitchen! - Dave Lamb Records DLCD1 - 2010