Cornershop
Encyclopedia
Cornershop are a British
indie rock
band formed in 1991 by Wolverhampton
-born Tjinder Singh (singer, songwriter, and guitar), his brother Avtar Singh (bass guitar, vocals), David Chambers (drums) and Ben Ayres (guitar, keyboards, and tamboura), the first three having previously been members of Preston-based band General Havoc, who released one single (the "Fast Jaspal EP") in 1991. The band name originated from a stereotype referring to British Asian
s often owning street corner stores
. Their music is a fusion
of Indian music
, Britpop
, and electronic dance music
.
in 1987. He relocated to Leicester, where his brother and sister lived, and formed Cornershop in 1991 along with his brother Avtar, and Chambers and Ayres, while working as a barman at Leicester's Magazine pub, also a popular local music venue. The band played their first gig at Leicester's O'Jays venue.
In the early 1990s, when popular singer Morrissey
was being vilified by the UK music press after accusations of racism, the band were invited to comment and the Melody Maker ran a story featuring the band burning a picture of the singer outside the offices of EMI
.
Their debut release, the In The Days of Ford Cortina EP, was pressed on "curry-coloured vinyl", contained a blend of Indian-tinged noise pop. The sound mellowed somewhat with the release of debut album "Hold On It Hurts
" in 1994, described by Trouser Press
as "a politically charged popfest, ten tracks of noisy delights that meld incisive social commentary with a firm hold on British post-punk." The album impressed David Byrne
sufficiently for him to sign the band to his Luaka Bop
label. Although David Chambers left the band in 1994, replaced by Nick Simms, the band re-emerged in 1995 with the "6 a.m. Jullandar Shere" single and the album Woman's Gotta Have It
, also touring the United States including some dates on the Lollapalooza
tour. The band also toured Europe with Beck, Stereolab and Oasis.
, Paula Frazer
, Justin Warfield
and a Yoko Ono
and Paul McCartney
approved cover of "Norwegian Wood
". The album was produced by Tjinder Singh and Dan the Automator
. Rolling Stone called it one of the essential recordings of the 90's. The album was ranked #1 on Spin's list of 'Top 20 Albums of the Year' (1998)
The track "Brimful of Asha" topped the legendary Festive 50 rundown of John Peel
's tracks of the year in 1997.
Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) loved the track and remixed the song which became hugely popular and captured the attention of the world. The song was a tribute to the prolific Indian playback singer
, Asha Bhosle
, and Tjinder's musical influences such as Trojan Records and Vinyl Culture in general.
In 2000 Ayres and Singh released a disco
inspired album Disco and the Halfway to Discontent as part of their side-project, Clinton. This album inspired the launch of the London based clubnight called Buttoned Down Disco, which took its name from the third track on the album.
, which featured Noel Gallagher
on guitar.
According to their official website, Cornershop have been making a film
about London’s independent music industry since 2003. In 2004 the band released the track 'Topknot' featuring the vocals of Bubbley Kaur on Rough Trade Records. In February 2006, some four years after their last album, they released another single "Wop the Groove" featuring guest vocals from Happy Mondays
backing singer Rowetta
.
In 2008, their song "Candyman" was featured in the Nike advertisement for the Lebron James VI shoe, called the Six "Chalk" commercial.
Cornershop released an album Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast
in July 2009, preceded by the single "The Roll-Off Characteristics (Of History in the Making)" in May on their own record label called Ample Play.
.
An album Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of
, a collaboration with Punjabi folk singer Bubbley Kaur, was released in March 2011 to critical acclaim in the UK. The band also set up the Singhles Club, a subscription service featuring a series of musically diverse collaborations and exclusive digital artwork.
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...
indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band formed in 1991 by Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
-born Tjinder Singh (singer, songwriter, and guitar), his brother Avtar Singh (bass guitar, vocals), David Chambers (drums) and Ben Ayres (guitar, keyboards, and tamboura), the first three having previously been members of Preston-based band General Havoc, who released one single (the "Fast Jaspal EP") in 1991. The band name originated from a stereotype referring to British Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
s often owning street corner stores
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
. Their music is a fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
of Indian music
Music of India
The music of India includes multiple varieties of folk, popular, pop, classical music and R&B. India's classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani music, has a history spanning millennia and developed over several eras. It remains fundamental to the lives of Indians today as...
, Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
, and electronic dance music
Electronic dance music
Electronic dance music is electronic music produced primarily for the purposes of use within a nightclub setting, or in an environment that is centered upon dance-based entertainment...
.
Formation and early years: 1991-1995
Tjinder Singh formed The General Havoc whilst a student at Lancashire PolytechnicUniversity of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire is a university based in Preston, Lancashire, England.The university has its roots in The Institution For The Diffusion Of Useful Knowledge which was founded in 1828. In 1992 it was granted University status by the Privy Council...
in 1987. He relocated to Leicester, where his brother and sister lived, and formed Cornershop in 1991 along with his brother Avtar, and Chambers and Ayres, while working as a barman at Leicester's Magazine pub, also a popular local music venue. The band played their first gig at Leicester's O'Jays venue.
In the early 1990s, when popular singer Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
was being vilified by the UK music press after accusations of racism, the band were invited to comment and the Melody Maker ran a story featuring the band burning a picture of the singer outside the offices of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Their debut release, the In The Days of Ford Cortina EP, was pressed on "curry-coloured vinyl", contained a blend of Indian-tinged noise pop. The sound mellowed somewhat with the release of debut album "Hold On It Hurts
Hold on It Hurts
Hold On It Hurts is the 1994 debut album by Cornershop. It failed to reach commercial success, but went some way in helping the band find its niche in the following years.- Track listing :All songs written by Tjinder Singh....
" in 1994, described by Trouser Press
Trouser Press
Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
as "a politically charged popfest, ten tracks of noisy delights that meld incisive social commentary with a firm hold on British post-punk." The album impressed David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
sufficiently for him to sign the band to his Luaka Bop
Luaka Bop
Luaka Bop is a world music-oriented record label established by David Byrne, former guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer of the art rock/new wave band Talking Heads. It has been a wholly independent label since leaving V2 in 2006. Previous distribution relationships included Warner and Virgin...
label. Although David Chambers left the band in 1994, replaced by Nick Simms, the band re-emerged in 1995 with the "6 a.m. Jullandar Shere" single and the album Woman's Gotta Have It
Woman's Gotta Have It
Woman's Gotta Have It is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.-Track listing:...
, also touring the United States including some dates on the Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
tour. The band also toured Europe with Beck, Stereolab and Oasis.
Mainstream success: 1997-2001
The band released their critically acclaimed album 'When I Was Born for the 7th Time' in September 1997. The album featured collaborations with Allen GinsbergAllen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
, Paula Frazer
Paula Frazer
Paula Frazer is an American singer-songwriter. She grew up in Georgia and Arkansas and moved to San Francisco in 1981. Her music is frequently described as melancholic alternative country, but with an eclectic mix of folk, blues and pop, among other genres...
, Justin Warfield
Justin Warfield
Justin Warfield is a musician and hip hop emcee of African American and Jewish Russian-Romanian maternal parentage, who is currently half of the darkwave duo She Wants Revenge...
and a Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
approved cover of "Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
". The album was produced by Tjinder Singh and Dan the Automator
Dan the Automator
Daniel M. Nakamura , better known by the stage name Dan the Automator, is a Japanese-American hip hop producer. He founded the record label 75 Ark, which was distributed by Tommy Boy Records during its short existence....
. Rolling Stone called it one of the essential recordings of the 90's. The album was ranked #1 on Spin's list of 'Top 20 Albums of the Year' (1998)
The track "Brimful of Asha" topped the legendary Festive 50 rundown of John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's tracks of the year in 1997.
Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) loved the track and remixed the song which became hugely popular and captured the attention of the world. The song was a tribute to the prolific Indian playback singer
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
, Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
, and Tjinder's musical influences such as Trojan Records and Vinyl Culture in general.
In 2000 Ayres and Singh released a 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...
inspired album Disco and the Halfway to Discontent as part of their side-project, Clinton. This album inspired the launch of the London based clubnight called Buttoned Down Disco, which took its name from the third track on the album.
Further success: 2002-2010
Their next official Cornershop release was the 2002 album, Handcream for a GenerationHandcream for a Generation
Handcream for a Generation is the fifth album by the English indie band Cornershop. It featured contributions from two Oasis members - Noel Gallagher contributed guitar to "Spectral Mornings" and former Oasis bassist Guigsy played bass on "Lessons Learned from Rocky I to Rocky III".The track People...
, which featured Noel Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, formerly the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and principal songwriter of the English rock band Oasis. He is currently fronting his solo project, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.Raised in Burnage, Manchester with his...
on guitar.
According to their official website, Cornershop have been making a film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
about London’s independent music industry since 2003. In 2004 the band released the track 'Topknot' featuring the vocals of Bubbley Kaur on Rough Trade Records. In February 2006, some four years after their last album, they released another single "Wop the Groove" featuring guest vocals from Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
backing singer Rowetta
Rowetta
Rowetta Idah , also known as Rowetta or Rowetta Satchell, is an English singer. She was originally a backing vocalist for the Happy Mondays, recording and touring with the band from 1991-2000...
.
In 2008, their song "Candyman" was featured in the Nike advertisement for the Lebron James VI shoe, called the Six "Chalk" commercial.
Cornershop released an album Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast
Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast
Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast is a 2009 studio album by the British band Cornershop. It was their first album in seven years following 2002's Handcream for a Generation...
in July 2009, preceded by the single "The Roll-Off Characteristics (Of History in the Making)" in May on their own record label called Ample Play.
Recent years: 2011-present
In 2011 Cornershop were awarded a prize for Commitment to Scene in the UK Asian Music AwardsUK Asian Music Awards
The UK Asian Music Awards, also known by the abbreviation UK AMA, is an award show that is held annually in the United Kingdom since 2002. It is presented by B4U Music since 2008...
.
An album Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of
Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of
Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of... is a 2011 studio album by the British band Cornershop. It follows their 2009 album Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast. The album had been six years in the making and is a collaboration album with Bubbley Kaur, a previously unrecorded Punjabi singer...
, a collaboration with Punjabi folk singer Bubbley Kaur, was released in March 2011 to critical acclaim in the UK. The band also set up the Singhles Club, a subscription service featuring a series of musically diverse collaborations and exclusive digital artwork.
Albums
- Elvis Sex Change (1993) [A compilation of their first two EPs]
- Hold On It HurtsHold on It HurtsHold On It Hurts is the 1994 debut album by Cornershop. It failed to reach commercial success, but went some way in helping the band find its niche in the following years.- Track listing :All songs written by Tjinder Singh....
(1994) - Woman's Gotta Have ItWoman's Gotta Have ItWoman's Gotta Have It is the second album by Cornershop, released in 1995.-Track listing:...
(1995) - When I Was Born for the 7th TimeWhen I Was Born for the 7th TimeWhen I Was Born for the 7th Time is a 1997 album by Cornershop.In 2000, Q magazine placed it at number 68 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever....
(1997) UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#17 - Disco and the Halfway to Discontent (as Clinton) (1999)
- Handcream for a GenerationHandcream for a GenerationHandcream for a Generation is the fifth album by the English indie band Cornershop. It featured contributions from two Oasis members - Noel Gallagher contributed guitar to "Spectral Mornings" and former Oasis bassist Guigsy played bass on "Lessons Learned from Rocky I to Rocky III".The track People...
(2002) UK #30 - Judy Sucks a Lemon for BreakfastJudy Sucks a Lemon for BreakfastJudy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast is a 2009 studio album by the British band Cornershop. It was their first album in seven years following 2002's Handcream for a Generation...
(2009) UK #145 - Cornershop and the Double 'O' Groove OfCornershop and the Double 'O' Groove OfCornershop and the Double 'O' Groove Of... is a 2011 studio album by the British band Cornershop. It follows their 2009 album Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast. The album had been six years in the making and is a collaboration album with Bubbley Kaur, a previously unrecorded Punjabi singer...
(2011)
Singles
- "In The Days Of Ford Cortina EP" (1993)
- "Lock Stock & Double Barrel EP" (1993)
- "Reader's Wives" (1993)
- "Born Disco, Died Heavy Metal" (1994)
- "Seetar Man" (1994) (split single with Blood SausageBlood Sausage (band)Blood Sausage were in indie rock band from Brighton, England, containing members of Huggy Bear.-History:The band featured vocalist Dale Shaw, who was described as "a self-confessed 'ugly' boy who read soulful beat poetry over whichever noise patterns happened to be passing at the time". Shaw...
) - "6 a.m. Jullander Shere" (1995)
- "My Dancing Days are Done" (1995) (split single with Prohibition)
- "6 a.m. Jullander Shere: The Grid and Star Liner mixes" (1996)
- "W.O.G. - The U.S Western Oriental mixes" (1996)
- "Butter The Soul" (1996)
- "Good Ships" (1997)
- "Brimful of AshaBrimful of Asha"Brimful of Asha" is a 1997 single by the British alternative rock band Cornershop, which originally reached number 60 in the UK Singles Chart in 1997...
" (1997) UKUK Singles ChartThe 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 ...
#60 - "Brimful of Asha (Norman Cook Remix)" (1998) UK #1
- "Sleep on the Left Side" (1998) UK #23
- "Buttoned Down Disco" (as Clinton) (1999)
- "People Power In The Disco Hour" (as Clinton) (2000)
- "Lessons Learned From Rocky I to Rocky III" (2002) UK #37
- "Staging The Plaguing Of The Raised Platform" (2002) UK #80
- "Topknot" (2004) UK #53
- "Wop the Groove" (2006) UK #154
- "The Roll Off Characteristics Of History In The Making" (2009)
- "Who Fingered Rock And Roll" (2009)