Joy (band)
Encyclopedia
Joy is an 80s Europop
band from Austria
, best known for their biggest hits Touch By Touch and Valerie.
, an Austrian
town of 7500 citizens. Freddy Jaklitsch (born on 22.01.60), Manfred Temmel (25.02.59) and Andy Schweitzer were school friends, but after the graduation all three chose different careers. Freddy became German teacher in school, Manfred, a DJ, and Andy was serving in police. They met again in 1984 and founded the band. Their first single Lost In Hong Kong came to the light in February 1985. It was not a big hit, but the new band was mentioned in press. And that wasn't in vain - their next single Touch By Touch (September 1985) immediately reached European Top 20 Dance Charts. The first album of the band entitled Hello spent five weeks on the first position in several charts. That brought world-wide popularity to the band with their albums sold in more than 30 countries.
In the summer of 1986 Joy returned to their studio to record the second album Joy And Tears. The most successful song on this album is Japanese Girls. Probably because of this song Joy obtained some notoriety in Asia. Their concert tour of 1987 collected 60,000 spectators in total. In Seoul
, South Korea
they performed in front of an audience of 20,000 in the Jamsil stadium and sang an alternate version called Korean Girls. Meanwhile, concert activity was accompanied by the release of the compilation of best songs from first two albums. It has also appeared under the label OK-Musica. During the next year Joy gave a series of concerts in America and upon return to Europe performed in Germany
, Portugal
and Italy
.
Shortly after that (in 1989) keyboardist and co-producer of the majority of Joy's songs, Andy Schweitzer, left the band to start the solo career. However, he was given a permission to use the original band name when recording his own album. This album was released by different companies under the different titles - either She's Dancing Alone or simply Joy.
During the following years of rap and techno boom in Europe Joy found less success. However, with the return of melodic songs, Best of Joy was released in 1991. In 1994 two members of the original group (Freddy and Manfred) published a new single called on BMG Hello, Mrs. Johnson. After that, having invited a new keyboardist, Johannes Groebl (born 30.01.60), they released one more single in 1995 - Felicidad. In 1996 the album Full of Joy was recorded at BMG. It includes 12 songs, however for unknown reasons the CDs were never printed, and the contract with BMG has recently expired.
Europop
Europop refers to a style of pop music that first developed in today's form in Europe, throughout the late 1970s. Europop topped the charts throughout the 1980s and ’90s...
band from Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, best known for their biggest hits Touch By Touch and Valerie.
History
The band Joy was formed in Bad AusseeBad Aussee
-Tracht:Bad Aussee is unique within Austria as its inhabitants wear Tracht, or traditional dress, on a daily basis. Within other regions of Austria, it could almost be taken as a political statement if one were to wear Tracht. For women, this consists of a Dirndl, a type of dress with a fitted...
, an Austrian
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
town of 7500 citizens. Freddy Jaklitsch (born on 22.01.60), Manfred Temmel (25.02.59) and Andy Schweitzer were school friends, but after the graduation all three chose different careers. Freddy became German teacher in school, Manfred, a DJ, and Andy was serving in police. They met again in 1984 and founded the band. Their first single Lost In Hong Kong came to the light in February 1985. It was not a big hit, but the new band was mentioned in press. And that wasn't in vain - their next single Touch By Touch (September 1985) immediately reached European Top 20 Dance Charts. The first album of the band entitled Hello spent five weeks on the first position in several charts. That brought world-wide popularity to the band with their albums sold in more than 30 countries.
In the summer of 1986 Joy returned to their studio to record the second album Joy And Tears. The most successful song on this album is Japanese Girls. Probably because of this song Joy obtained some notoriety in Asia. Their concert tour of 1987 collected 60,000 spectators in total. In Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
they performed in front of an audience of 20,000 in the Jamsil stadium and sang an alternate version called Korean Girls. Meanwhile, concert activity was accompanied by the release of the compilation of best songs from first two albums. It has also appeared under the label OK-Musica. During the next year Joy gave a series of concerts in America and upon return to Europe performed in Germany
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...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Shortly after that (in 1989) keyboardist and co-producer of the majority of Joy's songs, Andy Schweitzer, left the band to start the solo career. However, he was given a permission to use the original band name when recording his own album. This album was released by different companies under the different titles - either She's Dancing Alone or simply Joy.
During the following years of rap and techno boom in Europe Joy found less success. However, with the return of melodic songs, Best of Joy was released in 1991. In 1994 two members of the original group (Freddy and Manfred) published a new single called on BMG Hello, Mrs. Johnson. After that, having invited a new keyboardist, Johannes Groebl (born 30.01.60), they released one more single in 1995 - Felicidad. In 1996 the album Full of Joy was recorded at BMG. It includes 12 songs, however for unknown reasons the CDs were never printed, and the contract with BMG has recently expired.
Singles
- 1985 - Lost In Hong Kong (OK)
- 1985 - Touch By Touch (OK)
- 1986 - Hello (OK)
- 1986 - Japanese Girls (OK)
- 1986 - Touch Me My Dear (OK) (Portugal)
- 1987 - Destination Heartbeat (OK)
- 1987 - It Happens Tonight (OK)
- 1987 - Black Is Black (Remix)
- 1988 - Kissin' Like Friends (Polydor)
- 1989 - She 's Dancing Alone (Polydor)
- 1990 - Born To Sing A Lovesong (Polydor)
- 1994 - Hello, Mrs. Johnson (BMG Ariola)
- 1995 - Felicidad (Ariola)
- 1998 - Touch By Touch 98 (BMG Ariola Austria)
- 1995 - Touch By Touch (The Remake) (vs. Area 51!) (Turnaround Records)
- 2010 - Touch By Touch 2011 (Major Babies)
- 2011 - Love Is All Around (Promo) (Major Babies)
Compilations
- 1986 - Best (OK)
- 1987 - The Very Best Of Joy (Hong Kong) (Pacific Music)
- 1987 - Touch Re-Mix 87 (Hong Kong) (Face Records)
- 1991 - Best Of Joy (China) (Face One Records)
- 2000 - Best Of Joy (EAMS)