McAlmont and Butler
Encyclopedia
McAlmont and Butler are an English
rock
/soul music
duo, comprising singer David McAlmont
and guitarist
Bernard Butler
.
in the indie
band Suede
, until his acrimonious departure during the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star
. McAlmont, a singer with a three octave range, had been part of the duo Thieves
with Saul Freeman, who released a handful of singles and had opened for Morrissey
on tour before breaking up. An album of their sessions was subsequently released under the name McAlmont in 1994.
McAlmont and Butler's first single, "Yes
", was released in May 1995, and reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart
. A second single, "You Do
", reached number 17 in October. They made a handful of television appearances, but before they could tour, the band had an acrimonious breakup. The recording sessions had produced enough material for a compilation album of b-sides and the two singles: The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
which was released early in 1996 and made number 33 in the UK Albums Chart
.
After pursuing solo careers for several years, Butler approached McAlmont about working together again, and the duo resolved their issues. The first single of their new collaboration was "Falling", released in 2002, which reached number 23 in the UK Singles Chart
. The second single, "Bring it Back", and an album, Bring it Back
, were released later that year. They also contributed a cover of Take That
's "Back for Good
" to the NMEs charity compilation War Child.
Several additional songs were written and recorded with the idea for a third album, but this project was put on hold when Butler joined his former Suede bandmate Brett Anderson
to form a new band, The Tears
. The song "Speed", taken from those third album sessions, was released on Rough Trade Records
on 7 August 2006 as a download and on 21 August as a limited edition 7" single. An unfinished third album remains written but incomplete.
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...
rock
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
/soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
duo, comprising singer David McAlmont
David McAlmont
David McAlmont is a British vocalist and songwriter.-Early years and Thieves:...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Bernard Butler
Bernard Butler
Bernard Joseph Butler is an English musician and record producer. He first emerged in the early Britpop era with Suede. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation, as well as one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists...
.
History
The duo formed in 1994. Both Butler and McAlmont had already experienced success in the music industry. Butler was the guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in the indie
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 Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
, until his acrimonious departure during the recording of their second album, Dog Man Star
Dog Man Star
Dog Man Star is the second album by English alternative rock band Suede, released in October 1994 on Nude Records. It was the last Suede album to feature guitarist Bernard Butler, due to growing tensions between Butler and singer Brett Anderson ending with Butler leaving the band before the album...
. McAlmont, a singer with a three octave range, had been part of the duo Thieves
Thieves (band)
Thieves was a British pop duo active during the early 1990s. It was most notable for being the band on which both members – singer David McAlmont and multi-instrumentalist/producer Saul Freeman – based their subsequent musical careers.Critically feted by the British weekly music press during their...
with Saul Freeman, who released a handful of singles and had opened for 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,...
on tour before breaking up. An album of their sessions was subsequently released under the name McAlmont in 1994.
McAlmont and Butler's first single, "Yes
Yes (McAlmont and Butler song)
"Yes" is a McAlmont and Butler hit single, released in May of 1995 and part of their debut album The Sound of McAlmont and Butler. It was their first UK hit, written and performed by the duo and peaked at number 8 on the UK singles chart. It remains their most successful single....
", was released in May 1995, and reached number 8 in 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 ...
. A second single, "You Do
You Do
"You Do" is a McAlmont and Butler single, released in November of 1995 and part of their debut album The Sound of McAlmont and Butler. The single charted at number 17 on the UK singles chart....
", reached number 17 in October. They made a handful of television appearances, but before they could tour, the band had an acrimonious breakup. The recording sessions had produced enough material for a compilation album of b-sides and the two singles: The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
The Sound of McAlmont and Butler
The Sound of McAlmont and Butler is the debut album from rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, recorded in 1994/95 and released in 1995, after the duo had split up...
which was released early in 1996 and made number 33 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The 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...
.
After pursuing solo careers for several years, Butler approached McAlmont about working together again, and the duo resolved their issues. The first single of their new collaboration was "Falling", released in 2002, which reached number 23 in 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 ...
. The second single, "Bring it Back", and an album, Bring it Back
Bring it Back (McAlmont and Butler album)
Bring It Back is the second album by rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, released in 2002 following the reunion of the duo who had split up in 1995.- Track listing :# "Theme from 'McAlmont and Butler'" – 5:14# "Falling" – 4:13...
, were released later that year. They also contributed a cover of Take That
Take That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
's "Back for Good
Back for Good
"Back for Good" is a song by the British pop group Take That. It was released in 1995 as the second single from the band's third studio album, Nobody Else and achieved great success in many countries, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Spain and the UK where it topped...
" to the NMEs charity compilation War Child.
Several additional songs were written and recorded with the idea for a third album, but this project was put on hold when Butler joined his former Suede bandmate Brett Anderson
Brett Anderson
Brett Lewis Anderson is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Suede. After Suede disbanded in 2003, he briefly fronted The Tears, and has released four solo albums...
to form a new band, The Tears
The Tears
The Tears were an English rock band, formed in 2004 by ex-Suede bandmates Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler. The band was a much anticipated reunion of an acclaimed songwriting couple, and music critics praised their first concerts and their debut album, Here Come The Tears...
. The song "Speed", taken from those third album sessions, was released on Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
on 7 August 2006 as a download and on 21 August as a limited edition 7" single. An unfinished third album remains written but incomplete.
Albums
| Year | Album | UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The 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... |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler The Sound of McAlmont and Butler The Sound of McAlmont and Butler is the debut album from rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, recorded in 1994/95 and released in 1995, after the duo had split up... |
#33 |
| 2002 | Bring It Back Bring it Back (McAlmont and Butler album) Bring It Back is the second album by rock/soul duo McAlmont and Butler, released in 2002 following the reunion of the duo who had split up in 1995.- Track listing :# "Theme from 'McAlmont and Butler'" – 5:14# "Falling" – 4:13... |
#18 |
Singles
| Year | Single | 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 ... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | "Yes Yes (McAlmont and Butler song) "Yes" is a McAlmont and Butler hit single, released in May of 1995 and part of their debut album The Sound of McAlmont and Butler. It was their first UK hit, written and performed by the duo and peaked at number 8 on the UK singles chart. It remains their most successful single.... " |
#8 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler |
| "You Do You Do "You Do" is a McAlmont and Butler single, released in November of 1995 and part of their debut album The Sound of McAlmont and Butler. The single charted at number 17 on the UK singles chart.... " |
#17 | The Sound of McAlmont and Butler | |
| 2002 | "Falling" | #23 | Bring it Back |
| "Bring it Back" | #36 | ||