Sweet Sensation (band)
Encyclopedia
Sweet Sensation was an eight piece British soul
group who had some success between 1974 and 1977. Cast very much in the then-popular mould of the Philly
sound, they broke through in 1974 following an appearance on a UK
television
talent show
, New Faces
. They are best known for their 1974 #1 UK hit
, "Sad Sweet Dreamer
".
in 1973 the band
came to prominence after appearing on the ITV
talent show New Faces
. Under the guidance of panellist Tony Hatch
the band
signed to Pye Records
. The debut single
"Snow Fire" failed to reach the charts
, but the follow-up "Sad Sweet Dreamer" was a UK
number one single in October 1974, also reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
the following spring. The follow-up "Purely by Coincidence" reached #11 in the UK Singles Chart
in January 1975. Both song
s were written
by David Parton
.
Follow-up singles "Hide Away from The Sun", "Mr Cool", "Sweet Regrets" and "Mail Train" all failed to make the charts over the next couple of years. In 1977 the band participated in A Song For Europe in an attempt to represent the United Kingdom
at the Eurovision Song Contest
. Their song
"You're My Sweet Sensation" ended in eighth place. Subsequently, they were then dropped by Pye and disbanded shortly after. However, they were the forerunners of many similar acts
from The Real Thing to Imagination
.
The youngest member and lead vocalist, Marcel King, tried to resurrect a solo
career in 1985, and with Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio
) and Bernard Sumner
(New Order
) recorded
"Reach For Love" for Factory Records
without commercial success. He died of a brain haemorrhage on 5 October 1995 at the age of 37. The tragedy deepened two years later when his son Zeus, 19, was shot dead in an outbreak of gang warfare
in South Manchester.
Bass guitar
ist, Barry Johnson later joined Quando Quango
and then Aswad.
Founder member, Leroy Smith, was found dead in his Manchester flat, on 15 January 2009. He had died from bronchopneumonia
, at the age of 56.
British soul
British soul, Brit soul or the British soul invasion is soul music performed by British artists. Soul has been a major influence on British popular music since the 1960s, and American soul was extremely popular among some youth subcultures, such as mods, skinheads and the northern soul movement...
group who had some success between 1974 and 1977. Cast very much in the then-popular mould of the Philly
Philadelphia soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called the Philadelphia Sound or Sweet Philly, is a style of soul music characterized by funk influences and lush instrumental arrangements, often featuring sweeping strings and piercing horns. The subtle sound of a glockenspiel can often be heard in the background of...
sound, they broke through in 1974 following an appearance on a 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...
television
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
, New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
. They are best known for their 1974 #1 UK 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...
, "Sad Sweet Dreamer
Sad Sweet Dreamer
"Sad Sweet Dreamer" was a UK number one single for one week in October 1974 for Sweet Sensation.The second single from the British soul group, a soaring soul ballad heavily influenced by the Stylistics, and led by lead vocalist Marcel King's falsetto, "Sad Sweet Dreamer" became their first hit....
".
Career
Formed in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1973 the band
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...
came to prominence after appearing on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
talent show New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
. Under the guidance of panellist Tony Hatch
Tony Hatch
Anthony Peter "Tony" Hatch is an English composer, songwriter, pianist, music arranger and producer.-Early life and early career:...
the band
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...
signed to Pye Records
Pye Records
Pye Records was a British record label. In its first incarnation, perhaps Pye's best known artists were Lonnie Donegan , Petula Clark , The Searchers , The Kinks , Sandie Shaw and Brotherhood of Man...
. The debut 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...
"Snow Fire" failed to reach the charts
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....
, but the follow-up "Sad Sweet Dreamer" was a 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...
number one single in October 1974, also reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
the following spring. The follow-up "Purely by Coincidence" reached #11 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 ...
in January 1975. Both 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...
s were written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by David Parton
David Parton
David Parton is a singer-songwriter and record producer from Newcastle Under Lyme, Staffordshire, England.He achieved songwriting success writing songs for Sweet Sensation in the mid 1970s, namely "Sad Sweet Dreamer" which was a #1 single in the UK, and "Purely by Coincidence" which also charted...
.
Follow-up singles "Hide Away from The Sun", "Mr Cool", "Sweet Regrets" and "Mail Train" all failed to make the charts over the next couple of years. In 1977 the band participated in A Song For Europe in an attempt to represent the United Kingdom
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...
at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. Their 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...
"You're My Sweet Sensation" ended in eighth place. Subsequently, they were then dropped by Pye and disbanded shortly after. However, they were the forerunners of many similar acts
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
from The Real Thing to Imagination
Imagination (band)
Imagination were a three piece British soul and funk band, who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They had chart hits in 28 countries, earning four platinum discs, nine gold discs and more than a dozen silver discs around the world between 1981 and 1983....
.
The youngest member and lead vocalist, Marcel King, tried to resurrect a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
career in 1985, and with Donald Johnson (A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
) and Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner
Bernard Sumner , also known as Bernard Dickin, Bernard Dicken and Bernard Albrecht is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, keyboard player and producer....
(New Order
New Order
New Order are an English rock band formed in 1980 by Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris...
) recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
"Reach For Love" for Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
without commercial success. He died of a brain haemorrhage on 5 October 1995 at the age of 37. The tragedy deepened two years later when his son Zeus, 19, was shot dead in an outbreak of gang warfare
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
in South Manchester.
Bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist, Barry Johnson later joined Quando Quango
Quando Quango
Quando Quango was a British, Manchester based new wave and dance project, formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. Their unique sound influenced the underground dance music scenes in New York and Chicago in the 1980s...
and then Aswad.
Founder member, Leroy Smith, was found dead in his Manchester flat, on 15 January 2009. He had died from bronchopneumonia
Bronchopneumonia
Bronchopneumonia or bronchial pneumonia or "Bronchogenic pneumonia" is the acute inflammation of the walls of the bronchioles...
, at the age of 56.
Band members
- Junior Daye (born 26 June 1950, KingstonKingston, JamaicaKingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, JamaicaJamaicaJamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
) - vocalist - Roy Flowers (born 4 August 1951, Kingston, Jamaica) - drummerDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
- Vincent James (born 12 February 1951, St. Mary'sSaint Mary Parish, JamaicaSaint Mary is a parish located in the northeast section of Jamaica. With a population of 115,000 it is one of Jamaica's smallest parishes, located in the county of Middlesex. Its chief town and capital is Port Maria, located on the coast. It is also the birthplace of established dancehall reggae...
, Jamaica) - vocalist - Barry Johnson (born 20 August 1954, Kingston, Jamaica) - bassistBassistA bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
- Marcel King (born Marcel Neville King, 4 January 1958, Manchester — died 5 October 1995) - vocalist
- St. Clair L. Palmer (born 4 March 1954, St. KittsSaint KittsSaint Kitts Saint Kitts Saint Kitts (also known more formally as Saint Christopher Island (Saint-Christophe in French) is an island in the West Indies. The west side of the island borders the Caribbean Sea, and the eastern coast faces the Atlantic Ocean...
) - vocalist - Gary Shaugnessy (born 25 July 1953, Manchester) - guitaristGuitaristA 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...
- Leroy Smith (born 3 September 1952, Kingston, Jamaica - died 15 January 2009) - keyboardistKeyboardistA keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Singles
- "Sad Sweet DreamerSad Sweet Dreamer"Sad Sweet Dreamer" was a UK number one single for one week in October 1974 for Sweet Sensation.The second single from the British soul group, a soaring soul ballad heavily influenced by the Stylistics, and led by lead vocalist Marcel King's falsetto, "Sad Sweet Dreamer" became their first hit....
" / "Sure Thing, Yes I Do" (Pye Records 7N 45385) - "Purely by Coincidence" (Pye Records 7N 45421)
See also
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of bands from Manchester
- List of bands from England
- Factory Records catalogueFactory Records catalogueThe following is a list of items with recorded Factory Records numbers. The list primarily consists of music releases but also includes promotional graphics, film, etc. However, the list was not confined to creative output. A party , a lawsuit and a cat appear on the list along with other...
- List of Eurovision: Your Decision contestants
External links
- [ Sweet Sensation biography] at Allmusic websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...