The Real People
Encyclopedia
The Real People, from Liverpool
, England
, were one of the very first bands to play what is today known as “Britpop
”, and have been quoted by Oasis
as being one of their major influences. They were formed in 1988 by brothers Christopher and Anthony Griffiths, the original line up consisted of Chris Griffiths (guitar and vocals), Tony Griffiths (bass and vocals),Dave Reilly (drums)(ex China Crisis),Jay Norton (keyboards)(ex Its Immaterial)and Gordon Morgan (guitar)(ex Black).Tony Elson (drums)replaced Dave Reilly (and he was replaced by Garry Ford) and Gordon Morgan was replaced by Sean Simpson (guitar) (later to be replaced by Alan Gillibrand and then by Ian 'Sitar'). The current line up is Tony & Chris Griffths (bass guitar vocals, guitar and vocals), Martin Lappin (guitar) and Tony McGuigan (drums).
and the Inspiral Carpets
, as well as by the Mersey sound
of the 1960s, the band started playing in local clubs and later toured as support act for the Inspiral Carpets, Ocean Colour Scene
, Nelly Furtado
, The Pixies, Simple Minds
, David Bowie
, plus many more band throughout the 90s and onwards.
JoJo & The Real People signed a management deal with local entrepreneur Mick Swift of Whitehouse Management, Bold Street, Liverpool in 1986. Their first record deal was in 1988, a one single deal brokered with Polydor records after Mick Swift had persuaded Eddie Lundon of Kirkby band China Crisis
to produce the demo of their debut single "One by One
". The band also signed a publishing deal with Polygram
not long after.
In 1989, and now managed by Jeff Abbotts, they were then signed as The Real People by CBS
on the Columbia
label, although CBS were subsequently bought out by Sony
. They released their self titled debut album The Real People in 1991. All the songs were written by Chris and Tony Griffiths. This reached the top 40 in the album charts. They recorded a second album, Marshmellow Lane, for CBS, but although "Believer", the first single from the album, charted at #38 and another single, "Too Much Too Young", appeared soon afterwards, the album was never actually released Several tracks subsequently appeared on a 2 band compilation album called Liverpool – The Calm Before the Storm, released in 1996 on the Columbia label. Tony and Chris Griffiths went on to set up their own recording studio in Birkenhead, Wirral, and started their own label Egg Records.
Their next album, What's on the Outside, was released independently under their own label in 1996. It was critically acclaimed but failed to make the charts. Although another album was reported to be in preparation in 2002, it was never released.
Despite this the band have continued to play live.
first met Tony Griffiths of The Real People when he was roadie to the Inspiral Carpets. In 1992, determined to make a professional sounding demo
, he contacted Tony and asked him to help record something decent to send out to record companies.
Paul Moody of the NME
reported:-
The result was the now legendary eight song music demo (later dubbed the Live Demonstration
tape) recorded in Liverpool in 1993 that got Oasis their first record deal. The tape included many of the songs that eventually featured on the band’s first album Definitely Maybe
.
Armed with the demo, Oasis finally got their deal.
Chris and Tony Griffiths' input into the writing and recording process has since been fully acknowledged by Oasis. Tony Griffiths is credited with providing vocals on "Supersonic" on Definitely Maybe
. Chris Griffiths also co-wrote "Rockin' Chair" with Noel in 1993. This was released as the B-side to the single of "Roll with It" in 1995, and also appears on the album The Masterplan
. Chris Griffiths also claimed to have actually written the lyrics for "Columbia" with Liam Gallagher
being responsible for the chorus. They are both included in the documentary made for the Definitely Maybe
10th anniversary DVD.
, Tunde
, Ocean Colour Scene, Rooster
, bb mak, Atomic Kitten
plus many more and continue to work with other artists and songwriters.
In Summer 2006, "Losing a Friend" was released in the UK as a single by Iceland
ic girl group Nylon
. It reached top 20 in the UK chart. Another Real People cover, "Closer" was the second single release from the group in October 2006. Both songs were number ones in Iceland.
They have also written several tracks for the forthcoming debut solo album by ex-Atomic Kitten
, Natasha Hamilton
. also
"Reaching Out", (co-written with Alistair Griffin
and James and Tom Martin
) which was recorded by the Northern Irish band Bel's Boys
and appears on their 2007 album People Lets Go
Chris and Tony Griffiths continue to perform live, both as solo artists and as backing for other bands. In November 2006 the Real People played a special benefit concert at the Carling Academy in Liverpool, for the mental health charity C.A.L.M. following another successful live gig in December. The Real People supported The Pretenders
at the Liverpool Summer Pops, on 9 July 2007 at the Aintree Pavilion Arena, Aintree Racecourse
. They also appeared at Liverpool Arena on 19 January 2008 as part of The Number One Project singing a cover of "Hey Jude
". This was later released on the charity album Liverpool – The Number Ones Album
They have since played at the Carling Academy on 21 March 2008 to a sold out audience, at the Echo Arena supporting Duran Duran
and also at the Cockpit, Leeds with other dates lined up over the coming months.
Their long delayed fourth studio album is scheduled for release to download on December 6, 2010. Several tracks have already been previewed on their official myspace page, plus all the album tracks can be found on their official facebook page.
The new real people album Called THINK POSITIVE is released on the 6th December 2010
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, 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...
, were one of the very first bands to play what is today known 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 have been quoted by Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
as being one of their major influences. They were formed in 1988 by brothers Christopher and Anthony Griffiths, the original line up consisted of Chris Griffiths (guitar and vocals), Tony Griffiths (bass and vocals),Dave Reilly (drums)(ex China Crisis),Jay Norton (keyboards)(ex Its Immaterial)and Gordon Morgan (guitar)(ex Black).Tony Elson (drums)replaced Dave Reilly (and he was replaced by Garry Ford) and Gordon Morgan was replaced by Sean Simpson (guitar) (later to be replaced by Alan Gillibrand and then by Ian 'Sitar'). The current line up is Tony & Chris Griffths (bass guitar vocals, guitar and vocals), Martin Lappin (guitar) and Tony McGuigan (drums).
The band
Originally influenced by The Stone RosesThe Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
and the Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets
Inspiral Carpets are an alternative rock band from Oldham in Greater Manchester, England formed by Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt in 1983. The band is named after a clothing shop on their Oldham estate...
, as well as by the Mersey sound
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
of the 1960s, the band started playing in local clubs and later toured as support act for the Inspiral Carpets, Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
, Nelly Furtado
Nelly Furtado
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Furtado grew up in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.Furtado first gained fame with her debut album, Whoa, Nelly!, and its single "I'm Like a Bird", which won a 2001 Juno Award for Single of the Year and a 2002 Grammy...
, The Pixies, Simple Minds
Simple Minds
Simple Minds are a Scottish rock band who achieved worldwide popularity from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The band produced a handful of critically acclaimed albums in the early 1980s and best known for their #1 US, Canada and Netherlands hit single "Don't You ", from the soundtrack of the...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, plus many more band throughout the 90s and onwards.
JoJo & The Real People signed a management deal with local entrepreneur Mick Swift of Whitehouse Management, Bold Street, Liverpool in 1986. Their first record deal was in 1988, a one single deal brokered with Polydor records after Mick Swift had persuaded Eddie Lundon of Kirkby band China Crisis
China Crisis
China Crisis is an English pop/rock band. They were formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside with a core of vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon...
to produce the demo of their debut single "One by One
One by One (song)
"One by One" is the first American and second European single by American singer-actress Cher from her twenty-second studio album, It's a Man's World. It was released on January 5, 1996 by Reprise Records and WEA...
". The band also signed a publishing deal with Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
not long after.
In 1989, and now managed by Jeff Abbotts, they were then signed as The Real People by CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on the Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label, although CBS were subsequently bought out by Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. They released their self titled debut album The Real People in 1991. All the songs were written by Chris and Tony Griffiths. This reached the top 40 in the album charts. They recorded a second album, Marshmellow Lane, for CBS, but although "Believer", the first single from the album, charted at #38 and another single, "Too Much Too Young", appeared soon afterwards, the album was never actually released Several tracks subsequently appeared on a 2 band compilation album called Liverpool – The Calm Before the Storm, released in 1996 on the Columbia label. Tony and Chris Griffiths went on to set up their own recording studio in Birkenhead, Wirral, and started their own label Egg Records.
Their next album, What's on the Outside, was released independently under their own label in 1996. It was critically acclaimed but failed to make the charts. Although another album was reported to be in preparation in 2002, it was never released.
Despite this the band have continued to play live.
The Real People and Oasis
Oasis were still unsigned when Noel GallagherNoel 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...
first met Tony Griffiths of The Real People when he was roadie to the Inspiral Carpets. In 1992, determined to make a professional sounding demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
, he contacted Tony and asked him to help record something decent to send out to record companies.
Paul Moody of the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
reported:-
'Used to the hard-knock school of the ManchesterManchesterManchester 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...
scene, Oasis were shocked by the co-operation of their scouseScouseScouse is an accent and dialect of English found primarily in the Metropolitan county of Merseyside, and closely associated with the city of Liverpool and the adjoining urban areas such as the boroughs of south Sefton, Knowsley and the Wirral...
mates. "Because we'd got our own eight-track studio we let them come down to the Dock Road and record there," says Tony. "They were quite naive about recording, so we'd show them how to play the songs, how to think about the structure of the songs and the dynamics. We were just helping them because that's what bands do in Liverpool. I don't think it's quite the same in Manchester, because no one had done anything for them before."'
The result was the now legendary eight song music demo (later dubbed the Live Demonstration
Live Demonstration
Live Demonstration is a demo tape made by British rock band Oasis in 1993, prior to their rise to fame. The tape helped secure a recording contract with Creation Records, with most of the tracks ending up on the band's first batch of releases, including their debut album, Definitely...
tape) recorded in Liverpool in 1993 that got Oasis their first record deal. The tape included many of the songs that eventually featured on the band’s first album Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
.
- "Rock 'n' Roll StarRock 'N' Roll Star"Rock 'n' Roll Star" is a song by English rock band Oasis. It is the opening track from their record breaking debut album, Definitely Maybe. Like the majority of the band's songs from this era, it was written by lead guitarist Noel Gallagher. Noel said that "Rock 'n' Roll Star" was one of only...
" - "Strange Thing"
- "Bring It on Down"
- "Fade Away "
- "ColumbiaDefinitely MaybeDefinitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
" - "Cloudburst"
- "D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman"
- "Married with Children"
Armed with the demo, Oasis finally got their deal.
Chris and Tony Griffiths' input into the writing and recording process has since been fully acknowledged by Oasis. Tony Griffiths is credited with providing vocals on "Supersonic" on Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
. Chris Griffiths also co-wrote "Rockin' Chair" with Noel in 1993. This was released as the B-side to the single of "Roll with It" in 1995, and also appears on the album The Masterplan
The Masterplan
The Masterplan is a compilation album by English rock band Oasis, comprising B-sides which never made it onto an album. The album was originally intended for release only in areas such as the United States and Japan, where the tracks were only available on expensive European import singles. It was...
. Chris Griffiths also claimed to have actually written the lyrics for "Columbia" with Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician and singer-songwriter, the former frontman of the English rock band Oasis and currently of the band Beady Eye. Gallagher's erratic behaviour, distinctive singing style, and abrasive attitude have been the subject of commentary in the press...
being responsible for the chorus. They are both included in the documentary made for the Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe
Definitely Maybe is the debut album by English rock band Oasis, released in August 1994. It was an immediate commercial and critical success in the UK, having followed on the heels of singles "Supersonic", "Shakermaker" and "Live Forever"....
10th anniversary DVD.
Current work
Despite having minimal chart success themselves but massive critical acclaim acclaim from the music press, The Real People enjoy cult status among fans and from their more successful contemporaries. As well as a vast number of songs written for The Real People, Chris and Tony Griffiths have since written top 40 hits for artists such as CherCher
Cher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
, Tunde
Tunde
Tunde is a unisex name, originally a name for a native of Nigeria which also means "returns". It is also used as a slang term in some regions for black people....
, Ocean Colour Scene, Rooster
Rooster
A rooster, also known as a cockerel, cock or chanticleer, is a male chicken with the female being called a hen. Immature male chickens of less than a year's age are called cockerels...
, bb mak, Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
plus many more and continue to work with other artists and songwriters.
In Summer 2006, "Losing a Friend" was released in the UK as a single by Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic girl group Nylon
Nylon (band)
Nylon is an Icelandic girl group composed of members Alma Guðmundsdóttir , Steinunn Þóra Camilla Sigurðardóttir and Klara Ósk Elíasdóttir...
. It reached top 20 in the UK chart. Another Real People cover, "Closer" was the second single release from the group in October 2006. Both songs were number ones in Iceland.
They have also written several tracks for the forthcoming debut solo album by ex-Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
, Natasha Hamilton
Natasha Hamilton
Natasha Maria Hamilton is a British singer-songwriter, dancer and occasional stage actress. She was a member of Atomic Kitten from 1999 to 2008.-Early life and career:...
. also
"Reaching Out", (co-written with Alistair Griffin
Alistair Griffin
Alistair Richard Griffin is an English singer/songwriter and musician. Already an established songwriter, he first became famous as a solo artist through his appearances on the BBC television show Fame Academy 2 in 2003, where he was "spotted" and championed by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees...
and James and Tom Martin
James and Tom Martin
James David Martin and Thomas Richard Martin , are English musicians and songwriters. Thomas plays guitar and James plays keyboards...
) which was recorded by the Northern Irish band Bel's Boys
Bel's Boys
Bel's Boys refers to a pop/rock band based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and also to a children's television program which the band feature in.-The band:...
and appears on their 2007 album People Lets Go
Chris and Tony Griffiths continue to perform live, both as solo artists and as backing for other bands. In November 2006 the Real People played a special benefit concert at the Carling Academy in Liverpool, for the mental health charity C.A.L.M. following another successful live gig in December. The Real People supported The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
at the Liverpool Summer Pops, on 9 July 2007 at the Aintree Pavilion Arena, Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
. They also appeared at Liverpool Arena on 19 January 2008 as part of The Number One Project singing a cover of "Hey Jude
Hey Jude
"Hey Jude" is a song by the English rock band The Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song widely accepted as being written to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce—although this explanation is not...
". This was later released on the charity album Liverpool – The Number Ones Album
They have since played at the Carling Academy on 21 March 2008 to a sold out audience, at the Echo Arena supporting Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
and also at the Cockpit, Leeds with other dates lined up over the coming months.
Their long delayed fourth studio album is scheduled for release to download on December 6, 2010. Several tracks have already been previewed on their official myspace page, plus all the album tracks can be found on their official facebook page.
The new real people album Called THINK POSITIVE is released on the 6th December 2010
Albums
| Year | Title | 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... |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | The Real People | |
| 1992 | Marshmellow Lane (unreleased) | |
| 1996 | What's On The Outside | |
| 2002 | Closer (unreleased) | |
| 2010 | Think Positive | |
Singles
| Year | Title | 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 ... |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "One by One" - as Jo Jo and the Real People | |
| "Lady Marmalade" - as Jo Jo and the Real People | ||
| 1990 | "Window Pane" | 60 |
| 1991 | "Open Up Your Mind (Let Me In)" | 70 |
| 1992 | "The Truth" | 41 |
| "Believer" | 38 | |
| "Too Much Too Young" | ||
| 1995 | "Bring You Down" | |
| "The Real People EP" | ||
| "Every Vision of You" | 138 | |
| 1996 | "Rayners Lane" | 98 |
| "Rolling Stone" | 106 | |
| 1997 | "The People in the Telly" | 155 |
External links
(Realplayer)- Promotional Video Clip from live performance at De Bees Music Bar 14 December 2006. Filmed and edited by Ian Scanlan (1).(Flash)
- Promotional Video Clip from live performance at De Bees Music Bar 14 December 2006. Filmed and edited by Ian Scanlan (2).(Flash)
- The Real People's official website.