Vanity Fare
Encyclopedia
Vanity Fare were a UK
pop
/rock
group
formed in 1966, best remembered for their million selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride
," which became a worldwide hit in 1970.
), Dick Allix (born Richard Allix, 3 May 1945, Gravesend
, Kent) (drum
s) and Tony Jarrett (born Anthony Jarrett, 4 September 1943, in Rochester, Kent) (bass
) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs
and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager
and producer
. Having changed the name of the band to Vanity Fare after the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
, they signed to Page One Records
(a division of Bell Records
). Vanity Fare achieved a UK hit single
with their first release, a cover
of "I Live For The Sun" (originally recorded
by The Sunrays
in 1965) in the summer of 1968. Following two more singles, "Summer Morning" and "Highway Of Dreams," both of which failed to make the UK Singles Chart
, they released their biggest UK hit "Early in the Morning". Written by Mike Leander
and Eddie Seago, it reached number 8 in that country in August 1969 and number 12 in the US
in early 1970. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
.
For their next release "Hitchin' A Ride" they added keyboardist
Barry Landemen (born 25 October 1947, Woodbridge, Suffolk
, England) to the group. "Hitchin' A Ride", written by Peter Callander
and Mitch Murray
, gave them a second million-selling hit reaching number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100
and making number 16 in the UK in January 1970. This also received a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
.
The hit was preceded by a tour of the United States, following which both Dick Allix and Tony Goulden left the band and were replaced by guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler and drummer Mark Ellen.
Two more singles followed before the end of 1970; Mike Leander and Eddie Seago's "Come Tomorrow" and Roger Cook
and Roger Greenaway
's "Carolina's Coming Home" both of which failed to dent the charts
on either side of the Atlantic.
Over the next couple of years more singles were released including Tony Macaulay
's "Better By Far" on DJM Records
in 1972, but none of them entered the charts. Following this they decided to concentrate on live performances touring Europe, where they were having hit singles. Following the mid 1970s, and amid many band member changes (including the departure of Jarrett, replaced by Bernie Hagley), the group recorded only sporadically. In 1986, the band attempted to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
, finishing third in the UK heat of A Song for Europe, with the song "Dreamer" featuring Jimmy Cassidy on vocals, Phil Kitto on keyboards alongside long time members Ellen, Wheeler and Bernie Hagley. In 2007 they toured alongside P. J. Proby
.
They are still together today with a line-up of Hagley, Wheeler, Ellen and Steve Oakman.
In his spare time, Brice sings second tenor with the City of Bath Male Choir, who reached the final of BBC One
's Last Choir Standing
. His son, Sebastian Brice, is part of the alt/rock band Avius
.
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...
pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
/rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
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...
formed in 1966, best remembered for their million selling song, "Hitchin' a Ride
Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)
"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the UK-based band, Vanity Fare in late 1969. It reached #16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970, but was a bigger hit in the United States, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1970. ...
," which became a worldwide hit in 1970.
Career
School friends Trevor Brice (born 12 February 1945, Rochester, Kent, England) (vocals), Tony Goulden (born Anthony Goulden, 21 November 1942, Rochester) (guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Dick Allix (born Richard Allix, 3 May 1945, Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
, Kent) (drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s) and Tony Jarrett (born Anthony Jarrett, 4 September 1943, in Rochester, Kent) (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) formed the band in Kent in 1966, originally calling themselves The Avengers. They played local clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
and were spotted by entrepreneur Roger Easterby who became their manager
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Having changed the name of the band to Vanity Fare after the novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
, they signed to Page One Records
Page One Records
Page One Records, established in 1966, was the UK record label owned by the producer/manager Larry Page, during his successful period as a hitmaker in the 1960s....
(a division of Bell Records
Bell Records
Bell Records was an American record label founded in 1952 by Arthur Shimkin in New York, the owner of children's record label Golden Records, and initially a unit of Pocket Books, after the rights to the name were acquired from Benny Bell who used the Bell name to issue risque novelty records. A...
). Vanity Fare achieved a UK hit 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...
with their first release, a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "I Live For The Sun" (originally 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...
by The Sunrays
The Sunrays
The Sunrays were an American band from Pacific Palisades, California.-Career:Their first job as the Renegades was at the Seaside Session at Palisades Park in Pacific Palisade...
in 1965) in the summer of 1968. Following two more singles, "Summer Morning" and "Highway Of Dreams," both of which failed to make 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 ...
, they released their biggest UK hit "Early in the Morning". Written by Mike Leander
Mike Leander
Michael George Farr professionally known as Mike Leander was an arranger and record producer for Decca Records in the 1960s and Bell Records in the 1970s and worked with such artists as Marianne Faithfull, Billy Fury, Marc Bolan, Joe Cocker, The Small Faces, Van Morrison, Alan Price, Peter...
and Eddie Seago, it reached number 8 in that country in August 1969 and number 12 in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in early 1970. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
.
For their next release "Hitchin' A Ride" they added keyboardist
Keyboardist
A 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...
Barry Landemen (born 25 October 1947, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. It is in the East of England, not far from the coast. It lies along the River Deben, with a population of about 7,480. The town is served by Woodbridge railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line. Woodbridge is twinned with...
, England) to the group. "Hitchin' A Ride", written by Peter Callander
Peter Callander
Peter Callander is a British songwriter and record producer.-Career:Active from the 1960s to the present day, Callander has written or co-written songs that have been performed by recording artists such as Cilla Black, Tom Jones, Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, and The Tremeloes, among many...
and Mitch Murray
Mitch Murray
Mitch Murray , is an English songwriter, record producer and author.-Musical career:...
, gave them a second million-selling hit reaching number 5 in the US 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...
and making number 16 in the UK in January 1970. This also received a gold disc awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The hit was preceded by a tour of the United States, following which both Dick Allix and Tony Goulden left the band and were replaced by guitarist and singer Eddie Wheeler and drummer Mark Ellen.
Two more singles followed before the end of 1970; Mike Leander and Eddie Seago's "Come Tomorrow" and Roger Cook
Roger Cook (songwriter)
Roger Cook is an English songwriter who has written many hits for other recording artists. He has also had a successful recording career in his own right.-Early life:Cook was born in Fishponds, Bristol, England...
and Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway
Roger Greenaway , is a popular English songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Roger Cook.-Career:...
's "Carolina's Coming Home" both of which failed to dent 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....
on either side of the Atlantic.
Over the next couple of years more singles were released including Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay
Tony Macaulay is a British author, composer for musical theatre, and songwriter, though it was the latter that made him a household name early in his career...
's "Better By Far" on DJM Records
DJM Records
DJM Records was the record label set up in the 1970s by British music publisher, Dick James, distributed by Pye Records in the UK and various other companies around the world, including the USA...
in 1972, but none of them entered the charts. Following this they decided to concentrate on live performances touring Europe, where they were having hit singles. Following the mid 1970s, and amid many band member changes (including the departure of Jarrett, replaced by Bernie Hagley), the group recorded only sporadically. In 1986, the band attempted to represent the UK in 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...
, finishing third in the UK heat of A Song for Europe, with the song "Dreamer" featuring Jimmy Cassidy on vocals, Phil Kitto on keyboards alongside long time members Ellen, Wheeler and Bernie Hagley. In 2007 they toured alongside P. J. Proby
P. J. Proby
P.J. Proby is an American singer, songwriter, and actor, who has portrayed Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison in musical theater productions as well as enjoying a successful recording career in his own right....
.
They are still together today with a line-up of Hagley, Wheeler, Ellen and Steve Oakman.
In his spare time, Brice sings second tenor with the City of Bath Male Choir, who reached the final of BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's Last Choir Standing
Last Choir Standing
Last Choir Standing was a 2008 talent show-themed television series produced by the BBC in the United Kingdom. Broadcast on BBC One in July and August 2008, the series saw amateur choirs competing each week to be the 'last choir standing'....
. His son, Sebastian Brice, is part of the alt/rock band Avius
Avius
- Personnel :The members of Avius are Sebastian Brice , Adam DT and Bertie Whitfield ....
.
See also
- List of performances on Top of the Pops
- Hitch hikeHitch hike (dance)Hitch hike was a dance craze of 1960s. It started with the 1963 Marvin Gaye's hit "Hitch Hike" and refueled with the gold disc of Vanity Fare, "Hitchin' a Ride" ....
- Hitchhike
External links
- Band's official website
- [ Vanity Fare at Allmusic]