The Big Sound Authority -

The Big Sound Authority was an English sophisti-pop band that scored a UK hit with “This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)” and released the 1985 MCA album An Inward Revolution.

Members: Tony Burke (guitar, lead vocals), Mace Carnochan (piano, organ, synthesizer), Julie Hadwen (lead vocals), Steve Martinez (drums), Martin Wilson (bass)

Background

The Big Sound Authority formed in West London in 1983 when guitarist-songwriter Tony Burke assembled singer Julie Hadwen, bassist Martin Wilson, drummer Steve Martinez, and keyboardist Mace Carnochan.

Burke played one White City community-centre show with punk band Fast Breeder. He formed the Directions in Shepherd’s Bush in December 1978 with older brother John Burke and friend Martin Wilson. The trio rehearsed at a studio on Churchfield Road in Acton until Martinez joined on drums after auditions in April 1979.

The Directions played their first show at the Trafalgar that June and established regular dates at the Greyhound on Fulham Palace Road. Tortch Records founder Stephen Budd saw the group at the Greyhound and offered to make a single. Budd released “Three Bands Tonite” (b/w “On the Train”) on Tortch in December 1979 and became group manager.

The Directions played London venues such as the Marquee and Bridge House through 1980 while the musicians financed demos for prospective deals with Polydor and Chiswick. Wilson left after an early-1981 Global Village show and returned when the group secured a publishing deal. The Directions also recorded “Some Boys” and “Heart of the City” at Chas Chandler’s studio in Portland Place. Burke and Budd dissolved the group in late 1982 after label negotiations failed to produce a recording contract.

Hadwen worked at a supermarket in Watford when she answered a Smash Hits advertisement from Paul Weller’s Respond label for a female singer. Weller invited Hadwen to his studio and introduced her to Burke, who recruited former Directions bandmates Martin Wilson and Steve Martinez, then added keyboardist Mace Carnochan. Stephen Budd continued as manager of the new group.

Big Sound Authority recorded the Burke composition “History of the World” for the 1983 Respond compilation Love the Reason. The group joined Respond package dates with Tracie and the Questions. Weller offered Big Sound Authority a Respond contract, but the group chose the Source imprint at MCA for a 1984 recording deal.

Source issued “This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)” in January 1985 with Robin Millar as producer. The single reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart and brought Big Sound Authority to the Jan. 31 edition of Top of the Pops. The May follow-up “A Bad Town” reached No. 54.

Big Sound Authority completed two UK tours and played the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1985. The group chose Greg Walsh to produce the debut album after the Montreux appearance.

Discography: