UK Players

The UK Players were an English funk band that released three singles on A&M circa 1980/81, followed by the album No Way Out in 1982. Two further singles appeared on RCA in 1983, concurrent with a pair of solo singles by vocalist/guitarist James Ross.

Members: James Ross (vocalist, guitarist), Patrick Seymour (keyboardist), Philip Bishop (guitarist), Rusty Jones (drummer), Sedley Francis (bassist)

Background

UK Players formed in 1980 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, when the creative core of singer-guitarist James Ross, guitarist Phil Bishop, and songwriter Tony Simmons teamed with keyboardist Patrick Seymour, bassist Sedley Francis, and drummer Rusty Jones.

Alpine Grant, brother of Eddy Grant and an associate of Ice Records, produced “Everybody Get Up” at Coach House Studios in Stamford Hill, London. GB Records issued the single in October 1980 (b/w “Rivers”). Amid club playlist fervor, A&M signed the group and reissued the single, which reached No. 15 on the UK Disco chart. In December, Capital Radio selected “Everybody Get Up” as the People’s Choice.

UK Players returned in June 1981 with their second A&M single “Midnight” (b/w “Exit”), followed in September with “Girl” (b/w “Jim’s Jam”), both produced by Chris Palmer, owner of Groove Records on Greek Street in Soho. For their upcoming album, UK Players teamed with Average White Band singer-bassist Alan Gorrie as producer. In May 1982, “No Way Out” appeared as an advance single (b/w “So Good to Be Alive” and “Dancing in the Street”).

Discography:

• “Everybody Get Up” / “Rivers” (1980)
• “Midnight” / “Exit” (1981)
• “Girl” / “Jim’s Jam” (1981)
• No Way Out (1982)
• “You Make Me Feel” / “Landslide” (1983)
• “Love’s Gonna Get You” / “At Last” (1983)