The Average White Band are a Scottish soul–funk sextet that debuted with the 1973 MCA release Show Your Hand. Between 1974 and 1979, AWB released six studio albums and a live set on Atlantic, followed with 1980–82 titles on RCA. Stateside, they’re best known for the instrumental “Pick Up the Pieces,” a 1974 chart-topper from […]
Hummingbird was an English-American jazz-funk band that released three albums between 1975 and 1977 on A&M: Hummingbird, We Can’t Go On Meeting Like This, and Diamond Nights. They featured three-fifths of the second Jeff Beck Group, including keyboardist Max Middleton, who plays on Beck’s 1975–76 jazz-rock albums Blow by Blow and Wired. Members: Bobbie Tench […]
Level 42, an English jazz-funk band from the Isle of Wight, released seven studio albums and a live double-LP on Polydor between 1981 and 1988. Their sound blended Mark King’s slap bass with jazz-fusion and pop. Early albums, Level 42 and The Early Tapes, showcased instrumental tracks like “43” and “Mr. Pink,” alongside singles such […]
Light of the World was an English soul-funk group that debuted with a 1979 octet album and expanded for the 1980 release Round Trip. Guitarist Neville “Breeze” McKreith, trumpeter Kenny Wellington, and saxophonist David Baptiste then formed Beggar & Co., whose 1981 album Monument continued the same personnel network. Percussionist Ganiyu “Gee” Bello, trombonist Nathaniel […]
Chaz Jankel (born April 16, 1952) is an English keyboardist, songwriter, and vocalist from Stanmore, Middlesex, who recorded three albums with rustic-rockers Byzantium circa 1972/73. Between 1974 and 1979, he held slots in Jonathan Kelly’s Outside and Ian Dury’s Blockheads, musically guiding the latter act to chart success on the albums New Bootes and Panties!!! […]
The Olympic Runners were an English soul-funk studio ensemble active between 1974 and 1979, scoring hits with “Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is,” “Get It While You Can,” and “Sir Dancealot.” Assembled by producer Mike Vernon, the mystery band included prolific keyboardist Pete Wingfield and members of fellow UK funksters Hanson and Gonzalez. Members: […]
Loose Ends were an Afro-British soul-funk trio that released the 1984–86 Virgin albums A Little Spice, So Where Are You?, and Zagora and charted with “Magic Touch,” “Hangin’ on a String (Contemplating),” “Slow Down,” and “Stay a Little While, Child.” Their 1988–90 albums The Real Chuckeeboo and Look How Long landed further hits with “Mr. […]
Cado Belle was a Scottish soul-funk band that released a 1976 self-titled album and a 1977 EP, both on Anchor. Singer Maggie Reilly sings on the Mike Oldfield hits “Family Man” and “Moonlight Shadow.” Members: Maggie Reilly (vocals), Alan Darby (guitar), Gavin Hodgson (bass), Stuart MacKillop (keyboards), Davy Roy (drums, percussion), Colin Tully (saxophone, flute) […]
Pigbag was an English new wave jazz-funk band, best known for the 1982 UK hit “Papa’s Got a Brand New Pigbag.” They released five singles and the 1982–83 albums Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive and Lend An Ear on Y Records. Members: Chris Hamlin (clarinet, percussion, 1980-81), Roger Freeman (trombone, percussion, 1980-82), James Johnstone (guitar, […]
Linx was an English soul-funk group from London led by singer David Grant and bassist Peter “Sketch” Martin. They released two 1981 Chrysalis albums and placed six singles on the UK chart, including the Top 20 hits “Intuition,” ,“You’re Lying,” and “So This Is Romance.” Members: David Grant (lead vocals, percussion), Peter “Sketch” Martin (bass), […]
Hanson was a London-based funk band that released the 1973–74 albums Now Hear This and Magic Dragon on ELP‘s Manticore label. They featured a multinational lineup of players, mostly from the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Members: Junior Hanson [aka Junior Marvin] (vocals, guitar), Bobby Tench (guitar, backing vocals), DeLisle Harper (bass), Rebop Kwaku Baah (percussion), […]
The Quick was the English synth-funk duo of vocalist Colin Campsie and bassist/keyboardist George McFarlane. The pair released assorted singles and two proper album on Epic between 1979 and 1984, plus a third on A&M in 1986. Their first album, On the Uptake, appeared Down Under in 1981 to capitalize on the Australian success of […]
Freeez was an English funk band that released three albums and assorted singles on Beggars Banquet between 1980 and 1985. Members: John Rocca (vocals, percussion), Andy Stennett (keyboards), Peter Mass (bass), Paul Morgan (drums), Gordon Sullivan (guitar), Ingrid Mansfield Allman (vocals), Alison Gordon (vocals), Jason Wright (keyboards), Everton McCalla (drums), George Whitmore (saxophone, flute), Jean-Paul […]
Gonzalez was an English soul-funk and Latin-rock big band that released the 1974–75 albums Gonzalez and Our Only Weapon Is Our Music on EMI, followed by the 1978–80 albums Shipwrecked, Move It to the Music, and Watch Your Step on Capitol. In 1979, they scored a UK Top 20 hit with “I Haven’t Stopped Dancing […]
The Real Thing was an English soul-funk quartet from Liverpool that released seven singles between 1972 and 1975 on Bell, EMI, and Pye. In 1976, they scored back-to-back chart-toppers with “You to Me Are Everything” and “Can’t Get By Without You,” both included on their debut album. They followed with the 1977–79 Pye albums 4 […]
Atmosfear was an English funk band from London that released the 1981 MCA album En Trance and scored a UK club hit with “Dancing in Outer Space.” Members: Andy Sojka (guitar, rhythm guitar), Antony Antoniou (vocals, rhythm guitar), Leslie Bachelor (bass, keyboards), Ray Johnson (drums), Stewart Gawthorne (saxophone), Jerry Pike (percussion, sound effects) Background Atmosfear […]
UPP was an English jazz-funk band that released two albums on Epic during 1975 and 1976, the first produced by Jeff Beck. Drummer Jimmy Copley hailed from rustic-rockers Spreadeagle; he later did session work for Ann Lewis, The Quick, Go West, and Killing Joke. Keyboardist Andy Clark recorded three 1969–71 albums as part of the […]
F.B.I. was a nine-piece English funk band that released a self-titled album on Tony Visconti’s Good Earth label in 1976. Members: Root Jackson (vocals), Bonnie Wilkinson (vocals), Jaime Black (guitar, flute), Raffi Pereira (guitar), Lennox Meade (bass), Alan Fealdman (keyboards), Lloyd Smith (saxophone), Herscel Holder (trumpet), Stephen Dixon (drums) Background Funky Bands Incorporated (F.B.I.) formed […]
Locust was an English soul-funk sextet that released the 1976 album Alpha Waves and the single “Foxy” on Buk Records. The group joined three original Brand X members with the prior Zac partnership of Brent Forbes and Chris Parren, who also brought experience from the Doris Troy and Hudson-Ford bands. Members: Phil Spinelli (lead vocals, […]
Kokomo was an English soul-funk band that released two albums on CBS/Columbia in 1975. The band featured alumni from Liverpudlian harmony-pop band Arrival and Joe Cocker‘s Grease Band. Members: Dyan Birch (vocals), Paddie McHugh (vocals), Frank Collins (vocals), Neil Hubbard (guitar), Alan Spenner (bass), Tony O’Malley (piano, vocals), Jim Mullen (guitar), Terry Stannard (drums), Joan […]
Delegation was an English soul-funk band from Birmingham that made the 1977 album The Promise of Love on State Records, followed by the 1979–82 Ariola titles Eau de vie, Delegation, and Deuces High. Members: Ricky Bailey (vocals), Len Coley (vocals, 1975-79), Roddy Harris (vocals, 1975-80), Bruce Edwin Dunbar (vocals, 1979-84), Aston Ray Patterson (vocals, 1980-?), […]
Muscles were an English jazz-funk band that released seven singles and a 1976 self-titled album on Big Bear Records. Members: John Lynam (guitar, vocals), Steve James (drums, vocals), Geoff Brown (keyboards, vocals), Andy Abbot (bass guitar, vocals), Stuart Scott (lead guitar, vocals), Richard Ford (bass guitar, vocals), Mel Gaynor (drums) Background Muscles formed in 1975 […]
The Nick Straker Band was an English synthpop/funk quartet that made the 1979 German Decca album Future’s Above My Head, followed by the 1980 UK CBS release A Walk in the Park and a 1981 US album on Prelude, release abroad as A Little Bit of Jazz. They recorded the first two with members of […]
Ultrafunk was a studio-based Afro-funk band comprised of English musicians. They made the 1975–77 albums Ultrafunk and Meat Heat on Contempo Records. Background Ultrafunk formed in London for Contempo Records when label founder John Abbey asked arranger-keyboardist Gerry Shury to assemble guitarist Chris Rae, bassist Frank McDonald, and drummer John Richardson as a studio rhythm […]
Incognito was an English jazz-funk band from London that released two Ensign singles and the 1981 album Jazz Funk. After a ten-year activity gap, a revolving lineup commenced a three-decade run of discs. Members: Jean-Paul Maunick (guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming, bass, drums, vocals), Paul Williams [Tubbs], Maysa (vocals), Jocelyn Brown (vocals), Bud Beadle (flute), Karen […]
Mandingo was a tribal-funk project comprised of English studio musicians, led by composer/conductor Geoff Love, who oversaw the 1973/74 EMI albums The Primeval Rhythm of Life, Sacrifice, and III, followed in 1977 with Savage Rite. Background Mandingo formed in London in 1973 when arranger-conductor Geoff Love extended his long EMI partnership with producer Norman Newell […]
Hot Chocolate was an English soul-funk band from London that scored twelve UK Top 10 singles, including the 1977 chart-topper “So You Win Again” and the transatlantic hits “You Sexy Thing” and “Every 1’s a Winner.” They made eight RAK studio albums between their 1974 release Cicero Park and 1983 title Love Shot. Members: Patrick […]
Hi-Tension was an English soul-funk band from London that released a 1978 self-titled album on Island and issued ten singles through 1984, including the UK hit “British Hustle.” Members: Paul McLean (lead guitar, synthesizer, vocals), Patrick McLean (saxophone, vocals), David Joseph (keyboards, lead vocals), Ken Joseph (bass guitar, vocals), Jeffrey Guishard (percussion, lead vocals) Leroy […]
The J.A.L.N. Band was an English soul-funk septet from Birmingham that released the 1976–78 Magnet albums Life Is a Fight, Just Another Lonely Night, and Movin’ City High. They scored a UK/Australian hit with “Disco Music – I Like It” and further UK dance hits with the 1977 singles “I Got to Sing” and “Goin’ […]
Imagination was an English funk trio on R&B Records that made the 1981–83 albums Body Talk, In the Heat of the Night, and Scandalous, along with the 1983 remix set Night Dubbing. The group scored UK Top 10 hits with “Body Talk,” “Just an Illusion,” and “Music and Lights.” They concluded with the 1986/87 albums […]
I-Level was an English synth-funk trio from London that released eight singles and two albums between 1983 and 1985 on Virgin, landing club hits with “Give Me” and “Minefield.” Members: Sam Jones (vocals), Joe Dworniak (bass guitar), Duncan Bridgeman (synthesizer) Background I-Level formed in London in 1982 when keyboardist Duncan Bridgeman and bassist/engineer Joe Dworniak […]
Eye to Eye was an English/American duo behind the 1982/83 Warner albums Eye to Eye and Shakespeare Stole My Baby. Keyboardist/composer Julian Marshall launched the project after Marshall Hain, the starting vehicle of singer/songwriter Kit Hain. Musically, Eye to Eye blended angular jazz-pop and slick blue-eyed soul, exemplified in their transatlantic hit “Nice Girls.” Their […]
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), […]
Eruption was an English soul-funk band from London that released three albums on Hansa between 1977 and 1980, followed by a fourth on Jupiter in 1983. Members: Lindel Leslie (vocals, 1974-75), Precious Wilson (vocals, 1975-79), Kim Davis (vocals, 1980), Jane Jochen (vocals, 1980-85), Greg Perrineau (guitar), Morgan Perrineau (bass), Gerry Williams (keyboards), Eric Kingsley (drums) […]
Central Line was an English soul-funk band from London that released eleven singles and the 1981–84 Mercury albums Breaking Point and Choice. Members: Linton Breckles (vocals, percussion), Camelle Hinds (bass, vocals), Lipson Francis (keyboards), Henry Defoe (guitar) Background Central Line formed in 1978 in London when bassist/vocalist Camelle Hinds (b. Nov. 15, 1957; Ipswich), guitarist Henri […]
RAH Band was an English space-funk studio project led by producer, composer, and arranger Richard A. Hewson. In 1977, RAH reached the UK Top 10 with “The Crunch,” included on their 1978 Ebony release The Crunch & Beyond and followed with the Eighties hits “Clouds Across the Moon,” “Falcon,” and “Messages from the Stars.” Background […]
