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Londonbeat are a British dance-pop band who scored a number of pop and dance hits in the early 1990s.[1] They currently consist of vocalists Jimmy Helms, Jimmy Chambers, and Charles Pierre. Former members include multi-instrumentalist William Henshall, George Chandler, Marc Goldschmitz, and Myles Kayne. As of 2024, the band has released six studio albums and numerous compilations.
Londonbeat | |
|---|---|
 Londonbeat in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Dance-pop, EDM |
| Discography | Londonbeat discography |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | londonbeat-official |
History
editFormed in England's capital city, Londonbeat's career took off with the song "There's a Beat Going On", from their 1988 debut album, Speak. The song peaked on the UK chart at number 88.[2] The track "9 A.M (The Comfort Zone)", from the same record, subsequently became a modest success in the UK, rising to number 19.[2] Londonbeat are best known for their 1990 single "I've Been Thinking About You", from their second album, In the Blood, released the same year. After capturing the number 2 spot in the UK in September 1990,[2] the song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts in February 1991.[3] Their follow-up single, "A Better Love", became a Billboard Top-20 hit.[3]
The band issued the album Harmony in 1992 and followed it two years later with Londonbeat, which spawned the single "Come Back", bringing them back to the top of the dance charts.
In 1995, Londonbeat entered the UK heats of the Eurovision Song Contest with their non-album track "I'm Just Your Puppet on a ... (String)".[4] However, they were not selected to enter the main contest (losing out to rap group Love City Groove), and the single stalled at number 55 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 2003, they regrouped with a new lineup and signed to German record label Coconut. An album called Back in the Hi-Life was released and featured re-recordings of "A Better Love" and "I've Been Thinking About You". The band issued Gravity in 2004, and in 2019, they published the retrospective 30 Years, which included two original tracks as well as several previously unreleased songs and remixes.
Other projects
editJimmy Helms has had a successful solo career and sang radio jingles for Radio Hallam and Hereward Radio in the UK.[5]
George Chandler is a founding member and former frontman of the band Olympic Runners.
Chambers and Chandler were backing vocalists for Paul Young's 1985 album, The Secret of Association.[6] Helms, Chandler, and Chambers were backing vocalists on the Deacon Blue 1987 single "When Will You Make My Telephone Ring", and they sang on the tracks "Good Thing", "Tell Me What", and "It's OK (It's Alright)" from the Fine Young Cannibals' 1989 album, The Raw & the Cooked. Chandler, Chambers, and Helms were backing vocalists on the 1988 Godley & Creme album, Goodbye Blue Sky.[7]
Band members
editCurrent
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers[8]
- Charles Pierre
Past
- William Henshall (credited as Willy M)
- George Chandler
- Marc Goldschmitz
- Myles Kayne
Lineups
editJimmy Helms is the only member present in every Londonbeat lineup. Jimmy Chambers is also present in every lineup, with the exception of 1999, when the band was known as New Londonbeat, due to his absence.
1988–1992
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers
- George Chandler
- Willy M
1994–1995
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers
- Willy M
1999
- Jimmy Helms
- Charles Pierre
- Tony Blaze
2003–2004
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers
- Myles Kayne
- Marc Goldschmitz
2004–2018
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers
- Myles Kayne
2018–present
- Jimmy Helms
- Jimmy Chambers
- Charles Pierre
Discography
edit- Speak (1988)
- In the Blood (1990)
- Harmony (1992)
- Londonbeat (1994)
- Back in the Hi-Life (2003)
- Gravity (2004)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Mack, Bob (May 1991). "London Calling". Spin. Vol. 7, no. 2. p. 20. ISSN 0886-3032.
...one of the latest British acts to invade the U.S. via MTV.
- ^ a b c "Londonbeat chart history". Official Charts. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Londonbeat Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ Bronson, Fred (15 April 1995). "Europe's Song Contest Sounds Out Talent". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 15. p. 39. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Secret of Association – Paul Young – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "Goodbye Blue Sky – Godley & Creme – Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ "JimmyChambers". Jimmychambers.com.