Martha and the Muffins

Martha and the Muffins are a Canadian band who had their greatest success in the 1970s and 1980s.

History

The band came together in 1977, when Martha Johnson ( born December 18, 1950 in Toronto ) met, Mark Gane, David Millar, Carl Finkle, Tim Gane and Martha Ladly and started playing together at shows in Toronto. Although there were two Marthas in the band lead singer Martha Johnson was the namesake of the band. However, Millar left the band already within the first year.

In 1978 they released their first independent single, " Insect Love", a contract with Virgin Records (now part of EMI) earned them immediately.

The following year, her debut album " Metro Music " which included an international hit with " Echo Beach " was released. In the same year sax player Andy Haas joined the band, and drummer Tim Gane was replaced by Nick Kent.

In 1980 the second album "Trance and Dance" has been released, but this proved unsuccessful and no hit single contained more. Martha Ladly left the band, Tim Gane returned as drummer.

1981 was replaced by Carl Finkle Jocelyne Lanois, the sister of music producer Daniel Lanois. Daniel Lanois also produced the new album "This is the Ice Age." The two songs "Women Around the World at Work " and " Swimming " developed into ear worms, which were often played on the radio.

The '82 Album " Danseparc " was again produced by Daniel Lanois; Haas and Tim Gane left the band and was replaced by Dick Smith Gane. During this time the name of the band was officially changed to M M, although the album cover had both the name "M M " and " Martha and the Muffins ". The album was unsuccessful, and in 1983 the band fell apart.

Martha Ladly moved to England, where she took part in the background of the Associates. Later she sang in the companion volume by Robert Palmer. Jocelyne Lanois was published in 1989 as a member of the band " Crash Vegas " again in the Canadian charts. Ladly today design instructor at the Ontario College of Art and Design.

Martha Johnson and Mark Gane played under the name "M M" still together. In 1984 she released a duo album " Mystery Walk ", which was again produced by Daniel Lanois and them their greatest success in these years with "Black Stations / White Stations" an anti - racism anthem procured. This song was a smash hit in Canada. In the United States, he stormed the Dance Music charts, but was still banned by many radio stations. " Cooling the Medium ", the second single from the album, was also successful in Canada. 1985 Gane and Johnson went to Bath, England to work with producer David Lord. This resulted in the album "The World Is a Ball ," which, however, it sold miserably, leaving the duo return to Canada again.

Then it was quiet until 1992, when it named " Martha and the Muffins " for the album " Modern Lullaby" resuscitated - but not the original band. Also, this album was only a moderate success, and Johnson and Gane focused on other projects and have since been released as a duo but a bonus single on a compilation album 1998 no new material.

2003, there should be a reunion of Martha and the Muffins. In 2005, she played a few concerts in Toronto, including a joint gigs with the also reunited Parachute Club, at the time were also produced by Lanois. In a press release on the reunification Johnson stated that the band would record new material, but this was not realized before.

Discography

Albums

  • Metro Music (1979, UK No. 34 )
  • Trance and Dance ( 1980)
  • This Is the Ice Age (1981 )
  • Danseparc (1983, Martha and the Muffins / M M)
  • Mystery Walk (1984, M M)
  • The World Is a Ball (1985, M M)
  • Far Away in Time (1987, Compilation )
  • Modern Lullaby (1992 )
  • Then Again: A Retrospective (1998)
  • Delicate (2010)

Singles

  • Echo Beach (1980, UK # 10 )
  • Paint By Number Heart (1980 )
  • Swimming (1982)
  • Danseparc ( Everyday It 's Tomorrow ) ( 1982)
  • Black Stations / White Stations (1984, UK # 46 )
  • Cooling the Medium (1984 )
  • Song in My Head (1986 )
Independent record label Robert Palmer (singer)
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