The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band 1983-1988, who came from the northern English city of Kingston upon Hull.
Band History
Founded in 1983 by Paul Heaton (vocals), Ted Key ( bass), Stan Cullimore (guitar) and Chris Lang ( drums), received the Housemartins in 1985 her first recording contract with the label Go! Discs. Long Key and retired already from before the production of the first LP and were Hugh Wittaker (drums) and Norman Cook ( bass) replaced.
The guitar - oriented songs of the Housemartins, mostly from the pen of Heaton and Cullimore, were of social criticism and political texts marked ( so all the band members were also active in the local Communist Party ); nevertheless they reached in 1986 with their single Happy Hour and the LP London 0 Hull 4 out larger audiences and attention over England.
During the recording sessions for the second album The People Who grinned Themselves To Death 1987 Hugh Wittaker was replaced by Dave Hemingway. The change was discussed Excited inter alia in the video for the hit single Five Get Over. For individual recordings Jeffrey Wood ( piano at I'll Be Your Shelter ) and Guy Barker (trumpet, the band also worked with guest musicians, including Pete Wingfield ( piano at Bow Down, Build and Lean On Me), at Think For A Minute ).
Even if the Housemartins only with the single Caravan Of Love ( song originally performed by the trio Isley Jasper Isley; see Isley Brothers) were able to record a number -one hit, reached most of their singles in the UK charts at least top 40 positions. Five Get Over Excited, Me And The Farmer and Happy Hour today launched yet in some Indie-/BritPop-Disco.
Mid-1988, the band split to the surprise of many fans to virtually at the height of their success, the musical differences between some of the members were too large. In addition, the project The Housemartins had been planned by its own account from the beginning only for a few years.
Heaton and Hemingway then founded end of 1988, The Beautiful South and managed with her new band even larger ( European ) recognition, while Norman Cook, the electronic / danceable music turned, first with a solo album, and later with the projects Beats International, Freak Power, Mighty Dub Kats and Fatboy Slim even celebrated worldwide success.
Discography
Studio albums
- 06.1986: London 0 Hull 4 ( UK # 3)
- 05.1987: The People Who grinned Themselves To Death ( UK # 9)