Wikipedia: "In the early 1970s, Lol Mason, Steve Broughton, Max Thomas and Chris Dunn were playing original acoustic music in the Birmingham area. They toured the clubs of the Midlands and turned professional towards the end of 1975. They were offered a recording contract by Phonogram Records on the condition that they change their name from 'Back In the Band' and add drums and electric guitar.
"This prompted them to recruit drummer Roger Kent (who was later replaced by Roy Ward) and guitarist Mike Slamer. City Boy's first five albums were produced by Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, who was recommended to them by Polygram A&R; guy Chris Peers, and are among the first albums he produced after relocating to the UK from South Africa. Lange became the seventh member of the band, helping Chris Dunn hone his bass guitar skills and assisting with City Boy's vocal harmonies.
"Their breakthrough came in 1978 with their hit song '5.7.0.5.' (Mutt Lange's first hit single outside of his homeland of South Africa.) City Boy's first single 'Shake My Head and Leave' in 1975 had received some airplay, notably in South Africa. Their subsequent album was named 'Book Early'. The '5.7.0.5.' single reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, achieving also a silver award for 200,000 copies sold, although the album failed to scratch the UK Albums Chart.
"The single also made the top 30 in the US, peaking at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a sizeable Top 40 hit in Australia. City Boy toured the United States in 1978, supporting Hall & Oates for a total of 66 concerts. Their next album, 1979's 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire', produced a minor UK hit with the title song. This album marked an early recording appearance by Huey Lewis, who played harmonica on the second track 'It's Only the End of the World'.
"Afterwards, Broughton and Dunn (two of the original members) left the band, and City Boy released 'Heads Are Rolling' as a quartet in 1980. The soft rock track 'Speechless' made the band briefly popular in the Philippines. Their final album, 'It's Personal' from 1981, failed to attract any attention. Unable to secure a contract with any of the major companies, the band split up in 1982."
@Madferrit Ooh wow, that's a highly competitive compartment, is that! You've got "Telephone Line" by ELO, and "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson, "Hanging On the Telephone" by Blondie, "Mr Telephone Man" by New Edition, "Hello, This Is Joannie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song)" by Paul Evans to choose from, among many others. And that's just Seventies tracks!! More lately, what about "Telephone" by Lady Gaga, for instance? I could go on!! ;)
@leejohnson showing my age"hello this is Joannie" was a massive favourite of mine around,only a few songs stick in my mind because I was very young back then!!!...but in a non-telephone related song..I also vividly remember 'lucky stars' by Dean Friedman....although his 'endearing mother' did make a phoned all that say,so it may count! :-) you've brought lots of old songs coming back to. Me....wasn't there a Blondie song that had someone hanging the phone at the end Was it 11:59? Going to check!
Apologies for the poor spelling, my IPad controls my every word and does it's best to make me look like an idiot by putting none sensical words in all my sentences!,
@Madferrit Er - no, on the Blondie one. I already mentioned it - "Hangin on the Telephone". "11.59" (also from the "Parallel Lines" album) was more a "time-related" song. My favourite Dean Friedman tune was "Ariel" - a quasi-Hollies harmonyfest by him. Brill.
@leejohnson wil check Dean Friedmans song out...i remembered the song I was thinking about and realised it wasn't 11:59,that was about the time reaching up to 11:59(parallel Lines was a superb album)...It was 'Girl on the phone' by The Jam. :-)
17 Comments (since 4 Jan 2015)
leejohnson
Wikipedia: "In the early 1970s, Lol Mason, Steve Broughton, Max Thomas and Chris Dunn were playing original acoustic music in the Birmingham area. They toured the clubs of the Midlands and turned professional towards the end of 1975. They were offered a recording contract by Phonogram Records on the condition that they change their name from 'Back In the Band' and add drums and electric guitar.
leejohnson
"This prompted them to recruit drummer Roger Kent (who was later replaced by Roy Ward) and guitarist Mike Slamer. City Boy's first five albums were produced by Robert John 'Mutt' Lange, who was recommended to them by Polygram A&R; guy Chris Peers, and are among the first albums he produced after relocating to the UK from South Africa. Lange became the seventh member of the band, helping Chris Dunn hone his bass guitar skills and assisting with City Boy's vocal harmonies.
leejohnson
"Their breakthrough came in 1978 with their hit song '5.7.0.5.' (Mutt Lange's first hit single outside of his homeland of South Africa.) City Boy's first single 'Shake My Head and Leave' in 1975 had received some airplay, notably in South Africa. Their subsequent album was named 'Book Early'. The '5.7.0.5.' single reached the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, achieving also a silver award for 200,000 copies sold, although the album failed to scratch the UK Albums Chart.
leejohnson
"The single also made the top 30 in the US, peaking at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a sizeable Top 40 hit in Australia. City Boy toured the United States in 1978, supporting Hall & Oates for a total of 66 concerts. Their next album, 1979's 'The Day the Earth Caught Fire', produced a minor UK hit with the title song. This album marked an early recording appearance by Huey Lewis, who played harmonica on the second track 'It's Only the End of the World'.
leejohnson
"Afterwards, Broughton and Dunn (two of the original members) left the band, and City Boy released 'Heads Are Rolling' as a quartet in 1980. The soft rock track 'Speechless' made the band briefly popular in the Philippines. Their final album, 'It's Personal' from 1981, failed to attract any attention. Unable to secure a contract with any of the major companies, the band split up in 1982."
leejohnson
Just about says it all for this Jam. I wasn't a massive fan, and this song is the only one I really remember, but it's a good'un. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/city-boy-mn0000110792/biography
BeeBee
Great tune!....got my wife and I singing along to the chorus!
Madferrit
@leejohnson this us without doubt my favourite telephone number song! Took me back to my youth..:-)
leejohnson
@Madferrit Ooh wow, that's a highly competitive compartment, is that! You've got "Telephone Line" by ELO, and "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson, "Hanging On the Telephone" by Blondie, "Mr Telephone Man" by New Edition, "Hello, This Is Joannie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song)" by Paul Evans to choose from, among many others. And that's just Seventies tracks!! More lately, what about "Telephone" by Lady Gaga, for instance? I could go on!! ;)
leejohnson
(OK ..... the 'New Edition' one was actually 1984. We all make mistakes!)
Madferrit
@leejohnson showing my age"hello this is Joannie" was a massive favourite of mine around,only a few songs stick in my mind because I was very young back then!!!...but in a non-telephone related song..I also vividly remember 'lucky stars' by Dean Friedman....although his 'endearing mother' did make a phoned all that say,so it may count! :-) you've brought lots of old songs coming back to. Me....wasn't there a Blondie song that had someone hanging the phone at the end Was it 11:59? Going to check!
Madferrit
Don't answer that karst question, it's already on your list...it's hanging on the telephone!dooohhhh! :-)
Madferrit
Apologies for the poor spelling, my IPad controls my every word and does it's best to make me look like an idiot by putting none sensical words in all my sentences!,
leejohnson
@Madferrit Er - no, on the Blondie one. I already mentioned it - "Hangin on the Telephone". "11.59" (also from the "Parallel Lines" album) was more a "time-related" song. My favourite Dean Friedman tune was "Ariel" - a quasi-Hollies harmonyfest by him. Brill.
Madferrit
@leejohnson wil check Dean Friedmans song out...i remembered the song I was thinking about and realised it wasn't 11:59,that was about the time reaching up to 11:59(parallel Lines was a superb album)...It was 'Girl on the phone' by The Jam. :-)
fraserhouston7
This is awesome!
lynn200
yes...but i agree bout Blondie..