The Records were an English power pop band formed in 1978. They are best remembered for the hit single and cult favourite "Starry Eyes".

Music career

The Records formed out of the ashes of the Kursaal Flyers, a pub rock group featuring drummer Will Birch. In 1977, John Wicks joined the band as a rhythm guitarist, Due in part to its clear influence by American power pop, the song was a bigger hit in the US than in the UK; it peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1979.

Shades in Bed

The group prepared their debut album with producers Robert John "Mutt" Lange and Tim Friese-Greene. Huw Gower produced "The Phone", which was added to the album in preference to one of Lange's efforts, a cover of Tim Moore's "Rock 'n' Roll Love Letter". The debut LP, Shades in Bed, yielded another single, "Teenarama", This line-up recorded a third album for Virgin, 1982's Music on Both Sides. Wicks died following a year-long struggle with cancer on 7 October 2018 in Burbank, California.

Discography

Beginning with their debut album – Shades in Bed (1979, UK), retitled in the US as simply The Records – releases by The Records have been issued in a variety of editions:

Albums

  • 1979: Shades in Bed
  • 1980: Crashes
  • 1982: Music on Both Sides
  • 1988: Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses
  • 1989: A Sunny Afternoon in Waterloo (Germany)
  • 1998: Rock'Ola (Spain)
  • 2001: Paying for the Summer of Love (US)
  • 2009: Play Live: The Records Live in Concert (Japan)

Singles

  • 1978: "Starry Eyes" (UK)
  • 1979: "Rock 'n' Roll Love Letter" (UK)
  • 1979: "Starry Eyes" (US)
  • 1979: "Teenarama"
  • 1980: "Hearts in Her Eyes"
  • 1982: "Imitation Jewellery"

References

  • John Wicks and the Records official site
  • The Records historical website maintained by Will Birch
  • Will Birch official site
  • Entry in Trouser Press