It’s Wednesday night and most English football fans are still basking in the glory of beating Germany in the Euro 2020 tournament. I bet they’ve been singing “it’s coming home” almost non-stop too, right?! Well, let’s leave that to one side for now as it’s time for four more Mancunian bands to face each other for a place in the next qualifying round of my mammoth ‘Ultimate British Band’ search. As you will know by now, go over to my Facebook page to vote – the link is right here for you – https://www.facebook.com/specsrugssausagerolls – see, right there!
Simply Red vs James
Formed in 1985 in Manchester, Simply Red featured the flame-haired frontman Mick Hucknall in front of a seemingly ever-changing line-up. They released their debut album in 1985 – ‘Picture Book’ – which featured hits like ‘Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)’ and ‘Holding Back The Years’. Between 1989’s ‘A New Flame’ and 1998’s ‘Blue’, they achieved four successive number one albums. Despite this success, they only ever managed one number one single – ‘Fairground’ in 1995. The band split in 2010 after Hucknall decided that 25 years was enough. However by 2015, they were back together to celebrate their 30th anniversary. Further live tours followed and a twelfth studio album ‘Blue Eyed Soul’ was released in 2019.
James were formed in Whalley Range, Manchester in 1982. With Tim Booth on vocals, the band released their first album ‘Stutter’ in 1986, but it was their third album ‘Gold Mother’ that earned them their first commercial success as it peaked at number two in the album charts. They released nine albums before Booth left the band and they went into hibernation until his return in 2007. The only two original members left are Booth and Jim Glennie, and they have gone on to release another seven albums since their reunion.
The Fall vs Starsailor
Formed in 1976 in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, The Fall were the musical vehicle of frontman Mark E Smith. They released thirty one studio albums between 1976 and Smith’s death in 2018 which effectively brought the curtain down on the group. They had limited commercial mainstream success, but enjoyed a cult following and hit the top of the indie album charts on more than one occasion.
Formed in 2000 in Warrington (which is not quite Manchester, but near enough dammit), Starsailor are a four-piece group featuring James Walsh, Ben Byrne, James Stelfox and Barry Westhead. Their debut album ‘Love Is Here’ was released in 2001 and peaked at number two in the album chart, as did the follow up, 2003’s ‘Silence is Easy’. They took a break in 2009 when Walsh decided to pursue a solo career before they reformed in 2014 with a tour and a greatest hits album. They released a fifth album ‘All This Life’ in 2017.
That’s all for now. Next time will bring the curtain down on the first round of the Manchester qualifying section, so make sure you come back for that!
Specs, Rugs & Sausage Rolls 