Sad Café Explained

Sad Café
Background:band
Origin:Manchester, England
Genre:Soft rock[1]
Years Active:1976–1990, 1998, 2000, 2012–present
Current Members:Des Tong
Dave Day
Barry James Thomas
Neil Shaw-Hulme
Matt Steele
Steve Gibson
Past Members:Paul Young
Vic Emerson
Ian Wilson
John Stimpson
Tony Cresswell
Lenni
Michael Byron-Hehir
Jeff Seopardi
Phil Lanzon
Alistair Gordon
Simon Waggott
Steve Whalley
Ashley Mulford
Pete Hughes
Dave Irving
Sue Wilson-Quin
Bryan Hargreaves

Sad Café are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1976, who achieved their peak of popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known for the UK top 40 singles "Every Day Hurts", "Strange Little Girl", "My Oh My" and "I'm in Love Again", the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[2] The band also had two US Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Run Home Girl" and "La-Di-Da".

History

The group formed as a result of the unification of rock bands Mandalaband and Gyro.[3] Its founder members were Paul Young (vocals), Ian Wilson (guitar), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (lead guitar), John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell (drums).[3] The band took their name from the Carson McCullers novella Ballad of the Sad Café. Harvey Lisberg, who also managed 10cc, arranged for Eric Stewart to produce their third album, Facades (an anagram of Sad Cafe), which included the top 3 single "Every Day Hurts".[4]

Now led by long time bassist Des Tong, the band features vocalist Barry James Thomas, Dave Day on lead guitar/vocals, Matt Steele on keyboards, Neil Shaw-Hulme on sax/vocals, and Steve Gibson on drums. They now press on to a new era with a show that brings together the great hits of the past with the matured and excellent musicianship of the present. Sad Café fans have warmly and enthusiastically embraced the new line up as the shows continue to bring new and existing fans together to share their love for this incredible band and their music.

Personnel

Members

Current
Former
Guest musicians

Lineups

1976–19781978–19791979–19801980–1981
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals
  • Tony Cresswell – drums
valign=top
  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Irving – drums
valign=top
  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Lenni – saxophone
valign=top
  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Lenni – saxophone
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
1981–19841986 Politics of Existing19861986–1989
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Lenni – saxophone
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – guitars, backing vocals
  • Des Tong – bass
  • Jeff Seopardi – drums
  • Danny Schogger - Keyboards
  • Nico Ramsden - Guitars
  • Mike Rutherford - Guitar
  • Mel Collins - Sax
  • Martin Ditcham - Percussion
  • Paul Carrack - Backing Vocals
  • Andy Caine - Backing Vocals
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jeff Seopardi – drums
  • Phil Lanzon – keyboards
Guest musicians
  • Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar
valign=top
  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Paul Burgess – drums
1994 Whatever It Takes1994 BMI Event2000 Forever Young2012–2014
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
  • Paul Burgess – drums
  • Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar
  • Alistair Gordon – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Steve Pigott - Keyboards, programming
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  • Paul Young – lead vocals
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
  • Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar
  • Alistair Gordon – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Lenni – saxophone
  • Roy Martin – drums
valign=top
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, vocals
  • Lenni – saxophone
  • Vic Emerson – keyboards
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar
  • Alistair Gordon- vocals
  • Steve Butler - vocals
  • John Hopcroft - vocals
  • Sue Quin - vocals
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  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, vocals
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, vocals
  • Sue Quin – vocals, keyboards
  • Simon Waggott – keyboards, vocals
  • Steve Whalley – guitar, vocals
201820192021–20222023–Present
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  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, vocals
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Sue Quin – vocals
  • Barry James Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals
  • Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals
  • Pete Hughes - keyboards
valign=top
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, vocals
  • Dave Irving – drums
  • Sue Quin – vocals
  • Barry James Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals
  • Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals
  • Matt Steele - keyboards
valign=top
  • Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Des Tong – bass, vocals
  • Bryan Hargreaves - drums
  • Sue Quin – vocals
  • Barry James Thomas - vocals
  • Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals
  • Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals
  • Matt Steele - keyboards
valign=top
  • Des Tong - bass, vocals
  • Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals
  • Barry James Thomas - vocals
  • Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals
  • Matt Steele - keyboards
  • Steve Gibson - drums
  • SPECIAL GUESTS
    • Ali Roocroft - keyboards
    • James Russell - saxophone
    • Glyn Davies - lead guitar

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
[6]
US
[7]
Fanx Ta-Ra
  • Released: September 1977
  • Label: RCA
56
Misplaced Ideals
  • Released: April 1978
  • Label: RCA
50
Misplaced Ideals
  • Released: November 1978
  • Label: A&M
  • US version of the two first LPs
94
Facades
  • Released: September 1979
  • Label: RCA, A&M
8146
Sad Café
  • Released: October 1980
  • Label: RCA, Swan Song
46160
Olé
  • Released: October 1981
  • Label: Polydor
72
Politics of Existing
Whatever It Takes
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Legacy

Live albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
Live in Concert
  • Released: April 1981
  • Label: RCA
37
Access All Areas
  • Released: 23 March 2015
  • Label: Edsel
  • Includes DVD of concert

Compilation albums

TitleDetails
The Best of Sad Café
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: RCA
The Best of Sad Café
Everyday Hurts: The Best of Sad Café
  • Released: June 1997
  • Label: Camden
The Masters
  • Released: September 1997
  • Label: Eagle
Facades / Misplaced Ideals
  • Released: November 1997
  • Label: Renaissance
  • US-only release
Saving Grace
  • Released: September 2000
  • Label: Castle
  • Repackaging of Politics of Existing and Whatever It Takes
The Best of Sad Café
  • Released: April 2001
  • Label: Camden
  • Reissue of 1997 Everyday Hurts: The Best of Sad Café
Anthology
  • Released: July 2001
  • Label: Burning Airlines
  • UK release
Every Day Hurts
Anthology
  • Released: January 2005
  • Label: Renaissance
  • US release of the 2001 album
Anthology
  • Released: September 2008
  • Label: The Store for Music
  • European release of the 2001 album
Fanx Ta-Ra / Misplaced Ideals
  • Released: June 2009
  • Label: Edsel
  • UK-only release
Facades / Sad Cafe
  • Released: June 2009
  • Label: Edsel
  • UK-only release
Anthology
  • Released: January 2021
  • Label: Renaissance
  • Vinyl reissue of the 2001 album

Singles

TitleYearChart positions
UK
AUS
[8]
NLD
[9]
US
[10]
"Black Rose"1977
"Love Will Survive" (UK-only release)
"Hungry Eyes" (UK-only release)1978
"Run Home Girl" (US-only release)71
"Every Day Hurts"197937848
"Emptiness" (US and Canada-only release)108
"Strange Little Girl"32
"My Oh My"19801442
"Nothing Left Toulouse" (UK only-release)62
"La-Di-Da"4178
"I'm in Love Again"40
"Black Rose" (Live)1981
"Misunderstanding"
"La-Di-Da" (US release)78
"No Favours – No Way" (US-only promo)
"Follow You Anywhere"
"Keep Us Together" (UK-only release)198380
"Why Do You Love Me Like You Do"1984
"Refugees" (UK-only release)1985
"Only Love" (UK-only release)1986
"Heart"
"Take Me (Heart and Soul)" (UK-only release)1989
"Whatever It Takes"

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Artist Biography by Greg Prato . Sad Café | Biography . AllMusic . 15 July 2000 . 10 February 2014.
  2. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 478.
  3. Book: The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Colin Larkin. Colin Larkin (writer). Virgin Books. 1997. Concise. 1-85227-745-9. 1051.
  4. News: Laing . Dave . Obituary: Paul Young – Singer who made Manchester rock . . London . 19 July 2000.
  5. News: Vic Emerson obituary. Guy. Mowbray. The Guardian . 8 November 2018. www.theguardian.com.
  6. Web site: Sad Cafe full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 6 July 2021.
  7. Sad Café Chart History: Billboard 200. Billboard. 6 July 2021.
  8. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 263.
  9. Web site: Discografie Sad Café. dutchcharts.nl. 6 July 2021.
  10. Sad Café Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. 6 July 2021.