The Brilliant Corners were a British indie pop band from Bristol who recorded throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s.[1]
History edit
The group was formed in 1983, taking the name from the Thelonious Monk jazz album, Brilliant Corners.[2] The line-up included Davey Woodward (b. Avonmouth, Bristol, England; vocals, guitar), Chris Galvin (1959 – 22 December 1998; bass guitar), Winston Forbes (lead guitar, percussion, backing vocals), Bob Morris (drums) and Dan Pacini (occasional trumpet and keyboards).[1] A later addition was Phil Elvins on guitar.
The band's first releases were early examples of indie pop, with three singles being released in 1984 on their own SS20 label.[3] Their first (mini-)album, Growing Up Absurd, appeared the following year.[3] With an explosion of indie pop groups in 1986, their May release Fruit Machine EP gained them both attention and radio airplay, followed by a second mini-album, What's In A Word. "Brian Rix", a re-recorded version of a track from the LP, with added trumpet, and a tribute to Rix, the "king of farce", was issued as a single, the proceeds going to Mencap, the charity of which Rix was chairman. The video, featuring Woodward running Rix-like around a couch with his trousers around his ankles, was shown on The Tube, further raising the band's profile.[2]
In March 1988, the band set up another label, McQueen, and released third album, Somebody Up There Likes Me,[1] followed by a collection of their sought-after early singles, Everything I Ever Wanted. Two more albums followed in 1989 (Joy Ride) and 1990 (Hooked), followed by a second compilation, Creamy Stuff, in 1991. They released A History Of White Trash in 1993 before splitting up.
Woodward and Galvin formed the Experimental Pop Band[4] in 1995. Galvin died from cancer in 1998.[1]
The Brilliant Corners reformed in 2013 for a short tour.
Winston Forbes died in 2019.[5]
Band members edit
- Davey Woodward (vocals, guitar)
- Winston Forbes (guitar)
- Chris Galvin (bass)
- Bob Morris (drums)
- Dan Pacini (trumpet, keyboards)
- Phil Elvins (guitar)
- Paul Sandrone (guitar)
Discography edit
Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart.[6]
Singles edit
- "She's Got Fever" (1984, SS20) (No. 1)
- "Big Hip" (1984, SS20) (No. 16)
- "My Baby's In Black" (1984, SS20) (No. 14)
- "Brian Rix" (1987, SS20) (No. 11)
- "Delilah Sands" (1987, SS20) (No. 9)
- "Teenage" (2006, McQueen) (No. 9)
- "Why Do You Have To Go Out With Him When You Could Go Out With Me?" (1988, McQueen) (No. 10)
- "I Love It, I Lost It" (1990, McQueen)
- "The Pope, The Monkey and The Queen" (1990, McQueen)
EPs and mini-albums edit
- Growing Up Absurd mini-album (1985, SS20) (No. 26)
- The Fruit Machine EP (1986, SS20)
Albums edit
- What's In A Word (1986, SS20) (No. 8)
- Somebody Up There Likes Me (2006, McQueen) (No. 6)
- Joy Ride (1989, McQueen) (No. 6)
- Hooked (1990, McQueen)
- A History Of White Trash (1993, C.M.P.)
Compilations edit
- Everything I Ever Wanted (1988, McQueen) (compilation) (No. 17)
- Creamy Stuff (1991, McQueen)
- Heart on Your Sleeve: A Decade in Pop 1983–1993 (2013, Cherry Red)
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (2003). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 86. ISBN 1-85227-969-9.
- ^ a b Strong, Martin C.: The Great Alternative & Indie Discography, 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1
- ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 327. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ "Experimental Pop Band - Interview". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ "Tony Forbes : Obituary". Retrieved 17 August 2021 – via PressReader.
- ^ Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie Hits 1980-1999. Cherry Red Books. ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.