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",[2] the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[3] The band also had two US Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Run Home Girl" and "La-Di-Da".[2]

Sad Café
OriginManchester, England
GenresSoft rock[1]
Years active1976–1990, 1998, 2000, 2012–present
Labels
MembersDes Tong
Dave Day
Barry James Thomas
Neil Shaw-Hulme
Matt Steele
Steve Gibson
Past membersPaul 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
Websitewww.sadcafe.co.uk

History

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The group formed as a result of the unification of rock bands Mandalaband and Gyro.[2] Its founder members were Paul Young (vocals), Ian Wilson (guitar), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (lead guitar), John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell (drums).[2] The band took their name from the Carson McCullers novella Ballad of the Sad Café.[citation needed] 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

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Members

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Lineups

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1976–1978 1978–1979 1979–1980 1980–1981
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
1981–1984 1986 Politics of Existing 1986 1986–1989
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 Takes 1994 BMI Event 2000 Forever Young 2012–2014
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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


2018 2019 2021–2022 2023–Present
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak 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
8 146
Sad Café 46 160
Olé
  • Released: October 1981
  • Label: Polydor
72
Politics of Existing
Whatever It Takes
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: Legacy

Live albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[6]
Live in Concert
  • Released: April 1981
  • Label: RCA
37
Access All Areas
  • Released: 23 March 2015
  • Label: Edsel
  • Includes DVD of concert

Compilation albums

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Title Details
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

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Title Year Chart positions
UK
[6]
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" 1979 3 78 48
"Emptiness" (US and Canada-only release) 108
"Strange Little Girl" 32
"My Oh My" 1980 14 42
"Nothing Left Toulouse" (UK only-release) 62
"La-Di-Da" 41 78
"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) 1983 80
"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

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References

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