The Movies were a 6-piece British rock band prominent in the pub rock era of the mid-late 1970s. The band released five studio albums between 1975 and 1981. After their debut album, released by Firefly Records (dismissed as "a rather spotty, nondescript affair" by Richard Cromelin in Phonograph Record),[1] they signed to GTO Records.[2] They moved on again to RCA Records for their last two albums. They also recorded a session for John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show in 1977, and had a live performance broadcast on the Radio 1 show In Concert the same year.[3] The band made three appearances on the BBC television programme The Old Grey Whistle Test, in 1977, 1978, and 1980.[4][5]

The Movies
Original lineup
Original lineup
Background information
OriginCambridge, England, United Kingdom
GenresPub rock, soft rock, latin
Years active1974–1981
LabelsA&M, CBS, RCA
MembersJon Cole
Julian Diggle
Greg Knowles
Jamie Lane
Past membersDurban Laverde
Dag Small
Websitethemovies.org.uk

They served as backing group for Joan Armatrading on her 1975 Back to the Night tour, while recording their first album with Joan's producer Pete Gage.[6][7]

The band's music was compared with Ace,[8] Steely Dan, and Little Feat.[2] They were described in the Belfast Telegraph in 1978 as "one of Britain's most talented and sophisticated rock bands".[5]

Musicians

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  • Jon Cole – lead vocals, guitar
  • Julian Diggle – percussion, harmonica, vocals
  • Greg Knowles – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jamie Lane – drums, backing vocals
  • Durban Laverde – bass (1974–1975)
  • Dag Small – keyboards (1974–1976)
  • Mick Parker – keyboards (1976–1981)
  • Dave Quinn – bass (1975–1978)
  • Colin Gibson – bass (1978–1981)

Discography

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Albums
  • The Movies (1975), Firefly/A&M
  • Double "A" (1977), GTO
  • Bullets Through the Barrier (1978), GTO/Epic
  • India (1980), RCA
  • Motor Motor Motor (1981), RCA
Singles
  • "Fancy Man" (1975)
  • "Big Boys Band" (1977)
  • "Have Another Body"
  • "Last Train"
  • "No Class"
  • "Love Is a Sacrifice"
  • "Hard Heart" (American release)
  • "Clockwise Into the Sun"

References

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  1. ^ Cromelin, Richard (1976) "The Movies - The Movies", Phonograph Record, August 1976
  2. ^ a b "Pop Talk". Aberdeen Evening Express. 24 May 1978. Retrieved 13 October 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ Garner, Ken (1993) In Session Tonight, BBC Books, ISBN 0-563-36452-1, p. 275
  4. ^ "The Movies", British Film Institute. Retrieved 13 October 2019
  5. ^ a b "Roy Shephard's Programme Guide". Belfast Telegraph. 3 October 1978. Retrieved 13 October 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Strong, M.C. (2004). "Joan Armatrading Biography". The Great Rock Bible. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  7. ^ "Joan Armatrading". Birmingham Music Archive. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
  8. ^ Hi-fi News & Record Review, Volume 21, Issues 1-6, Link House Publications, 1976, p. 119
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