Chris Norman if You Think You Know How to Love Me Lyrics

English language rock ring

Smokie
Smokie performing in Einsiedel, Germany in June 2009
Background information
As well known as	Smokey
Origin	Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Genres	Popular rock, soft rock, glam stone[ane]
Years agile	1964–present
Labels	Rak EMI/BMG RSO
Website	www.smokie.co.uk
Members	Martin Bullard Steve Pinnell Mick McConnell Pete Lincoln
Past members	Alan Silson Terry Uttley Chris Norman Ron Kelly Arthur Higgins Pete Spencer Alan Barton Mike Craft

Smokie (originally spelt Smokey) are an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire. The ring found success at dwelling and abroad later on teaming up with Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. They accept had a number of line-upward changes and were even so actively touring in 2018. Their most pop hit single, "Living Adjacent Door to Alice", peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Nautical chart^[ii] and, in March 1977, reached No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, besides as going to No. 1 on the Australian singles chart.^[iii] Other hit singles include "If You Think Yous Know How to Love Me", "Oh Carol", "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone", and "I'll Meet You at Midnight".

History [edit]

Early years [edit]

The ring was formed as "The Yen" after a chance meeting between Ron Kelly and Alan Silson in Moore'southward Music Shop, North Parade, Bradford, in October 1963. 2 days subsequently that meeting they were joined past Chris Norman for rehearsals, only without finding a suitable bass actor, just practiced together for a twelvemonth. The addition of Terry Uttley on bass guitar at the beginning of 1965 completed the line-upwards and The Yen'south first gig was at Birkenshaw School in February 1965. Information technology was composed of Chris Norman (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Terry Uttley (bass/vocals), Alan Silson (atomic number 82 guitar/vocals), and Ron Kelly^[four] (drums). They were renamed "The Sphynx", and later "Essence". Every bit Essence, they toured small-scale clubs in Bradford and the surrounding communities earlier they split in 1966. The Black Cats were already a working band when Ron Kelly joined them at Dewsbury College in September 1966. The Black Cats at this time were Peter Eastwood on guitar/vocals and Arthur Higgins on bass. Kelly replaced the drummer they had at the time. Alan Silson and Pete Eastwood joined the band, only the latter presently left and was replaced past Chris Norman. In November 1967 the band inverse their name to "The Iv Corners".

In April 1968, the group constitute a manager in Mark Jordan, who brash them to rename themselves "The Elizabethans". The grouping now became fully professional, and the members garnered higher salaries. In June 1968, Terry Uttley joined the group every bit a replacement for Arthur Higgins, who had left the ring in society to carry on his instruction. On nine Dec 1968 the group had their start Tv advent on Yorkshire Television'due south news and magazine evidence Calendar. In Baronial 1969, the four performed two songs for the BBC prove High Jinx. Enthused with this successful performance, Jordan had them record their start demo tape. In January 1970, RCA Records showed an involvement in the band and suggested a name change to "Kindness". The double A-side "Low-cal of Love"/"Lindy Lou" was released on iii April 1970.

An organisation was made with Ronnie Storm (no connection to Rory Storm) to back him on the unmarried release "My Desire", and it was released under the pseudonym "Fuzzy and The Barnets" due to contractual difficulties encountered by Storm. At the same time Steve Rowland, of Family unit Dogg, heard the ring playing alive on Radio 1 Order and offered to sign them to his product visitor. He arranged for Albert Hammond, who was also in Family unit Dogg, to write a number for the ring, entitled "It Never Rains in Southern California". Nonetheless, before it could be released, Hammond decided to record information technology himself, for which Kelly was recruited by Steve Rowland to play drums. Hammond wrote other songs for the band, and a single "You Ring a Bong"/"Take You Met Angela" was recorded, merely due to various problems in Rowland'due south organisation, information technology was not released. In belatedly 1971 the ring's management was taken over by Dave Eager, the BBC Radio Ane DJ, at the same fourth dimension that Norman suffered a serious infection that affected his vocal cords. Later his recovery, his voice sounded much rougher, which the other group members considered an interesting addition to their sound. Eager introduced them to Decca, which resulted in recordings in February 1972, their get-go single being "Oh Julie"/"I Love Yous Carolina". Shortly thereafter, their next single was released. "Let the Skilful Times Curl" was liked past the media and was selected every bit the opening theme for Emperor Rosko'southward BBC Radio One Saturday show, only this popularity did not translate into record sales. The last Decca single was "Go far Improve"/"Lonely Long Lady", which flopped, and their Decca contract was cancelled.

Rise to fame [edit]

During the band's Decca contract, Eager used his contacts with the Manchester-based agency Kennedy Street Enterprises, to proceeds the band an audition to exist Peter Noone's backing band. The ring were asked to go his permanent band later on their audience at Noone's Firm in Denham, Buckinghamshire, and soon they embarked on a nationwide tour with him. Noone did not bring the boys whatsoever luck, but during the tour Pecker Hurley offered to manage them. Hurley convinced Eager to release the boys from the contract with him. Ron Kelly left Kindness on eight August 1973 and the band recruited an old schoolhouse friend, Pete Spencer (drums/vocals), who had played in diverse groups, to drum for them. This line-upwardly performed on a sightseeing boat in Frankfurt, Frg. Hurley introduced the band to composers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, who as well wrote songs for glam rock contemporaries Sweetness, Mud, and Suzi Quatro. At start "Chinnichap" turned them down, but Hurley'south tenacity somewhen convinced the composers/producers to requite the young group a chance. Hurley and Chinnichap started working with the band, and suggested yet another name alter, to "Smokey". An effort to clothes the band up in leather clothes (similar to Suzi Quatro) was dropped, and the four won acceptance for their jeans outfit.

They purchased new instruments and in late 1974 began recording their debut album Laissez passer It Around which was released 14 Feb 1975. The album spawned the title rails as a single merely failed to gain meaning attention. In April Smokey opened for Airplane pilot on tour.

Height of popularity [edit]

On 22 September 1975, Smokie released their second album, Changing All the Fourth dimension. The kickoff unmarried from the new album, "If Y'all Think Y'all Know How to Love Me", became a hitting in many European countries, peaking at No. 3 in the U.k. Singles Chart.^[ii] They followed it with "Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me".

Effectually this time, Smokey Robinson threatened to file a lawsuit, alleging that the ring'southward name would confuse the audience. In order to avoid legal action, the group inverse the spelling to "Smokie". They began their first tour as headline act, later on the release of their 2d album.

The third LP was partly produced in the U.s.a., where Nicky Chinn had relocated. Called Midnight Café, it built on the popularity of Changing All the Fourth dimension. The subsequent years yielded a string of successful singles: "Something's Been Making Me Blue", "Wild Wild Angels", and "I'll Encounter Y'all At Midnight". Their cover of Australian band New World's single, "Living Next Door to Alice", released in Nov 1976, reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart, followed past another hit "Lay Dorsum in the Artillery of Someone".^[2] Smokie now found themselves European superstars,^[ii] with sold-out tours and million-selling albums. The next two albums, 1977's Brilliant Lights & Back Alleys and The Montreux Album (1978), cemented their status and were both chart successes. From Bright Lights & Back Alleys came two hit singles, the reggae influenced "Information technology'south Your Life" and a cover of "Needles and Pins".

At the acme of Smokie's success in 1978, Chris Norman teamed up with Suzi Quatro and released a duet single, "Stumblin' In" — some other Chinnichap composition. Norman and Quatro were on elevation of the European charts for some fourth dimension, and it reached the US Elevation ten, though only No. 41 in the UK.^[5] Smokie's subsequent 45 was "Mexican Girl". Composed by Norman and Spencer, the tape saw the group actively distance itself from Chinnichap. Chris Norman and Pete Spencer wrote and produced the British football star Kevin Keegan's outset single, "Head Over Heels in Love", a No. 31 UK hit.^[6]

In 1979, the anthology The Other Side of the Road was released, entirely recorded in Commonwealth of australia. It spawned two more singles for the band, "Practice to Me" and "Babe Information technology's Up to You lot", simply it became articulate that their sales were declining.

Smokie took a hiatus before Solid Footing was released in 1981. The accelerate unmarried was a cover of Del Shannon'southward 1963 hitting, "Little Town Flirt" — just it failed to reach the U.k. Singles Chart.^[2]

Chris Norman and Pete Spencer wrote the song "This Time (We'll Get It Right)" which, recorded by 1982'south England's Earth Loving cup Squad became a No. two hit in the United kingdom Singles Nautical chart.^[7]

Turn down and Norman's difference [edit]

In early 1982, the final album for EMI/BMG was released, Strangers in Paradise. The departure from Chinnichap became notable, and the 4 members of Smokie appeared unable to recreate their success using their own material. Shortly after the release of Strangers In Paradise, work began on two parallel albums, one released past Smokie equally Midnight Please,^[8] and the other Chris Norman's solo debut, Rock Abroad Your Teardrops.^[ix] Neither release sold well.

In 1983, band members Alan Silson, Chris Norman and Terry Uttley collaborated with Agnetha Fältskog, singing together on the track "Once Burned Twice Shy" from her first English language solo album entitled Wrap Your Artillery Around Me. The band say it was on the flying to record this song in Sweden that they decided to function ways. Chris Norman began his solo career and Terry Uttley went on to play bass for several other groups including Peter Goalby and John Coghlan (ex Status Quo drummer). The band said "It just seemed like the correct thing to do at the fourth dimension."^[ten]

Though Smokie had begun work on a comeback, in 1986, Norman, past that stage enthused with the relative success of his second solo album, Some Hearts Are Diamonds, announced that he was to go out the band. He was replaced past Alan Barton, formerly of Black Lace, had been suggested past Chris as a good replacement for the band because of his similar song style to Norman's. Smokie also recruited keyboard role player Martin Bullard. Spencer quit and was replaced on drums by Steve Pinnell. The new line-up released All Fired Up in 1988, which brought some attention and contained a new version of "Stone Abroad Your Tear Drops", the song that had been the title runway to Norman'south debut album.^[9]

Comeback [edit]

Several releases followed over the side by side years including Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1989, seven weeks at No. 1 in Norway;^[11] all tracks were produced by Simon Humphrey, except "Young Love", which was produced past Dieter Bohlen); Whose Are These Boots? (1990, No. 1 in Norway);^[12] Chasing Shadows (1992); and Celebration (1994), which independent old hits in new arrangements accompanied by an orchestra. None had any existent success in the UK. Notwithstanding, Smokie fabricated a surprise render to the UK Singles Nautical chart in 1995, with a duet with the controversial northern comedian Roy Chubby Brown. The re-worked re-release of "Living Next Door To Alice (Who the F**thousand is Alice)" reached No. 3 in the Uk.^[2] The band had noticed that, whilst touring in Ireland, whenever they sang the main line "For 24 years/I've been living adjacent door to Alice" the audience would shout "Alice? Who the fuck is Alice?" In addition, a resident DJ in a Dutch café, Gompie, organised a recording, and had a No. 17 UK hit with the title of "Alice (Who the X is Alice) (Living Next Door to Alice)" in the United Kingdom,^[13] and in kingdom of the netherlands where it reached No. 1.

Shortly afterwards the song was recorded Smokie's tour omnibus careered off of the road during a hailstorm in Deutschland. Barton, desperately injured, died after five days in intensive care.^[14] The residuum of the band and Brown agreed to donate their royalties from the song to Barton'south kickoff wife.^{[ citation needed ]}

1990s–present [edit]

The remaining members decided to continue with the band and went near finding their third lead vocalist. Friend of the band Mike Arts and crafts was chosen. The ring released The Earth and Elsewhere later that year, followed by Lite a Candle — The Christmas Album.

In 1996, Alan Silson terminated his membership, proverb he intended to pursue a solo career and to work with other acts as well, joining Mickey Finn's T. Rex, and that he also no longer wanted to be on the road all the fourth dimension. Mick McConnell, one of the ring's road crew and their guitar technician replaced him as the group'south new lead guitarist, this germination recording the adjacent album, Wild Horses – The Nashville Album (1998), in Nashville, Tennessee.^[15] In Feb 2001, Smokie released two albums, Uncovered and Uncovered Too, which consist entirely of cover versions, with no original songs.

In 2004, Smokie recorded a studio album, On the Wire, with xi of the 14 songs written by the band themselves. In 2006, the ring released the anthology From the Heart. Although mainly a compilation, information technology did contain three new tracks.

In 2010, Smokie gained new chart success with a CD of brand new textile, Have a Minute. Released in Denmark in August of that year, it peaked at No. iii on the Danish Albums Nautical chart.^[16] Releases in the remainder of Scandinavia and Germany took place during October, with the single "Sally'due south Song (The Legacy Goes On)"^[17] — a continuation of the story of the other character in "Living Next Door to Alice"  — too released.

On sixteen April 2021 information technology was announced that Mike Craft left the band, afterward 26 years. He was replaced by Pete Lincoln, former member of Andy Scott's Sugariness.

Uttley died on 16 December 2021, at the age of 70. At the fourth dimension of his death, he was the last remaining original member who was still active with the band.^[eighteen]

Personnel [edit]

Members [edit]

Electric current Steve Pinnell – drums (1986–nowadays) Martin Bullard – keyboards (1986–present) Mick McConnell – pb guitar, vocals (1996–present); bass (2021–present) Pete Lincoln – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2021–present); bass (2021–present)

Former members Terry Uttley - bass, vocals (1964-1966, 1968-2021; died 2021) Arthur Higgins - bass, vocals (1966-1968) Alan Silson – lead guitar, vocals (1964–1996) Chris Norman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1964–1986) Pete Spencer – drums (1973–1986) Alan Barton – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1986–1995; died 1995) Mike Craft – pb vocals, rhythm guitar (1995–2021)

Line-ups [edit]

1964–1966	Chris Norman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – lead guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Pete Spencer—- Drums
1966–1968	Chris Norman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – lead guitar, vocals Arthur Higgins – bass, vocals Ron Kelly – drums
1968–1973	Chris Norman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – lead guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Ron Kelly – Drums
1973–1986	Chris Norman – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – lead guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Pete Spencer – drums
1986–1995	Alan Barton – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – atomic number 82 guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Martin Bullard – keyboards Steve Pinnell – drums
1995–1996	Mike Craft – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Alan Silson – atomic number 82 guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Martin Bullard – keyboards Steve Pinnell – drums
1996–2021	Mike Arts and crafts – pb vocals, rhythm guitar Mick McConnell – pb guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Martin Bullard – keyboards Steve Pinnell – drums
<br/2021	Pete Lincoln – lead vocals, rhythm guitar Mick McConnell – lead guitar, vocals Terry Uttley – bass, vocals Martin Bullard – keyboards Steve Pinnell – drums
2021–present	Mike Craft – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass Mick McConnell – lead guitar, bass, vocals Martin Bullard – keyboards Steve Pinnell – drums

Discography [edit]

• Laissez passer It Around (1975)
• Changing All the Fourth dimension (1975)
• Midnight Café (1976)
• Bright Lights & Back Alleys (1977)
• The Montreux Album (1978)
• The Other Side of the Road (1979)
• Solid Ground (1981)
• Strangers in Paradise (1982)
• Midnight Delight (1982)
• All Fired Upwards (1988)
• Boulevard of Broken Dreams (1989)
• Whose Are These Boots? (1990)
• Chasing Shadows (1992)
• Burnin' Ambition (1993)
• The Globe and Elsewhere (1995)
• Lite A Candle (1996)
• Wild Horses – The Nashville Album (1998)
• Uncovered (2000)
• Uncovered Too (2001)
• On the Wire (2004)
• Take a Infinitesimal (2010)^[xix]

References [edit]

1. ^ "Smokie | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Roberts, David (2006). British Hitting Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 510. ISBN1-904994-10-v.
3. ^ John Bush-league. "Smokie | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
4. ^ [1] Archived 24 Jan 2012 at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 444. ISBNone-904994-x-5.
6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness Earth Records Limited. p. 297. ISBNi-904994-x-5.
7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness Earth Records Express. p. 184. ISBNone-904994-10-5.
8. ^ "Smokie - Midnight Please (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com . Retrieved 25 Jan 2016.
9. ^ ^{a b} "Chris Norman - Rock Away Your Teardrops (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com . Retrieved 25 Jan 2016.
10. ^ "Biography". Smokie.co.uk . Retrieved 9 May 2019.
11. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Smokie - Boulevard Of Cleaved Dreams". Retrieved 21 October 2017.
12. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Smokie - Whose Are These Boots?". Retrieved 21 October 2017.
13. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hitting Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 231. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
14. ^ "Entertainment | 'Worst song' Agadoo re-released". BBC News. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 25 Jan 2016.
15. ^ "Smokie - Wild Horses - The Nashville Anthology (CD, Album)". Discogs.com . Retrieved 26 January 2016.
16. ^ "Take a Minute chart position in Denmark". IFPI Denmark.
17. ^ "Smokie - Sally's Song (The Legacy Goes On) (CD)". Discogs.com. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
18. ^ Rensmo, Mattias (18 Dec 2021). "Smokies sista kvarvarande originalmedlem död". Sverige Radio. Retrieved 19 Dec 2021.
19. ^ "Smokie | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 Jan 2016.

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Eatables has media related to Smokie.

• Smokie biography at AllMusic
• Smokie discography at Discogs
• Smokie Discography 1975-1982
• Smokie at IMDb
• Smokie fanclub

headlamhansuothe.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokie_(band)

Share this post