Description
The only live album featuring the original lineup. The Concert: Live In Essen was first released in 1991. Recorded in 1978 at the height of their popularity and features all the bands best loved hits from the 1970s: Living Next Door To Alice, Needles and Pins and If You Think You Know How To Love Me. Remastered and reissued on CD in 2016, now available on vinyl for the first time on a 2LP 180gm set in a full colour gatefold sleeve.
Originally formed in Yorkshire, England, in 1966, Smokie hit the British pop charts several times during the late 70s with updated psychedelic pop, influenced by the bands stay on Mickie Mosts Rak Records as well as the writers of most of the bands hit material, Raks Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Vocalist Chris Norman, bassist Terry Utley, guitarist Alan Silson, and drummer Ron Kelly had played in the Elizabethans, but formed the band Kindness in 1970. The quartet recorded many singles during the late 60s and early 70s, but failed to show any chart activity. By 1973, Kelly had left the band and was replaced by Pete Spencer. In 1975, the band, signed to Rak Records, and billed as Smokey, hit number three in the U.K. with If You Think You Know How to Love Me. After another Top Ten hit, Dont Play Your Rock n Roll to Me, Smokey became Smokie; during 1976, the group scored with three Top 20 hits, including the number five Living Next Door to Alice. Smokie hit number five both in 1977 (Its Your Life) and 1978 (Oh Carol), but the bands chart run ended by early 1980, and following 1982s Midnight Delight, they disbanded. Both Spencer and Norman continued to work at Rak during the 80s, writing hits for several groups; they re-formed Smokie in 1986, resurfacing with the LP My Heart Is True. Two more albums, All Fired Up and Greatest Hits Live, followed, with the group remaining active throughout the 90s, issuing new material as well as a number of hits collections. ~ John Bush & Al Campbell, Rovi
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