Jump to content

Boys Don't Cry (band): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Bots
2,517,507 edits
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British pop/rock band}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
Line 16: Line 17:
| Also Known As =
| Also Known As =
| website =
| website =
| current_members = [[Nick Richards]]*<br>Jesse Hunter<br>David Rehmann<br>Arthur Medina
| current_members = [[Nick Richards (singer-songwriter)|Nick Richards]]*<br>Jesse Hunter<br>David Rehmann<br>Arthur Medina
| past_members = [[Brian Chatton]]*<br>Jeff Seopardi*<br>Nico Ramsden*<br>[[Mark Smith (musician)|Mark Smith]]*<br>Richard Taee<br>Steve Creese<br> * '''denotes members of the band's "classic lineup"'''
| past_members = [[Brian Chatton]]*<br>Jeff Seopardi*<br>Nico Ramsden*<br>[[Mark Smith (musician)|Mark Smith]]*<br>Richard Taee<br>Steve Creese<br> * '''denotes members of the band's "classic lineup"'''
}}
}}
Line 23: Line 24:


==Biography==
==Biography==
The band was formed in 1983 as the brainchild of lead vocalist/keyboardist [[Nick Richards]], who had just purchased Maison Rouge Recording Studios in London. An early version of the group (featuring Richards, guitarist Richard Taee<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b8Ew908YY8PoScfrcrNbw Richard Taee's YouTube page (his last name is often incorrectly listed as "Tace")]. Retrieved 15 November 2015.</ref> and drummer Steve Creese, augmented by session musicians) released their debut [[Extended play|EP]] ''Don't Talk to Strangers'' on independent UK label Legacy Records in Britain in 1983. By the mid-1980s, the band's line-up had stabilised around principal members Richards and keyboardist [[Brian Chatton]] (one of the session players on the debut EP), along with Jeff Seopardi on drums, Nico Ramsden on guitar, and [[Mark Smith (musician)|Mark Smith]] on bass. Chatton had previously had a brief stint on keyboards with 1970s progressive band [[Jackson Heights (band)|Jackson Heights]], contributing heavily to their ''Ragamuffin's Fool'' [[Gramophone record|LP]].
The band was formed in 1983 as the brainchild of lead vocalist/keyboardist [[Nick Richards (singer-songwriter)|Nick Richards]], who had just purchased Maison Rouge Recording Studios in London. An early version of the group (featuring Richards, guitarist Richard Taee<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4b8Ew908YY8PoScfrcrNbw Richard Taee's YouTube page (his last name is often incorrectly listed as "Tace")]. Retrieved 15 November 2015.</ref> and drummer Steve Creese, augmented by session musicians) released their debut [[Extended play|EP]] ''Don't Talk to Strangers'' on independent UK label Legacy Records in Britain in 1983. By the mid-1980s, the band's line-up had stabilised around principal members Richards and keyboardist [[Brian Chatton]] (one of the session players on the debut EP), along with Jeff Seopardi on drums, Nico Ramsden on guitar, and [[Mark Smith (musician)|Mark Smith]] on bass. Chatton previously played keyboards with 1970s progressive band [[Jackson Heights (band)|Jackson Heights]], contributing heavily to their last three albums, ''The Fifth Avenue Bus'' in 1972, ''Ragamuffin's Fool'' published the same year and ''Bump 'n' Grind'' in 1973.


Boys Don't Cry were discovered by [[Paul Oakenfold]], who was a talent scout for [[Profile Records]] in London in the mid-'80s. Best known for being [[Run-DMC]]'s record label at the time, Profile signed the band for the US market and Legacy retained the rights to the band's UK releases. Mercury Records won the bidding for Canada and Intercord Tonträger GmbH handled their releases in Germany.
Boys Don't Cry were discovered by [[Paul Oakenfold]], who was a talent scout for [[Profile Records]] in London in the mid-'80s. Best known for being [[Run-DMC]]'s record label at the time, Profile signed the band for the US market and Legacy retained the rights to the band's UK releases. Mercury Records won the bidding for Canada and Intercord Tonträger GmbH handled their releases in Germany.
Line 33: Line 34:
In 1991 "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was featured in the night club scene in the film ''[[The Last Boy Scout]]''.
In 1991 "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was featured in the night club scene in the film ''[[The Last Boy Scout]]''.


On 30 July 1997, co-writers [[Nick Richards]] and Brian Chatton sued [[Paula Cole]], [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers Records]], and Imago Records, along with remix producers DJ EFX, Big Ed, and the E-Team, for $7&nbsp;million in the US District Court for the Central District of California, claiming that Cole's remix of "[[Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?]]" used the phrase "I wanna be a cowboy" 24 times in the same style and syntax as their song and constituted copyright infringement.
On 30 July 1997, co-writers [[Nick Richards (singer-songwriter)|Nick Richards]] and Brian Chatton sued [[Paula Cole]], [[Warner Bros.|Warner Brothers Records]], and Imago Records, along with remix producers DJ EFX, Big Ed, and the E-Team, for $7&nbsp;million in the US District Court for the Central District of California, claiming that Cole's remix of "[[Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?]]" used the phrase "I wanna be a cowboy" 24 times in the same style and syntax as their song and constituted copyright infringement.


==Origin of name==
==Origin of name==
Contrary to popular belief, the moniker "Boys Don't Cry" did not actually come from [[The Cure]]'s [[Boys Don't Cry (The Cure song)|song]]/[[Boys Don't Cry (The Cure album)|album]] of the same name. Rather, the name has its origins in some whispered lyrics from fellow British band [[10cc]]'s hit song "[[I'm Not in Love]]" (specifically, "be quiet... big boys don't cry").<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-08-15/entertainment/8603010072_1_boys-don-t-cry-westerns-band Popson, Tom. (1986). "Boys Don't Cry Hit Trail, Counter 'Cowboy' Image." ''Chicago Tribune''. 8-15-1986]. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref> However, the band were evidently completely aware of (and perhaps amused by) the confusion surrounding their name, and they even included an instrumental bonus track titled "The Cure" on their second album as a joke.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Who-The-Am-Dam-Do-You-Think-You-Am/release/2360852 Boys Don't Cry – ''Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am'' @Discogs.com]. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref>
Contrary to popular belief, the moniker "Boys Don't Cry" did not come from [[The Cure]]'s [[Boys Don't Cry (The Cure song)|song]]/[[Boys Don't Cry (The Cure album)|album]] of the same name. Rather, the name has its origins in some whispered lyrics from fellow British band [[10cc]]'s hit song "[[I'm Not in Love]]" (specifically, "be quiet... big boys don't cry").<ref>[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/08/15/boys-dont-cry-hit-trail-counter-cowboy-image/ Popson, Tom. (1986). "Boys Don't Cry Hit Trail, Counter 'Cowboy' Image." ''Chicago Tribune''. 8-15-1986]. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref> However, the band were evidently completely aware of (and perhaps amused by) the confusion surrounding their name, and they even included an (almost-entirely) instrumental bonus track titled "The Cure" on their second album as a joke.<ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Who-The-Am-Dam-Do-You-Think-You-Am/release/2360852 Boys Don't Cry – ''Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am'' @Discogs.com]. Retrieved 21 June 2015.</ref>


==Recent times==
==Recent times==
Line 48: Line 49:


===2020: Greatest Hits album, re-releases, and new music===
===2020: Greatest Hits album, re-releases, and new music===
In late April 2020, Boys Don't Cry announced the release of a new Greatest Hits album titled ''All the Very Best''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10158464515919884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (27 April 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/All-Very-Best-Boys-DonT/dp/B0871L93LX ''All the Very Best'' by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref> This compilation spans the band's entire career to date, including songs from their first two full-length albums and later material.
In late April 2020, Boys Don't Cry announced the release of a new Greatest Hits album titled ''All the Very Best''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10158464515919884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (27 April 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/All-Very-Best-Boys-DonT/dp/B0871L93LX ''All the Very Best'' by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref> This compilation spans the band's entire career to date, including songs from their first two full-length albums and later material.{{fact|date=January 2024}}


Shortly thereafter, Nick Richards announced that the band was re-releasing their entire back catalogue, including the band's 1983 debut EP ''Don't Talk to Strangers'', both of their full-length 1980s albums, and ''Hear It Is!'', along with a new album of outtakes and new/unreleased tracks titled ''Odds and Sods''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10158644669114884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (14 June 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref> (One apparent exception, the early single, "Who Said It?",<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Who-Said-It/release/13751360 Boys Don't Cry- "Who Said It?" @Discogs.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref> also featured on the original 1983 EP,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Dont-Talk-To-Strangers/release/1319686 Boys Don't Cry- ''Don't Talk to Strangers'' EP @Discogs.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref> did not appear among the re-released material.)
Shortly thereafter, Nick Richards announced that the band was re-releasing their entire back catalogue, including the band's 1983 debut EP ''Don't Talk to Strangers'', both of their full-length 1980s albums, and ''Hear It Is!'', along with a new album of outtakes and new/unreleased tracks titled ''Odds and Sods''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10158644669114884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (14 June 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref> (One apparent exception, the early single, "Who Said It?",<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Who-Said-It/release/13751360 Boys Don't Cry- "Who Said It?" @Discogs.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref> also featured on the original 1983 EP,<ref>[https://www.discogs.com/Boys-Dont-Cry-Dont-Talk-To-Strangers/release/1319686 Boys Don't Cry- ''Don't Talk to Strangers'' EP @Discogs.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref> did not appear among the re-released material.)


On September 26, 2020, the band released the single, "[[Harem]] Shuffle,"<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Harem-Shuffle/dp/B08BJDGV51 "Harem Shuffle" by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020</ref> a song that had originally appeared on ''Hear It Is!''. The tune has since received airplay on such stations as [[Sirius XM]]'s ''[[1st Wave (Sirius XM)|1st Wave]]''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10159006846964884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (13 October 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref>
On 26 September 2020, the band released the single, "[[Harem]] Shuffle,"<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/Harem-Shuffle/dp/B08BJDGV51 "Harem Shuffle" by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020</ref> a song that had originally appeared on ''Hear It Is!''. The tune has since received airplay on such stations as [[Sirius XM]]'s ''[[1st Wave (Sirius XM)|1st Wave]]''.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BOYSDONTCRYBAND/posts/10159006846964884 Boys Don't Cry- Post (13 October 2020) @Facebook.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==
Line 64: Line 65:
! width="50"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=44}}</ref>
! width="50"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=44}}</ref>
! width="50"| [[Billboard 200|US]]
! width="50"| [[Billboard 200|US]]
<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/tlp/|title=Boys Don't Cry Chart History|last=|first=|date=|website=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=":9">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/tlp/|title=Boys Don't Cry Chart History|last=|first=|date=|magazine=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1986
|1986
|''Boys Don't Cry''
|''Boys Don't Cry''
|<center>54</center>
|{{center|54}}
|<center>55</center>
|{{center|55}}
|-
|-
|1987
|1987
|''Who the Am Dam Do You Think We Am''<br>(released in the U.S. as a second self-titled album)
|''Who the Am Dam Do You Think We Am''<br>(released in the U.S. as a second self-titled album)
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|-
|-
|2014
|2014
|''Hear It Is!''
|''Hear It Is!''
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|}
|}


====Compilations====
====Compilations====
*''White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983-1999'' (2008)<ref>[https://open.spotify.com/album/5Q5a1Dprq9Y3qP0HxlIyZo ''White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983-1999'' @Spotify.com] Retrieved December 13, 2020.</ref>
*''White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983–1999'' (2008)<ref>[https://open.spotify.com/album/5Q5a1Dprq9Y3qP0HxlIyZo ''White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983–1999'' @Spotify.com] Retrieved 13 December 2020.</ref>
*''All the Very Best'' (2020)
*''All the Very Best'' (2020)


Line 94: Line 95:
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single or EP
! rowspan="2"| Single or EP
! colspan="4" | Peak position
! colspan="5" | Peak position
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="45"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus/>
! width="45"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<ref name=aus/>
! width="45"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
! width="45"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/hsi/|title=Boys Don't Cry|last=|first=|date=|website=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/hsi/|title=Boys Don't Cry|last=|first=|date=|magazine=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
! width="45"| [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]
! width="45"| [[Hot Dance Club Songs|US Dance]]
<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/dsi/|title=Boys Don't Cry Chart History|last=|first=|date=|website=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=":6">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/boys-dont-cry/chart-history/dsi/|title=Boys Don't Cry Chart History|last=|first=|date=|magazine=billboard|access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref>
! width="45"| [[Official Charts Company|UK]]
! width="45"| [[Official Charts Company|UK]]
<ref name=UKcharts>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23347/boys-dont-cry/|title=BOYS DON'T CRY - full Official Chart History|website=Officialcharts.com|accessdate=December 2, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=UKcharts>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23347/boys-dont-cry/|title=BOYS DON'T CRY – full Official Chart History|website=Officialcharts.com|accessdate=2 December 2020}}</ref>
! width="45"| [[RPM (magazine)|Canada ''RPM'']]<ref name=RPM>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0676&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0676.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0676|title=RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada|website=bac-lac.gc.ca|accessdate=January 24, 2021}}</ref>
! width="45"| [[RPM (magazine)|Canada ''RPM'']]<ref name=RPM>{{cite web|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0676&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0676.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0676|title=RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada|website=bac-lac.gc.ca|date=17 July 2013 |accessdate=24 January 2021}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1983
| rowspan="2" |1983
|"Heart's Bin Broken"
|"Heart's Bin Broken"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|''Don't Talk to Strangers'' (UK release only)
|''Don't Talk to Strangers'' (UK release only)
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|1984
|1984
|"Turn Over"
|"Turn Over"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="3" |1985
| rowspan="3" |1985
|"Cities on Fire"
|"Cities on Fire"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|"Lipstick"
|"Lipstick"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|"[[I Wanna Be a Cowboy]]"
|"[[I Wanna Be a Cowboy]]"
|<center>4</center>
|{{center|4}}
|<center>12</center>
|{{center|12}}
|<center>44</center>
|{{center|44}}
|<center>77</center>
|{{center|77}}
|<center>19</center>
|{{center|19}}
|-
|-
|1986
|1986
|"Josephine"
|"Josephine"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
| rowspan="2" |1987
| rowspan="2" |1987
|"Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am"
|"Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>94</center>
|{{center|94}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|"We Got the Magic"
|"We Got the Magic"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|1996
|1996
|"I Wanna Be a Cowboy 86-96"
|"I Wanna Be a Cowboy 86–96"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|-
|-
|2020
|2020
|"Harem Shuffle"
|"Harem Shuffle"
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>—</center>
|{{center|—}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|<center>-</center>
|{{center|-}}
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 23:20, 10 September 2024

Boys Don't Cry
OriginLondon, England
GenresPop, rock, new wave, synth-pop
Years active1983–1988, 2009–present
LabelsLegacy Records (UK)
Profile Records (US)
Mercury Records (Canada)
Intercord Tonträger GmbH (Germany)
MembersNick Richards*
Jesse Hunter
David Rehmann
Arthur Medina
Past membersBrian Chatton*
Jeff Seopardi*
Nico Ramsden*
Mark Smith*
Richard Taee
Steve Creese
* denotes members of the band's "classic lineup"

Boys Don't Cry are a British pop/rock band known for the hit single "I Wanna Be a Cowboy", which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and charted around the world.

Biography

[edit]

The band was formed in 1983 as the brainchild of lead vocalist/keyboardist Nick Richards, who had just purchased Maison Rouge Recording Studios in London. An early version of the group (featuring Richards, guitarist Richard Taee[1] and drummer Steve Creese, augmented by session musicians) released their debut EP Don't Talk to Strangers on independent UK label Legacy Records in Britain in 1983. By the mid-1980s, the band's line-up had stabilised around principal members Richards and keyboardist Brian Chatton (one of the session players on the debut EP), along with Jeff Seopardi on drums, Nico Ramsden on guitar, and Mark Smith on bass. Chatton previously played keyboards with 1970s progressive band Jackson Heights, contributing heavily to their last three albums, The Fifth Avenue Bus in 1972, Ragamuffin's Fool published the same year and Bump 'n' Grind in 1973.

Boys Don't Cry were discovered by Paul Oakenfold, who was a talent scout for Profile Records in London in the mid-'80s. Best known for being Run-DMC's record label at the time, Profile signed the band for the US market and Legacy retained the rights to the band's UK releases. Mercury Records won the bidding for Canada and Intercord Tonträger GmbH handled their releases in Germany.

The single "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was released in 1986. A novelty song with deadpan humour and kitschy references, the song has been described as the perfect musical realisation of a Spaghetti Western movie. It hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 13 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart in 1986–1987, and was R&R No. 8. "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was also a top 10 hit in Australia and South Africa. The video, filmed on-location in Hampstead Heath, featured a cameo appearance by Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead.

They would go on to release two full-length albums: a self-titled debut in 1986, which included "I Wanna Be a Cowboy", and a follow-up the following year titled Who the Am Dam Do You Think We Am. The second album was simply released in America as Boys Don't Cry, creating some confusion there, since the band now had two consecutive self-titled albums released within a year of each other. The follow-up single to "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was (necessarily perhaps) a complete departure; "Cities On Fire", an energetic rush of synth-rock which was released in 7" and 12" remix form, received early attention from MTV but failed to connect with fans of the novelty hit and didn't receive enough airplay to create a new fanbase.

In 1991 "I Wanna Be a Cowboy" was featured in the night club scene in the film The Last Boy Scout.

On 30 July 1997, co-writers Nick Richards and Brian Chatton sued Paula Cole, Warner Brothers Records, and Imago Records, along with remix producers DJ EFX, Big Ed, and the E-Team, for $7 million in the US District Court for the Central District of California, claiming that Cole's remix of "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" used the phrase "I wanna be a cowboy" 24 times in the same style and syntax as their song and constituted copyright infringement.

Origin of name

[edit]

Contrary to popular belief, the moniker "Boys Don't Cry" did not come from The Cure's song/album of the same name. Rather, the name has its origins in some whispered lyrics from fellow British band 10cc's hit song "I'm Not in Love" (specifically, "be quiet... big boys don't cry").[2] However, the band were evidently completely aware of (and perhaps amused by) the confusion surrounding their name, and they even included an (almost-entirely) instrumental bonus track titled "The Cure" on their second album as a joke.[3]

Recent times

[edit]

In 2009, Nick Richards and Brian Chatton teamed up again in Los Angeles to write an album. The first single from the album, "Don't Call Me a Country Singer" peaked at No. 7 on the FMQB a/c radio charts. Richards put together a new Boys Don't Cry line-up, featuring Doug Gild on bass, Mike Licata on drums, Aaron McClain and James Richards on guitars, and Teddy Rae Richards on backing vocals. Barbara Baker has taken over the management. This incarnation later planned to tour with Red Entertainment on an "Eighties Retro" tour.

On 2 November 2009, the band's former bass player, Mark Smith, died at his home in London. Mark was just 49 years old,[4] and he had originally been tapped to join the band for the following year's touring.[citation needed]

The band played a New Year's Eve show in Hollywood with special guest stars including Roy Hay from Culture Club and Nina Hagen. They have also released a brand new 6-track EP entitled Blow Me, which is only available as a download.[citation needed]

Boys Don't Cry released a brand new album, Hear It Is!, on 14 August 2014. The songs were penned by original members Nick Richards and Brian Chatton. The album is on Richards' own label Microrich, Inc.

2020: Greatest Hits album, re-releases, and new music

[edit]

In late April 2020, Boys Don't Cry announced the release of a new Greatest Hits album titled All the Very Best.[5][6] This compilation spans the band's entire career to date, including songs from their first two full-length albums and later material.[citation needed]

Shortly thereafter, Nick Richards announced that the band was re-releasing their entire back catalogue, including the band's 1983 debut EP Don't Talk to Strangers, both of their full-length 1980s albums, and Hear It Is!, along with a new album of outtakes and new/unreleased tracks titled Odds and Sods.[7] (One apparent exception, the early single, "Who Said It?",[8] also featured on the original 1983 EP,[9] did not appear among the re-released material.)

On 26 September 2020, the band released the single, "Harem Shuffle,"[10] a song that had originally appeared on Hear It Is!. The tune has since received airplay on such stations as Sirius XM's 1st Wave.[11]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]
Year Album Peak position
AUS[12] US

[13]

1986 Boys Don't Cry
54
55
1987 Who the Am Dam Do You Think We Am
(released in the U.S. as a second self-titled album)
—
—
2014 Hear It Is!
—
—

Compilations

[edit]
  • White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983–1999 (2008)[14]
  • All the Very Best (2020)

Miscellaneous

[edit]
  • Odds and Sods (2020)

Singles and EPs

[edit]
Year Single or EP Peak position
AUS[12] US

[15]

US Dance

[16]

UK

[17]

Canada RPM[18]
1983 "Heart's Bin Broken"
—
—
—
-
-
Don't Talk to Strangers (UK release only)
—
—
—
-
-
1984 "Turn Over"
—
—
—
-
-
1985 "Cities on Fire"
—
—
—
-
-
"Lipstick"
—
—
—
-
-
"I Wanna Be a Cowboy"
4
12
44
77
19
1986 "Josephine"
—
—
—
-
-
1987 "Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am"
—
—
—
94
-
"We Got the Magic"
—
—
—
-
-
1996 "I Wanna Be a Cowboy 86–96"
—
—
—
-
-
2020 "Harem Shuffle"
—
—
—
-
-

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Richard Taee's YouTube page (his last name is often incorrectly listed as "Tace"). Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  2. ^ Popson, Tom. (1986). "Boys Don't Cry Hit Trail, Counter 'Cowboy' Image." Chicago Tribune. 8-15-1986. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  3. ^ Boys Don't Cry – Who the Am Dam Do You Think You Am @Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  4. ^ Ashton, Robert (3 November 2009). "Mark Smith dies". Musicweek.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  5. ^ Boys Don't Cry- Post (27 April 2020) @Facebook.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  6. ^ All the Very Best by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  7. ^ Boys Don't Cry- Post (14 June 2020) @Facebook.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  8. ^ Boys Don't Cry- "Who Said It?" @Discogs.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  9. ^ Boys Don't Cry- Don't Talk to Strangers EP @Discogs.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Harem Shuffle" by Boys Don't Cry @Amazon.com Retrieved 13 December 2020
  11. ^ Boys Don't Cry- Post (13 October 2020) @Facebook.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  12. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 44. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  13. ^ "Boys Don't Cry Chart History". billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  14. ^ White Punks on Rap: A History of Boys Don't Cry 1983–1999 @Spotify.com Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Boys Don't Cry". billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  16. ^ "Boys Don't Cry Chart History". billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  17. ^ "BOYS DON'T CRY – full Official Chart History". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  18. ^ "RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Boys_Don%27t_Cry_(band)&oldid=1245088054"