Jump to content

The Firm (novelty band): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
cleanup
→"Star Trekkin{{'"}}: not true, he wasn't on that song
 
(17 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British novelty band}}
{{for|other uses, including other groups called The Firm|Firm (disambiguation)}}
{{for|other uses, including other groups called The Firm|Firm (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
Line 4: Line 5:
{{multiple issues|
{{multiple issues|
{{lead too short|date=March 2011}}
{{lead too short|date=March 2011}}
{{Refimprove|date=September 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2019}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
Line 10: Line 11:
|background = group_or_band
|background = group_or_band
|origin = [[London]], England
|origin = [[London]], England
|genre = [[Novelty song]]s
|genre = [[Novelty song|Novelty]]
|years_active = 1982–1987
|years_active = 1982–1987
|label = Bark
|label = Bark
|past_members = John O'Connor, Grahame Lister, Tony Thorpe, Dev Douglas, Gary Wilson
|past_members =
* [[John O'Connor (musician)|John O'Connor]]
* Grahame Lister
* Tony Thorpe
* Dev Douglas
* Gary Wilson
}}
}}


Line 19: Line 25:


=="Arthur Daley E's Alright"==
=="Arthur Daley E's Alright"==
John O'Connor, primarily an [[acoustic guitar]]ist, ran his own [[recording studio]] (Bark Studios in [[Walthamstow]], [[London]]) specialising in [[songwriter]]s' [[demo (music)|demo]]s, for some ten years.<ref name="SOS">{{cite web
John O'Connor, primarily an [[acoustic guitar]]ist, ran his own [[recording studio]] (Bark Studios in [[Walthamstow]], [[London]]) specialising in [[songwriter]]s' [[demo (music)|demos]], for some ten years.<ref name="SOS">{{cite web
| last = Tingen
| last = Tingen
| first = Paul
| first = Paul
| title = John O'Connor From 'Star Treking' To King Of The Hill
| title = John O'Connor From 'Star Treking' To King Of The Hill
| work = Sound On Sound
| work = Sound On Sound
|date=December 1998
|date=December 1998
| url = http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/articles/joconer.258.htm
| url = http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec98/articles/joconer.258.htm
| accessdate = 2007-04-25 }}</ref>
| accessdate = 2007-04-25 }}</ref>
In the early 1980s, he decided to concentrate more on playing and writing music, working as a session musician with artists in a variety of [[music genre|genres]], from [[Maddy Prior]] and [[Isla St Clair]] to the more commercial [[pop music|pop]] of [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]].
In the early 1980s, he decided to concentrate more on playing and writing music, working as a session musician with artists in a variety of [[music genre|genres]], from [[Maddy Prior]] and [[Isla St Clair]] to the more commercial [[pop music|pop]] of [[Bucks Fizz]].


In 1982, he and fellow guitarist Grahame Lister wrote a novelty song, "Arthur Daley 'E's Alright",<ref>{{cite web
In 1982, he and fellow guitarist Grahame Lister wrote a novelty song, "Arthur Daley 'E's Alright",<ref>{{cite web
| title = Firm, The - Arthur Daley 'E's Alright
| title = Firm, The - Arthur Daley 'E's Alright
| work = Discogs
| work = Discogs
| url = http://pop.discogs.com/release/846679
| url = https://www.discogs.com/The-Firm-Arthur-Daley-Es-Alright/master/616037
⚫
| accessdate = 2021-07-14 }}</ref> based on the [[Arthur Daley]] character from the British TV series ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', and including many [[catchphrase]]s from the show. Unable to find an artist willing to release the song, O'Connor and Lister did it themselves, under the name of 'The Firm'. It spent seven weeks in the [[UK Singles Chart|UK top 40]], peaking at No. 14,<ref name="OfficialCharts">{{cite web
⚫
| accessdate = 2007-04-25 }}</ref>
⚫
| title = Arthur Daley (E's Alright)
⚫
based on the [[Arthur Daley]] character from the British TV series ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', and including many [[catchphrase]]s from the show. Unable to find an artist willing to release the song, O'Connor and Lister did it themselves, under the name of 'The Firm'. It spent seven weeks in the [[UK Singles Chart|UK top 40]], peaking at No. 14,<ref name="OfficialCharts">{{cite web
⚫
| work = Official Charts
⚫
| title = Arthur Daley (E's Alright)
⚫
| url = https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/arthur-daley-(e's-alright)/
⚫
| work = Official Charts
⚫
| accessdate = 2019-01-09 }}</ref> and was performed on the TV chart show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' on 29 July 1982 featuring former [[Rubettes]] guitarist Tony Thorpe on lead vocals.<ref>{{cite web
⚫
| url = https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/arthur-daley-(e's-alright)/
⚫
| title = The Minder songs
| accessdate = 2019-01-09 }}</ref>
⚫
| work = The unofficial fans of Minder website
⚫
and was performed on the TV chart show ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' on 29 July 1982 featuring former Rubettes guitarist Tony Thorpe on lead vocals.<ref>{{cite web
⚫
| url = http://www.minder.org
⚫
| title = The Minder songs
⚫
| accessdate = 2007-04-25 }}</ref>
⚫
| work = The unofficial fans of Minder website

⚫
| url = http://www.minder.org/
The song also peaked at number 78 in Australia.<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=112}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2007-04-25 }}</ref>


=="Long Live the National"==
=="Long Live the National"==
In 1983, with the future of the [[Grand National]] horse race in doubt, The Firm released the song "Long Live the National" as a single in support of the campaign to keep the race alive. The single did not chart. The following year they released "Superheroes" written by Lister.
In 1983, with the future of the [[Grand National]] horse race in doubt, The Firm released the song "Long Live the National" as a single in support of the campaign to keep the race alive. The single did not chart. The following year they released "Superheroes" written by Lister.


=="Star Trekkin'"==
=="Star Trekkin{{'"}}==
{{Main|Star Trekkin'}}
{{Main|Star Trekkin'}}
In 1987, the group recorded another novelty song, this time based on catchphrases from the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' TV series set to a catchy, childlike tune with an increasingly frantic arrangement. Thorpe adopted the stage name '''Ron Spock''' in homage to Star Trek character [[Spock]]. It was rejected by all the record labels which O'Connor approached with it. Believing it to be worth releasing, O'Connor pressed an initial 500 copies on his own label, Bark Music.<ref>{{cite web |title =Firm, The - Star Trekkin' |work=Discogs |url= http://pop.discogs.com/release/846468
In 1987, the group recorded another novelty song, this time based on catchphrases from the ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' TV series set to a catchy, childlike tune with an increasingly frantic arrangement. It was rejected by all the record labels which O'Connor approached with it. Believing it to be worth releasing, O'Connor pressed an initial 500 copies on his own label, Bark Music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Firm, The - Star Trekkin'&thinsp; |work=Discogs |url=http://pop.discogs.com/release/846468 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140712224418/http://pop.discogs.com/release/846468 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-12 |access-date=2007-04-25}}</ref> The record, "[[Star Trekkin']]{{-"}}, spent two weeks at [[List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)#1987|number one]] in the UK and a total of nine weeks in the UK top 40,<ref name="OfficialCharts2">{{cite web |title=Star Trekkin'&thinsp; |work=Official Charts |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/star-trekkin'/ |access-date=2019-01-09 }}</ref> and reached [[List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s#1987 (Australian Music Report)|No. 3 in Australia]],<ref name=aus/> with comparable success in Japan and Europe and worldwide sales of over a million copies.<ref name="SOS"/>
|archive-url = https://archive.is/20140712224418/http://pop.discogs.com/release/846468 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-07-12 |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> The record, "[[Star Trekkin']]{{-"}}, spent two weeks at [[List of number-one singles from the 1980s (UK)#1987|number one]] in the UK and a total of nine weeks in the UK top 40,<ref name="OfficialCharts2">{{cite web |title=Star Trekkin' |work=Official Charts |url= https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/star-trekkin'/ |accessdate=2019-01-09 }}</ref> and reached [[List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1980s#1987 (Australian Music Report)|No. 3 in Australia]], with comparable success in Japan and Europe and worldwide sales of over a million copies.<ref name="SOS" />


Though it received substantial airplay on various radio stations throughout the US, the song did not chart on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]].
Though it received substantial airplay on various radio stations throughout the US, the song did not chart on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]. (One of the song's phrases, "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it", became so popular that it has often been misattributed to the TV series, but actually originated with "Star Trekkin'".)


On the back of their success with "Star Trekkin'", The Firm released an album, ''Serious Fun'', in 1987, through [[K-Tel]] in the UK and Dino Music in Australia.<ref name="SeriousFunUK">{{cite web |title=Firm, The - Serious Fun |work=Discogs |url=http://www.discogs.com/Firm-Serious-Fun/release/1650814 |accessdate=2012-10-15}}</ref><ref name="SeriousFunAU">{{cite web |title=Firm, The - Serious Fun |work=Discogs |url=http://www.discogs.com/Firm-Serious-Fun/release/637696 |accessdate=2012-10-15}}</ref> As well as "Star Trekkin'", it included previous singles "Arthur Daley ('E's All Right)", "Superheroes" and "Cash in Hand", plus eight new tracks. In the US, "Star Trekkin'" was released on the [[Dr. Demento]] albums ''Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CD of All Time'' in 1988, ''Dr. Demento: 20th Anniversary Collection'' in 1991, and ''Dr. Demento: Hits from Outer Space'' in 2006.
On the back of their success with "Star Trekkin{{'"}}, The Firm released an album, ''Serious Fun'', in 1987, through [[K-Tel]] in the UK and Dino Music in Australia.<ref name="SeriousFunUK">{{cite web |title=Firm, The - Serious Fun |work=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Firm-Serious-Fun/release/1650814 |access-date=2021-07-14}}</ref><ref name="SeriousFunAU">{{cite web |title=Firm, The - Serious Fun |work=Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/Firm-Serious-Fun/release/637696 |access-date=2021-07-14}}</ref> As well as "Star Trekkin{{'"}}, it included previous singles "Arthur Daley ('E's All Right)", "Superheroes" and "Cash in Hand", plus eight new tracks. In the US, "Star Trekkin{{'"}} was released on the [[Dr. Demento]] albums ''Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CD of All Time'' in 1988, ''Dr. Demento: 20th Anniversary Collection'' in 1991, and ''Dr. Demento: Hits from Outer Space'' in 2006.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 19:23, 30 November 2024

For other uses, including other groups called The Firm, see Firm (disambiguation).

The Firm
OriginLondon, England
GenresNovelty
Years active1982–1987
LabelsBark
Past members

The Firm was a British music act, formed by guitarist, session musician and music producer John O'Connor, which had hits in the 1980s with novelty songs.

"Arthur Daley E's Alright"

[edit]

John O'Connor, primarily an acoustic guitarist, ran his own recording studio (Bark Studios in Walthamstow, London) specialising in songwriters' demos, for some ten years.[1] In the early 1980s, he decided to concentrate more on playing and writing music, working as a session musician with artists in a variety of genres, from Maddy Prior and Isla St Clair to the more commercial pop of Bucks Fizz.

In 1982, he and fellow guitarist Grahame Lister wrote a novelty song, "Arthur Daley 'E's Alright",[2] based on the Arthur Daley character from the British TV series Minder, and including many catchphrases from the show. Unable to find an artist willing to release the song, O'Connor and Lister did it themselves, under the name of 'The Firm'. It spent seven weeks in the UK top 40, peaking at No. 14,[3] and was performed on the TV chart show Top of the Pops on 29 July 1982 featuring former Rubettes guitarist Tony Thorpe on lead vocals.[4]

The song also peaked at number 78 in Australia.[5]

"Long Live the National"

[edit]

In 1983, with the future of the Grand National horse race in doubt, The Firm released the song "Long Live the National" as a single in support of the campaign to keep the race alive. The single did not chart. The following year they released "Superheroes" written by Lister.

"Star Trekkin'"

[edit]
Main article: Star Trekkin'

In 1987, the group recorded another novelty song, this time based on catchphrases from the Star Trek TV series set to a catchy, childlike tune with an increasingly frantic arrangement. It was rejected by all the record labels which O'Connor approached with it. Believing it to be worth releasing, O'Connor pressed an initial 500 copies on his own label, Bark Music.[6] The record, "Star Trekkin'", spent two weeks at number one in the UK and a total of nine weeks in the UK top 40,[7] and reached No. 3 in Australia,[5] with comparable success in Japan and Europe and worldwide sales of over a million copies.[1]

Though it received substantial airplay on various radio stations throughout the US, the song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100. (One of the song's phrases, "It's life, Jim, but not as we know it", became so popular that it has often been misattributed to the TV series, but actually originated with "Star Trekkin'".)

On the back of their success with "Star Trekkin'", The Firm released an album, Serious Fun, in 1987, through K-Tel in the UK and Dino Music in Australia.[8][9] As well as "Star Trekkin'", it included previous singles "Arthur Daley ('E's All Right)", "Superheroes" and "Cash in Hand", plus eight new tracks. In the US, "Star Trekkin'" was released on the Dr. Demento albums Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CD of All Time in 1988, Dr. Demento: 20th Anniversary Collection in 1991, and Dr. Demento: Hits from Outer Space in 2006.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Tingen, Paul (December 1998). "John O'Connor From 'Star Treking' To King Of The Hill". Sound On Sound. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  2. ^ "Firm, The - Arthur Daley 'E's Alright". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Arthur Daley (E's Alright)". Official Charts. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  4. ^ "The Minder songs". The unofficial fans of Minder website. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  5. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 112. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Firm, The - Star Trekkin' ". Discogs. Archived from the original on 12 July 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2007.
  7. ^ "Star Trekkin' ". Official Charts. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Firm, The - Serious Fun". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Firm, The - Serious Fun". Discogs. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_Firm_(novelty_band)&oldid=1260437011"