Colourbox

Colourbox were an English electronic outfit on the 4AD record label in the 1980s. They attempted an electronically-tinged reggae and soul-influenced pop music somewhat beyond the technology they had access to at the time. They released a number of records from 1982 until 1987. The band was formed by brothers Martyn and Steve Young, with guest singers until Lorita Grahame joined as a permanent member in 1983.

The band finally had an international hit in 1987 with "Pump Up The Volume" (see 1987 in music), a collaboration with A.R. Kane under the name M/A/R/R/S. The song was notable for being constructed almost entirely from samples of other records, a novel thing for a popular record at that time. The pressures of sudden success ended up causing the band never to record again.

UK Discography (all on the 4AD label)

Singles

• "Breakdown/Tarantula" (7" AD215, 12" BAD215) - 1982 - featuring Debian Curry
• "Breakdown/Tarantula" (7" AD304, 12" BAD304) - 1st May 1983
• "Say You/Fast Pump" (12" BAD403) - 1st March 1984
• "Punch/Keep On Pushing" (7" AD406, 12" BAD406) - 1984
• "The Moon Is Blue/You Keep Me Hanging On" (12" BAD507) - 15th July 1985
• "Baby I Love You So/Looks Like We’re Shy One Horse/Shoot Out" (12" BAD604) - 14th April 1986
• "The Official Colourbox World Cup Theme/Philip Glass" (7" AD605, 12" BAD605) - 1st April 1986

Albums

• Colourbox (mini-LP MAD315) - 1983
• Colourbox (LP CAD508) - 1986 - these are different albums
• Best Of 82/87 (CD GAD2107CD) - 15th October 2001

External links

• 4AD official discography
• Full discography including compilations and some promos
• Unofficial Colourbox site
• The Colourbox samples list
• MARRS FAQ