Johnny Hates Jazz

The British/Amercian trio Johnny Hates Jazz, had Spandau Ballet's striking attire, clean-cut looks, and knack for smooth, glossy pop songs, that were more soulful than the critics gave them credit for.

Unfortunately, like Spandau Ballet, Johnny Hates Jazz were stigmatized in the U.S. by an omnipresent hit, that burned out interest in the group before the rest of their discography had the chance to be heard.

Johnny Hates Jazz was formed in 1986 by Clark Datchler (vocals, piano), Calvin Hayes (keyboards), and American Mike Nocito (bass). Named after a friend who despised jazz, Johnny Hates Jazz released their first single, "Me and My Foolish Heart", on RAK Records that year. The band searched for a major-label deal, and they were signed by Virgin Records after a gig at, ironically enough, a jazz club near the end of 1986. The group's debut single for Virgin, "Shattered Dreams", rocketed them into superstardom in 1987. "Shattered Dreams" landed at number five on the UK singles chart, and number two in America. The band's debut LP, "Turn Back The Clock", appeared in 1988, going multi-platinum in the UK and in the USA.

While none of Johnny Hates Jazz's subsequent singles took off in America, they launched a hit parade in the UK, as "I Don't Want to Be a Hero," "Turn Back the Clock," "Heart of Gold," and "Don't Say It's Love" followed "Shattered Dreams" onto the airwaves. However, despite this success, Datchler departed from Johnny Hates Jazz in the summer of 1988. Datchler was angry at how the other members were reinterpreting his compositions, and decided to pursue a solo career, recording "Raindance" in 1990.

Hayes and Nocito replaced Datchler with producer and former Cure member Phil Thornalley on Johnny Hates Jazz's 1991 effort "Tall Stories". Although it didn't sound that different from "Turn Back the Clock" -- "Let Me Change Your Mind Tonight" could have fitted perfectly on that album -- "Tall Stories" was a commercial disaster. Johnny Hates Jazz promptly broke up.

Albums

• Turn Back The Clock (Virgin Records) - 1988 - #1 UK, #56 US
• Tall Stories (Virgin Records)- 1991

Compilations

• The Very Best Of Johnny Hates Jazz - (Disky Records) - 1993
• The Best Of The 80s - (Disky Records) - 2000

Singles

• "Me And My Foolish Heart" (RAK Records) - 1986
• "Shattered Dreams" (Virgin Records)- 1987 - #5 UK, #2 US (1988 release)
• "I Don't Want To Be A Hero" (Virgin Records) - 1987 - #11 UK, #31 US (1988 release)
• "Turn Back The Clock" (Virgin Records) - 1987 - #12 UK
• "Heart Of Gold" (Virgin Records) - 1988 - #19 UK
• "Don't Say It's Love (Virgin Records) - 1988 - #48 UK
• "Turn The Tide" (Virgin Records) - 1989
• " Let Me Change Your Mind Tonight" (Virgin Records) - 1991

Clark Datchler (solo)

Singles

• "Crown Of Thorns" - (Virgin Records) - 1991

as Medicine Wheel:

• "The Last Emotion" - (Virgin Records) - 1991

Albums

• Raindance - (Virgin Records) - 1991

External links

• Johnny Hate Jazz
• Johnny Hates Jazz albums at HMV