Stereo MC's
Stereo MC's are an English hip hop/electronic dance group that formed in Nottingham, England, in 1985.[1] They had an international top 20 hit with their single "Connected". After releasing eight albums for Island Records, K7, Graffiti Recordings, and Pias, they formed the label Connected[2] with Terranova to release their own material and that of other artists within the house/techno/electronic medium.
Stereo MC's | |
|---|---|
Stereo MCs in concert, August 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Nottingham, England |
| Genres | Hip hop, electronic, alternative hip hop, house, alternative dance, hip house |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | 4th & Broadway, Gee Street Records, Island Records, Graffiti Recording, Rhino |
| Members | The Head Rob Birch Cath Coffey Aina Roxx |
| Past members | Owen If |
| Website | Official website |
Career
Vocalist Rob Birch and disc jockey (DJ)/producer Nick Hallam founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label with money they were given to leave their London flat[1] and, dispensing with using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on public transport.[3]
As Birch & Hallam they recorded two synth-pop singles in 1983: "What You Say" and "Pray For Me", both released on the A&M label.[4]
When Gee Street attracted the attention of 4th & Broadway, they recorded the debut Stereo MCs' album, 33-45-78 (1989), on a shoestring budget with DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If and backing vocalist Cath Coffey.[1] In 1990, "Elevate My Mind" was the first British hip hop single to reach the United States R&B record chart.[3] Having supported the Happy Mondays on a US tour, in the emerging UK alternative dance scene, it took an alliance with the Jungle Brothers to ensure chart success for Supernatural (1990).[1] Remix work for U2 and Queen Latifah followed.[3]
Their live band included singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis,[1] and they were one of the few hip hop outfits to play at rock music festivals at the time.[3] 1992's mainstream breakthrough Connected, a UK Albums Chart #2, contained the hit singles "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level", and won them BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album.[1] Hallam and Birch then created the music-publishing firm Spirit Songs, which signed Finley Quaye.[3]
However, the follow-up to Connected did not appear for almost a decade. Further remix duties for Madonna ("Frozen") and the Jungle Brothers ("Jungle Brother") in 1998 kept the Stereo MCs' name in the limelight.[3] Madonna went on to use the "Frozen" remix on her 2001 Drowned World Tour.[citation needed]
In 2000, they released a Disc Jockey mix for Studio !K7's DJ-Kicks series and remixed another song for Madonna ("Music"). The following year saw the release of Deep Down & Dirty, followed by a tour including slots opening for the recently re-united Jane's Addiction.
Their sixth studio album, Double Bubble, was released in July 2008, followed by their seventh, Emperor's Nightingale, in August 2011. In December 2008, they supported Madness at the O2 Arena in London.
Drummer Owen If died on July 10, 2022, at the age of 63.[5][6]
Members
- 'The Head' – born Nick Hallam, 11 June 1960, Nottingham, England.[1]
- 'Rob B' – born Robert Charles Birch, 11 June 1961, Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, England.[1]
- 'Owen If' – born Ian Frederick Rossiter, 20 March 1959 - died 10 July 2022, Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales.[1]
- 'Aina Roxx' [7]
- 'Cath Coffey'.
Discography
EPs
- The Stereo MCs (1990)
This EP was written, produced and composed by the Stereo MC's and released on Island Records. The songs were a compilation of their first three singles, and would later appear on their first album.
Studio albums
- 33-45-78 (1989)
- Supernatural (1990)
- Connected (1992) #2 UK, #86 AUS[8]
- Deep Down & Dirty (2001) #17 UK, #58 AUS[8]
- Paradise (2005)
- Double Bubble (2008)[1][9]
- Emperor's Nightingale (2011)
Compilation albums
- Retroactive (2002)
- Live at the BBC (2008)
Other albums
- DJ-Kicks: Stereo MCs (2000) (Remix album of other artists)
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [10][9] | AUS [8] | AUT [11] | BEL (FL) [12] | FRA [13] | NED [14] | NZ [15] | SWE [16] | SWI [17] | US [18] | ||||||||
| 1988 | "Move It" (with DJ Cesare) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Single only | |||||
| "What Is Soul?" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 33-45-78 | ||||||
| 1989 | "On 33" | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Lyrical Machine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Single only | ||||||
| 1990 | "Elevate My Mind" | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 39 | Supernatural | |||||
| 1991 | "Lost in Music" | 46 | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "I'm a Believer" (Continental Europe only) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 1992 | "Connected" | 18 | 47 | 5 | 19 | 27 | 54 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 20 | Connected | |||||
| "Step It Up" | 12 | 87 | 12 | 29 | 50 | — | 13 | 8 | — | 58 | |||||||
| 1993 | "Ground Level" | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| "Creation" | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 2001 | "Deep Down & Dirty" | 17 | — | — | — | — | 98 | — | — | 97 | — | Deep Down & Dirty | |||||
| "We Belong in This World Together" | 59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 2002 | "Running" | 81 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||
| 2005 | "Warhead" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Paradise | |||||
| "Paradise" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| "Set It Off" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| 2008 | "Black Gold" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Double Bubble | |||||
| 2011 | "Boy" (featuring Jamie Cullum) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Emperor's Nightingale | |||||
| "—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released. | |||||||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 935. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
- ^ "KOMPAKT.FM // BLOG // Read: Terranova and Stereo MC's start new label, Connected + win merch". Kompakt.fm. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Roberts, David (1998). Guinness Rockopedia (1st ed.). London: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 420. ISBN 0-85112-072-5.
- ^ "Birch And Hallam Discography - UK". 45cat.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Owen If". Stero MCs on Facebook. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ Doole, Kerry (14 July 2022). "Obituaries, July 14, 2022". FYI Music News. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Interview with Rob B of Stereo MC's". Chaoscontrol.com. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ a b c Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:
- Top 50 peaks: "Stereo MC's - Australian Chart". Australian-charts.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 266.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 528. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - UK Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - Austrian Chart". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - Flemish Chart". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - French Chart". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - Dutch Chart". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - New Zealand Chart". Charts.nz. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - Swedish Chart". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - Swiss Chart". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ "Stereo MC's - US Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
External links
- Official website
- Britishhiphop.co.uk – The original UK Hip Hop history
- Stereo Mc's Mixtape for The New Worck
- Stereo Mc's Interview Themselves