Helen Love are an indie band from Wales whose music is a combination of punk rock, bubblegum pop and disco dance music. The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love (vocals, guitar) with Sheena (guitar, keyboards), Roxy (bass, drum machine), and Mark (keyboards).Strong, Martin C. (2003) The Great Indie Discography, Canongate, , p. 785 Current members are Helen, Sheena and Ricardo Autobahn.
Helen Love released only singles and EPs until 2000, when their debut studio album Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Music was released. They have since released three more studio albums, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To (2007, Elefant) and Day-Glo Dreams (2013, Elefant), and Smash Hits (2016, Alcopop! Records). Damaged Goods released three compilations of tracks from the band's early singles and EPs, entitled Radio Hits (1994), Radio Hits 2 (1997) and Radio Hits 3 (2002).
The band have released recordings on many labels, including Damaged Goods, Che Trading, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Wurlizter Jukebox, Invicta Hi-Fi and Elefant Records. They are currently signed to Alcopop! records.
History The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love (vocals, guitar) with Sheena (guitar, keyboards), Roxy (bass, drum machine), and Mark (keyboards). Current members are Helen, Sheena and Ricardo Autobahn.
The main thematic elements in their oeuvre are Joey Ramone, summer days and bubblegum music. Love claims only to listen to the music of the Ramones.
Helen Love released the album, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To, in the first week of November 2007 on Elefant Records in Spain and February 2008 in the UK.
Their lead singer also provided vocal tracks from "We Love You" for covers of their song, "Better Set Your Phasers to Stun", by American synthpop band Hyperbubble on their 2009 eponymous EP. The latter song later appeared on that band's Live in London album.
In 2013 they released the album Day-Glo Dreams. They supported this with their first gig since 2001 at the Indietracks festival, and then in November played at 100 Club for Damaged Goods 25th anniversary.
Influence and notable fans While none of their singles have reached the UK Top 40, Helen Love have developed a devoted cult following in indie circles, particularly at indie discos, with songs including "Long Live The UK Music Scene", "Shifty Disco Girl", "Does Your Heart Go Boom?", "We Love You", "Girl About Town", "Punk Boy" and "Debbie Loves Joey".
They recorded a session for John Peel in October 1997, and had three songs in his Festive Fifty."Helen Love ", Keeping It Peel, BBC, retrieved 2011-01-21
Their songs have also been covered by Ash, The Queers, Katz and Tullycraft.
The band contributed a specially written song for the DVD release of Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure. Gorman, a fan of the band, had previously played Helen Love songs to his audiences before he went on stage. Another big fan is Phill Jupitus, for whom the band composed the theme song for his Breakfast Show on BBC 6 Music.
Joey Ramoney
Helen Love's second single was titled "(Sheena's In Love With) Joey Ramoney", a tribute to the band's favourite singer. A play on the Ramones' song "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", the single was brought to Joey's attention by the UK branch of the Ramones fan club. Joey subsequently invited the band to New York to play a gig.
Joey introduced the band's Evening Session on Radio 1, and duetted with Helen on the album version of "Punk Boy".
Helen provided backing vocals on the Joey Ramone album Don't Worry About Me, singing on the track "Mr. Punchy".
Discography Albums YearTitleTracksLabelCat. no.Format/Notes2000Love & Glitter, Hot Days and MusicShifty Disco Girl Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy Who Stole The Starz 2000MPHgirl Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Musik Does Your Heart Go BOOOOOOOMM HappyHardCore BigBigKiss MC5 Punk Boy (with Joey Ramone) Better Set Your Phasers To StunChé TradingCHE87CD only2001Love & Glitter, Hot Days and Musik(Damaged Goods reissue)As above, plus the following bonus tracks: Automatic Disco Club MC5 BigBigKiss Jump Up and DownDamaged Goods DAMGOOD202CD + LP Bonus tracks taken from a 1999 New York radio session2007It's My Club And I'll Play What I Want ToIt's My ClubDebbie loves Joey Dance on (Solid Gold) You Better Learn Karate The 1910 Fruitgum Company Transistor Radio (Radio) Jet First Boyfriend Rodney's English Disco Honolulu Superstar Garageband Queen Of The Discobeat Staying IN A New Squad Attacking Formation Junkshop Discothèque Saturday... NITE!!! Elefant RecordsER-1129CD + LP2013Day-Glo DreamsWe Are All The Lo-Fi KidsDay-Glo DreamsShy GirlMy ImaginationSpin Those RecordsOur Mum And DadAtomicDon't Forget About This TownJ.PopYou And StacyTeenage Soap OperaER-1180CD + LP2016Smash HitsFirst Girl from Wales in New YorkWe've Got a Formula One TeamThank You PolystyreneYou Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the RamonesMario Kart Grand PrixSpaceboy!Yes We're in a Band That We LoveLong Live the Modern LoversSheila B. DevotionNo Hit RadioBelle of St. MarkStardust and GlitterAlcopop!CD + LP2020Power OnHold Your HandDebbie Take Control Of The StereoJackie From The EstateDead In My HeadTop Of The Pop ChartSandra DeePower ON The MUSICNo 1 StarLeader Of The BandWear Your Hair LongOn My OwnSummer POP2022This is my WorldMy Seaside Town Billy Liar Go-Kart A Quite Good Time Let The Sunshine In Our House First Day of June The Social Club Clearing Out Mum's House This Is My World
Singles YearSingleB-sideLabelCat. no.Format/Notes1993Formula One Racing GirlsRiding HiDamaged Goods DAMGOOD18 7" only - 500 pink, black, then 250 red (reissue)Joey RamoneyGreatest FanDAMGOOD27 7" only 500 green vinyl Happiest Time of the YearWhere's Me F*cking Presents (by Wat Tyler)DAMPUD33 1/3 split single; 7" greeny vinyl only1994Punk BoyPunk Boy 2DAMGOOD38 7" only 500 pale blue, then black vinyl1995BubblegumLet's GoDAMGOOD61 7" 500 pink, then black vinylAhead of the Race Diet Coke GirlDAMGOOD80CD + 7" 500 white, then black vinylBeat Him Up Super Boy Super Girl + Matthew Kaplan Superstar (cd only)DAMGOOD89 CD + 7" 500 pale blue, then black vinylWe Love You Girl about town + We Love You (2) + Punk BoyDAMGOOD95 CD + 7" white + orange vinyl1997Does Your Heart Go Boom So in Love with You + Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love + Put Yr Foot on the Fuzzbox BabyChé TradingCHE72 CD + 7" bubblegum pink vinyl, UK No. 71"Helen Love ", Chart Stats, retrieved 2011-01-211998Long Live the UK Music Scene Sunburst Super Kay + Great in Formula OneCHE82 CD + 7", UK No. 652000Shifty Disco Girl King of Kung Fu + Leader of the PackCHE89 CD + 7"Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy Big Pink Candyfloss HaircutCHE90 CD + 7" - double A-side2001Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight)Damaged Goods DAMGOOD206 One-sided 7" only. A cover of a Ramones song. 2004Debbie Loves JoeyFree download from helenlove.com2005Long Hot Summer Long Hot Summer 2 Helen Love on 45 (a medley of Helen Love hits)Invicta Hi-FiLIQ029 CD + translucent orange 7"2006Junk Shop Discothèque Debbie Loves Joey (Kid Karate remix) Shut Your MouthElefant RecordsER-249 (vinyl) ER-363 (cd) CD + baby pink 7" + Download2007It's My ClubBoots On + Jennifer HanleyER-370CD + Download2009Calm Down DadJohn Peel Roadshow + CandeelipsER-267Orange 7" + Download2012And The Salvation Army Band PlaysAnd The Salvation Army Band Plays (Disco Mix)Damaged GoodsDAMGOOD4107" + Download. With Ricardo Autobahn2013New Boy In TownTelevision GenerationDAMGOOD4237" Picture DiscAtomicA Giant Kiss + Judy Don't DanceElefant RecordsER-D028DownloadHark The Herald Angels SingER-D034Free download from elefant.com2014Pogo PogoMake Up, Break Up + Red Light + Julie's Got A New 7 Inch SingleER-328Red 7" + DownloadPogo Pogo (Ricardo Autobahn Italo Disco Remix)ER-D047Free download from elefant.comWhere Dylan Thomas Talks To MeER-D051Free download from elefant.com2015You Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the RamonesYou Can't Beat a Boy Who Loves the Ramones (Ricardo Autobahn 80s Remix)POST/POP RecordsPXP035 (Cassette)Cassette + DownloadThe Townhall BandAlcopop! RecordsDownload2016A Boy From Wales Called Gareth BaleDownload2018Double DenimSquare clear 7"
EPs YearTitleTracksLabelCat. no.Format/Notes1994 Summer Pop Punk Pop EP Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump! Rollercoasting Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You Summer Pop Radio So Hot Golden SummerDamaged Goods DAMGOOD42 10" only 500 pink vinyl2000[Helen Love vs The Cuban Boys] Does Your Heart Go Boom remixes "Emma Peel" "Tea Leoni" "John Peel" "Juliette Binoche"Ché TradingCHE88 one-sided 12" only. 2005The Bubblegum Killers EP Debbie Loves Joey Saturday Night Kicks A Boy Like You Better Pop Your Bubblegum [cd only] (The Continuing Adventures of) The Girl About Town wigwambam [cd only]Sympathy for the Record IndustrySFTRI751 CD + bubblegum pink 7"
Compilations YearTitleTracksLabelCat. no.Format/Notes1994 Radio HitsFormula One Racing Girls Riding Hi Joey Ramoney Greatest Fan Punk Boy 1 Punk Boy 2 Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump! Rollercoasting Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You Summer Pop Radio So Hot Golden SummerDamaged Goods DAMGOOD51 CD and 1000 yellow glitter vinyl Compilation of the first three singles and the Summer Pop Punk Pop EP 1997Radio Hits 2Bubblegum Let's Go Ahead of the Race Diet Coke Girl Beat Him Up Super Boy Super Girl Matthew Kaplan Superstar Il Fait Beau (unlisted on LP sleeve/label) We Love You Girl About Town We Love You (2)DAMGOOD117 CD and 1000 green glitter vinyl Compilation of the four 1995 singles, plus one previously unreleased track2002Radio Hits 3Does Your Heart Go Boom So In Love With You Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love Put Your Foot on the Fuzzbox, Baby Long Live The UK Music Scene Sunburst Super Kay Great in Formula One Shifty Disco Girl King of Kung Fu Leader of the Pack Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy Big Pink Candyfloss Haircut Does Your Heart Go Boom (Cuban Boys "Emma Peel" Remix) Number One Fantastic DayDAMGOOD203CD + LP Compilation of the Ché singles
References
External links
Helen Love biography from BBC Wales