Racey are an English pop/rock group, formed in 1976 in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, by Clive Wilson and Phil Fursdon. They achieved success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with hits such as "Lay Your Love on Me" and "Some Girls". Their 1979 song "Kitty" was an international hit in 1981 for Toni Basil when she reworked it into "Mickey".
Career The original line-up featured Richard Gower (born 1955, Hackney, London, England; vocals, keyboards, piano, guitar), Phil Fursdon (guitar, vocals), Pete Miller (bass, vocals) and Clive Wilson (drums, percussion, vocals). After early success in their local pub circuit, they came to the attention of Mickie Most. Racey's first single, "Baby It's You", was penned by Smokie members Chris Norman and Pete Spencer, and released in 1978. Their second single, "Lay Your Love on Me", was the group's first hit single, peaking at No.3 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1978 through to early 1979. Their third single, "Some Girls", was also written by Mike Chapman and reached No.2 in the UK chart. ("Some Girls" was later recorded by Barry Manilow for his 1982 Here Comes the Night album.) In the U.S., Infinity Records released both "Lay Your Love On Me" (1978) and "Some Girls" (1979) but neither charted at all in U.S. Their only album Smash and Grab was never released in the U.S.
The only album they made with the original line-up was their 1979 debut Smash and Grab. The band's hits were either written and/or produced by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn. The band parted company with Chinn and Chapman after the album was released and, although they continued to play and tour, they released only a few more singles, which did not match their previous successes.
The band formally split in 1985.
In 1990, Racey reformed after Wilson and Fursdon were approached to play at a Fourth of July party. Miller died of cancer on 6 May 2003. In 1991, Richard Gower formed his own version of the group with Gary Combes, Steven Lawrence and Simon Ryland Both groups are still active and performing. Several albums and CDs, with re-recordings of the original hits as well as new material, are available from both of the present-day versions of the group.
In August 2021, the band released "It's a Glorious Day".
Discography Albums Studio albums Title Album detailsPeak chart positions AUS AUT GER NZ SWESmash and Grab Released: September 1979 Label: Rak Formats: LP, MC 515291032
Compilation albums Title Album detailsThe Best of Racey Released: August 1993 Label: EMI Format: CD Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest) Released: 1996 Label: CMC Format: CD Denmark-only releaseLay Your Love on Me Released: February 1996 Label: Disky Format: CD Europe-only release Some Girls Released: February 1998 Label: Wise Buy Format: CD Europe-only releaseThe Very Best Of Released: 1998 Format: CD Label: Go On Deluxe Sweden-only releaseRacey Released: 1998 Label: Rem!nd Format: CD Netherlands-only release Released in the UK in 2006 as The Best OfLay Your Love on Me Released: 1999 Label: Digimode Format: CD Netherlands-only release
Singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationAlbumUKAUSAUTBEL (FL)DENGERIRENLNZSASWESWI"Baby It's You"1978————————————"Lay Your Love on Me"31—3414221——— DEN: SilverSmash and Grab"Some Girls"19792193222411112 DEN: Silver"Boy Oh Boy"221231413924122—2 DEN: Silver"Such a Night"1980—94——413—31————"Rest of My Life"—45——644—————— rowspan="8" "Runaround Sue"1391—4736913————"Shame"1981———32—59——————"Little Darlin'"————————————"There's a Party Going On"————————————"Not Too Young to Get Married"1982————————————"Little Girls Don't, But Big Girls Do"1992————————————"Party On!"————————————"Cry Cry Time"1996————————————Say Wow! (Greatest & Latest)"It's a Glorious Day"2021————————————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
References
External links