Latin Quarter (band)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Latin Quarter
File:Latin Quarter.JPG
Background information
Origin England, United Kingdom
Genres Pop, rock, reggae, folk
Years active 1983–1999, 2011-
Labels Rockin' Horse Records
Arista
RCA
Associated acts Steve Skaith Band
The Meridians
The Bhundu Boys
Website Radioafrica.co.uk
Past members Steve Skaith
Mike Jones
Richard Wright
Yona Dunsford
Greg Harewood
Carol Douet
Martin Lascalles
Dave Charles
Richard Stevens
Steve Jeffries
Darren Abraham

Latin Quarter are a British band formed in 1983. They were popular in Germany and northern Europe and had one top 20 single in the United Kingdom.[1] They originally split up in 1990, but re-formed in 2011. The band toured Germany in early 2012 and have released a new album Tilt in 2014.[2] Their sound mixes elements of pop, rock, reggae and folk with largely political based lyrics.

Career

Latin Quarter were formed in late 1983 by Steve Skaith and Mike Jones who were both members of the left wing political group Big Flame.[3] Their political viewpoint is often reflected in the choice of subject matter and lyrics of Latin Quarter's output. Jones describes their first album Modern Times as "a veritable manifesto".[3] After low sales of their third album in the UK, the next three were only released in continental Europe and Jones claims they were the only western pop act to release a contemporary album in East Germany.

They released a total of six studio albums plus two compilations during their first incarnation, and achieved chart success with the single "Radio Africa", which reached number 19 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] The line-up in 1986 was Steve Skaith (main vocals, guitar), Richard Wright (guitar, vocals), Michael Jones (lyrics, some backing vocals), Greg Harewood (bass), Yona Dunsford (vocals, keyboards), Carole Douet (vocals, percussion), Martin Lascelles (keyboards) and Dave Charles (drums).

Latin Quarter collaborated with The Bhundu Boys on the latter's 1993 Friends on the Road album, including a re-working of "Radio Africa" and two new songs written by members of both bands.[5] They were also the first band to be managed by Marcus Russell (who is from Ebbw Vale along with Mike Jones in the band) later the manager of Oasis.[6]

Twenty one years after splitting up, the band re-formed in 2011 and have released two new albums Ocean Head in 2012 and Tilt in 2014.

Singles

Year Title UK Singles Chart[4][7] Album
1985 "Toulouse" 93 Modern Times
"Radio Africa" 76
"The New Millionaires" -
"No Rope as Long as Time" -
1986 "Radio Africa" (reissue) 19
"Modern Times" 85
"America for Beginners" 99
"Truth About John" -
1987 "Nomzamo (One People, One Cause)" 73 Mick and Caroline
"I (Together)" -
1989 "Swimming Against the Stream" - Swimming Against the Stream
"Blameless" -
"Dominion" -
1993 "Bitter to the South" - Long Pig
"Like a Miracle" -
"Phil Ochs" -
1997 "Surprised" - Bringing Rosa Home
"Angel" -
"Branded" -

Albums

Year Title
Studio albums
1985 Modern Times
1986 Modern Times (reissue)
1987 Mick and Caroline
1989 Swimming Against the Stream
1993 Long Pig
1997 Bringing Rosa Home
2002 Modern Times (reissue)
2009 Mick and Caroline (reissue)
2012 Ocean Head
2014 Tilt
2015 Bare Bones
Compilation Albums
1990 Nothing Like Velvet
1997 Radio Africa
2011 Latin Quarter Revisited (by Steve Skaith Band)

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Chartstats.com

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Latin_Quarter_(band)&oldid=1859839"