Racing Cars
Racing Cars | |
---|---|
Origin | Rhondda Valley, Wales |
Genres | Pop |
Years active | 1973–2010 |
Labels | Chrysalis Records, Angel Air |
Past members | Band members |
Racing Cars was a Welsh pop band, formed in the
Career
They were signed to one of the biggest British record labels of the time,
Racing Cars split up for the first time in the late 1970s. In 1980, Morty released a solo album Love Blind. In 1981, Morty joined a band called The Bleeding Hearts with musicians Paul Rosser, Bob Watkins and Dave Iles, it was suggested by Morty that they call themselves Racing Cars, as it was his name. When this band came to an end, lead vocalist Morty has sung backing vocals for artists including The Beach Boys, Tina Turner and Bryan Adams. Morty got together with local musicians and formed the Gareth Thomas Mortimer Band (GTM Band).
Morty, Graham Hedley Williams and Paul Rosser reunited as Racing Cars but said "We were a bit reluctant. We're a bit long in the tooth and a bit out of touch but we finally said yes." They continued to play gigs across Europe, after reforming in 2000 with a new album, Bolt From The Blue which was released on DA Records and a gig at the Cardiff International Arena.
Racing Cars final album, Second Wind, was released in October 2007.
Gareth Mortimer died on 17 December 2015 at his home in Rhondda, Wales, from cancer at the age of 66.[5][6]
Band members
- Graham Headley Williams (guitarist)
- Gareth Mortimer (guitarist / lead vocalist) – aka Morty
- Simon Davies (keyboardist and vocals)
- Colin Griffin (drummer)
- Chris Thomas (bassist)
- Robert James Wilding (drummer)
- David Land (bassist)
- Ray 'Alice' Ennis (guitarist)
- Paul Saurin (keyboards)
- Paul Rosser (drummer and vocals)
- Bob Watkins (bassist)
- Dave Iles (guitarist)
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [7] | ||
Downtown Tonight |
|
39 |
Weekend Rendezvous |
|
— |
Bring on the Night |
|
— |
BBC Radio One Live in Concert |
|
— |
Bolt from the Blue |
|
— |
Second Wind[8][9] |
|
— |
Singles
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
UK
[8] |
AUS [7] | ||
1976 | "They Shoot Horses Don't They?" b/w "Four Wheel Drive" | 14 | 32 |
1977 | "Ladee-Lo" b/w "Get Out and Get In" | — | — |
"Down by the River" b/w "Ticking Over" | — | — | |
"Bring on the Night" b/w "When I'm Walking Home" or "Second Best" | — | — | |
1980 | "Are You Big Enough" b/w "Little Miss World" | — | — |
See also
- Windsong International Records
- List of Peel Sessions
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- Pinkpop Festival
References
- ^ "Racing Cars | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- ^ [1] Archived 22 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived 17 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jo-Ann Greene (1 October 2007). "Second Wind – Racing Cars | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
- ^ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 2015 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Paul Cashmere (22 December 2015). "R.I.P. Gareth Mortimer of Racing Cars at Age 66". Noise11.com. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Racing Cars | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 October 2015.