The Beloved (band)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2010) |
The Beloved | |
---|---|
Origin | EastWest, WEA, New State Music |
Members | Jon Marsh |
Past members | Steve Waddington Tim Havard Guy Gausden Helena Marsh |
Website | www.thebeloved.uk |
The Beloved are a British electronic music group best known for the singles "Sweet Harmony", "The Sun Rising", "Hello", "Your Love Takes Me Higher", and "Satellite".
Originally a post-punk/new wave band formed in 1983, they underwent a change of direction in the late 1980s to a house/alternative dance sound and experienced chart success in the UK and elsewhere.
History
Formation
According to a commonly known account of the group's formation, Jon Marsh placed an advertisement in the music press in 1983, which read as follows:
"I am Jon Marsh, founder member of The Beloved. Should you too wish to do something gorgeous, meet me in exactly three years' time at exactly 11 a.m. in Diana's Diner, or site thereof, Covent Garden, London, WC2".
However, Marsh confirmed in 2017 that this was a story made up for a press release.[2]
Marsh first met Steve Waddington when he joined the band Twelfth of August as an additional guitarist. Within a few months, Marsh suggested they leave and start their own band. Calling themselves The Journey Through in 1983, they recruited bass player Timothy Havard[1] and began writing and rehearsing; occasionally playing live, with keyboard player Bill Anderson. Waddington was singer and principal songwriter. By early 1984 they were The Beloved; Waddington still the frontman, but Marsh singing on several songs and Havard and Marsh beginning to take over most of the songwriting.[1] By the autumn Marsh was the lead singer, still drumming on demos and in rehearsal. He waited outside the BBC, Portland Place one night and gave a demo tape to John Peel. Within a fortnight they had been booked for a session. Marsh's school friend, Guy Gausden, had played drums with them at a couple of gigs and they persuaded him to join as a permanent member. Having barely rehearsed, and with two brand new songs out of four, they debuted as a four-piece on BBC Radio 1 on 8 January 1985.
Initial indie success
A second Peel session followed in October 1985 and soon afterwards their first single, "A Hundred Words", was released in April 1986. A summation of this stage of their career can be found on a compilation album,
Change in direction and Happiness
Havard left the band in July 1987.
This was followed in February 1990 by their first studio album,
A brand new song, "
Further success: Conscience and X
"It's Alright Now" and Blissed Out were the last works made by Marsh with Waddington at the time. By 1991, Waddington had left the group, and they re-emerged in 1993 with Jon's wife Helena involved as co-writer and co-producer for a second studio album, Conscience.[1] The band received airplay with the video of the first single, "Sweet Harmony," despite the entire cast being naked (shot and edited showing nothing that might cause it to be censored). One of the models in this video is television presenter Tess Daly.[5] "Sweet Harmony", which was originally used to promote the second season of the popular American soap opera Melrose Place in several European countries, has since been used in advertising for British home improvement chain Homebase as well.[6]
While "Sweet Harmony" went on to become their biggest hit in the UK, reaching number 8 in 1993,[4] the other two tracks taken from the Conscience album, did not achieve the former's success. The double A-side single "Celebrate Your Life" / "You've Got Me Thinking" peaked at number 23, and "Outerspace Girl" peaked at number 38. "Rock to the Rhythm of Love" was also released as a single, however, only in the US. The album itself reached no. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
After Conscience, a third studio album entitled X was released in 1996.[1] Though the record peaked at number 25 in the UK Albums Chart,[4] and three singles were released from it, only the first, "Satellite", made the top 20, peaking at number 19;[4] while the second, "Deliver Me", failed to chart and was withdrawn shortly after release in the UK because of a lack of radio play[citation needed] – and the third, "Ease the Pressure", did not enter the UK top 40, stalling at number 43.[4] To date, X is the last original album from the group. This album includes soundscapes by Robert Fripp.
Later activity
After X, the compilation Single File followed in 1997, promoted by a re-release of "The Sun Rising" (which reached number 31, only five positions lower than the original 1989 release) which included some new remixes.
Jon and Helena released several underground 12" singles in the following years under different names, including: "It's a Universal Thing" / "All That Jazz", "Stella Does Tricks" and "Density" (1998, 2000, 2001, as Adam & Eve); "Ride with Me" (1998, as Lucky Hole); "Baby Sheik" (1998, as The London Authority); and "King of Deep" / "Peking Dub" (2003, as Deepo King). Jon also released two further Beloved singles in 2000: "With You", a cover version of Sparks' 1981 song "When I'm with You", which was originally recorded for a tribute album, and "Timeslip".
Marsh later became a respected club DJ, holding monthly residencies at Ministry of Sound between 1994 and 1998, and Fabric between 1999 and 2004. He played all over the UK and Europe on a regular basis until he stopped to focus more on his family. He has also collaborated with original band member Steve Waddington and others on new material, most of which remains unreleased.
Digital releases and special editions
Marsh has been uploading the band's discography on streaming services such as Spotify throughout the late 2010s, including rare remixes that were previously only available on limited edition 12" records. In April 2019, the first single released under the Beloved name since 2000 was released for Record Store Day, "Your Love Takes Me Higher (Evil Mix)" / "Awoke", released by the band's new label New State Music. The first track was a previously unreleased remix of "Your Love Takes Me Higher" from 1988 and the second, "Awoke", was a previously unreleased and unnamed song from late 1990, intended for use on a direct follow-up to Happiness which was shelved. The single was only physically released on 12" vinyl and only had 1,500 copies pressed.
On 31 January 2020, a remastered re-release of Where It Is was released both on streaming platforms and as a 2-CD physical set. It contains 31 total tracks, with bonus demos and alternate versions of tracks, along with an extensive booklet containing previously unseen photos of and in-depth information on that incarnation of the band, written by Tim Havard.[7] This re-release peaked at number 88 on the UK Physical Albums Chart.[8] A similar re-release of Happiness was also released on 7 August 2020, with booklet notes written by Jon Marsh.[9] This peaked at number 77 on the UK Albums Chart,[8] number 8 on the UK Physical Albums Chart[8] and reached number 1 on the UK Dance Chart.[10]
Collaborations with other artists or bands
Both Marsh and Waddington have collaborated with other artists or bands. Waddington co-wrote, co-produced, and contributed guitar to the System 7 track "Habibi". Marsh has contributed vocals to tracks from Laid and Luke Solomon, as well as remixing other artists including Depeche Mode. He also worked with Bent on Beautiful Otherness from their 2003 album The Everlasting Blink and We Watch the Stars, which was released in 2013. In 2020 Marsh gave vocals to "Sky's The Limit", a track released on Westbam's album Famous Last Songs Vol. 1 (2021).
Awards and nominations
Year | Awards | Work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | Brit Awards
|
"Hello" | Best British Video
|
Nominated |
1993 | MTV VMA | "Sweet Harmony" | Viewer's Choice (Europe) | Nominated |
Members
Current members
- Jon Marsh - lead vocals, keyboards, programming, drums (1983–present)
Former members
- Steve Waddington - guitars, piano, keyboards, occasional vocals (1983-1991)
- Tim Havard - bass (1983-1987)
- Guy Gausden - drums, percussion (1984-1987)
- Helena Marsh - keyboards, programming (1992-1997)
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/ts1o6ykakij69hi8c7ps45850siywis.png)
Discography
Chart placings are from the
Albums
Year | Album | Chart positions | Label | Certifications | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [4][12] |
UK Indie [3] |
US [13] |
AUS [14] |
AUT [15] |
GER
[16] |
SWE [17] | ||||
1988 | Where It Is
|
– | 17 | – | – | – | – | – | Flim Flam Productions | |
1990 | Happiness | 14 | – | 154 | 104 | – | – | – | East West | |
Blissed Out | 38 | – | – | 111 | – | – | – | |||
1993 | Conscience | 2 | – | – | 144 | 22 | 47 | – |
| |
1996 | X | 25 | – | – | 88 | – | – | 53 | ||
1997 | Single File (compilation) | 171 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
"—" denotes releases that did not chart. |
Singles
Year | Single | Peak positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[4] |
UK Indie [3] |
AUS [14] |
AUT [15] |
FRA
[19] |
GER
[20] |
IRE [21] |
NED
[22] |
SWE [17] |
SWI [23] | ||||
1986 | "A Hundred Words" | – | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Where It Is | |
"This Means War" | – | 22 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
1987 | "Happy Now" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Single only | |
"Surprise Me" / "Forever Dancing" | – | 15 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Where It Is | ||
1988 | "Loving Feeling" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Single only | |
1989 | "Your Love Takes Me Higher" | 91 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Happiness | |
"The Sun Rising" | 26 | – | – | – | – | – | 28 | – | – | – | |||
1990 | "Hello" | 19 | – | 94 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
"Your Love Takes Me Higher" (reissue) | 39 | – | 148 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"Time After Time" | 46 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"It's Alright Now" | 48 | – | 150 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Blissed Out | ||
1993 | "Sweet Harmony" | 8 | – | 147 | 3 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 6 |
|
Conscience |
"Celebrate Your Life" / "You've Got Me Thinking" | 23 | – | 200 | – | – | – | 21 | – | – | – | |||
"Outerspace Girl" | 38 | – | – | – | – | 76 | – | – | – | – | |||
"Rock to the Rhythm of Love" (US only) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
1995 | "1000 Years from Today" (promo) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Single only | |
1996 | "Satellite" | 19 | – | 116 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | X | |
" Deliver Me "
|
– | – | 198 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"Ease the Pressure" | 43 | – | 204 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"Crystal Wave" (white label) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Singles only | ||
"Physical Love" / "Three Steps to Heaven" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
1997 | "The Sun Rising" (reissue) | 31 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Single File | |
2000 | "With You" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Singles only | |
"Timeslip" (white label) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
2019 | "Motivation" (digital) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
"Your Love Takes Me Higher (Evil Mix)" / "Awoke" | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"Physical Love (Derrick Carter & Chris Nazuka 'Red Nail' Remixes)" (digital) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"For Your Love (Age of Insanity Remixes)" (digital) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"Three Steps To Heaven (Deep Dish Remixes)" (digital) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
"–" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. |
Music videos
- "This Means War" (1986)
- "Forever Dancing" (1987)
- "Loving Feeling" (1988)
- "Your Love Takes Me Higher" (1989)
- "The Sun Rising" (1989)
- "Hello" (1990)
- "Your Love Takes Me Higher" (second version) (1990)
- "Time After Time" (1990)
- "It's Alright Now" (1990)
- "Sweet Harmony" (1993)
- "You've Got Me Thinking" (1993)
- "Outerspace Girl" (1993)
- "Satellite" (1996)
- "Deliver Me" (1996)
- "The Sun Rising (Tom's Drum & Bass Mix)" (1997)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ Radio, Soho. "Pete Paphides (06/06/2017)". Mixcloud. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-9517206-9-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Official Charts > Beloved". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ Wareing, Charlotte (16 March 2016). "Watch steamy music vid that makes Tess Daly 'cringe' nearly 20 years on". Daily Record. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ Imaginando (20 May 2021). "How to make The Beloved 'Sweet Harmony' with DRC". Imaginando. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ The Beloved (Artist) (1987). "Where It Is (Special Edition) (2CD): Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "NEWS: The Beloved announce 30th Anniversary Edition of 'Happiness'". God Is in the TV. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles and Albums.
- ^ "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > Darren B – David Byrne". zobbel.de. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Billboard > Artists / The Beloved > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
- ^ a b Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
- Top 100 peaks to December 2010: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 28.
- "Your Love Takes Me Higher" (reissue), "Time After Time", "It's Alright Now", "Sweet Harmony", "You've Got Me Thinking" and "Outerspace Girl": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Imgur.com. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- "The Sun Rising", "Satellite", "Deliver Me" and "Ease the Pressure": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 12 September 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- Happiness and Conscience: "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 13 September 2016". Imgur.com. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- All ARIA chart peaks to 2 July 2019: "The Beloved ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on 2 July 2019". ARIA. Retrieved 30 October 2020 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.
- ^ a b "austriancharts.at > The Beloved in der Österreichischen Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > The Beloved – Conscience (album)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ a b "swedishcharts.com > The Beloved in Swedish Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ a b c "British certifications – Beloved". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 July 2023. Type Beloved in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "lescharts.com > The Beloved dans les Charts Français" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ German singles chart peaks:
- "Sweet Harmony": "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > The Beloved – Sweet Harmony (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- "Outerspace Girl": "Offizielle Deutsche Charts > The Beloved – Outerspace Girl (single)" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know > Search results for 'The Beloved' (from irishcharts.ie)". Imgur.com (original source published by Fireball Media). Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "dutchcharts.nl > The Beloved in Dutch Charts" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "The Beloved in der Schweizer Hitparade" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
Further reading
- "Beloved". Music Technology. Vol. 4, no. 2. January 1990. p. 28. OCLC 24835173.