The Woodentops

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For the television series, see The Woodentops (TV series).

The Woodentops
The Woodentops, performing in Hamburg, 24 February 2010
The Woodentops, performing in Hamburg, 24 February 2010
Background information
OriginLondon, England
GenresAlternative rock, indie rock
Years active1983–present
LabelsFood, Rough Trade, Columbia, Epic, Hyperactive
MembersRolo McGinty
Simon Mawby
Aine O'Keeffe
Frank de Freitas
Paul Ashby
Past membersPaul Hookham
Anne Stephenson
Alice Thompson
Murray Gold
Benny Staples
WebsiteWoodentopsmusic.com

The Woodentops are a British

rock band
that enjoyed critical acclaim and moderate popularity in the mid-1980s.

History

The band formed in 1983 in South London with an initial lineup of Rolo McGinty (vocals, guitar, formerly of the Wild Swans and the Jazz Butcher), Simon Mawby (guitar), Alice Thompson (keyboards), Frank DeFreitas (bass guitar) and Benny Staples replacing Paul Hookham (drums).[1][2]

After a debut single, "Plenty" on

UK Indie Chart.[1]

The band then became more experimental and frenetic when playing live, using more

independent groups from the UK, while gaining an early hit on the burgeoning club scene in Ibiza
with "Why."

In 1987, Thompson left to be replaced by Anne Stephenson of

KROQ Top 106.7 Countdown of 1988
, outperforming many more established acts. Another of the album's standout tracks, "Wheels Turning," became a dancefloor favourite.

The Woodentops continued to play live, touring the world until 1992, and tracks such as "Tainted World" became a regular on New York radio station Kiss FM with DJ Tony Humphries.

Vocalist and guitarist Rolo McGinty, who also wrote all of the Woodentops' songs, resurfaced with the DJ band Pluto in the 1990s and the Dogs Deluxe electronica project, and also provided vocals for Gary Lucas's Gods and Monsters. Guitarist Simon Mawby was briefly a member of the House of Love in the early 1990s.[4]

The Woodentops returned to live performances in September 2006. In October 2009, they performed in a special concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London's South Bank. There, they also curated an exhibition of works by artist Panni Bharti and concerts by musicians Worm, Othon and Ernesto Tomasini. In 2010, the band announced their first single in 20 years and played a string of dates across Europe.

Present lineup

  • Rolo McGinty - vocals, guitar
  • Simon Mawby - guitar
  • Aine O'Keeffe - keyboards
  • Frank de Freitas - bass guitar
  • Paul Ashby - drums

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[5] 		UK
Indie
[6]
Giant 35 2
Wooden Foot Cops on the Highway
  • Released: February 1988
  • Label: Rough Trade
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
 48 1
Granular Tales
  • Released: 24 February 2014
  • Label: Cherry Red
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Mini albums

Title Album details
Straight Eight Bush-Waker
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Rough Trade, Megadisc
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
UK
Indie
[6]
Live Hypnobeat Live
  • Released: 13 April 1987[7]
  • Label: Rough Trade
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
 1
Live Tokyo
  • Released: 13 April 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: 2xCD
  • Japan-only limited release
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Well, Well, Well... The Unabridged Singles Collection
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Upside
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
  • US-only release
Bamboo ～ The Best of the Woodentops – The Rough Trade Anthology
  • Released: 29 January 2003
  • Label: Felicity
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
Vinegar
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD
  • Sold only at live shows
The BBC Sessions
  • Released: 8 October 2007
  • Label: Renascent
  • Formats: CD
Before During After – Remasters Remixes & Rarities 1982–1992

Video albums

Title Album details
Live at Full House

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Albums
UK
[5] 		UK
Indie
[6]
"Plenty" 1984 — 40 Non-album single
"Move Me" 1985 — 9 Straight Eight Bush-Waker
"Well Well Well" — 1
"It WiIl Come" — 4
"Good Thing" 1986 — 7 Giant
"Everyday Living" 72 1
"Get It On" (France-only release) — —
"Give It Time" (US-only release) 1987 — —
"You Make Me Feel"/"Stop This Car" 1988 80 4 Wooden Foot Cops on the Highway
"Wheels Turning" — —
"Tainted World" (The Woodentops v Bang the Party) 1991 — — Non-album single
"Third Floor Rooftop High" (promo-only release) 2013 — — Granular Tales
"Why Why Why" (remixes) 2016 — — Non-album single
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 0-86241-913-1
    .
  2. ISBN 0-85112-579-4
    .
  3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
    .
  4. ^ "The House of Love - members". The unofficial homepage of The House of Love/Guy Chadwick. Archived from the original on 2 December 1998. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  5. ^ a b "WOODENTOPS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  6. ^
    ISBN 0-9517206-9-4
    .
  7. ^ "News". Record Mirror. 4 April 1987. p. 2. Retrieved 29 June 2022 – via Flickr.

External links

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