# The Mike Flowers Pops

The Mike Flowers Pops (also known as MFP, The Pops or The Mike Flowers Pops Orchestra) are a British easy listening band fronted by Mike Flowers (real name Michael Roberts).

## History

Formed in 1993, the Mike Flowers Pops can have up to fourteen members on stage at any time, and they are principally known for easy listening or lounge music covers of both 'classic' and contemporary pop music.
The band became famous in the United Kingdom in 1995 when they released a cover version of Oasis' hit song "Wonderwall", in an easy listening style. After seeing the band perform, BBC radio producer Will Saunders had recruited Flowers for BBC Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening in order to cover the 'Hits of 95' for Greening's Saturday show; "Wonderwall" was his first week's project. Chris Evans heard the song and made it 'single of the week' on his Radio 1 breakfast show, telling listeners that this was the original version of the song. The single, issued by London Records under the name The Mike Flowers Pops, was released while the Oasis original was still in the UK Singles Chart, and itself reached the Top 10. Flowers' version peaked at number 2 in the UK Christmas 1995 chart and got to number one in Scotland. Lou Reed, when asked at the time whether he had heard anything by Oasis, claimed: "Not that I would know. Oh, Wonderwall? The one I know is the Mike Flowers one. That is one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life."
Following the success of "Wonderwall", The Mike Flowers Pops quickly advanced from performing shows in nightclubs and small concert halls to touring festivals and larger venues across Britain and Europe. A Groovy Place was released on 24 June 1996. At the end of 1996 they toured Britain with Gary Glitter on his last 'Who's in the Gang' tour. They played large venues including Wembley Arena and Birmingham NEC. Cover versions of The Doors' "Light My Fire" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" also reached the top 40 of the UK chart.
The Mike Flowers Pops played at the Shiiine On Weekender in November 2016 and at the 100 Club in London in December 2016 and December 2017.
The "MFP" abbreviation parodies the budget record label Music for Pleasure, also known as MFP, which produced a series of "Hot Hits" cover version albums in the 1960s and 1970s.

## Mike Flowers

Michael Roberts performs as bandleader Mike Flowers. He has since scored music for film and television, and made music documentaries for Sky Arts and London’s Barbican Centre. How Art Made Pop is his first book and supported by the "Sounds Superb Singers" and "Super Stereo Brass".
He lives in London, is married and has two children. He studied Painting at Chelsea School of Art (1978-81) and completed an MA in Music at Goldsmiths (2012-14).

## Discography
### Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | AUS |
| A Groovy Place | Released: June 1996 Format: CD, cassette Label: London Records (828 743.2) | . 138 |

### Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details :
| Title | Details |
| The Freebase Connection | Released: 1996 Format: CD, 12" LP Label: Lo Recordings (LOEP 02) |
| Hold the Corner (with Cornershop) | Released: 2016 Format: digital Label: Ample Play |

### Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Year | Chart positions | Chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | AUS | Album |
| "Wonderwall" | 1995 | 2 | 48 | A Groovy Place |
| "Light My Fire" / "Please Release Me" | 1996 | 39 | 158 | A Groovy Place |
| "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" | 1996 | 30 | — | non album singles |
| "Talk" | 2005 | — | — | non album singles |