The Happy Few

The Happy Few were Dominic Riley (vocals/guitar), Dave Cuff (vocals/bass), Nick Green (guitar), Steve Bevan (guitar) and Phil Emby (drums). The band formed in late 1980 and contributed two tracks to the "Norwich – A Fine City" compilation album.
The Happy Few turned down a contract with Backs Records in early 1981 in favour of a deal offered by Cherry Red (publishers of Norwich a Fine City), but the deal was never realised. They subsequently secured a distribution deal with Rough Trade for their own label, Smug Records, but the release of their first single was held up by problems with the manufacturers of the record. An EP, "Heaven is So Different", "Shut" and "Hunter" (Smug 1) was finally released in early 1982. In July 1982 recorded a John Peel session 
☀https://youtu.be/tDOe8px0uNc http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1982/Jul03thehappyfew/
Very early in their history the group famously performed alongside Five or Six, Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn at a Cherry Red evening which received a rave review in Record Mirror.Other notable gigs were with Aztec Camera (at the Jaquard Club), The Blue Orchids (in Cambridge) and supporting A Flock Of Seagulls (in their last gig at the LCR in UEA, 1983). They played their first gig supporting The Higsons in Feb 1981. They also played with Screen 3 and were once supported by The Farmers Boys.
Some tracks can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/thehappyfew198083/music or at http://www.last.fm/music/The%2520Happy%2520Few%2520(1980-83)?ac=The%20Happy%20Few
Drummer Phil Emby and Bass/Vocals David Cuff also played for another Norwich band The Crabs, who also recorded a John Peel session http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/sessions/1980s/1982/Apr21crabs/ and also played with The Higsons and The Farmers Boys at a John Peel evening at the gala Ballroom in the summer of 1982.
The band fizzled out in the spring of 1983 and Bass/Vocals David Cuff went on to record a single for Backs Records with band Mad About Sunday ("The Drunk" NCH 8).