Smokie

Smokie er et britisk poprock-band. Bandet startet i Bradford, England i 1965 under navnet The Yen og senere byttet de navn til The Sphynx og senere Essence. Som Essence turnerte bandet til små klubber i Bradford. I 1968 byttet de navn til The Elizabethans og i 1970 til Kindness. Bandet kom i kontakt med låtskriverne Mike Chapman og Nicky Chinn i 1974, som sørget for å gi bandet bandet platekontrakt med RAK Records. Bandet skiftet navn til Smokey og begynte å spille inn debutalbumet Pass It Around, som kom ut i februar 1975. Etter utgivelsen av to album kom bandet i konflikt med sangeren Smokey Robinson, og endret stavemåten til Smokie for å unngå forveksling. Deres største hit, «Living Next Door to Alice», ble utgitt i 1976.

Debutalbumet Pass It Around ble ikke noen suksess og fikk ingen listeplasseringer. Albumet som kom etter derimot, Changing All the Time, som ble utgitt i september samme år, inneholdt hitsinglene «If You Think You Know How to Love Me og «Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me» – begge skrevet av Chinn-Chapman – og markerte starten på bandets karriere. Albumet i seg selv derimot, klarte bare å klatre seg opp på 18.-plass på den britiske og 16.-plass på den tyske albumlisten. Albumet etter, Midnight Café, nådde en sjetteplass i Tyskland og kom også inn på VG-lista Topp 40 i Norge for første gang. Men senere det året, fikk albumet sin virkelige store hit, da singelen «Living Next Door to Alice» kom ut i november 1976. I Norge toppet den VG-lista Topp 20 i hele 12 uker i 1977, og var på listen 33 uker. Singelen etterpå, «Lay Back in the Arms of Someone», kom høyest på 3.-plass, og en av de to sangene som blokkerte for at singelen skulle nå førsteplassen, var faktisk «Living Next Door to Alice». 

Bright Lights and Back Alleys, som kom ut i 1977, er bandets mest solgte album. I Norge nådde det førsteplass og lå på lista i 24 uker.

Da Chris Norman i 1986 bestemte seg for å satse for fullt på solokarrieren sin, tok Alan Barton over som vokalist. Barton var en god venn av Norman og var tidligere medlem av bandet Black Lace. Trommeslageren Pete Spencer sluttet samtidig og ble erstattet av Steve Pinnell, og i tillegg kom en keyboardist med på laget, Martin Bullard.

I 1995 skjedde en tragisk ulykke med turnebussen til bandet. De var på vei til flyplassen i Düsseldorf da bussen kjørte av veien. Alan Silson, Terry Uttley og Alan Barton var bandmedlemmene som var med bussen. Silson og Uttley ble begge hardt skadd, men verst var skadene på Alan Barton. Etter fem dager på intensiven døde han av skadene han hadde pådratt seg.
Mike Craft tok nå over som vokalist. Året etterpå sluttet også Alan Silson i bandet, og Terry Uttley ble dermed bandets eneste originalmedlem.

Smokie har i senere år spilt mye i Norge og er derfor blitt stemplet som «norgesvenner».

 Bandmedlemmer 
Nåværende medlemmer 
 Martin Bullard – keyboard (1986–)
 Steve Pinnell – trommer (1986–)
 Mick McConnell – sologitar, sang (1996–)
 Luke Bullard  – bassgitar (2019–)
 Pete Lincoln – sang, rytmegitar, bassgitar (2021–)

Tidligere medlemmer
 Terry Uttley – bassist (1964–1964, 1968–2021, siste originalmedlem, døde i 2021)
Arthur Higgins - bassgitar, sang (1966-1968)
Chris Norman - sang, rytmegitar (1974-1986)
Alan Silson - gitar (1974-1996)
Pete Spencer - trommer (1974-1986)
Alan Barton - sang, gitar (1986-1995, død 1995)
Mike Craft – sang, gitar (1995–2021)

 Diskografi 
Album
TittelUtgittSporMedlemsinfoPass It Around 1975Pass It Around
Daydreamin'
Oh Well Oh Well
My Woman
It Makes Me Money
Headspin
Goin' Tomorrow
I Do Declare
Don't Turn out Your Light
Will You Love Me
A Day At The Mother-In_law's
The Coldest Night
Shy Guy" Chris NormanChanging All The Time 1975Don't Play Your Rock 'N' Roll To Me
If You Think You Know How To Love Me
It's Natural
Give It To Me
We're Flyin' High
Changing All The Time
Julia
Take Me In
Umbrella Day
Back To Bradford Chris NormanMidnight Cafe 1976Something's Making Me Blue
Wild Wild Angles
Poor Lady (Midnight Lady)
When My Back Was Against The Wall
Make Ya Boogie
Stranger
What Can I Do
Little Lucy
Going Home Chris NormanSmokie 1977Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone
Something's Been Making Me Blue
If You Think You Know How To Love Me
Pass It Around
I'll Meet You At Midnight
Living Next Door to Alice
Changing All The Time
Don't Play Your Rock 'N' Roll To Me
Back To Bradford
Wild Wild Angels Chris NormanBright Lights & Back Alleys 1977It's Your Life
I Can't Stay Here Tonight
Sunshine Avenue
Think Of Me (The Lonely One)
In The Heat Of The Night
Needles And Pins
NoOne Could Ever Love You More
The Dancer
Baby It's You
Walk Right Back Chris NormanThe Montreux Album 1978The Girl Can't Help It
Power Of Love
No More Letters
Mexican Girl
You Took Me By Surprise
Oh Carol
Liverpool Docks
Light Up My Life
Petesey's Song
For A Few Dollars More Chris NormanThe Other Side Of The Road 1979The Other Side Of The Road
Do To Me
Belinda
Big Fat Momma
Don't Take You Love Away This Time
London Is Burning
Babe It's Up To You
You Don't Care
All Alone
I Can't Stop Loving You
Too Many Pennies In Hell
Samantha Elizabeth
San Francisco Bay Chris NormanSolid Ground 1981Jet Lagged
I'm In Love With You
Everything A Man Could Need
My Woman Don't Like Rock 'N' Roll
Take Good Care Of My Baby
Rock 'N' Roll Woman
Your Love Is So Good For Me
Long Time Coming
Melody Goes On/Songs Chris NormanStrangers In Paradise 1982Introduction
Love Remains A Stranger
Falling For You
Yesterday's Dreams
Come On Home
Can You Feel My Heartbeat
Two Strangers Falling
You'll Be Lonely Tonight
Mirror, Mirror
Now It's Too Late
Long Way From Home
Strangers In Paradise Chris NormanPete SpencerAlan SilsonTerry UttleyMidnight Delight 1982Don`t Throw It Away
You`re A Lady
Winter`s Day
Time Of Your Life
Number On My Wall
Midnight Delight
Time Keeps Turning
One More For The Road
Hiding From The Night
Warm Nights With You Chris NormanAll Fired Up 1987My Heart Is True
Cry In The Night
Hold On For The Night
Never Fight Again
Rock Away Your Teardrops
Second Choice
Hold On Tight
Only Love Hurts
Looking Daggers
Hot Girls and Summer Nights
If You Think You Know How To Love Me Alan BartonBoulevard Of Broken Dreams 1989Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Falling Apart
Think About The Night
Sometimes You Cry
Love Take Me Away
Moving Mountains
Young Hearts
Stop Rewind
Angelina
Northern Soul
Hears Need Company Alan BartonWho Are These Boots? 1990In The Middle Of A Lonely Dream
Heartbreak Angel
I Feel Love
Romeo & Juliet
Every Little Kiss
Fistful Of Dollars
This Side Of Paradise
Hurting
Never Made In Heaven
Heat Of The Night Alan BartonChasing Shadows 1992Don't Play That Game With me
You're so Different Tonight
Respect
Lyin' In The Arms Of The One You Love
Don't Stop This Love
The Rain Came Down
Chasing Shadows
One Night In Vienna
All My LIFE
I'd Die For You
Remember The Days
Scream Your Guitar Alan BartonBurnin' Ambition 1993Bang Bang
Naked Love (Baby Love Me)
Never Turn Your Back On Your Friends
Love Sometimes Takes Time
Listen To Your Radio
Love Is Out Of The Question
One More Dance
Relying On You
Surfin'
Can't This Be Love
Derry Girl
Mariah
Naked Love (Disco Fox Version)
Destiny Alan BartonGreatest Hits Live 1993I'll Meet You At Midnight
Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone
Medley: Pass It Around, It's Your Life, Take Good Care Of My Baby, Mexican Girl, For A Few Dollars More
Something's Been Making Me Blue
Wild Angels
If You Think You Know How To Love Me
Don't Play That Rock'n'Roll To Me
Rock Away Your Teardrops
Cry In The Night
Oh Carol
Needles And Pins
Living Next Door to Alice
Whiskey In The Jar Alan BartonCelebration 1994Naked Love (Baby Love Me)
If You Think You Know How To Love Me
Living Next Door to Alice
Can't Cry Hard Enough
Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone
Wild Wild Angels
Don't Play That Game With Me
Needles And Pins
Surfin'
Don't Play Your Rock'n'Roll To Me
Oh Carol
Chasing Shadows
Bang Bang
It's Your Life
For A Few Dollars More
I Feel Love
Like An Eagle
I'll Meet You At Midnight
Think About The Night
It's Over Again Alan BartonThe World And Elsewhere 1995Rock 'n' Roll Rodeo 
Have You Ever Seen The Rain 
Till Hell Frizes Over 
Rose-A-Lee 
Love Like A Rocket 
Can Be A Heartbreaker Too 
Coming Home Tonight 
Love Can Change Your Heart 
Till You Follow Me 
Last Train 
When The Lightning Strikes 
Steppin' On Seashells 
Where Sorry 's Not Enough 
Tell Me Why
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow Mike CraftLight A Candle 1996It Won't Be Christmas
Mary's Boyfriend
Light A Candle
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
A Spaceman Comes Travelling
Silent Night
A Winters Tale
When A Child Is Born
O' LIittle Town Of Bethlehem
O' Holy Noght
White Christmas
Away In A Manger
O' Christmas Tree
Christmas Isn't Just For Childree Mike CraftWild Horses 1998Desperate Measures
Wrong Reasons
And The Night Stood Still
She Rides Wild Horses
When It's The Right Time
Looking For You
Ain't It Funny How It Works
All She Ever Really Wanted
No Rest For The Wounded Heart
When The Walls Come Down
Goodbye Yesterday's Heartache
If You Think You Know How To Love Me Mike CraftUncovered 2000It Never Rains In Southern California
When You Walk In The Room
Arms Of Mary
I Swear
Darlin'
Just When I Needed You Most
Still The One
Can't Fight This Feeling
Whisky In The Jar
Runaway Train
I Don't Wanna Talk About It
Who'll Stop The Rain
Drift Away
Love Hurts Mike CraftUncovered Too 2001Be My Baby
Everytime You Go Away
Hungry Heart
Garden Party
(I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight
Only You
Hungry Eyes
Lodi
You're So Vain
Sailing
I Won't Back Down
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
No Matter What
Miss You Nights Mike CraftOn The Wire 2004Over You
Ain't Gonna Rain
Love On A Wire
Why
Tomorrow
Mistral Wind
Endless Way
Midnight Train
Hot Lovin'
A Million Conversations
African Nights
Broken Hearts
Home Is Anywhere You Are
Josephine Mike Craft

Singler (utvalg)
Topp 10 på UK Singles Chart

  «If You Think You Know How to Love Me» (1975) (#3)
  «Don't Play Your Rock 'n' Roll to Me» (1975) (#8)
  «Living Next Door to Alice» (1976) (#5)
  «It's Your Life» (1977) (#5)
  «Oh Carol» (1978) (#5)
  «Living Next Door to Alice (Who the F**k Is Alice)» (1995) (#3)

 Referanser 

 Eksterne lenker   





Kategori:Britiske popgrupper
Kategori:Britiske rockegrupper
Kategori:Band etablert i 1965