The Chanter Sisters are sisters Irene and Doreen Chanter who perform both as a duo, and as backing for other singers. They released three albums and a number of singles from the mid to late 1970s.

Background

Irene and Doreen began

recording A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, r ...

as The Chanters – a family group which also included several of their brothers. The sisters then went their own way, recording first under the name Birds of a Feather, and later as The Chanter Sisters, enjoying their only

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

when "Sideshow"Not to be confused with the much bigger hit for Barry Biggs with the same title later the same year. entered the chart in July 1976 reaching number 43. The sisters have been far more successful in their backup singing career. Their credits include work with Elton John,

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, John Miles,

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, Pink Floyd, Roger Waters,

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, Joe Cocker and many other famous names. The pair also had uncredited bit parts as schoolgirls in the 1971 schlock horror film, ''

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''. Although the sisters have predominantly worked together, Doreen has had the more extensive musical career, touring without her sister with several of the above named bands. However, the pair continue to work together in the recording studio, providing backup vocals for

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as recently as 2003. Doreen also found success as a songwriter, being responsible for "Star", a UK hit in 1982 for

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Songs recorded

One of the songs they covered was "If Only I Could Start Again". This song released as a single in 1977 had previously been covered by

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and was from their 1975 album ''There Goes My First Love''. It was written by

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and

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Recordings

UK 7" singles

* "Sideshow" / "Goodbye Charlie" – Polydor 2058 735 – 1975 * "Band of Gold" / "Blue Jean days" – Polydor 2058 699 – 1976 * "Halfway To Paradise" / "My love" – Polydor 2058 679 – 1976 * "Just Your Fool" / "History" – Polydor 2058 795 – 1976 * "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)" / "When The Lights Go Out" – Safari SAFE 3 – 1978 * "Can't Stop Dancing" / "Back on the Road" – Safari SAFE 10 – 1978

US singles

* "Blue Jean Days" / "Cuckoo Cuckoo" – Polydor PD 14327 – 1975

Euro singles

* "Sideshow" /" Goodbye Charlie" – Polydor 2058 740 – 1976 – (picture sleeve) – (Italy) * "Cuckoo Cuckoo" / "Sweet Water Memory" – Polydor 2058 608 – 1976 – (Germany) – (art sleeve) * "Just Your Fool" /" History" – Safari 612073 – 1976 (picture sleeve) (Australia) * "Just Your Fool" / "Talking Too Much About My Baby" – Safari 612073 – 1976 (company sleeve) – (Germany) * "Just Your Fool" / "Nashville" Polydor 2058 816 – 1976 (picture sleeve) – Italy * "Dance Dance Dance" / "It's Too Late Now" – Safari 6.12169 AC – 1977 – (picture sleeve) – Germany) * "Can't Stop Dancing" / "?" – 1979 – Germany

Unknown

* "Sideshow" / "Turn Rolling Stone"

12" singles

* "Na Na Hey Hey", "Danny Disco" / "When the Lights Go Out" – Safari DOZ1 – 1977 (UK) * "Can't Stop Dancing" / "Back on the Road" – Safari / Crystal 052 CRY 61816 YZ – 1979 – (Blue vinyl) – (Germany)

UK 12" albums

*''First Flight'' – Polydor 2383 382 – 1976 Side A: "Cuckoo-Cuckoo", "Darlin'", "Side Show", "Hound Dog", "Band of Gold" / "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher"
Side B: "Halfway To Paradise", "Turn Rolling Stone", "Blue Jean Days", "All The Young Dudes", "Loving You Is" * ''Ready for Love'' – Safari LONG 3 – 1977 Side A: "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'", "Never Thought Falling in Love (Could Be So Wild)", "Dance Dance Dance", "Talking Too Much About My Baby", "When the Lights Go Out"
Side B: "Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Ggoodbye)" / "It's Too Late Now"/ "Sunshine Day" / "Nashville" * ''Shoulder to Shoulder'' – Safari LONG 4 – 1978 Side A: "Shoulder to Shoulder", "Oh What A Shame", "I Wanna Get Closer", "I Love You", "Born to Lose"
Side B: "Can't Stop Dancing", "Cari Blue", "I'll Be There", "I've Got Your Number", "Thanks To You"Discog
Chanter Sisters, The* – Shoulder To Shoulder
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Notes

References

External links

Roxy Music Virtual Museum

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chanter sisters British women singers English musical duos Sibling musical duos