Swing Out Sister are a British
pop group best known worldwide for the 1986 song "
Breakout". Other hits include "
Surrender
Surrender may refer to:
* Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy
* Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power
Film and television
* ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...
", "
Twilight World", "
Waiting Game", and a remake of the
Eugene Record
Eugene Booker Record (December 23, 1940 – July 22, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was best known as the lead vocalist of the Chicago-based vocal group The Chi-Lites from their formation in 1959 un ...
soul composition "
Am I the Same Girl
"Am I the Same Girl?" is a popular song written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders. First recorded in 1968 by Barbara Acklin, "Am I the Same Girl?" charted most successfully in the US as a 1992 release by Swing Out Sister. However, the song ha ...
?"
History
Although Swing Out Sister are currently a duo, they began as a trio in the UK. The group was formed by
Andy Connell
Andrew John Connell (born 26 July 1961) is an English musician and composer. Along with Corinne Drewery, he is part of the duo that makes up Swing Out Sister.
Born in Manchester, England, Connell played in the Manchester post-punk band The I ...
(keyboards) and
Martin Jackson
Martin Jackson (born 30 August 1955 in Manchester, England) is a British drummer who has played with several bands from Manchester, although his most successful roles were with Magazine in 1978 with the release of the influential ''Real Life'' ...
(drums); they were later joined by
Corinne Drewery
Corinne Drewery (born 21 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and fashion designer, best known for being the lead vocalist of the band Swing Out Sister.
Early life
Drewery was born and grew up in Nottingham. She later moved to the Li ...
(vocals). According to the group's website, "They christened themselves after an obscure Billie Burke "B"-musical from the '40s
_1945_movie_starring_Arthur_Treacher,_called_''Swing_Out,_Sister.html" ;"title="Arthur_Treacher.html" ;"title=" 1945 movie starring Arthur Treacher"> 1945 movie starring Arthur Treacher, called ''Swing Out, Sister">Arthur_Treacher.html" ;"title=" 1945 movie starring Arthur Treacher"> 1945 movie starring Arthur Treacher, called ''Swing Out, Sister''] because it was the only name they could agree upon - they all agreed they hated it." Both Connell and Jackson had been playing in other Band (music), bands prior to forming SOS, while Drewery was a fashion designer and model before she became the band's lead vocalist.
52nd Street
52nd Street is a -long one-way street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan, New York City. A short section of it was known as the city's center of jazz performance from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Jazz center
Following the repeal of ...
's
Diane Charlemagne
Diane Charlemagne (22 February 1964 – 28 October 2015) was a British jazz, soul, funk and electronic dance music singer and songwriter.
Biography
Charlemagne was lead singer with 1980s funk band 52nd Street, having replaced previous lead voc ...
was influential in the period just prior to the band signing to Phonogram Records. Connell and Jackson, outside of their usual roles as Manchester musicians in
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio (abbreviated as ACR) are an English post-punk band formed in 1977 in Flixton, Greater Manchester by Peter Terrell (guitar, electronics) and Simon Topping (vocals, trumpet), with additional members Jez Kerr (bass, vocals), Martin ...
and
Magazine
A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...
, were producing Electro tracks for Morgan Khan's Streetwise label with a degree of underground success. This activity triggered interest from a few major labels including Phonogram/Mercury Records. Vocalised songs were asked for, so Connell, who knew Charlemagne through Factory Records, approached her to sing on the Phonogram demos. These demos helped secure Connell and Jackson's major label contract. This was the period in which 52nd Street moved from Factory Records to Virgin Records and as a result, Diane Charlemagne's Swing Out Sister involvement ended.
Beginnings and debut album: ''It's Better to Travel'' (1985–1987)
Together with their producer,
Paul Staveley O'Duffy, they signed with
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. In the United States, it is ...
. Before their first album, they released the single "
Blue Mood
''Blue Mood: The Songs of T-Bone Walker'' is a tribute album by Duke Robillard, dedicated to the songs of T-Bone Walker.
Critical reception
''JazzTimes'' thought that Robillard "has the appropriately funky, slicing tone on 'T-Bone Shuffle', an ...
" in the UK in November 1985. However, it did not chart.
In late 1986, the single "
Breakout" was released. It reached the number four position on the
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 ...
in November 1986, and number six on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the United States in November 1987.
When they released their debut album, ''
It's Better to Travel
''It's Better to Travel'' is the debut album by the British pop band Swing Out Sister, released in 1987 on Mercury Records. Upon its release, the album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Information
This was Swing Out Sister's debut albu ...
'', on 11 May 1987, it reached number one on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales and (from March 2015) audio streaming in the United Kingdom. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the Official Charts C ...
.
[ The album blended real horns, synths (arranged subtly, to sound like strings), drums, and xylophones, scored by producer/arranger ]Richard Niles
Richard Niles is an American composer, arranger, record producer, guitarist, broadcaster, and journalist.
Biography Early years
Niles was born May 28, 1951, in Hollywood. He is the son of Tony Romano, a composer, singer, and guitarist who writ ...
. The follow-up single to "Breakout" was "Surrender
Surrender may refer to:
* Surrender (law), the early relinquishment of a tenancy
* Surrender (military), the relinquishment of territory, combatants, facilities, or armaments to another power
Film and television
* ''Surrender'' (1927 film), an ...
", which featured a trumpet solo performed by John Thirkell
John Thirkell is a British trumpet and flugelhorn player, who has appeared on hundreds of pop, rock, and jazz recordings. Through the 1980s and early 1990s he was on at least one album in the UK Charts continuously, without a break, for over ...
. It rose to number seven on the UK charts in January 1987.[ The next single was the more serious and jazzy " Twilight World". This song was the subject of many remixes and was a dance club favourite worldwide. The final single, "]Fooled By a Smile
"Fooled by a Smile" is a 1987 song by the British pop act Swing Out Sister. It was the final single to be taken from their debut album ''It's Better To Travel'' and reached #43 on the UK Singles Chart in July of that year.
It would be the final s ...
", returned to the upbeat pop orientation characteristic of "Breakout".
The group were subsequently nominated for two Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
in 1988: Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967. The official guidelines are as ...
and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo ("Breakout").
In addition to long-time partner O'Duffy as well as Thirkell, Swing Out Sister have also enlisted the talents of saxophonist Gary Barnacle
Gary Barnacle (born 1959 in Dover, England) is an English saxophonist, flautist, brass instrument arranger, composer, and producer. Barnacle is primarily noted for his session work and live work, including various Prince's Trust concerts at Wem ...
(who with Thirkell also comprise the Phantom Horns known for their work with Level 42
Level 42 is an English jazz-funk band formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. They had a number of UK and worldwide hits during the 1980s and 1990s.
Their highest-charting single in the UK was " Lessons in Love", which reached number three on th ...
); percussionist Luis Jardim
Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archaic ...
; guitarist Tim Cansfield; trumpet/fluegelhorn master Jerry Hey
Jerry Hey (born 1950) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, horn arranger, string arranger, orchestrator and session musician who has played on hundreds of commercial recordings, including Michael Jackson's '' Thriller'', ''Rock with You'', ...
; and songwriter-arranger Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He has written numerous platinum-selling songs, including " Up, Up and Away", "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", "MacArthur Park", "Wichita Lineman", "Worst ...
.
''Kaleidoscope World'' (1989)
Original member Jackson left the group during the making of the second album, '' Kaleidoscope World''. Although the liner notes give "special thanks to Martin Jackson" and his co-writing credits appear on the songs "Tainted" and "Between Strangers", they also point out that "Swing Out Sister are Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell." Drewery and Connell have been the core on all subsequent albums.
''Kaleidoscope World'' was released in May 1989, achieving critical acclaim and UK Top 10 success. Their turn away from contemporary styles towards retro musical sources on this album would establish the musical path that they would continue to follow with their subsequent albums. The duo found inspiration in Easy Listening
Easy listening (including mood music) is a popular music genre and radio format that was most popular during the 1950s to 1970s. It is related to middle-of-the-road (MOR) music and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, n ...
music, such as Burt Bacharach
Burt Freeman Bacharach ( ; born May 12, 1928) is an American composer, songwriter, record producer and pianist who composed hundreds of pop songs from the late 1950s through the 1980s, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. A six-time Gra ...
, as well as songwriter Jimmy Webb, who arranged two tracks, "Forever Blue" and "Precious Words". The incorporation of an orchestra in their recordings realised their sound in a richer, fuller way than their previous effort which relied more heavily on synthesisers. Consequently, this album featured arrangements and songwriting more classical in inclination. The lead-off single "You on My Mind" featured a more sophisticated blend of musical components (the video was strongly inspired by the 1968 cult film '' The Thomas Crown Affair'') than their previous efforts while the upbeat tone of "Breakout" was echoed in the lead U.S. single "Waiting Game". Further singles included "Where in the World Where in the World may refer to:
* ''Where in the World?'' (Irish game show), a 1987-1996 quiz show on RTÉ One
* ''Where in the World'' (UK game show), a 1983-1985 quiz show on Channel 4
* ''Where in the World?'' (album), a 1991 album by Bill F ...
" and "Forever Blue", which featured a descending phrase that reminds some people of the John Barry theme for the film ''Midnight Cowboy
''Midnight Cowboy'' is a 1969 American drama (film and television), drama film, based on the 1965 Midnight Cowboy (novel), novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. The film was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars ...
''.
''Get in Touch with Yourself'' (1992)
Now a duo of Drewery and Connell, Swing Out Sister put out their third album, '' Get in Touch with Yourself'', in June 1992. With strong dance rhythms reverberating throughout the entire album, tracks draw influences from 1960s and 1970s jazz, pop, soul, and funk. A breezy cover version
In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...
of the 1968 Barbara Acklin
Barbara Jean Acklin (February 28, 1943 – November 27, 1998) was an American soul singer and songwriter, who was most successful in the 1960s and 1970s. Her biggest hit as a singer was "Love Makes a Woman" (1968). As a songwriter, she is best ...
soul hit "Am I the Same Girl
"Am I the Same Girl?" is a popular song written by Eugene Record and Sonny Sanders. First recorded in 1968 by Barbara Acklin, "Am I the Same Girl?" charted most successfully in the US as a 1992 release by Swing Out Sister. However, the song ha ...
?" became Swing Out Sister's last US hit, reaching No.1 on the adult contemporary chart
The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...
. The album's title track, a blend of 1970s soul music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...
and modern pop, gained the duo heavy airplay on smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of commercially-oriented crossover jazz and easy listening music that became dominant in the mid 1970s to the early 1990s.
History
Smooth jazz is a commercially oriented, crossover jazz which came to prominence in the 19 ...
radio and was a crossover hit, gaining airtime on adult contemporary stations as well. The musical influences of Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop musi ...
, The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...
, Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music. and others would become evident on this album but continue on through their later releases. In line with the album theme, Drewery also grew out her hair from her trademark bob
Bob, BOB, or B.O.B. may refer to:
Places
* Mount Bob, New York, United States
*Bob Island, Palmer Archipelago, Antarctica
People, fictional characters, and named animals
*Bob (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
*Bob (surname ...
which had become a visual signature for their early years.
''The Living Return'' (1994)
Numerous changes were afoot by the time the fourth album, ''The Living Return
''The Living Return'' is the title of the fourth studio album by the British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was released in September 1994 on Fontana Records.
Charts
Although this was the first studio album by the group that failed to reach the ...
'', was released in September 1994. The replacement of producer Paul O'Duffy, after initial studio sessions with Ray Hayden, contributed to a looser, rawer feel to the songs that were often the results of studio jam sessions. Though Drewery and Connell still led Swing Out Sister, additional musicians, including former 52nd Street
52nd Street is a -long one-way street traveling west to east across Midtown Manhattan, New York City. A short section of it was known as the city's center of jazz performance from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Jazz center
Following the repeal of ...
bassist Derick Johnson, Pa'lante percussionist Chris Manis, Jazz Defectors drummer Myke Wilson, and trumpet player John Thirkell
John Thirkell is a British trumpet and flugelhorn player, who has appeared on hundreds of pop, rock, and jazz recordings. Through the 1980s and early 1990s he was on at least one album in the UK Charts continuously, without a break, for over ...
, increased the group to ten members who replicated the live performances that had been captured on the Japan-only release ''Live at the Jazz Cafe''. The album featured a cover of the Delfonics
The Delfonics were an American R&B/soul vocal group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Delfonics were most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their most notable hits include "La-La (Means I Love You)", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This ...
song "La-La (Means I Love You)
"La-La (Means I Love You)" is an R&B/Soul music, soul song by American vocal group The Delfonics. Released on January 26, 1968, by Philly Groove Records, the song was written by Thom Bell and William Hart, and produced by Bell and Stan Watson.
Ba ...
", which was released as a single and was included on the soundtrack of the movie ''Four Weddings and a Funeral
''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It is the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant, and follows the adventures of Charles (Grant) and his circle ...
''.
''Shapes and Patterns'' (1997)
Few of the band's releases charted highly on the pop listings in Western countries after the successful debut album. The band, however, became extremely popular in Japan. Their song " Now You're Not Here" (from their fifth album ''Shapes And Patterns'', one of several released in Japan before other parts of the world) was used as the theme to the Japanese TV programme "Mahiru No Tsuki", and was ranked at No.1 in the Japanese chart and received a Japanese 'Grand Prix' (the equivalent of a Grammy Award) for best international single in 1997.
''Shapes and Patterns
''Shapes and Patterns'' is the fifth studio album by British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was first released in Japan in March 1997 on Mercury Records, and in Europe and the United States the following year. Producer Paul Staveley O'Duffy, who ...
'' was first released in Japan in March 1997, and then in Europe and USA the year after. Producer Paul O'Duffy, who co-wrote half of the songs, was back at the helm. As an orchestra was once again employed (led by Gavyn Wright), the lush arrangements characteristic of ''Kaleidoscope World'' resurfaced. The liner notes, written by composer/singer-songwriter Mary Edwards, point out the influences of Bacharach, Webb, and John Barry are perceptible in the string arrangements and Latin rhythms, as well as Minnie Riperton
Minnie Julia Riperton Rudolph (November 8, 1947 – July 12, 1979)
was an American singer-songwriter best known for her 1975 single "Lovin' You" and her four octave D3 to F7 coloratura soprano range. She is also widely known for her use o ...
, Rotary Connection
Rotary Connection was an American psychedelic soul band, formed in Chicago in 1966.
In addition to their own recordings, including their 1967 debut album '' Rotary Connection'', the band is notable as the backing band for Muddy Waters on his 196 ...
, and The 5th Dimension
The 5th Dimension is an American popular music vocal group, whose repertoire includes pop, R&B, soul, jazz, light opera, and Broadway.
Formed as the Versatiles in late 1965, the group changed its name to "the 5th Dimension" by 1966. Betwee ...
.
The album included a cover of Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro ( ; born Laura Nigro; October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums ''Eli and the Thirteenth Confession'' (1968 ...
's " Stoned Soul Picnic" as well as the original version of "Better Make It Better", which appeared in a different mix on their previous album. A pervasive longing marks songs such as "Now You're Not Here", "Somewhere in the World" (their final US chart entry to date), "You Already Know", and "Icy Cold as Winter". This album would also mark the beginning of the duo's use of Japanese musicians in their studio sessions.
''Filth and Dreams'' (1999)
''Filth and Dreams
''Filth and Dreams'' is the sixth studio album by British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was released in Japan in March 1999, and unlike all of their previous studio albums, has not seen release in any other country. This album was their first ...
'', their sixth album, proved yet again that Swing Out Sister were eager to reinvent themselves. The album was released in Japan in March 1999, and it remains the only album not released in any other country. This album featured stronger jazz leanings than some of their early pop-oriented albums, and is restrained in mood. The track " Who's Been Sleeping" was promoted as a single and released with several remixes. For this record, SOS adapted to the growing popularity of hip-hop in the late '90s. "Who's Been Sleeping" kicks off the record with an aggressive beat and a few hip-hop flourishes (such as Drewery's counting and uttering "Yeah ..." in the background.) The rest of the record incorporates such sounds a bit more subtly, through the soaring retro stylings of "Closer Than the Sun" and "When Morning Comes" to the excitable lounge of the title track to the mid-tempo trip-hop of "Invisible" and scratch-laced "Sugar Free."
Traditional SOS sounds are challenged successfully with the darkly dreamy "If I Had the Heart" and "Make You Stay." Background noises, from telephone conversations to child's play, also enrich the record and give the listener much more to cue in on. Drewery strays out of the usual love lyrics and colours a portrait of a darker world (as the title indicates) by singing about more urban subjects such as drugs (the eerie "Happy When You're High") and prostitution ("When Morning Comes").
''Somewhere Deep in the Night'' (2001)
A seventh album, ''Somewhere Deep in the Night
''Somewhere Deep in the Night'' is the seventh studio album by the British pop group Swing Out Sister. Produced by longtime collaborator Paul Staveley O'Duffy, the album was first released in Japan in 2001, with a European and American release ...
'', was recorded in France, and released in May 2001 in Japan (with subsequent release in Europe and U.S.). It was dedicated to their friend Kazuhiko Yanagida. While it is quintessential Swing Out Sister, with lush, brassy, and stringy arrangements, the melodic tunes often feature melancholic, languid, or introspective atmospherics and are more sombre in tone. Many of the tracks are instrumental, or only feature vocal harmonies without lyrics. One song even features a French spoken-word monologue. O'Duffy, who produced the album, also has co-writing credits on all the songs, and provided backing vocals along with Connell and Cansfield.
Due to declining sales, their record label Universal dropped them from their contract in America. Consequently, they signed on with Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records is an American, New Jersey-based record label, founded in 1975 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. The label is named for the Gaelic word ''seanchaí'' (anglicised as shanachie), an Irish storyteller.
It was previously distribu ...
.
''Where Our Love Grows'' (2004)
Undeterred, the band bounced back with their eighth studio effort, ''Where Our Love Grows
''Where Our Love Grows'' is the eighth studio album by the British group Swing Out Sister. The album was released in 2004 and was produced by Paul Staveley O'Duffy.
On this album, group members Andy Connell and Corinne Drewery continued in th ...
''. It was released in Japan on 28 April 2004 with the UK edition following in July. GQ Magazine
''GQ'' (formerly ''Gentlemen's Quarterly'' and ''Apparel Arts'') is an American international monthly men's magazine based in New York City and founded in 1931. The publication focuses on fashion, style, and culture for men, though articles o ...
reviewed it and called it "indisputably their finest record to date". The album features a return to a rich, upbeat retro-sound that fuses jazz, soul, R&B, Latin, and easy listening music. Samples of Roger Nichols and The Small Circle of Friends
''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
and Herbie Mann
Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (incl ...
were incorporated also into some songs.
''Beautiful Mess'' (2008)
Late 2005 saw Swing Out Sister return to their studio in London to commence recording of their new album. The band planned on making a second tour of America in 2006, but due to recording commitments it had to be cancelled. In 2006, they composed incidental music for the ITV1
ITV1 (formerly known as ITV) is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the British media company ITV plc. It provides the Channel 3 public broadcast service across all of the United Kingdom except for t ...
drama ''The Outsiders'', which featured Nigel Harman
Nigel Derek Harman (born 11 August 1973) is an English actor, best known for his role as Dennis Rickman in the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders''. He has worked mostly in theatre. He starred in the final series of '' Hotel Babylo ...
. August 2007 saw a new single, "Secret Love", co-written by Morgan Fisher
Stephen Morgan Fisher (born 1 January 1950) is an English keyboard player and composer, and is most known as a member of Mott the Hoople in the early 1970s. However, his career has covered a wide range of musical activities, and he is still ac ...
.
The new album from the band was entitled '' Beautiful Mess'' and was released by the Japanese record company Avex on 27 February 2008. The title is taken from one of the tracks on the album. Prior to its release in late December 2007, two other tracks were made available for download: "Butterfly" and "Something Every Day". The album was released in the UK in August 2008 and in the U.S. in May 2009, reaching the Top 5 on the Jazz Album chart in the US.
2008–2009 Asia tour
In 2008 and 2009, Swing Out Sister went back on tour and appeared at the Jakarta Convention Center
Jakarta Convention Center or JCC ( id, Balai Sidang Jakarta) is a convention center located in Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of earliest as well as popular convention center in Jakarta. Since its inauguration in ...
, Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, then toured several venues in Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
in Tokyo, Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region, the fourth-most populous city and third most populous urban area in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020. Located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu, it is the capital and the most pop ...
, Osaka
is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...
, and Fukuoka
is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since ancie ...
, and then in the Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
.
Recent work
2012: 25th anniversary
2012 marked the 25th anniversary of the group's first album, ''It's Better to Travel''. The album was reissued on 16 July 2012 as a double CD set including the original album plus B-sides, rarities and remixes. On 14 July 2012, Swing Out Sister performed in its "big band" form at Islington
Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...
Assembly Hall. 500 limited edition 10" singles of "Love Won't Let You Down (Olympic Mix)" and "Breakout (Fabulous Party Mix)" were released to coincide with this landmark London show.
''Tokyo Stories'', a DVD from the group's 2010 performance at Billboard Japan, is a region 2 DVD and was released on 18 July 2012.
''Private View'' + 2 CD was also released in July 2012. Originally, ''Private View'' was available only through the band's Facebook page. The "+2" version is updated and includes two new tracks. The CD features an acoustic take on some of the group's hits.
2014: A Moveable Feast
In March 2014, the group announced a project entitled 'A Moveable Feast' to be released via Direct-to-Fan music platform PledgeMusic
PledgeMusic was an online direct-to-fan music platform, launched in August 2009. It was started to facilitate musicians looking to pre-sell, market, and distribute projects; such as recordings and concerts. It bore similarities to other artist p ...
, saying: "We're making a thing, don't know what it is yet. Come along for the ride and we'll find out together."
In September 2015, Swing out Sister shipped their album, '' Rushes'', to those who had signed up to the pledge; this included short samples of the songs that Swing Out Sister were writing for the 'Moveable Feast' project. The content was also available as downloadable MP3 tracks to those who donated money to support the development of the album.
2017: ''Almost Persuaded''
In November 2017, they released the culmination of the project, '' Almost Persuaded''. The album was scheduled for general release in June 2018.
On 13 November 2018, Swing Out Sister performed at Islington
Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...
Assembly Hall in support of the album.
Discography
Studio albums
*1987: ''It's Better to Travel
''It's Better to Travel'' is the debut album by the British pop band Swing Out Sister, released in 1987 on Mercury Records. Upon its release, the album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.
Information
This was Swing Out Sister's debut albu ...
''
*1989: '' Kaleidoscope World''
*1992: '' Get in Touch with Yourself''
*1994: ''The Living Return
''The Living Return'' is the title of the fourth studio album by the British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was released in September 1994 on Fontana Records.
Charts
Although this was the first studio album by the group that failed to reach the ...
''
*1997: ''Shapes and Patterns
''Shapes and Patterns'' is the fifth studio album by British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was first released in Japan in March 1997 on Mercury Records, and in Europe and the United States the following year. Producer Paul Staveley O'Duffy, who ...
''
*1999: ''Filth and Dreams
''Filth and Dreams'' is the sixth studio album by British pop group Swing Out Sister. It was released in Japan in March 1999, and unlike all of their previous studio albums, has not seen release in any other country. This album was their first ...
''
*2001: ''Somewhere Deep in the Night
''Somewhere Deep in the Night'' is the seventh studio album by the British pop group Swing Out Sister. Produced by longtime collaborator Paul Staveley O'Duffy, the album was first released in Japan in 2001, with a European and American release ...
''
*2004: ''Where Our Love Grows
''Where Our Love Grows'' is the eighth studio album by the British group Swing Out Sister. The album was released in 2004 and was produced by Paul Staveley O'Duffy.
On this album, group members Andy Connell and Corinne Drewery continued in th ...
''
*2008: '' Beautiful Mess''
*2012: ''Private View''
*2017: '' Almost Persuaded''
References
External links
Official website is offline
Complete discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sister, Swing Out
English pop music duos
English pop rock music groups
Jazz fusion ensembles
Musical groups established in 1985
Musical groups from Manchester
Male–female musical duos
Sophisti-pop musical groups
1985 establishments in England
Female-fronted musical groups