52nd Street: Манчестерлік джаз-фанк тобының тарихы

British jazz funk band

52nd Street were a British jazz funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the United States. Their biggest and best known hit single was "Tell Me (How It Feels)", released in 1985 by the 10 Records subsidiary of Virgin Records in the UK, and then months later on in 1986 on MCA Records in the US.

The original line up consisted of Tony Henry (guitar), Derrick Johnson (bass), Desmond Isaacs (keyboards), drummer Tony Thompson (drums) (not to be confused with the Chic drummer of the same name), Jennifer McCloud (vocals). Vocalist Rose Williams and saxophonist Eric Godden both came and departed before John Dennison replaced Desmond Isaacs and Beverley McDonald replaced Jennifer McCloud, at which point the lineup stabili[z/s]ed. The band played gigs around the Manchester scene, whilst at the same time recording demo tapes in local studios. Local funk DJ Mike Shaft became their mentor, playing 52nd Street demos on his Piccadilly Radio shows. In mid 1981, noted R&B/soul DJ Richard Searling and former Sad Café manager Derek Brandwood (both of RCA Records) brought the band into a local Manchester recording studio, Revolution Studios, to record the group's intended debut single. Meanwhile, simultaneously, the band also frequented Strawberry Studios to record tracks for Warner Bros. Records A&R scout and club promotions manager Erskine Thompson. With both major labels increasing the pressure to talk to the as yet manager less 52nd Street, bass player Derrick Johnson instead contacted Rob Gretton, co owner of Factory Records and a former DJ (the connection was through Johnson's brother Donald, the drummer for Factory act A Certain Ratio). Gretton went to see the band play at jazz venue the Band on the Wall in Manchester. Soon after, Gretton and his business partner, Tony Wilson added the band to their roster.

52nd Street's first release on Factory Records in 1982 was "Look into My Eyes," backed with "Express", produced by Donald Johnson. Journalist Paul Morley, then reviewing singles for the NME, made it his single of the week, but his approval did little to get daytime radio play or enhance sales. "Cool as Ice" (backed with "Twice as Nice") was not released in the UK, although the song gained a top 30 Billboard Dance Chart position. McDonald was replaced by Diane Charlemagne (later lead vocalist with Moby and would go on to bigger UK success with the Urban Cookie Collective). "Can't Afford" was an even a bigger US success than "Cool as Ice," entering the top 20 on the Billboard Dance Chart in early 1985. Loyalties within the band were being tested. Derrick Johnson was a Factory Records man. He not only played bass for 52nd Street, but was also session guitarist alongside his brother Barry Johnson (former bass player with Sweet Sensation) in Quando Quango. After deliberation and against the wishes of both Gretton and Wilson, 52nd Street followed Lindsay Reade and left Factory Records in January 1985. Derrick Johnson refused to follow and stayed with the organisation.

The band went on to have success in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard R&B Chart with several songs from their 1985 album Children of the Night. The album reached No. 23 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and No. 71 in the UK Albums Chart. It was produced by Philadelphia based Nick Martinelli, who was producing two other successful UK based acts Loose Ends and Five Star at the time. The album and single failed to chart in the UK. One other single from the album was released, "Are You Receiving Me?". In 1988, the group, minus Dennison, released one last unsuccessful single as 52nd Street, "Say You Will". In late 1987, Dennison co wrote the dance hit single "Girls Can Jak Too" with his sister Susan (released under the name 'Zuzan'), produced by Mike Pickering.

In 1990, Charlemagne and Bowry re emerged under the name Cool Down Zone. They invited 52nd Street's live drummer Mike Wilson to join, and they released the album New Direction. They released two singles from the album; "Heaven Knows" and "Waiting For Love". "Heaven Knows" reached No. 52 on the UK Singles Chart. They released two more singles, "Lonely Hearts" in 1992 and "Essential Love" in 1993, before disbanding. Tony Henry went on to form FR'Mystery, releasing music on the imprint Gwarn Records between 1991 and 1994.

YearAlbumPeak chart positionsUK 1982 "Look Into My Eyes" — — — 1983 "Cool as Ice" — 29 — "Twice as Nice" — — 1984 "Can't Afford" — 16 — 1985 "Tell Me (How It Feels)" 8 14 54 "You're My Last Chance" 67 — 49 1986 "Children of the Night" — — — "I Can't Let You Go" — — 57 1987 "Are You Receiving Me?" — — — "I'll Return" 79 — — 1988 "Say You Will" — — 98 "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.