Swing Out Sister: История британской поп-группы

English pop group
the 1945 film with Arthur Treacher

Swing Out Sister are a British pop group best known worldwide for the 1986 song "Breakout". Other hits include "You On My Mind", "Twilight World", "Waiting Game", and a remake of the Eugene Record soul composition "Am I the Same Girl?"

Although Swing Out Sister are currently a duo, they began as a trio in the UK. The group was formed by Andy Connell (keyboards) and Martin Jackson (drums); they were later joined by Corinne Drewery (vocals). According to the group's website, "They christened themselves after an obscure Billie Burke "B" musical from the '40s 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 bands prior to forming SOS, while Drewery was a fashion designer and model before she became the band's lead vocalist. 52nd Street's Diane Charlemagne 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 and Magazine, 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.

Together with their producer, Paul Staveley O'Duffy, they signed with Mercury Records. Before their first album, they released the single "Blue Mood" 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 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, on 11 May 1987, it reached number one on the UK Albums Chart.

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 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.

In March 2014, the group announced a project titled 'A Moveable Feast' to be released via Direct to Fan music platform PledgeMusic, 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.

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 Assembly Hall in support of the album. Also in 2018, they were booked to play at the Blue Note Jazz Club in Milano. The line up consisted of Corinne Drewery on vocals, Andy Connell on keyboards, Gina Foster on vocals, Tim Cansfield on guitar, Myke Wilson on drums, Juneroy on bass and Jody Linscott on percussion.