Ph.D. (band)

Ph.D. were a British group best known for their UK Top 10 hit "I Won't Let You Down" in April 1982,[1] although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three founding members' surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond. The name was written as Ph.D. so as to be a visual pun on the letters denoting the degree of the same name.

Ph.D.
Jim Diamond and Tony Hymas, 1981.
Background information
OriginUnited Kingdom
Genres
Years active1981–1983
2006–2015
LabelsAtlantic (US)
Warner Bros. (Canada)
wea
Voiceprint
Associated actsJeff Beck
Bandit
Past membersJim Diamond
Tony Hymas
Simon Phillips

Band history

Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled debut album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad "I Won't Let You Down" which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982,[1] and number five in Australia. Following the single's success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.[1]

Their music video for "Little Suzi's on the Up" was notable for being the fifth video shown on MTV's first broadcasting day, being 1 August 1981 in parts of the US.

Phillips left the group sometime during the recording of their second album; he plays drums on four tracks. Ph.D., now officially a duo of Diamond and Hymas, released their second album Is It Safe? in 1983. The first single, "I Didn't Know," failed to make the UK Top 40, but did well in Europe.

A short time later Diamond contracted hepatitis. Prevented by his illness from touring, the group disbanded.

After Ph.D.

Diamond returned some time later as a solo artist and scored a UK No. 1 single in November 1984 with "I Should Have Known Better".

Hard rock band Tesla's cover version of "Little Suzi's on the Up" (as "Little Suzi") was an American radio hit in 1986.

Hymas appeared on Diamond's self-titled 1988 album Jim Diamond.

Diamond and Hymas reformed the group as a duo in 2006.

Diamond confirmed that the two studio albums could be added to iTunes. Reissues of the first two albums were released by Voiceprint Records. The label also released Three on 2 February 2009.

Jim Diamond died on 8 October 2015, effectively dissolving the band.[2]

Band members

Discography

Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[3]		 AUS
[4]		 GER
[5]		 NLD
[6]
Ph.D. 3329526
Is It Safe?
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: WEA
  • Formats: LP, cassette
 ————
Three
  • Released: 2 February 2009
  • Label: Voiceprint
  • Format: CD
 ————
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[3]		 AUS
[7]		 BEL
(FL)
[8]		 GER
[5]		 IRE
[9]		 NLD
[6]		 SWI
[10]
"Little Suzi's on the Up" 1981 ——————— Ph.D.
"I Won't Let You Down" 1982 35114312
"There's No Answer to It" ———————
"I Didn't Know" 1983 ——31———— Is It Safe?
"Fifth of May" ———————
"Drive Time" 2009 ——————— Three
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References
  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 414. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. "Singer-songwriter Jim Diamond dies – BBC News". BBC. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  3. "P.H.D." Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  4. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 233. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  5. Peak chart positions in Germany:
    • Ph.D.: "Ph.D. – Ph.D." (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
    • "I Won't Let You Down": "Ph.D. – Ph.D." (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  6. "Discografie Ph.D." dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  7. Kent, David (2007). Australian Top 20 Book 1940–2006. Turramurra, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 978-0-646-47665-0.
  8. "Discografie Ph.D." (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. "Search the charts". The Irish Charts. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  10. "Ph.D." hitparade.ch (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  11. "British certifications – Ph D". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2019. Type Ph D in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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