Sad Café

Sad Café
Origin	Manchester, England
Genres	Soft rock[1]
Years active	1976–1990
Labels	RCA; A&M; Swan Song; Polydor; Legacy; Atlantic; Edsel; Ariola Express; Camden; Eagle; Renaissance; Castle Communications; Armoury;
Associated acts	Mandalaband; Gyro; Mike + The Mechanics;
Website	www.sadcafe.co.uk
Past members	Paul Young (vocals); Ian Wilson (guitar); Vic Emerson (keyboards); Ashley Mulford (lead guitar); John Stimpson (bass); Tony Cresswell (drums);

Sad Café are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1976, who achieved their peak of popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They are best known for the UK Top 40 singles "Every Day Hurts", "Strange Little Girl", "My Oh My" and "I'm in Love Again",[2] the first of which was their biggest hit, reaching number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 1979.[3] The band also had two US Billboard Hot 100 hits with "Run Home Girl" and "La-Di-Da".[2]

History

The group formed as a result of the unification of rock bands Mandalaband and Gyro.[2] Its founder members were Paul Young (vocals), Ian Wilson (guitar), Vic Emerson (keyboards), Ashley Mulford (lead guitar), John Stimpson (bass) and Tony Cresswell (drums).[2] Harvey Lisberg, who also managed 10cc, arranged for Eric Stewart to produce their third album, Facades, which included the top 3 single, "Every Day Hurts".[4]

Reviewing the band's 1978 Misplaced Ideals LP, Robert Christgau wrote in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981): "In which the decade's most paradoxical, characteristic, and disgusting pop-music synthesis—combining hard rock's compulsive riff energy with MOR's smooth determination to displease no one—is achieved without recourse to jazz rhythms or semiclassical decoration. Misplaced ideals my ass—they threw them down the deepest hole they could find."[5]

The band initially dissolved in 1990, but briefly reformed in 1998, and again in 2000. The band played a 2000 concert as a tribute to former vocalist Paul Young, who had died on 15 July 2000.

Personnel

Members

Current

Ian Wilson – guitars, vocals (1976–1990, 1998, 2000, 2012–present)
Dave Irving – drums, vocals (1978–1984, 2000, 2012–present)
Des Tong – bass, vocals (1980–1990, 1998, 2000, 2012–present)
Sue Quin – vocals (2012–present)
Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals (2018-present)
Barry James Thomas - vocals, percussion (2018-present)
Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophones, wx7, vocals (2018-present)
Matt Steele - keyboards (2019-present)

Former

Paul Young – lead vocals (1976–1990, 1998; died 2000)
Vic Emerson – keyboards (1976–1984, 2000; died 13 October 2018)[6]
John Stimpson – bass (1976–1980)
Tony Cresswell – drums (1976–1978)
Lenni – saxophone (1979–1984, 1998, 2000)
Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitars (1981–1984, 1989–1990, 1998; guest musician: 1986)
Jeff Seopardi – drums (1984–1986)
Phil Lanzon – keyboards (1986)
Alistair Gordon – keyboards, vocals (1989–1990, 1998)
Simon Waggott – keyboards (2012–2014)
Steve Whalley – guitars, vocals (2012–2014)
Ashley Mulford – lead guitars, vocals (1976–1981, 1986–1989, 2000, 2012–2014)
Pete Hughes - keyboards, vocals (2018)

Guest musicians

Roy Martin – drums (1998)
Paul Burgess – drums (1986–1990)
Steve Pigott – keyboards (1984–1986)

Lineups

1976–1978	1978–1979	1979–1980	1980–1981
Paul Young – lead vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Vic Emerson – keyboards John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals Tony Cresswell – drums	Paul Young – lead vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Vic Emerson – keyboards John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals Dave Irving – drums	Paul Young – lead vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Vic Emerson – keyboards John Stimpson – bass, backing vocals Dave Irving – drums Lenni – saxophone	Paul Young – lead vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Vic Emerson – keyboards Dave Irving – drums Lenni – saxophone Des Tong – bass, backing vocals
1981–1984	1984–1986	1986	1986–1989
Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Vic Emerson – keyboards Dave Irving – drums Lenni – saxophone Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar	Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – guitars, backing vocals Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Danny Schogger – keyboards Jeff Seopardi – drums	Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Jeff Seopardi – drums Phil Lanzon – keyboards Guest musicians Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar	Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, backing vocals Paul Burgess – drums
1989–1990	1990–1998	1998	1998–2000
Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Paul Burgess – drums Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar Alistair Gordon – keyboards, backing vocals	Disbanded	Paul Young – lead vocals Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Des Tong – bass, backing vocals Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar Alistair Gordon – keyboards, backing vocals Lenni – saxophone Guest musicians Roy Martin – drums	Disbanded
2000	2000–2012	2012–2014	2018
Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals Des Tong – bass, vocals Lenni – saxophone Vic Emerson – keyboards Dave Irving – drums, Michael Byron-Hehir – lead guitar Alistair Gordon- vocals Steve Butler - vocals Sue Quin - vocals	Disbanded	Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals Des Tong – bass, vocals Dave Irving – drums Ashley Mulford – lead guitar, vocals Sue Quin – vocals, keyboards Simon Waggott – keyboards, vocals Steve Whalley – guitar, vocals	Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals Des Tong – bass, vocals Dave Irving – drums, vocals Sue Quin – vocals Barry James Thomas - vocals Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals Pete Hughes - keyboards, vocals
2019
Ian Wilson – rhythm guitar, vocals Des Tong – bass, vocals Dave Irving – drums, vocals Sue Quin – vocals Barry James Thomas - vocals Dave Day - lead guitars, vocals Neil Shaw-Hulme - saxophone, wx7, vocals Matt Steele - keyboards,

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Title	Details	UK	US
1977	Fanx Ta-Ra	Released: September 1977 Label: RCA	56	-
1978	Misplaced Ideals	Released: April 1978 Label: RCA	50	-
1978	Misplaced Ideals	Released: November 1978 Label: A&M US version of the two first LPs	-	94
1979	Facades	Released: September 1979 Label: RCA, A&M	8	146
1980	Sad Café	Released: October 1980 Label: RCA, Swan Song	46	160
1981	Olé	Released: October 1981 Label: Polydor	72	-
1985	Politics of Existing	Released 1985 Label: Legacy, Atlantic	-	-
1989	Whatever It Takes	Released: 1989 Label: Legacy	-	-

Live albums

Year	Title	Details	UK
1981	Live in Concert	Released: April 1981 Label: RCA	37
2015	Access All Areas	Released: 23 March 2015 Label: Edsel Includes DVD of concert	-

Compilation albums

Year	Title	Details
1984	The Best of Sad Café	Released: 1984 Label: RCA
1994	The Best of Sad Café	Released: 1994 Label: Ariola Express
1997	Everyday Hurts: The Best of Sad Café	Released: June 1997 Label: Camden
	The Masters	Released: September 1997 Label: Eagle
	Facades / Misplaced Ideals	Released: November 1997 Label: Renaissance US-only release
2000	Saving Grace	Released: September 2000 Label: Castle Repackaging of Politics of Existing and Whatever It Takes
2001	The Best of Sad Café	Released: April 2001 Label: Camden Reissue of 1997 Everyday Hurts: The Best of Sad Café
2001	Anthology	Released: July 2001 Label: Burning Airlines UK release
2002	Every Day Hurts	Released: 2002 Label: Armoury
2005	Anthology	Released: January 2005 Label: Renaissance US release of the 2001 album
2008	Anthology	Released: September 2008 Label: The Store for Music European release of the 2001 album
2009	Fanx Ta-Ra / Misplaced Ideals	Released: June 2009 Label: Edsel UK-only release
2009	Facades / Sad Cafe	Released: June 2009 Label: Edsel UK-only release
2020	Anthology	Released: January 2021 Label: Renaissance Vinyl Reissue of the 2001 album

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions
Year	Single	AUS[7]	NED	UK	US
1977	"Black Rose"	-	-	-	-
1977	"Love Will Survive" (UK-only release)	-	-	-	-
1978	"Hungry Eyes" (UK-only release)	-	-	-	-
1978	"Run Home Girl" (US-only release)	-	-	-	71
1979	"Every Day Hurts"	78	48	3	-
	"Emptiness" (US and Canada-only release)	-	-	-	-
	"Strange Little Girl"	-	-	32	-
1980	"My Oh My"	-	42	14	-
	"Nothing Left Toulouse" (UK only-release)	-	-	62	-
	"La-Di-Da"	-	-	41	-
	"I'm in Love Again"	-	-	40	-
1981	"Black Rose" (Live)	-	-	-	-
	"Misunderstanding"	-	-	-	-
	"La-Di-Da" (US release)	-	-	-	78
	"No Favours-No Way" (US-only promo)	-	-	-	-
	"Follow You Anywhere"	-	-	-	-
1983	"Keep Us Together" (UK-only release)	-	-	76	-
1984	"Why Do You Love Me Like You Do"	-	-	-	-
1985	"Refugees" (UK-only release)	-	-	-	-
1986	"Only Love" (UK-only release)	-	-	-	-
1986	"Heart"	-	-	-	-
1989	"Take Me (Heart and Soul)" (UK-only release)	-	-	-	-
1989	"Whatever It Takes"	-	-	-	-

References

Artist Biography by Greg Prato (15 July 2000). "Sad Café | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1051. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 478. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Laing, Dave (19 July 2000). "Obituary: Paul Young – Singer who made Manchester rock". The Guardian. London.
Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 12 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
Mowbray, Guy (8 November 2018). "Vic Emerson obituary" – via www.theguardian.com.
Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 263. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

External links

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[1] Artist Biography by Greg Prato (15 July 2000). "Sad Café | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 February 2014.

[Larkin-2] Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1051. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.

[British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums-3] Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 478. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.

[4] Laing, Dave (19 July 2000). "Obituary: Paul Young – Singer who made Manchester rock". The Guardian. London.

[CG-5] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 12 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[6] Mowbray, Guy (8 November 2018). "Vic Emerson obituary" – via www.theguardian.com.

[aus-7] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 263. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.