Londonbeat is a British-American R&B and dance-pop vocal group formed in London in the late 1980s, consisting originally of American-born lead vocalist Jimmy Helms, along with Jimmy Chambers, George Chandler, and English multi-instrumentalist William Henshall (known as Willy M).
The band achieved international success in the early 1990s with their upbeat, soul-infused pop sound, most notably through the global hit single "I've Been Thinking About You", which topped the charts in countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden, reached number two in the United Kingdom, and hit number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 for one week in April 1991.
Their music blended harmonious vocals with dance rhythms, drawing from the members' extensive backgrounds in soul and session work, and they released their debut album Speak in 1988, followed by the breakthrough In the Blood in 1990.
The group's early career featured moderate success in Europe, with singles like "9 A.M. (The Comfort Zone)" and "There's a Beat Goin' On" charting in the UK and Netherlands from their debut album, establishing their reputation for feel-good, radio-friendly tracks.
In the Blood propelled them to wider fame, producing additional hits such as "A Better Love" (which peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100) and "You Bring on the Sun", and the album itself achieved gold status in several markets.
Over the years, Londonbeat released five more studio albums, including Harmony (1992), the self-titled Londonbeat (1994).
To most pop fans, at least in the U.S., The Very Best of Londonbeat would amount to one song -- the terrific Fine Young Cannibals knock-off, "I've Been Thinking About You."
As Camden's British-only compilation The Very Best of Londonbeat illustrates, they had a little more substance than that.
True, they weren't particularly innovative and they didn't have another single quite as dazzling as "I've Been Thinking About You," but the other British hits -- "9 AM (The Comfort Zone)," "Falling in Love Again," "A Better Love," and "You Bring on the Sun" -- are enjoyable slices of late-'80s/early-'90s, soulful, tuneful dance-pop.
There might not be too many lost gems here, but for anyone that loved the big hit and wants more in the same vein, this much of this compilation delivers.
Tracklist
1. Failing In Love Again - 2:35
2. 9am (The Comfort Zone) - 4:19
3. I've Been Thinking About You - 3:50
4. A Better Love - 4:03
5. No Woman No Cry - 4:07
6. You Bring On The Sun - 3:37
7. That's How I Feel About You - 3:59
8. I'm Just Your Puppet On A ... (String) - 3:36
9. Come Back - 3:53
10. She Broke My Heart (In 36 Places) - 3:40
11. Crying In The Rain - 5:20
12. It's In The Blood - 3:56
13. Katey - 5:21
14. Some Lucky Guy - 4:37
15. All Born Equal - 4:06
16. Keeping The Memories Alive - 4:21
17. Step Inside My Shoes - 4:16
18. She Said She Loves Me - 4:16
Londonbeat's current lineup consists:
Jimmy Helms
Jimmy Chambers
Charles Pierre
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – BMG Entertainment International UK & Ireland Ltd.
- Copyright © – BMG Entertainment International UK & Ireland Ltd.
- Pressed By – Disctronics S
- Glass Mastered At – Disctronics S
Notes
Released: 1997
Genre: Europop, Synth-pop
Runtime: 1:13:30
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