A feature on Dexys Midnight Runners' Radio Sessions and Live In Concert performances recorded for the BBC between 1980 and 1982. BBC Radio One Live in Concert was a live album by Dexys Midnight Runners, recorded for the BBC in 1982 and released in 1995. Dexy's Midnight Runners.

1. Chicago Live In Concert
2. Live In Concert Radio Show

Dexys at in 2012 Background information Also known as Dexys Midnight Runners The Emerald Express Origin, Genres, Years active 1978–1986, 2003–present Labels Oddball Windsong Absolute Dexys 100% / Warner Music Associated acts Website Members Lucy Morgan Sean Read Michael Timothy Andy Hobson Billy Stookes Mark Kavuma Dexys Midnight Runners (currently officially Dexys, their common nickname; sometimes styled with and sometimes without an apostrophe) ) are an pop band with influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid-1980s. They are best known in the UK for their songs ' and ', both of which peaked at No. 1 on the, as well as six other top-20 singles. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dexys (no apostrophe) went through numerous personnel changes over the course of three albums and thirteen singles, with only singer/songwriter/co-founder remaining in the band through all of the transitions and only Rowland and 'Big' Jim Paterson (trombone) appearing on all of the albums. By 1985, the band consisted only of Rowland and long-standing members (violin) and Billy Adams (guitar). The band broke up in 1987, with Rowland becoming a solo artist. After two failed restart attempts, Dexys was reformed by Rowland in 2003 with new members, as well as a few returning members from the band's original lineup (known as Dexys Mark I). Dexys released their fourth album in 2012 and a fifth followed in 2016.

Contents. History Dexys Mark I: 1978–80 Foundation and first single Dexys Midnight Runners were founded in 1978 in, England by (vocals, guitar, at the time using the pseudonym Carlo Rolan) and (vocals, guitar). Both had been in the short-lived punk band. Rowland had previously written a -style song that the two of them sang, 'Tell Me When My Light Turns Green', which became the first Dexys 'song'. The band's name was derived from, a brand of used as a among Northern soul fans to give them energy to dance all night. While recruiting members for the new band, Rowland noted that 'Anyone joining Dexys had to give up their job and rehearse all day long.

We had nothing to lose and felt that what we were doing was everything.' 'Big' Jim Paterson (trombone), Geoff 'JB' Blythe (saxophone, previously of 's ), Steve 'Babyface' Spooner (alto saxophone), Pete Saunders (keyboard), Pete Williams (bass) and John Jay (drums) formed the first line-up of the band, which began playing live at the end of 1978. By the middle of 1979, Bobby 'Jnr' Ward had replaced Jay on drums. Clash manager then signed them and sent them into the studio to record a Rowland-penned single, 'Burn It Down', which Rhodes renamed to '. In response to Rhodes' criticism of Rowland's singing style, Rowland developed a 'more emotional' sound, influenced by of the band, as well as the theatricality of. After a series of dates opening for, who wore suits on stage to create an image, Rowland decided that his new band needed its own distinct look.

Borrowing from an outfit that Paterson had worn to rehearsals, Dexys subsequently dressed in or leather coats and woolly hats, a look described as 'straight out of 's '. Rowland said of the band's sound and look in January 1980: 'we didn't want to become part of anyone else's movement. We'd rather be our own movement'. A unified image became very important to the group, with Rowland commenting 'We wanted to be a group that looked like something. A formed group, a project, not just random.' 'Dance Stance', which Rhodes produced, was released on the independent Oddball Records, which Rhodes owned, and which was distributed.

Although it was named 'single of the week' by, it stalled at number 40 in the British charts, which EMI and Rowland believed was due to Rhodes' poor production. Rowland said, 'We learned that early on, that the wrong producer can totally screw your record up.' As a result, Dexys fired Rhodes and signed directly to EMI, and EMI immediately put in charge of their production. Both Saunders and Ward left the band, to be replaced by (keyboards) and Andy 'Stoker' Growcott (drums). Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and first band split Building on the unexpected success of 'Dance Stance' (aka 'Burn It Down'), Dexys' next single, ' – about – became a British Number One in 1980. It featured the band's 'Late Night Feelings' imprint on the single, which became a trademark of the band's records on EMI. Rowland wrote about Washington as he had seen one of his performances aged 11 with his brother.

The success of the song prompted Washington to make a return to live performance, but it also prompted the departure of Leek, who said he didn't want to be famous. Pete Saunders returned to the band temporarily, replacing Leek, to record their debut album. Dexys' debut LP, which featured 'Geno', was released in July 1980. The label of the album also included the band's 'Late Night Feelings' imprint, and the album's sleeve featured a photograph of a Catholic boy carrying his belongings after moving from his home during; the Irish-descended Rowland explained that 'I wanted a picture of unrest.

It could have been from anywhere but I was secretly glad that it was from Ireland.' Of the album's title, Rowland said 'I don't know. I just liked the sound of it, really.' Of the songs on the album, only two ('Geno' and 'There, There, My Dear') were written by Rowland (lyrics) and Archer (music) together; producer hadn't liked Rowland's lyrics on their third co-composition ('Keep It') and had instead turned those lyrics into a separate song ('Love Part One'); Blythe wrote new lyrics for the version of 'Keep It' on the album.

The same month, Rowland imposed a press embargo on the band; instead, Dexys would take out ads in the music papers explaining the band's position on various issues. This was a response to some less than complimentary opinions from some music press writers; for example, the 's Mark Cordery accused the band of 'emotional fascism' and described their music as a perversion of soul music with 'no tenderness, no sex, no wit, no laughter'. After the album, Saunders was replaced by (ex-) on keyboards. 'There, There, My Dear' became the band's second top-10 single. However, after a couple months of touring, Rowland insisted on writing new lyrics to Archer's music for 'Keep It' for release as the band's next single, despite EMI's objections. The single, called 'Keep It Part Two (Inferiority Part One)', was a failure, and five of the band members then quit, angered over continual personality problems with Rowland, as well as Rowland's policy of not speaking to the music press.

Archer and Paterson both remained with Rowland at first, but then Archer also decided to leave, which reduced Dexys to just Rowland and Paterson, whom Rowland referred to as 'the Celtic soul brothers' (in reference to Paterson's Scottish background and Rowland's Irish background). Archer (and Leek) eventually formed, while the other departing members—Blythe, Spooner, Williams, 'Stoker', and Talbot—formed, which Wingfield continued to produce.

Dexys Mark II: 1981–82 The Projected Passion Revue Rowland and Paterson first chose to write several new songs, so that Dexys could move forward from the split. They then brought in an old friend of theirs, (guitar/banjo), along with (drums, formerly of ), (keyboard), Brian Maurice Brummitt (who dropped his last name for his stage name 'Brian Maurice', alto saxophone), (tenor saxophone) and Steve Wynne (bass). This new lineup also adopted a new look that included hooded tops, boots, and pony tails. Along with the new image, Rowland brought in a fitness regime, which included together and running as a group, Rowland commenting 'The togetherness of running along together just gets. That fighting spirit going'. The group would also take part in group exercise sessions before performances, and before shows was strictly forbidden.

By the time the new band's first single 'Plan B', produced by instead of Wingfield, was released in March 1981, the band's management had discovered that had failed to pick up a mandatory contract option, so Dexys were technically no longer under contract. They asked, without success, that EMI not release the single; without promotion, the single flopped. Later in March 1981, an ad appeared in which Rowland stated that the previous members of the band had 'hatched a plot to throw Kevin out and still carry on under the same name'. It also cited Rowland's suggestion that 'they might learn new instruments' as a reason for their displeasure.

The ad announced that Dexys had been working on a new live venture, 'The Midnight Runners Projected Passion Revue'. In April, Dexys prevailed to win their release from EMI, although without the financial support of a label, they were unable to mount the spring tour that had planned and had to settle for playing only five dates, including one recorded.

In June they signed by, where Dexys remained until their 1987 breakup. Dexys' first single for Mercury, 'Show Me', produced. Was released in July 1981 and reached No. 16 in the UK. The label switch was followed by a session for 's BBC Radio 1 show in which the band previewed tracks that would be reworked later on Too-Rye-Ay.

Wynne was sacked by the group at this point, to be replaced by Mick Gallick (whom Rowland gave the stage name 'Giorgio Kilkenny') on bass. Music journalist commented about this version of Dexys: 'Dexys wouldn't make a record unless they thought it was great. And they wouldn't play a gig unless they thought they were gonna be great.' Around this time, Archer played Rowland demos of Archer's new group, The Blue Ox Babes, which featured, in Rowland's words, 'a -style beat with violins'. The violins had been played by a classical violin student named. Rowland's first idea was to get the horn players to also play strings, as he had discussed in the March interview (with Speare on viola, which he already played, and string novices Paterson and Maurice on cello), and the horn players (with session musician support) contributed strings to the third single with the new lineup, 'Liars A to E', produced by, which was released in October 1981. In November, the group played a three-night stand at The Old Vic in London, with the horn section again doubling on strings.

The Old Vic shows attracted unexpectedly rave reviews in the press, although these concerts were not recorded. Rowland said of these shows, 'Those three nights at the Old Vic were all I wanted to say in '81.' Dexys' 1981 recordings, including all three singles (both A-sides and B-sides) as well as the tracks from the two appearances, were released by Dexys on CD in 2007 as. Too-Rye-Ay, stardom, and turnover.

Michaels, Sean (13 February 2012). The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2014. ^ Kinney, Fergal (26 October 2014). Louder Than War.

Retrieved 1 April 2016. ^ Gimarc, George (2005) Punk Diary: The Ultimate Trainspotter's Guide to Underground Rock 1970–1982, Backbeat Books,. ^ Dave Simpson (16 October 2014). The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2016. Archived from on 18 March 2016.

Retrieved 29 January 2016. ^ Wilde, Jon (9 November 2012). Sabotage Times. Retrieved 24 January 2016. ^ Reynolds, Simon (2005) Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978–1984, Faber & Faber, p.

293–296., 10 May 1980. Kevin Archer, Liner notes to Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (2000). ^ 'Young Guns' BBC interview, available. ^ Richard White, Dexys Midnight Runners: Young Soul Rebels (2005), p. Record Mirror 3 July 1982. Raggett, Ned ', Macrovision Corporation. British Hit Singles & Albums (Guinness World Records).

Retrieved 8 April 2016. Retrieved on 9 May 2012.

^ Kevin Rowland, Liner notes to Creation reissue of Don't Stand Me Down. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2010. ^ Holland, Roger (10 November 2005). Retrieved 18 February 2016. Mason, Phil (3 December 2013). Retrieved 13 February 2016.

Helen O'Hara interview, reprinted at. Thompson, Dave ', Macrovision Corporation. Schnee, Steve 'Spaz' ', Macrovision Corporation. Irwin, Colin (7 September 1985). 'Stand And Deliver'.

Melody Maker. ^ Simpson, Dave (18 September 2003). Retrieved 31 January 2016. The band performed two new songs, 'Manhood' and 'If I Ever', on the UK TV show Saturday Zoo. Retrieved on 25 August 2011. 4 March 2012 at the.

Wales Online. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2016. Kevin Rowland, Liner notes for Don't Stand Me Down: The Director's Cut (2004). Retrieved 12 February 2015. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.

Chicago Live In Concert

^ Cashmere, Paul (2011) ' Midnight Runners Return After 27 Years', noise11.com, 11 February 2012, retrieved 9 April 2012., 10 February 2012, retrieved 9 April 2012. Ewing, Tom (13 June 2012). Retrieved 12 February 2016., 10 May 2012, Retrieved 16 May 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012. Archived from on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2015.

Retrieved 12 February 2016. 29 March 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2016. New Musical Express. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.

Dexys News. Retrieved 9 April 2016. Retrieved 30 June 2016. Dexys (12 June 2016). Retrieved 12 March 2017. 2 February 2016 at the. 12 April 2009 at the.

Live In Concert Radio Show

Retrieved on 25 August 2011. EveryHit.com (16 March 2000). Retrieved on 25 August 2011. Charts.org.nz (19 September 1982). Retrieved on 25 August 2011.

Retrieved on 25 August 2011. Retrieved on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 7 May 2012. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.).

London: Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 24 June 2012. External links.

It would not be until 1993 - when an incomplete recording of the live broadcast from Newcastle was issued as 'BBC RADIO ONE LIVE IN CONCERT' - that the first CD featuring any of these performances was officially released. This was followed two years later by the 'RADIO 1 SESSIONS' compilation which, curiously, featured just 8 of the 16 available tracks. Since then most of the remaining recordings have come out in dribs and drabs as part of various compilations and album re-issues. The only BBC recording which remains completely unreleased is a 'Live In C oncert' performance from Liverpool dating from March 1983. None of these tracks featured at all on the 'RADIO 1 SESSIONS' CD, with only one selection from 1980 (out of a possible eight) deemed worthy of inclusion by Kevin Rowland who personally selected the recordings for that release. The recording of 'Respect' finally found its way onto CD with the 1996 compilation 'IT WAS LIKE THIS', but it was not until 2010 that all of the tracks gained a release on the 'SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS - 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION'.

The earliest known recording of 'Geno' is note-worthy as being the only released version to include the extended introduction incorporating Geno Washington's ' which was a regular part of live performances of the song. Only 'Tell Me When My Light Turns Green' made the cut when the 'RADIO 1 SESSIONS' CD was released in 1995, leaving a fifteen year wait for the remaining tracks to gain release - again on the excellent 'SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS - 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION'. The recordings of 'Geno' and 'Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache' are both very similar to the single versions, having been recorded within weeks of each other. 'Tell Me When My Light Turns Green' represents a slightly earlier incarnation of that song - missing out the break-down section featured on the later album version. This concert - a popular bootleg amongst fans for many years - was eventually released on CD in 2007 as part of the 'PROJECTED PASSION REVUE' retrospective collection. The released version has the bonus of including 'Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache' - absent from the original radio broadcast and, therefore, the bootleg tapes also. However, somewhat bizarrely, the start of 'Soon' is missing from the released version even though it IS on the bootleg recordings of the radio broadcast! For anyone not lucky enough to have witnessed the 1981 line-up in action the concert gives a good indication of the power and 'passion' of their performances.

The only one of Dexys' four Radio One Sessions to feature in its entirety on the 'RADIO 1 SESSIONS' CD - a reflection not only of the quality of the music but also of Kevin Rowland's obvious desire at the time to shine some light on the era. Very much a transitional period for the group, the session is of interest for the fact that it provides early, pre-violin versions of three songs which would later feature on 'Too Rye Ay' and, also, that two of the numbers had yet to find their eventual titles at the time of recording. Perversely, the 'PROJECTED PASSION REVUE' CD which followed 12 years later, omitted the recording of 'Spiritual Passion' meaning that in order to own the complete 1981 recordings on CD you would need to buy both releases! Recorded at a truly pivotal moment in the story of Dexys Midnight Runners, this live show was first released on CD (without its closing number, 'I'll Show You') in 1993 on the 'BBC RADIO ONE LIVE IN CONCERT ' CD.

Featuring the same line-up which had recorded the 1981 Live In Concert - but with the addition of The Emerald Express string section and with bass player Giorgio Kilkenny having replaced Steve Wynne - this was the wider world's first exposure to Dexys' new 'Celtic sound'. To hear the opening bars of 'Come On Eileen' greeted by a complete lack of recognition from the audience is to revisit a very specific moment in time, making this a fascinating piece of music history. The recording of 'I'll Show You' was eventually reunited with the rest of the concert as part of the 'TOO RYE AY - DELUXE EDITION' CD in 2007. Three quarters of the tracks recorded for Dexys' 1982 Radio One session appeared on the 'RADIO 1 SESSIONS' CD in 1995 but - in stark contrast to the 1981 sessions which preceded them - these were all re-recordings of material featured on the album 'Too Rye Ay'. Following the departures of the entire brass section - and bass player, Giorgio Kilkenny - this was a band in a state of flux with several new (and, in some cases, very temporary) recruits.

The remaining recording, 'Let's Make This Precious' didn't see the light of day until 2007 when it was included (along with the rest of the session recordings) on the ' TOO RYE AY - DELUXE EDITION' reissue. Sadly, this is the missing piece of the jigsaw as far as official releases of Dexys Midnight Runners' BBC output go. This concert, recorded as the band were coming towards the end of their extensive touring to promote 'Too Rye Ay' points in the direction of the album's follow-up with elongated renditions of songs, featuring numerous set-piece monologues and conversations. Frustratingly, the radio recordings which do exist feature an interrupted slow version of 'There There My Dear' whilst the BBC cut to a short news update. Hopefully a complete recording of the concert - perhaps with additional songs not broadcast at the time - will gain a CD release one day. Prior to the start of the concert, Kevin Rowland was interviewed by David 'Kid' Jensen, a recording of which can be found on the page.