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Chas & Dave

 
Artist: Chas & Dave
 
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Group Members:

Dave Peacock, Charles "Chas" Hodges, Mick Burt

Similar Artists:

Jerry the Ferret, 1973 Spurs Squad, 1967 Spurs Squad, Glenn Hoddle, Cockerel Chorus, Cheers, 81 Cup Final Squad

Performed Songs By:

Dave Peacock, Charles "Chas" Hodges

Formal Connection With:

Chas & J.I.
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Greatest Hits," "Yours Sincerely," "Mustn't Grumble"
  • Representative Songs: "The Beer Barrel Polka," "Breathless," "Better Get Your Shoes On"

Biography

British novelty duo Chas & Dave (singer/guitarist Charles "Chas" Hodges and singer/bassist Dave Peacock) issued their debut recording, One Fing 'n' Anuvver, in 1976. The pair formed their own record label shortly thereafter, Rockney, before embarking on a tour supporting the British doo wop revival act the Darts, with drummer Mick Burt in tow. The duo's first EMI album, Rockney (1978), with its single " Strummin'," started to build a following for Chas & Dave, but their real breakthrough came in the wake of a performance at a pub where they were seen by advertising man John Webster, who thought their sound and image, and a particular song they were doing called "Gertcha," were all perfect for a campaign he was about to begin for Courage beer.

The song, slowed down and with new lyrics, became part of an excruciatingly funny commercial that boosted sales of Courage Best and earned the duo a wide national following for the first time -- and "Gertcha" became a national phenomenon. Other Courage Best commercials, even more amusing than the first and built around the Chas & Dave singles "Margate" and "Rabbit," among others, followed over the next 18 months. In the process, the duo and its records were embraced by the nation's beer drinkers and television viewers -- "Rabbit" would climb to number eight in the winter of 1980; the football anthem "Ossie's Dream" hit number five in the spring of 1981; and "Ain't No Pleasing You" barely missed hitting the top of the charts, peaking at number two in the spring of 1982.

Ensuing singles failed to match the success of their predecessors, until 1986's "Snooker Loopy" hit number six on the charts. But the single would prove to be their last hit, as the duo appeared to focus on other interests soon after, including running a pub along with sporadic TV appearances and live shows. Chas & Dave returned in the early 21st century with such old-time rock & roll releases as 2000's You're Never Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll, 2001's Rock 'n' Roll Party, and 2002's The World of Chas & Dave, Vol. 2. ~ Greg Prato & Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Chas & Dave
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Chas & Dave
Chas & Dave, 2003
Chas & Dave, 2003
Background information
Origin London, England, United Kingdom
Genre(s) Pop rock
Years active 1975 – present
Label(s) Retreat, EMI, Rockney
Website Official site
Members
Charles Hodges
David Peacock
Mick Burt

Chas & Dave (often billed as Chas 'n' Dave) are English pop rock musicians who are most notable as creators and performers of a musical style labelled "rockney", which mixes "pub singalong, music-hall humour, boogie-woogie piano and pre-Beatles rock 'n' roll".[1] For a time, "Rockney" was also the name of their record label, and they achieved several British chart hits, their major breakthrough being "Gertcha" in 1979, which peaked at #20 and was the first of eight top 40 hit singles the duo played on. The act has also enjoyed no fewer than nine best-selling albums.

Contents

History and formation

The group consists of Charles Hodges (piano, vocals, banjo, guitars) and David Peacock (bass guitar, vocals, banjo, guitars), with Mick Burt on drums.

In the 1970s Chas & Dave were prominent session musicians, playing for a wide range of artists; the hook used on Eminem's My Name Is was from a Labi Siffre tune, "I Got The".[2]

The rockney style was from the start intentional, as they felt an alternative to the way British bands copied American accents was needed. Chas has said

“ I was singing in an American accent. I thought, 'You're being a fraud, you should sing in your own accent', and that's when I started to work on the idea.[3] ”

The songs for which they are most known are partly comic, and Chas & Dave are strongly identified with London's blue collar and working class pub sing-song culture, although not necessarily Cockney. However, their 1982 number two hit, "Ain't No Pleasing You" was a more romantic record, with strings added to the usual piano, drum and bass sound.

Their single "Gertcha" was used as the music behind a notable television commercial for Courage Bitter.[4]

"Rabbit" comes from the Cockney rhyming slang "rabbit and pork" meaning "talk".[5] The song is about a relationship between a man and a woman, in which the man expresses his love for his girlfriend, but complains that she will not stop talking or, "rabbiting".

Chas and Dave were offered the chance to record the theme song for the sitcom Only Fools and Horses but turned it down as they were in Australia at the time due to the success of "Ain't No Pleasing You".[3]

They also recorded four FA Cup final singles for Tottenham Hotspur including "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur"/"Ossie's Dream" in 1981 and "Tottenham Tottenham" in 1982. Tottenham Hotspur were victorious in both of these finals.[6][7]

They opened for Led Zeppelin at the 1979 Knebworth Festival[8] and Chas Hodges has said that one of his proudest moments was playing the Glastonbury Festival in 2005.[9]

Their work influenced The Libertines, who played their songs at rehearsals.[3]

On 6 October 2008 their autobiography, "Chas & Dave - All About Us", written by Chas, was published in the UK.[10]

Snooker Loopy

"Snooker Loopy" is a comic song about snooker. It was released as a single in May 1986 and entered the UK Singles Chart, reaching #6 and featured snooker players Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Willie Thorne, Terry Griffiths and Tony Meo, as backing vocalists under the name 'The Matchroom Mob' - Matchroom Sport being the company owned by promoter Barry Hearn which managed all these top snooker professionals at the time.

The lyrics are a mild satire on the style and antics of the players involved: "old Willie Thorne; his hair's all gone" for example. The verse on Steve Davis also makes light of the famous 1985 World Snooker Championship final and his missed black in the final frame.

Chas & Dave still perform the song at their live shows with the original lyrics, even though most of the players mentioned have now retired from the game, although some are still known as part of the BBC commentary team.

Discography

Singles

Date[11] Title UK chart position Catalogue
July 1975 "Old Dog And Me" / "Scruffy Old Cow" N/A Retreat RTS 262
07 November 1975 "I Am A Rocker" / "Lazy Cow" N/A Retreat RTS 267
February 1976 "Old Time Song" / "Dry Party" N/A Retreat RTS 269
1978 "Massage Parlour" / "Pay Up" N/A EMI 2902
11 November 1978 "Strummin'" / "I'm In Trouble" 52 EMI 2874[12]
26 May 1979 "Gertcha" / "The Banging In Your Head" 20 EMI 2947
1 September 1979 "The Sideboard Song (Got My Beer In the Sideboard Here)" / "Sunday" 55 EMI 2986
1979 "What A Miserable Saturday Night" / "It's Only The B Side" N/A EMI 5002
29 November 1980 "Rabbit" / "Sideboard Song" 8 Rockney 9
1981 "Poor Old Mr Woogie" / "Uneasy Feeling" N/A Rockney 10
1981 "Turn That Noise Down" / "Flying" N/A Rockney KOR 11
12 December 1981 "Stars Over 45" / "Harem" 21 Rockney KOR 12
13 March 1982 "Ain't No Pleasing You" / "Give It Some Stick Mick!" 2 Rockney KOR 14
17 July 1982 "Margate" / "Give It Gavotte" 46 Rockney KOR 15
1982 "Wish I Could Write A Love Song" / "That's What I Like" N/A Rockney KOR 16
19 March 1983 "London Girls" / "Eine Kleine Kneesupmusik" 63 Rockney KOR 17
1983 "Beer Belly Banjos (Roll Out The Barrels)" / "Beer Belly Banjos" N/A Rockney KOR 19
3 December 1983 "My Melancholy Baby" / "Knees Up Medley" 51 Rockney KOR 21
28 July 1984 "There In Your Eyes" / "One Of Them Days" 91 Rockney KOR 22
1984 "I Wonder In Whose Arms..." / "I Miss Ya Girl" (Australian Version) N/A Rockney KOR 23
1984 "Harry Was A Champion" / "Ain't No Pleasing You" N/A Rockney KOR 24
1985 "Rock 'n' Roll Jamboree" / "Bangin' In Your Head" (Live) N/A Rockney KOR 25
28 September 1985 "In Sickness and in Health" / "Encore Medley" 95 BBC Records And Tapes RESL 176
1986 "You're Just In Love" / "That's What I Like!" N/A Rockney KOR 26
1986 "Halley's Comet" / "Brother-In-Law" (Live) N/A Rockney KOR 28
3 May 1986 "Snooker Loopy" / "Wallop (Snookered)!" 6 Rockney POT 147[13]
1986 "Long Long Ago" / "Silent Night" N/A Hodgecock HOD 9
1987 "Romford Rap" / "The 'Crackerjack' Theme Song" N/A Rainbow Records RBR 15
1987 "Flying" / "Exhibition Rag" N/A Bunce Records 7 BUN 1
1987 "The Diddlum Song (Diddle-Ummaday)" / "Bangin' In Your Head / Ain't No Pleasin' you" (Live In Sun Studios Memphis, Tennessee) N/A Bunce Records 7 BUN 2
1989 "I Can Get Along Without You" / "Bangers & Mash" N/A A1 Records A1 316
1991 "When Days Were Long (But Far Too Short)" / "Yesterdays News" N/A Essential Records ESS 2006
2001 "Snooker Loopy" (Screwed Back By V/VM Remix) / "BBC Snooker" (Crucible Theme) / "The Romford Rap" (Hareward The Wake Mix) / "Snooker Loopy" N/A V/VM Records VVMT 147

In addition, Chas & Dave are credited as featuring their vocal and instrumental talents on the following hit singles by Tottenham Hotspur F.A. Cup Final Squad:[14]

Date[11] Title UK chart position Catalogue
9 May 1981 "Ossie's Dream (Spurs Are On Their Way To Wembley)/"Glory Glory, Tottenham Hotspur" 5 Rockney SHELF 1
1 May 1982 "Tottenham Tottenham" 19 Rockney SHELF 2
9 May 1987 "Hot Shot Tottenham!" 18 Rainbow RBR 16
11 May 1991 "When the Year Ends in a 1" 44 A1 Records A1 324
1991 "The Victory Song" / "The Victory Song" (Capital Mix) / "It's A Grand Ol' Team" / "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur" N/A Glory Records 12 GLORY 1

Albums

Date[11] Title UK chart position Catalogue
1975 One Fing 'n' Anuvver N/A Retreat RTL 6004
1977 Rockney N/A EMI EMC 3288
1979 Don't Give A Monkeys... N/A EMI EMC 3303
1981 Live At Abbey Road N/A EMI EMS 1001
5 December 1981 Chas And Dave's Christmas Jamboree Bag 25 Warwick WW5116
17 April 1982 Mustn't Grumble 35 Rockney ROC 909
8 January 1983 Job Lot 59 Rockney ROC 910
1983 Gertcha MFP 5632
15 October 1983 Chas And Dave's Knees Up - Jamboree Bag Number 2 7 Rockney ROC 911
11 August 1984 Well Pleased 27 Rockney ROC 912
17 November 1984 Chas And Dave's Greatest Hits 16 Rockney ROC 913
09 November 1985 Chas And Dave's Jamboree Bag Number 3 15 Rockney ROC 914
13 December 1986 Chas And Dave's Christmas Carol Album 37 Telstar STAR 2293
1987 Flying N/A Bunce Records BUN LP 1
29 April 1995 Street Party 3 Telstar TCD 2765

References

  1. ^ "Rockney geezers: A knees-up with Chas & Dave". 19 December 2007. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/rockney-geezers-a-kneesup-with-chas--dave-765966.html. Retrieved on 2008-06-27. 
  2. ^ "We're Jammin'". Guardian Newspaper. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2005/oct/28/werejammin. Retrieved on 2005-10-28. 
  3. ^ a b c "The original rockney geezers". Lancashire Evening Post. 13 June 2008. http://www.lep.co.uk/wow/The-original-rockney-geezers.4184731.jp. Retrieved on 2008-07-13. 
  4. ^ "Obituary: John Webster". January 17 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/jan/17/guardianobituaries.advertising. Retrieved on 2008-06-27. 
  5. ^ "Rabbit and Pork". Cockney Rhyming Slang. http://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk/slang/rabbit_and_pork. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. 
  6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1322001.stm
  7. ^ http://www.sportingchronicle.com/FACUP/1982.html
  8. ^ "The 1979 Knebworth Concerts". http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/79-Knebworth-festival.html. Retrieved on 2008-08-22. 
  9. ^ Jeffery, Nikki (24 July 2008). "INTERVIEW: Chas (& Dave) heads for Worthing". Worthing Herald. http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/leisure/INTERVIEW-Chas-40amp-Dave41-heads.4319772.jp. Retrieved on 2008-10-06. 
  10. ^ "Latest News". 8 September 2008. http://www.chasndave.com/news.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-06. 
  11. ^ a b c date on which entered UK chart
  12. ^ credited to "Chas and Dave with Rockney"
  13. ^ credited to "Matchroom Mob with Chas and Dave"
  14. ^ Rice, Tim; Paul Gambaccini, Jo Rice. British Hit Singles. Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Publishing Ltd.. p. 314. ISBN 0-85112-633-2. 

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chas & Dave".  Read more

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