Living in a Box
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:
Top
Living in a Box
- Genres: Rock
Biography
The British pop-funk group Living in a Box boomed onto MTV in 1987 with a song named after themselves. Featuring Richard Darbyshire (vocals/guitar), Marcus Vere (synthesizers), and Anthony Critchlow (drums), the band had only one Top 40 single in the U.S., "Living in a Box"; in the U.K., however, the group was far more successful. Living in a Box formed in Sheffield, England in 1985. Darbyshire originally sang for the band the Zu Zu Sharks in the early '80s. Given the choice between a solo career or fronting Living in a Box for Chrysalis Records, Darbyshire selected the latter. Living in a Box received a five-year contract from the label; in 1987, the group released their self-titled debut LP. In 1989, the band recorded a second album, Gatecrashing; the songs "Blow the House Down" and "Room in Your Heart" were Top Ten hits in Britain. But changes at Chrysalis caused artistic differences during the production of their third LP. Living in a Box broke up in 1990 before their third album was completed. In 1994, Darbyshire released his solo debut, How Many Angels, an LP that included several tracks, such as "Better to Have Lost," that were intended for Living in a Box's third album. ~ Michael Sutton, RoviWikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
Living in a Box
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008) |
 |
This article's references may not meet Wikipedia's guidelines for reliable sources. Please help by checking whether the references meet the criteria for reliable sources. (October 2011) |
| Living in a Box | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Sheffield, England |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul, Sophisti-pop, Synthpop, New Wave |
| Years active | 1985–1991 |
| Labels | Chrysalis Records |
| Website | http://www.livinginaboxmusic.com/Welcome.html |
| Members | |
| Richard Darbyshire Marcus Vere Anthony Critchlow |
|
Living in a Box were a British band from the 1980s and early 1990s. They are best known for their eponymous debut single, produced by Richard James Burgess.
|
Contents
|
Career
Formation and split up
Living in a Box were formed in 1985 in Sheffield, rising from the ashes of Typhoon Saturday. Their most commercially successful single, "Living in a Box", peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the band's only single to chart in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. They enjoyed more success in their home country, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1987 and a follow-up album, Gatecrashing, in 1989, which went on to generate two further UK Top Ten hits, "Blow the House Down" (which featured Queen's Brian May on guitar)[1][2]) and "Room in Your Heart". Artistic differences, as well as changes to their record label Chrysalis, caused the band to break up in 1990 before a third album could be released.
After Living In a Box
Lead vocalist Richard Darbyshire continued his long-standing music career, and went on to enjoy modest success as a solo artist, writing songs for artists such as Lisa Stansfield, as well as releasing two solo albums. These were How Many Angels (1994) and Love Will Provide (1999), which came as a reissue of How Many Angels, and included several new and unreleased tracks.
The band's drummer, Anthony Critchlow nicknamed 'Tich' and keyboardist and synthesizer player, Marcus Charles Vere both retired from the music industry after the band split. Tich now runs his own company providing bespoke illumination and lighting installations. Vere now produces award-winning DVDs called Here Comes A ...! for pre-school aged children. Topics include live action films about tractors, diggers, trains and fire engines.[3]
The song "Living in a Box" was later covered by Bobby Womack, who had also worked with Living in a Box on their debut album.
Group members
- Richard Darbyshire (born 8 March 1960, Stockport, Cheshire, England) - Vocals, guitar
- Marcus Charles Vere (born 29 January 1962) - Synthesizers
- Anthony "Tich" Critchlow (born 15 December 1960) - Drums
Discography
Singles
| Year | Song | UK Singles | US Hot 100 | US R&B | US Dance | Canada Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | "Living in a Box" | 5 | 17 | 74 | 6 | 18 | Living in a Box |
| "Scales of Justice" | 30 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1988 | "So the Story Goes" | 34 | 81 | - | - | - | |
| "Love Is the Art" | 45 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1989 | "Blow the House Down" | 10 | - | - | - | - | Gatecrashing |
| "Gatecrashing" | 36 | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1990 | "Room in Your Heart" | 5 | - | - | - | - | |
| "Different Air" | 37 | - | - | - | - |
Albums
- Studio
- Living In A Box (1987) UK #25, US #89
- Gatecrashing (1989) UK #21
- Compilations
- The Best of Living in a Box (1999)
- The Very Best of Living in a Box (2003)
References
- ^ Queenvault.com
- ^ Livinginaboxmusic.com
- ^ engines Herecomesadvds.com
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 325. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists
Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.
Read more
Mentioned in
Frisky Dingo: The Opposition
(2007 Film)
Richard Darbyshire
(Electronica Artist, '90s)
Hidden Treasures [EMI-Capitol Special Markets]
(2000 Album by Various Artists)
Landscape
(Rock Band, '70s, '80s)
» More