supercharge

Supercharge was a 1970s rock band from Liverpool, U.K., founded by singer/saxophonist Albie Donnelly. They had a number three hit single in Australia with "You've Gotta Get Up and Dance" in 1977.

History

Founded in early 1974, by Liverpool tenor-saxophonist, Albie Donnelly (born Albert Edward Donnelly, 12 August 1947, in Huyton, Liverpool), and drummer Dave Irving (born David Irving, 18 November 1946, in Crosby, Liverpool) after they had both left the 'In Crowd' cabaret band, Supercharge soon built up a massive Liverpool following at 'The Sportsman', a popular city-centre pub on Sunday and later Monday nights and also at the 'Dove and Olive' at Speke, near Liverpool Airport.

Original members included Albie Donnelly (bandleader, vocalist, and tenor saxophonist), Ozzie Yue (guitar/vocals} (born Austin J Yue, in 1947, in Liverpool), Allen 'Gaz' Gaskell (tenor sax, guitar, harmonica, and vocals) Alan Peters (trumpet), Bob Robertson (baritone sax), Pete Newton (bass guitar), Tony Dunmore (bass) and Dave Irving (drums).

Supercharge also quickly established themselves as a major player on the UK College/University-circuit, where their live-shows invariably caused a sensation, and their first locally produced album, Between Music and Madness soon followed.

Around 1975, in an attempt to attract a major record company offer, Supercharge began to gig regularly on the London live circuit at venues like The Hope & Anchor, Nashville Rooms, and the Marquee club - where once again they soon built up a massive following. As a result, Supercharge were soon signed by Virgin Records, and with the company's new producer, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, they had a number one hit in Australia with their 1976 single "You've Gotta Get Up and Dance". Personnel on these recordings also included organist Ian Bradshaw. It was also in Australia that their first album, Local Lads Make Good went gold - resulting in a number of successful major tours with a version of the band that included Les Karski on guitar.

Meanwhile, back in the UK - although their record sales were disappointing, Supercharge still managed to achieve a reputation as one of the UK's best-ever live bands, with the result that many so-called major UK stars refused to perform with them. One notable (and well documented) exception was Supercharge's opening set for Queen in the mid-70's at the Hyde Park Festival, in front of an estimated 70,000 spectators. However, it was becoming clear to Albie Donnelly that Virgin didn't really know what to do with them, and they eventually parted company sometime during the punk-era.

However, Supercharge achieved some success in Australia with the 1976 single "You've Gotta Get Up and Dance"^[1], which made the Top Ten, peaking at #3.^[2]

The next chapter in Supercharge's history was the invasion of Europe, which began at the end of the 1970s-early 1980s. By now the band also featured Andy Parker on vocals and saxophone. Other members (at one time or another) included Mike Snow - trumpet; Dick Hansen - trumpet; John Burke - trumpet Tony Winders - guitar; Phil Loughran - guitar; Tony Judge - piano; Steve Snow - trombone;Paul Ambrosius-bass/vocals; Dave Dover - bass; Kenny Shearer - bass; Dave 'The Frug' Hormbrey - drums; Tony Lunney - drums. Albums during this early period included, Now Jump, and Kingsize.

In late 1983, the Liverpool band "Juke" (Allen 'Gaz' Gaskell - tenor saxophone, guitar, harmonica, bass, vocals; Mickey Kearns - baritone sax; guitar; vocals; Bob Hardy - bandleader, keyboards, guitar, vocals; Dave Sheppley - guitar, bass, vocals; Paddy Chambers - guitar, vocals; Steve Grant - drums, vocal) struck a deal with Albie and his then manager, "Memo" Rhein, to work together for the next twelve months as "Supercharge '84". This version of the band was so successful that at the end of 1984, Albie and "Memo" persuaded them to stay on for a further five months.

During the time that Juke and Albie were together they managed to clock up well over 200 gigs. Many of these were for Europe's 'Jet-Set', and included Tina Onassis' wedding (which resulted in the 1984 album Groovers In Paris - which is still Supercharge's top selling Rhythm and Blues album to date). Gigs also included parties for Gunter Sachs at the Dracula' Club in St. Moritz; and even a New Years eve party in Marbella for Adnan Khashoggi.

The next version of Supercharge began performing live in in mid-1985 and moved away from the extremely successful horn driven 'Rhythm and Blues-Maximum Show' format of Supercharge '84, and instead featured material written mainly by guitarist/vocalist Colin Frost and pianist Tony Judge. This version of the band also included bassist Brendan O'Connor.

Shortly after, in 1986/7, guitarist Dave Shepley (who had been a member of "Juke" and had switched to bass in Supercharge '84) and guitarist/vocalist John "Fat Ted" Lewis helped Donnelly to once again convert Supercharge into a major player on the late '80s early '90s European Jazz and Rhythm and Blues live-scene.

This powerhouse rhythm and blues version of Supercharge (which at various times included: Andy Parker - vocal and tenor saxophone; Steve Snow - trombone; Dick Hansen - trumpet Tony Peers - trumpet; Paul Latham - trombone; Graham Price - bass; John "Fat Ted" Lewis - guitar and vocal; Roy "The Boy" Herrington - guitar; Dave Sheppley- guitar; Lenni Zaksen - tenor Saxophone; Terry Kennaugh - guitar; Mal Bowers - keyboards; Paul Hetherington - bass; Tony Lunney - drums) quickly began to pick up a number of major tours with artists like Chuck Berry and B.B. King, and this soon took the band back to stadiums and bigger concert hall gigs, where they still perform.

Nashville keyboard-player and vocalist Greg Barrett joined in the late '80's and demonstrated a more soulful side of Supercharge. This version of the band usually included Greg Barrett - keyboards, vocal; Albie Donnelly - tenor saxophone; Paul Owens - baritone saxophone; Dick Hansen - trumpet; Roy "The Boy" Herrington - guitar; Wolfgang "Bolle" Diekmann - bass; Tony Lunney - drums.

Donnelly also began experimenting with smaller outfits around this time, the most popular being Albie Donnelly's Big Three which included Gregory Gaynair on piano and Wolfgang Diekmann on bass.

From 2000 to date, Donnelly is still fronting a strong and powerful Rhythm'n'Blues band - with a version of Supercharge that now consists mainly of a number of top German Rhythm and Blues musicians, including Juergen Wieching on saxophone, and Mike Rafalczyk on trombone and Wolfgang Diekmann on bass..

In late Donnelly was heavily featured on a new CD release, 'Return Cargo'. In addition to Supercharge regulars the recording also features the original Supercharge drummer, Dave Irving.

Over the years Donnelly has been an official endorser for a number of saxophone companies, including Keilwerth and Yamaha; he has also provided a great deal of regular work for a number of Liverpool's top musicians.

Discography

Albums

1. Between Music And Madness, (Stag, 1974)
2. Local Lads Make Good, (Virgin PZ34293, 1976) #10 AUS^[2]
3. Horizontal Refreshment, (Virgin PZ34429, 1977) #77 AUS^[2]
4. I think I'm Gonna Fall (In Love) #50 AUS^[2]
5. Body Rhythm, (Virgin 12118, 1979)
6. Now Jump, (Criminal Records/Intercord, 1979)
7. The Best Of Supercharge, (Virgin, 1983)
8. Groovers In Paris - Live At Tina Onassis' Wedding At Maxim's Paris, (Memo Music, 1984)
9. King Size, (Criminal Records/Intercord)
10. Update - Live In Munich, (Memo Music, 1986)
11. Bad, Mad & Dangerous (Memo Music, 1987)
12. Take That, (Audiostax, 1988)
13. Full Power, (Rockport, 1990)
14. Live At The Schlachthof, (Filou, 1992)
15. Live & Loaded, (suum cuique, 2001)
16. New, (CD JJCD005, 2002)
17. 2CD Big Blow (recorded in the 1990's), (MeMe Records, 2005)

NOTE: All Virgin Albums produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange

Singles

1. (You've Gotta) Get Up and Dance (1977, #3 AUS) from the album Local Lads Make Good

1. "I think I'm Gonna Fall (In Love)" #13 AUS^[2]

1. I Can See Right Through You/ version 2 (Virgin VS243 (1979)

1. Cool Jerk / Red Dress (Criminal SWAG 11) (1979)

Other

1. 4 by 6 (EP, Virgin, 1976)

References

External links