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The Assembly

 
Artist: The Assembly
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Group Members:

Dave "Clem" Clempson, Vince Clarke, Feargal Sharkey, Eric Radcliffe

Similar Artists:

Alison Moyet, Erasure, Vitamin Z

Performed Songs By:

Vince Clarke

Formal Connection With:

Yazoo
  • Formed: 1983
  • Disbanded: 1983
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Songs: "Never Never", "Never Never

Biography

The tale of the Assembly is one of unfulfilled potential. After Yaz split up in 1983, keyboardist Vince Clarke, also formerly of Depeche Mode, began searching for another vocalist he could collaborate with. He eventually found one: Feargal Sharkey, ex-leader of the Irish pop-punk band the Undertones. Along with producer Eric C. Radcliffe and guitarist Dave "Clem" Clempson, the quartet released the single "Never Never" in 1983 as the Assembly. However, Sharkey wasn't intended to be the Assembly's permanent singer; instead, Clarke and Radcliffe wanted to have a revolving door of vocalists, a different one for every track. It didn't happen. "Never Never," a moving ballad about unrequited love, topped the pop charts in England, but it was the Assembly's only record. the Assembly became a new wave footnote, an answer to the trivia question, "What group was Vince Clarke in between Yaz and Erasure?" After "Never Never," Sharkey released a self-titled solo album, while Clarke formed Erasure in 1985 with Andy Bell. "Never Never" didn't disappear with the Assembly, though. In 1995, the track was resurrected on New Wave Hits of the 80s, Vol. 14. A year later, the song was re-released as a CD single that included its extended version and the instrumental B-side "Stop/Start." ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: The Assembly
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia

The Assembly were a synthpop project formed in 1983 in Basildon, England by:

Clarke founded The Assembly shortly after disbanding Yazoo with vocalist Alison Moyet, upon completion and distribution of their 1983 album, You and Me Both. The project never became a full-fledged band but resulted in only one single release, the UK hit "Never Never" (which featured a then cutting-edge sampled guitar track triggered note for note on a Fairlight CMI). Former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey was hired to sing on this track. The other track on the single, "Stop/Start," was an instrumental, featuring Clarke's signature songwriting style with syncopation that gradually becomes the downbeat of the musical phrase. Clarke and Radcliffe had planned to use a different singer on each track[1], but none were released after "Never Never".

The sound was plumped by the usage of session musician Clem Clempson on electric guitar.[1]

The Assembly marked the most-involved phase of Clarke's long-term professional relationship with sound engineer Radcliffe, who had contributed significant sonic influences to the recordings of early Depeche Mode and Yazoo. Clarke went on to form Erasure with vocalist and co-songwriter Andy Bell in 1985. Although Erasure worked with Radcliffe on some of their early work, they eventually expanded their sonic palette with producers like Flood (aka Mark Ellis). He brought Clarke and his catchy tunes back into the commercial pop limelight for the rest of the 1980s and early 1990s.

"Never Never" was re-released on CD single in 1996 with four tracks, containing both the normal and extended versions of both the title song, and "Stop/Start".[1] The music video for "Never Never" featured on the first Now That's What I Call Music! video in 1983.

Discography

[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Allmusic.com biography - accessed July 2008
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 31. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

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