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The Equals

 
Artist: Equals
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists

Group Members:

Pat Lloyd, Dervin Gordon, Dave Martin, Frankie Hepburn, Ron Telemacque, John Hall, Lincoln Gordon, Neil McBain, Jimmy "Senyah" Haynes, Eddy Grant

Similar Artists:

Music Explosion, Ohio Express, The Banana Splits, The Archies, Geno Washington, John's Children, The Creation, Crazy Elephant, The Birds, The Action, The Monkees, Zoot Money, The Who, The Small Faces

Followers:

The Clash

Performed Songs By:

Irving Gordon

Formal Connection With:

Eddy Grant
  • Formed: 1965, North London, England
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "First Among Equals: The Greatest Hits," "Unequalled/Explosion," "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys: The Anthology..."
  • Representative Songs: "Baby Come Back," "I Get So Excited," "I Won't Be There"

Biography

An energetic East London combo, the Equals balanced maximum R&B with plenty of pop, plus a few nods to vocalist Eddy Grant's West Indian background. Grant, born in British Guyana, moved to England with his family at the age of 12, and settled in a council estate named Hornsey Rise in northeast London. Four years later, he formed the Equals with schoolmates Lincoln Gordon (guitar), his twin brother Dervin Gordon (originally the vocalist), Pat Lloyd (guitar, then bass), and drummer John Hall. The band began gigging around London, amazing audiences with their apparently limitless energy and a distinct style fusing pop, blues, and R&B plus elements of ska and bluebeat.

By 1965, the Equals began doing dates in Europe as well, and released their first single on President Records. Though "Hold Me Closer" didn't perform on the charts, DJs began playing the flip side and by 1967 "Baby, Come Back" had hit the top of the charts in Germany and the Netherlands. One year later, the single hit number one in Britain as well, and brushed the charts in America. Subsequent singles lacked the immediate punch of "Baby, Come Back," however, and the Equals landed only two more Top Ten hits: "Viva Bobby Joe" and "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys," the latter an apt message track from one of the few racially mixed bands of the era.

Grant left the Equals for a solo career in 1971, and though the band never charted again, they remained a popular live act, especially on the continent. Drummer Ronald Telemacque and guitarists Dave Martin and Frankie Hepburn were later added to the lineup. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: The Equals
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
The Equals
Origin North London, England
Genres Pop, reggae, rock
Years active 1965 — 1979
Labels RCA, President
Former members
Eddy Grant
Derv Gordon
Lincoln Gordon
Pat Lloyd
John Hall

The Equals were a pop/reggae/rock group that formed in North London, England in 1965. They are remembered mostly for its million-selling chart-topper, "Baby Come Back." Eddy Grant, then sporting dyed blonde hair, was in the group, and also in the original line-up were the twin brothers Derv and Lincoln Gordon, as well as John Hall and Pat Lloyd.

Contents

History

They first started rehearsing on a council estate at Hornsey Rise, North London in 1965[1]. In 1966 the group released the "Hold Me Closer" / "Baby Come Back" single, which did not capture much attention in the United Kingdom. However, in Germany and The Netherlands it went to #1 - a position its re-issue would later reach in the UK. Thus, the racially mixed London group gave President Records their only number one hit[2]. A gold disc was presented to the group in June 1968 for a combined one million sales of the record [1]. The year 1968 saw the release of "I Get So Excited" which appeared in the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. It was reported in September 1969 that all five members of the group had been injured in Germany, when their car ran off an autobahn in a gale[3].

A string of single releases followed up to 1970, all of which charted in the UK. The group also attracted attention as one of the few racially integrated bands of the 1960s, which was reflected in the group's name: The Equals.

Following a collapsed lung and heart infection which put him out of action at the beginning of 1971, Grant went home to Guyana.[3]. He promptly left The Equals to pursue his solo career. In the late 1970s and early 1980s released several Top 40 singles, including "Living On The Front Line", "Electric Avenue" and "Romancing the Stone". Grant also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although The Equals never charted again after Grant's departure, they remained a popular live act, performing into the late 1970s and beyond.

In the late 1970s, The Clash recorded a successful cover version of The Equals' song "Police On My Back". In 2006 Willie Nile released his cover of "Police on My Back" on his Streets of New York CD.

The Equals' song "Green Light" was covered by The Detroit Cobras, on their 2007 album, Tied & True.

The song "Baby Come Back" refused to go away. It returned in 1994, when Pato Banton scored an unexpected UK number one with his cover.

Original line-up

  • Derv Gordon - lead vocals - born Dervin Gordon, 29 June 1948, Jamaica
  • Lincoln Gordon - guitar - born 29 June 1948, Jamaica.
  • Eddy Grant - guitar - born Edmond Montague Grant, 5 March 1948, Plaisance, Guyana.
  • Pat Lloyd - bass guitar - born Patrick Lloyd, 17 March 1948, Holloway, London.
  • John Hall - drums - born 25 October 1946, Islington, London.

[1]

Discography

UK chart singles

  • "I Get So Excited" / "The Skies Above" - (1968) (UK #44)
  • "Baby Come Back" / "Hold Me Closer" - (1968) (UK #1, IRL #2, NOR #4, U.S. #32[4])
  • "Laurel And Hardy" / "The Guy Who Made Her a Star" - (1968) (UK #35)
  • "Softly Softly" / "Lonely Rita" - (1968) (UK #48)
  • "Michael and The Slipper Tree" / "Honey Gum" - (1969) (UK #24)
  • "Viva Bobby Joe" / "I Can't Let You Go" - (1969) (UK #6, IRL #3)
  • "Rub A Dub Dub" / "After the Lights Go Down Low" - (1969) (UK #34)
  • "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys" / "Ain't Got Nothing to Give You" - (1970) (UK #9)

[5]

UK chart albums

  • Unequalled Equals - (1967) (UK #10)
  • Equals Explosion - (1968) (UK #32)

[6]

Compilations

  • First Among Equals - The Greatest Hits - (1996) 40 Tracks, Double CD

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. pp. 238/9. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. 
  2. ^ Rice, Jo (1982). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits (1st ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 118. ISBN 0-85112-250-7. 
  3. ^ a b Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 202. CN 5585. 
  4. ^ Allmusic.com discography - Charts & Awards
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 185. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  6. ^ Gambaccini, Paul (1996). British Hit Albums (7th ed.). Enfield, Middlesex: Guinness Publishing Ltd. p. 127. ISBN 0-85112-619-7. 

External links


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