Tight Fit

Tight Fit were a British pop group who had a number of hits in the early 1980s, including a UK No.1 (for three weeks) with their cover version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" in 1982.^[1] The group had two completely different line-ups - the first (a group of session singers) in 1981 and a male/female trio in 1982.

History

In 1981, record producer Ken Gold came up with the idea to record a single made up of a medley of 1960s songs. The medley trend was in full swing at this time, following the success of Starsound and their Stars on 45 singles. He put together a group of male/female session singers and released "Back to the 60s" under the group title, Tight Fit. The song became a hit in the summer and reached No.4 in the UK Singles Chart.^[2] A follow-up, "Back to the 60s Part 2" was released soon after and also hit the UK Top 40.

Later in the year record producer Tim Friese-Greene recorded the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" with another group of session singers. The song was released in early 1982 again under the title Tight Fit. The song gained instant attention and so a group was formed to front it. Dancer, singer and male model Steve Grant was teamed up with female singers Denise Gyngell and Julie Harris. The song reached No.1 in the UK for three weeks and the line-up were catapulted into sudden and unexpected stardom.^[3]

Satisfied that this line-up could actually sing in their own right, Friese-Greene produced their next single, "Fantasy Island" - a song which had been in the Dutch Eurovision Song Contest heats. The song, in a very similar vein to pop group ABBA, also became a success and reached No.5 in May.^[4]

The group then set about recording an album as well as rehearsing for their first tour. A third single was released in August. "Secret Heart" was not as big as a success as the previous two and stalled at No.41.^[5] The debut album was released soon after, but coincided with both Harris and Gyngell leaving the group. Both unhappy with their contract, they claimed that they were not receiving any royalties from their hits and were being paid a paltry wage to tour the world as well as recording sessions, television appearances and magazine interviews. Swiftly, two new female singers were employed to take their place and the group released another single, "I'm Undecided" - a song from the album, with new vocals. The song failed to make the UK Chart and this signalled the end of Tight Fit's brief pop stardom. In an interview, Harris stated that the public did not take to the new line-up and had she and Gyngell been still with the group, it would have likely been a hit.^{[citation needed]}

The following year, Tight Fit released one more single - a cover of Stephen Stills' "Love The One You're With". Under the banner, Steve Grant with Tight Fit, the song completely missed the chart and the group duly split-up.

After Tight Fit

Grant, Harris and Gyngell all tried to launch music careers outside Tight Fit following their departures. Harris released two singles in 1983: "One Two Three" (a song she originally sang on the Tight Fit album), under the name Julie and the Jems, and "Escargot a la Bongo" under the name Chopper Harris. Gyngell teamed up with her two brothers under the name, He, She, Him, and released a single "Try a Little Tenderness". Grant released some solo singles ("Conviction" (with Earlene Bentley) and "Run for Cover") and in 1986 joined a male three-piece group, Splash!.^[6] They released a single "Que-est ce que C'est", but like the others, also a failed to find any success. Grant's background was in musical theatre, to which he returned afterwards. In the 1980s he appeared in productions of On the Town and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and in the 1990s he appeared in productions of Kiss Me, Kate and Miss Saigon at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, where he was a part of the cast at various stages between 1992 and 1999, when the production closed. Since 1999 he has lived partly in London and partly in Southern Spain. For a number of years there was a rumour that Grant had died, but this is untrue.^[7] It has been suggested that the rumour originated in a mix-up with the lead singer of Baltimora (who died in 1995) due to the similarity of the image each portrayed in their most well-known hit.

Today

In 2008, members Denise Gyngell and Julie Harris reformed Tight Fit with new male member Silvio Gigante as a touring band, playing nightclubs around Britain.^[8] and Clive Sluters 50th birthday party

Members

• Steve Grant (born Stephen Robert Pratt, 26 February 1960) (1982-1983)
• Denise Gyngell (born 30 August 1961) (1982)
• Julie Harris (born 15 August 1958) (1982)
• Richard Scarfe (1981)
• Martin Page (1981)
• Brian Fairweather (1981)^[9]

silvio gigante www.myspace.com/culturehub

Discography

Singles

• "Back to the Sixties" - (1981) - Jive Records - No. 4
• "Back to the Sixties Part 2" - (1981) - No. 33
• "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" - (1982) - No. 1
• "Fantasy Island" - (1982) - No. 5
• "Secret Heart" - (1982) - No. 41
• "I'm Undecided" - (1982)
• "Love The One You're With" (1983)

^[1]

Albums

• Back to the Sixties - (1981) - Jive Records - No.38
• Tight Fit - (1982) - No.87

^[1]

• Grant and Harris both appeared on the charity single, "Doctor in Distress" by Who Cares (1985)^[10]

Confusion

The band are sometimes confused with an American group formed in 1982, originally under the name Fallen Angel. They changed their name to Tight Fit in 1987. Members include original guitarist Joe Locke, original lead vocalist Jane Bassett, guitarist Augie Miller, drummer Jimi Ray (joined 1988), bassist Jay Carr (joined 1989) and keyboardist Tzer (Michael Tabaczka).

References

External links

• Tight Fit fansite
• Tight Fit Myspace page