The Brilliant Corners

The Brilliant Corners, a British indie pop band from Bristol, England, recorded throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s. The group formed in 1983, taking their name from a Thelonious Monk jazz album.Strong, Martin C.:"The Great Alternative & Indie Discography", 1999, Canongate, ISBN 0-86241-913-1] The line-up included Davey Woodward (b. Avonmouth, Bristol, England; vocals, guitar), Chris Galvin (b. 1959, d. 22 December 1998; bass), Winston (percussion, backing vocals), Bob Morris (drums) and Dan (occasional keyboards). A later addition was Phil Elvins on guitar.

The band's first releases were an early example of indie pop, with three singles being released in 1984 on their own SS20 label. Debut (mini-)album "Growing Up Absurd" appeared the following year. With 1986 seeing an explosion of indie pop groups, their May "Fruit Machine" EP saw them gain both attention and radio airplay, followed by a second mini-album, "What's In A Word". "Brian Rix", a re-recorded version of a track from the LP, with added trumpet, and a tribute to Rix, the "king of farce", was issued as a single, the proceeds going to Mencap, the charity of which Rix was chairman. The video, featuring Woodward running Rix-like around a couch with his trousers around his ankles, was shown on The Tube, further raising the band's profile.

In March 1988 the band set up another label - McQueen - and released third album "Somebody Up There Likes Me", followed by a collection of their sought-after early singles, "Everything I Ever Wanted". Two more albums followed in 1989 ("Joyride") and 1990 ("Hooked"), followed by a second compilation, 1991's "Creamy Stuff". They released one last effort, 1993's "A History Of White Trash", before splitting up.

Woodward and Galvin formed the Experimental Pop Band in 1995. Galvin died from cancer in 1998.

Discography

Chart placings shown are from the UK Indie Chart. [cite book |last=Lazell |first=Barry |title=Indie Hits 1980-1999 |year= 1997 |publisher=Cherry Red Books |isbn=0-9517206-9-4 ]

ingles

*"She's Got Fever" (1984, SS20) (#43)
*"Big Hip" (1984, SS20) (#16)
*"My Baby's In Black" (1984, SS20) (#14)
*"The Fruit Machine EP" (1986, SS20)
*"Brian Rix" (1987, SS20) (#11)
*"Delilah Sands" (1987, SS20) (#9)
*"Teenage" (1988, McQueen) (#9)
*"Why Do You Have To Go Out With Him When You Could Go Out With Me?" (1988, McQueen) (#10)
*"I Love It, I Lost It" (1990, McQueen)
*"The Pope, The Monkey and The Queen" (1990, McQueen)

Albums

*"Growing Up Absurd" mini-album (1985, SS20) (#26)
*"What's In A Word" (1986, SS20) (#8)
*"Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1988, McQueen) (#6)
*"Everything I Ever Wanted" (1988, McQueen) (compilation) (#17)
*"Joyride" (1989, McQueen) (#6)
*"Hooked" (1990, McQueen)
*"Creamy Stuff" (1991, McQueen) (compilation)
*"A History Of White Trash" (1993, C.M.P.)

References

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/thebrilliantcorners Brilliant Corners fan site]
* [http://www.thebrilliantcorners.co.uk www.thebrilliantcorners.co.uk unofficial fansite with photos, videos & more]