Racing Cars

Racing Cars are a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valley, Wales in 1973. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll All Music Guide overview] ]

Career

They were signed to one of the biggest British record labels of the time, Chrysalis Records. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/racing_cars/pages/biography.shtml BBC Wales mini biography] ] Racing Cars debut album yielded their only hit single with "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?". It reached number fourteen in the UK Singles Chart in 1977, and was inspired by the film, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?". Touring to promote their debut releases, Racing Cars backed Bad Company in 1976, including dates at Earls Court and the York Theatre Royal.

Without any similar further chart appearances, Racing Cars ultimately acquired the dreaded one hit wonder label. However, the band was sufficiently established on the touring circuit to issue two further albums. These never reached the same commercial heights, and Racing Cars split up for the first time in the early 1980s.

Those albums included bit parts for the session pianist Geraint Watkins; American saxophonist Jerry Jumonville; The Bowles Brothers Band (on vocal harmonies); and, perhaps most significantly, the former Swinging Blue Jeans member, Ray Ennis.

After they parted, lead vocalist Morty has sung backing vocals for artists including The Beach Boys, Tina Turner and Bryan Adams. Of their reformation, he said "We were a bit reluctant. We're a bit long in the tooth and a bit out of touch but we finally said yes". They continue to play gigs across Europe, after reforming in 2000 with a new album, "Bolt From The Blue" and a gig at the Cardiff International Arena.

Their most recent album "Second Wind" was released in October 2007. [ [http://www.racing-cars.uk.com/ Racing Cars official website] ]

Band members

*Graham Headley Williams (guitarist)
*Gareth Mortimer (guitarist / lead vocalist) - aka Morty
*Simon Davies (keyboardist and vocals)
*Colin Griffin (drummer)
*Chris Thomas (bassist)
*Robert James Wilding (drummer)
*David Land (bassist)
*Ray 'Alice' Ennis (guitarist)

Discography

ingle

*"They Shoot Horses Don’t They?" - (1977) - UK No. 14cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 447
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]

Albums

*"Downtown Tonight" (1976) - (Chrysalis) - UK No. 39
*"Live in Concert" (1977) - (ROIR)
*"Weekend Rendezvous" (1977) - (Chrysalis)
*"Bring On the Night" (1978) - (Chrysalis)
*"Bolt from the Blue" (2000) - (Angel Air)
*"Second Wind" (2007) - (Angel Air) [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kpfexq95ld6e~T2 All Music Guide discography] ]

ee also

*Windsong International Records
*List of Peel Sessions
*List of performers on Top of the Pops
*List of Identity Parade guests on Never Mind the Buzzcocks
*Pinkpop Festival

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/welshracingcars Racing Cars MySpace site]
* [http://www.racing-cars.uk.com/ Racing Cars website]
* [http://www.cherryred.co.uk/lemon/artists/racingcars.htm Lemon Recordings website info]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/artists/r/racingcars/ BBC website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/racing_cars/ BBC Wales minisite]