Shanks & Bigfoot
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Shanks & Bigfoot were a British duo of dance music/garage producers Steven Meade & Danny Langsman, best known for their hit single "Sweet Like Chocolate" and largely considered a one hit wonder. They were originally known as Doolally, under which they recorded the song "Straight from the Heart" in 1998 which peaked at #20 on the UK charts. For legal reasons this name had to be changed to Shanks & Bigfoot for the release of "Sweet Like Chocolate".
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[edit] Success
The single "Sweet Like Chocolate" was a hit even before commercial release, receiving months of club play before debuting at #1 and remaining there for two weeks. Much to the surprise of the duo, the song had charmed over the UK, becoming one of the most popular singles of the late 1990's. Many journalists commented on the song's unavoidable presence on the streets of London, and it became the first single in UK history to top the dance, national, independent and R&B charts simultaneously. The single was the 8th biggest seller of 1999 in the UK.
"We think it must have captured people's imaginations somehow", said Shanks in an interview. "I don't think you ever think 'this is a big record' when you make one... it was something that just happened." Vocals on the track were sung by Sharon Woolf, who also sung "Straight from the Heart" for them the year before.
"Sweet Like Chocolate" was originally released in a limited brown vinyl pressing of 1,000 copies, and demand quickly exceeded supply. The shortage of copies and delayed promo mailouts saw copies changing hands for as much as £80 each. The BBC reported that several girls threatened a London DJ at knife-point when they requested "Sweet Like Chocolate" and he was unable to play it.
The video for "Sweet Like Chocolate" was computer animated, and featured a girl walking along in an area where almost everything is made of chocolate .
[edit] Aftermath
Later that year at the annual MOBO Awards, they received three nominations and won one, for Best British Dance Act - beating out Fatboy Slim, Armand van Helden and Phats & Small. Additionally, they were nominated for two Ivor Novello awards and two BRITs. A bidding war for Shanks & Bigfoot soon resulted, with the duo eventually signing to Zomba Records.
In 2000 they released their debut and only album Swings and Roundabouts along with the follow up single "Sing-A-Long" which failed to match the critical and commercial success of "Sweet Like Chocolate". UK soul singer Terri Walker, an unknown at the time, provided vocals for all of the album except for "Sweet Like Chocolate". That year they also remixed Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat" as a B-side for their "King for a Day" single, and mixed a Ministry of Sound compilation entitled Ayia Napa - The Album.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
[edit] Singles
- "Straight from the Heart" (as Doolally) (1998) #20 UK re-released (1999) #9 UK
- "Sweet Like Chocolate" (1999) #1 UK (2 weeks), #9 Australia
- "Sing-A-Long" (2000) #12 UK
[edit] Remixes
- "R.U. Ready" (Shanks & Bigfoot Mix) - Sharon Woolf (1999)
- released on promo 12"
- "Will You Wait For Me (Doolally Vocal Mix + Shanks & Bigfoot Dub)" - Kavana (1999)
- "Boost Dem (Doolally Mix)" - Kitachi (1999)
- "Canned Heat (Shanks & Bigfoot Extended Master Mix)" - Jamiroquai (2000)
- released on "King for a Day" single
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "You Needed Me" by Boyzone |
UK Singles Chart number one single May 23, 1999 - June 5, 1999 |
Succeeded by "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann |
