Racing Cars
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Racing Cars is a Welsh pop band, formed in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales in 1973.
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[edit] Career
They were signed to one of the biggest British record labels of the time, Chrysalis Records. 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 in York.
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 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.
Since they parted, lead singer Morty has sung backing vocals for artists including the Beach Boys, Tina Turner and Bryan Adams. Of the 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, reforming in 2000 with a new album, Bolt From The Blue and a gig at the Cardiff International Arena.
[edit] 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)
- Roy 'Alice' Ennis (guitarist)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Single
"They Shoot Horses Don’t They?" - (1977) - UK No. 14
[edit] 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)
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 14th Edition - ISBN 0-85156-156-X
- Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7
