The Equals
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The Equals were a pop/reggae/rock group that formed in North London, England in 1965. They are remembered mostly for the fact that Eddy Grant, then sporting dyed blonde hair, was in the group. Also in the original line-up were the twin brothers, Derv and Lincoln Gordon, John Hall and Pat Lloyd.
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[edit] History
In 1966 the group released the "Hold Me Closer" / "Baby Come Back" single, which did not capture much attention in the United Kingdom. However, in Germany and The Netherlands it went to #1 - a position its re-issue would later reach in the UK. The year 1968 saw the release of "I Get So Excited" which appeared in the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. A string of single releases followed up to 1970, all of which charted in the UK. The group also attracted attention as one of the few racially integrated bands of the 1960s, which was reflected in the group's name: The Equals.
In 1971, Grant left The Equals to pursue his solo career. He would have eventually release several Top 40 singles in the late 1970s and early 1980s; among them, "Living On The Front Line", "Electric Avenue", and "Romancing the Stone". Grant also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although the band never charted again after Grant's departure, they remained a popular live act, performing into the late 1970s and beyond.
In the late 1970s, The Clash recorded a successful cover version of The Equals' song "Police On My Back". In 2006 Willie Nile released his cover of "Police on My Back" on his Streets of New York CD.
The song "Baby Come Back" refused to go away. The track returned in 1994, when Pato Banton scored an unexpected UK Number one with his cover of the song.
[edit] Original line-up
- Derv Gordon - lead vocals - born Dervin Gordon, 29 June 1948, in Jamaica
- Lincoln Gordon - guitar - born 29 June 1948, in Jamaica.
- Eddy Grant - guitar - born Edmond Montague Grant, 5 March 1948, in Plaisance, Guyana.
- Pat Lloyd - bass guitar - born Patrick Lloyd, 17 March 1948, in Holloway, London.
- John Hall - drums - born 25 October 1946 in Islington, London.
[edit] UK chart singles
- "I Get So Excited" / "The Skies Above" - (1968) - Number 44.
- "Baby Come Back" / "Hold Me Closer" - (1968) - Number 1.
- "Laurel And Hardy" / "The Guy Who Made Her a Star" - (1968) - Number 35.
- "Softly Softly" / "Lonely Rita" - (1968) - Number 48.
- "Michael and The Slipper Tree" / "Honey Gum" - (1969) - Number 24.
- "Viva Bobby Joe" / "I Can't Let You Go" - (1969) - Number 6.
- "Rub A Dub Dub" / "After the Lights Go Down Low" - (1969) - Number 34.
- "Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys" / "Ain't Got Nothing to Give You"" - (1970) - Number 9.
[edit] References
- Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
- The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits - ISBN 0-85112-250-7
- The Book of Golden Discs - 2nd Edition - ISBN 0-214-20512-6
