The Allisons

The Allisons
Origin	England
Genres	Pop
Years active	1961–1963
Labels	Fontana Records
Past members
Bob Day John Alford

The Allisons were an English pop duo consisting of:

Bob Day (born Bernard Colin Day, 2 February 1941, Trowbridge, Wiltshire)
John Alford (born Brian Henry John Alford, 31 December 1939, London^[1])

They were marketed as being brothers, using the same surname of Allison.

The Allisons represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 with the song "Are You Sure?". They came in second place with 24 points. The song was released as a single on the Fontana Records label, and climbed to number 1 on the UK NME pop chart. However, the chart compiled by The Official Charts Company shows the song spent six weeks at number 2 and a further three weeks in the top 4.^[2]^[3] "Are You Sure" sold over one million records, earning a gold disc.^[1] In Germany the single reached number 11.^[4] Despite a couple of minor follow-up hits, the duo disbanded in 1963.

Alford initially tried songwriting, but he and Day teamed up for short tours to keep 'The Allisons' name alive. Additionally, in the 1970s and 1980s Alford was joined by other "brothers" — Mike "Allison" and Tony "Allison". By the 1990s Day and Alford regularly reunited to perform in the oldies circuit.

Discography

"Are You Sure?" (1961), UK no. 2
"Words" (1961), UK no. 34
"Lessons in Love" (1962), UK no. 30

^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 131. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
^ ^a ^b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 20. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
^ http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=2817
^ Ehnert, Günter (ed.): Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956-1980. Hamburg: Taurus Press, 1990, S. 15

External links

45-RPM Website

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Bryan Johnson with "Looking High, High, High"	United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961	Succeeded by Ronnie Carroll with "Ring-a-Ding Girl"