| Broken English | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Rock |
| Years active | 1987 - 1991 |
| Labels | EMI |
| Associated acts | The Counterfeit Stones |
| Members | |
| Steve Elson: Vocals/Guitar Jamie Moses: Guitar Alan Coates: Guitar |
|
Broken English was a British band formed in 1987 by Steve Elson (singer and guitarist), who at the time performed in a Rolling Stones tribute band. He wrote a song called "Comin' On Strong", which had a Stones sound to it. A friend heard the song and thought it was too good to be a one-off novelty song and encouraged Elson to put together a band and record more material. The first single did reasonably well, however the two follow-up singles did not fare so well as this is highlighted and detailed in the sleeve notes of their only album.
Contents |
Broken English made several nods to the Stones, including:
According to the sleeve notes included with the album The Rough and the Smooth, it was suggested that Bruno Brookes' brother wrote a track for the band, which was included on the b-Side of "Love on the Side". When word got around this had happened, and as Bruno Brookes was a DJ at Radio 1 at the time, the recording disappeared from the playlist.[1]
| Song Title | B-side |
UK Singles Chart [2] |
CD | Picture disc | 12" | 7" | Information | Music Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Comin' On Strong" | "Suffer in Silence" |
|
YES | YES | YES | YES | Originally released as a white label to add to the mystery. | YES |
| "Love on the Side" | "Deep in my Heart" |
|
YES | YES | YES | |||
| "Do You Really Want Me Back" Waterfront Mix |
"Do You Really Want Me Back" 7" Version & "Running Out" |
|
YES | YES | YES |
Broken English recorded one album which was not released until 2007, nearly 20 years after it was first recorded. It's called Platinum. The sleeve notes of the album give a detailed history of the band and reasons for them slipping into obscurity.
Track Listing
1. "Show a Little Mercy"
2. "Straight Lace Girls"
3. "Don't Change"
4. "Emotional Suicide"
5. "You Take Me Away"
6. "Comin' On Strong"
7. "Casanova"
8. "Ball 'n' Chain"
9. "Love on the Side"
10. "Woman of Stone"
11. "Do You Really Want Me Back"
Bonus Tracks
12. "Comin' On Strong (2)"
13. "Fire Me Up"
14. "Rough Cut Diamonds"
15. "Running Out"
Broken English were one of the opening acts on the ITV programme The Roxy, which was set up as opposition to BBC Television's Top of the Pops.
Comin on Strong features a full length music video of the band in their Ghostbusters look, playing the song in a run down work yard. Due to the visible steam of their breath, the video gives the impression that the band is in the cold outdoors.
Do You Really Want Me Back shows the band playing in a studio and is filmed in black and white. The video consists of a woman de icing a window allowing her to observe the band performing. At the end of the video the band appears in the style of the Take on Me video by A-ha.