| Helen Love | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Genres | Punk rock, bubblegum pop |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Damaged Goods (1993-1997; 2001-2002) Ché Trading (1997-2000) Elefant Records (2005-present) |
| Website | www.helenlove.com |
| Members | |
| Helen Love Sheena Beth |
|
| Past members | |
| Roxy Mark Corrine |
|
Helen Love are an indie band from Wales whose music is a combination of punk rock, bubblegum pop and disco dance music. The main thematic elements in their oeuvre are Joey Ramone, summer days and bubblegum music.
Contents |
The band was formed in 1992 by Helen Love (vocals, guitar) with Sheena (guitar, keyboards), Roxy (bass, drum machine), and Mark (keyboards).[1] Love claims only to listen to the music of The Ramones. Current members are Helen, Sheena and Beth.
While none of their singles have reached the UK Top 40, they have developed a devoted cult following in indie circles, particularly at indie discos, with songs including "Long Live The UK Music Scene", "Shifty Disco Girl", "Does Your Heart Go Boom?", "We Love You", "Girl About Town", "Punk Boy" and "Debbie Loves Joey".
Helen Love have released recordings on many labels, including Damaged Goods, Che Trading, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Wurlizter Jukebox, and Invicta Hi-Fi. They are currently signed to Elefant Records.
They recorded a session for John Peel in October 1997, and had three songs in his Festive Fifty.[2]
Their songs have also been covered by Ash,[1] The Queers, Katz and Tullycraft.
The band contributed a specially written song for the DVD release of Dave Gorman's Googlewhack Adventure. Gorman, a fan of the band, had previously played Helen Love songs to his audiences before he went on stage. Another big fan is Phill Jupitus, for whom the band composed the theme song for his Breakfast Show on BBC 6 Music.
Helen Love completed a new album, It's My Club and I'll Play What I Want To, released in the first week of November 2007 on Elefant Records in Spain and February 2008 in the UK. Their lead singer also provided vocal tracks for a 2009 cover of their song, "Better Set Your Phasers to Stun", by American synthpop band Hyperbubble.
Helen Love's second single was titled "(Sheena's In Love With) Joey Ramoney", a tribute to the band's favourite singer. A play on The Ramones' song "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", the single was brought to Joey's attention by the UK branch of the Ramones fan club. Joey subsequently invited the band to New York to play a gig at the Continental Hotel.
Joey introduced the band's Evening Session on Radio 1, and duetted with Helen on the album version of "Punk Boy".
Helen provided backing vocals on the Joey Ramone album Don't Worry About Me, singing on the track "Mr. Punchy".
| Year | Single | B-side | Label | Cat. no. | Format/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Formula One Racing Girls | Riding Hi | Damaged Goods | damgood 18 | 7" only - 500 pink, black, then 250 red (reissue) |
| Joey Ramoney | Greatest Fan | damgood 27 | 7" only 500 green vinyl | ||
| Happiest Time of the Year | Where's Me F*cking Presents (by Wat Tyler) | dampud 33 1/3 | split single; 7" greeny vinyl only | ||
| 1994 | Punk Boy | Punk Boy 2 | damgood 38 | 7" only 500 pale blue, then black vinyl | |
| 1995 | Bubblegum | Let's Go | damgood 61 | 7" 500 pink, then black vinyl | |
| Ahead of the Race | Diet Coke Girl | damgood 80 | CD + 7" 500 white, then black vinyl | ||
| Beat Him Up | Super Boy Super Girl + Matthew Kaplan Superstar (cd only) |
damgood 89 | CD + 7" 500 pale blue, then black vinyl | ||
| We Love You | Girl about town + We Love You (2) + Punk Boy | damgood 95 | CD + 7" white + orange vinyl | ||
| 1997 | Does Your Heart Go Boom | So in Love with You + Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love + Put Yr Foot on the Fuzzbox Baby |
ché | che 72 | CD + 7" bubblegum pink vinyl, UK #71[3] |
| 1998 | Long Live the UK Music Scene | Sunburst Super Kay + Great in Formula One | che 82 | CD + 7", UK #65[3] | |
| 2000 | Shifty Disco Girl | King of Kung Fu + Leader of the Pack | che 89 | CD + 7" | |
| Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy |
Big Pink Candyfloss Haircut | che 90 | CD + 7" - double A-side | ||
| 2001 | Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight) | Damaged Goods | damgood 206 | One-sided 7" only. A cover of a Ramones song. | |
| 2004 | Debbie Loves Joey | Free download from helenlove.com | |||
| 2005 | Long Hot Summer | Long Hot Summer 2 Helen Love on 45 (a medley of Helen Love hits) |
Invicta Hi-fi | LIQ 029 | CD + translucent orange 7" |
| 2006 | Junk Shop Discothèque | Debbie Loves Joey (Kid Karate remix) Shut Your Mouth |
elefant | ER249 (vinyl) ER363 (cd) |
CD + baby pink 7" |
| 2007 | It's My Club | Boots On + Jennifer Hanley | ER370 | CD only (?) | |
| 2009 | Calm Down Dad | John Peel Roadshow + Candeelips | ER267 | Orange 7" | |
| Year | Title | Tracks | Label | Cat. no. | Format/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Summer Pop Punk Pop EP | Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump! Rollercoasting Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You Summer Pop Radio So Hot Golden Summer |
Damaged Goods | damgood 42 | 10" only 500 pink vinyl |
| 2000 | [Helen Love vs The Cuban Boys] Does Your Heart Go Boom remixes |
"Emma Peel" "Tea Leoni" "John Peel" "Juliette Binoche" |
ché | che 88 | one-sided 12" only. |
| 2005 | The Bubblegum Killers EP | Debbie Loves Joey Saturday Night Kicks A Boy Like You Better Pop Your Bubblegum [cd only] (The Continuing Adventures of) The Girl About Town wigwambam [cd only] |
Sympathy for the Record Industry |
SFTRI 751 | CD + bubblegum pink 7" |
| Year | Title | Tracks | Label | Cat. no. | Format/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Radio Hits | Formula One Racing Girls Riding Hi Joey Ramoney Greatest Fan Punk Boy 1 Punk Boy 2 Love; Kiss; Run; Sing; Shout; Jump! Rollercoasting Rockaway Beach for Me, Heartbreak Hotel For You Summer Pop Radio So Hot Golden Summer |
Damaged Goods | damgood 51 | CD and 1000 yellow glitter vinyl Compilation of the first three singles and the Summer Pop Punk Pop EP |
| 1997 | Radio Hits 2 | Bubblegum Let's Go Ahead of the Race Diet Coke Girl Beat Him Up Super Boy Super Girl Matthew Kaplan Superstar Il Fait Beau (CD only) We Love You Girl About Town We Love You (2) |
damgood 117 | CD and 1000 green glitter vinyl Compilation of the four 1995 singles, plus one previously unreleased track |
|
| 2000 | Love & Glitter, Hot Days and Music | Shifty Disco Girl Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy Who Stole The Starz 2000MPHgirl Love and Glitter, Hot Days and Musik Does Your Heart Go BOOOOOOOMM HappyHardCore BigBigKiss MC5 Punk Boy (with Joey Ramone) Better Set Your Phasers To Stun |
ché | che 87 | CD only |
| 2001 | Love & Glitter, Hot Days and Musik (Damaged Goods reissue) |
As above, plus the following bonus tracks: Automatic Disco Club MC5 BigBigKiss Jump Up and Down |
Damaged Goods | damgood 202 | CD + LP Bonus tracks taken from a 1999 New York radio session |
| 2002 | Radio Hits 3 | Does Your Heart Go Boom So In Love With You Yeah Yeah We're Helen Love Put Your Foot on the Fuzzbox, Baby Long Live The UK Music Scene Sunburst Super Kay Great in Formula One Shifty Disco Girl King of Kung Fu Leader of the Pack Jump Up and Down Atomic Beat Boy Big Pink Candyfloss Haircut Does Your Heart Go Boom (Cuban Boys "Emma Peel" Remix) Number One Fantastic Day |
damgood 203 | CD + LP Compilation of the ché singles |
|
| 2007 | It's My Club And I'll Play What I Want To | It's My Club Debbie loves Joey Dance on (Solid Gold) You Better Learn Karate The 1910 Fruitgum Company Transistor Radio (Radio) Jet First Boyfriend Rodney's English Disco Honolulu Superstar Garageband Queen Of The Discobeat Staying IN A New Squad Attacking Formation Junkshop Discothèque Saturday... NITE!!! |
elefant | ? |