| Ph.D. | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul New wave |
| Years active | 1981–1983 2006–present |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Associated acts | Jeff Beck Bandit |
| Website | Unofficial Ph.D. Fan Site |
| Members | |
| Jim Diamond Tony Hymas |
|
| Past members | |
| Simon Phillips | |
Ph.D. is a British group that managed a UK Top 10 hit with "I Won't Let You Down" in April 1982,[1] although the song had been a hit the previous year throughout Europe. The band took its name from the initial letters of its three members' surnames; Phillips, Hymas and Diamond.
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Singer Jim Diamond formed the group with former Jeff Beck Group members Tony Hymas and Simon Phillips in the early 1980s. Their self-titled début album, originally released in 1981, spawned a hit with their ballad "I Won't Let You Down" which peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in 1982,[1] and number five in Australia. Following the single's success the album was re-issued and finally entered the UK Albums Chart.[1]
Their video for "Little Suzi's on the Up" was notable for being the fifth video shown on MTV's first broadcasting day, being 1 August 1981 in parts of the U.S. The song is about a young woman who will strive to be a winner no matter how much she gets put down. The music video for the song is quite comical and features fast motion at times.
They came out with their second album Is It Safe? in 1983. The first single, "I Didn't Know," failed to make the UK Top 40, but did well in Europe. The albums have not been released officially on CD until recently, except for the first one in Japan in 1997.
A short time later Diamond contracted hepatitis. Prevented from touring, by Diamond's illness, the group disbanded. Diamond returned some time later as a solo artist and score a UK #1 single in November 1984 with "I Should Have Known Better".
Hard rock band Tesla's cover version of "Little Suzi's On The Up" (as "Little Suzi") was an American radio hit in 1986.
Hymas appeared on Diamond's 1988 album.
Diamond confirmed that the two studio albums could be added to iTunes. Reissues of the first two albums were released by Voiceprint Records. The label also released Three on 2 February 2009.
| Year | Album | UK[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Ph.D. | 33 | - |
| 1983 | Is It Safe? | - | 4 |
| 2009 | Three | - | - |
| Year | Song | UK[1] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | "Little Suzi's on the Up" | - | Ph.D. |
| 1982 | "I Won't Let You Down" | 3 | Ph.D. |
| 1982 | "There's No Answer To It" | - | Ph.D. |
| 1983 | "I Didn't Know" | - | Is It Safe? |
| 1983 | "Fifth Of May" | - | Is It Safe? |
| 2009 | "Drive Time" | - | Three |