The Vapors

The Vapors

The Vapors, 1980
Background information
Origin Guildford, Surrey, England
Genres New Wave, power pop
Years active 1979–1981
Labels United Artists, Liberty
Past members
David Fenton
Howard Smith
Edward Bazalgette
Steve Smith
Rob Kemp
Bob Heard
Mike Hedges
Mike Jordon

The Vapors were a New Wave and power pop band from England, that existed between 1979 and 1981. They had a hit with the song "Turning Japanese" in 1980, which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart,[1] and #36 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Contents

Career

Based in Guildford, Surrey, their members were David Fenton (songwriter, guitarist and vocalist), Howard Smith (drummer), Edward Bazalgette (lead guitarist) and Steve Smith (bass guitarist and vocals). Their name was originally spelled "Vapours," but they removed the U to seem like an American band.

They were discovered and managed by the father of Paul Weller, John Weller and The Jam's bassist, Bruce Foxton. The song for which they are mainly remembered, "Turning Japanese", was produced by The Jam's producer Vic Coppersmith-Heaven and hit the Top Three in the UK at the same time that "Going Underground" was at number one. It was also a big hit in Australia and in the U.S. The song "Turning Japanese" was believed to euphemistically refer to masturbation.[2]

The band released two albums: New Clear Days (the pun on "nuclear" being intentional) and Magnets. The first was more clearly in the "traditional" new wave style of music, while touching on social issues such as the nuclear threat as well as love themes. The second album dealt more extensively with themes of alienation, with many dark lyrics about apparently psychotic characters, including the opening track, "Jimmie Jones", about cult leader Jim Jones. Sales of the second album were poor and the band broke up soon after its release in 1981. Fenton alleged in a later interview with Record Collector magazine that lack of record label support was the chief reason; apparently their intended seventh single 'Red Flag' was cancelled without explanation. Follow-up singles "News at Ten", and the aforementioned "Jimmie Jones", both coincidentally reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart.[1] Record producer Harry Cowell was for a while the band's drum tech.

After the band

A solicitor who specializes in music law, frontman Fenton has apparently retired from his days as a music creator and performer to concentrate on legal aspects of the music industry.

Edward Bazalgette has since become a television director, credits including a 2005 BBC documentary about Genghis Khan.

Howard Smith now runs People Independent Records in Guildford; the band's home town.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[3]
CAN
[4]
NZ
[5]
US
[6]
New Clear Days 44 41 25 62
Magnets 39 109
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Anthology
Turning Japanese:
The Best of the Vapors
  • Release date: 1996
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
Vaporized
  • Release date: 7 April 1998
  • Label: Collectables
  • Formats: CD, cassette
The Best of the Vapors
  • Release date: 5 August 2003
  • Label: EMI Records
  • Formats: CD

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales threshold)
Album
UK
[3]
CAN
[7]
NZ
[8]
US
[9]
US Dance
[10]
US Main
[10]
1979 "Prisoners" New Clear Days
1980 "Turning Japanese" 3 7 9 36 34
"News at Ten" 44
1981 "Waiting for the Weekend"
"Jimmie Jones" 44 39 Magnets
1982 "Spiders"
"Isolated Case"
"Civic Hall"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 582. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ AllMusic | Turning Japanese | The Vapors
  3. ^ a b "Chart Stats - The Vapors". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=3257. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  4. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums/CDs". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=qs66qgonvpd4ilmv6jl0uv01j4&q1=The+Vapors&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  5. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. http://www.charts.org.nz/search.asp?search=Vapors&cat=a. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  6. ^ "The Vapors : Allmusic : Billboard Albums". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-vapors-p21238/charts-awards. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  7. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=em31us7b7195r1sak1qsn3c053&q1=The+Vapors&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  8. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". Hung Medien. http://www.charts.org.nz/search.asp?cat=s&search=The+Vapors. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  9. ^ "The Vapors Album & Song Chart History - Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/the-vapors/chart-history/18283. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  10. ^ a b "The Vapors : Allmusic : Billboard Singles". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-vapors-p21238/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 
  11. ^ "BPI Searchable Database". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx. Retrieved 18 August 2011. 

External links