Waterfront (band)

Waterfront
Origin Cardiff, Wales
Genres Pop, Sophisti-pop
Years active 1987–1991
2000–present
Labels Polydor Records
Members
Chris Duffy
Phil Cilia

Waterfront are a 1980s British pop duo, comprising Phil Cilia (full name Philip Laurence Cilia) and Chris Duffy (full name Christopher James Duffy), who emerged from the ashes of local Cardiff band 'The Official Secrets'.

Contents

Career

In 1987, Waterfront were signed directly to EMI/SBK Productions by Charles Koppelman and Marty Bandier. The band went on to achieve chart success on both sides of the Atlantic. Waterfront was signed directly to Polydor via David Munns the now ex- Vice Chairman & CEO of EMI Records.

They operated in a similar musical style as This Way Up and Climie Fisher. The band were signed to Polydor Records, and were best known for their 1989 UK #17 hit single (and U.S. #10 hit), "Cry". Waterfront followed up "Cry" in the U.S. with another single, "Nature Of Love", which hit #70 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1]

They released their debut album, Waterfront, in 1989 with eventual sales reaching in excess of 600,000 worldwide. They are the first Welsh duo to achieve top 10 single status in the US and were named BMI Songwriters of the year in 1990. "Cry" was awarded one of the most 'Played Single on US Radio' at the BMI 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Los Angeles - "Cry" is now approaching one million plays on radio – resulting in membership to the BMI’s 'Million-Air' club.

In 1992, Chris Duffy released a solo album and single, also on Polydor Records, both entitled "All The Time In The World". The album contained three tracks co-written with Phil Cilia. (517 038-2 - album / PZCD207 - single). (^)

In May 2000, Duffy and Cilia reunited as Waterfront at the Kashmir Klub/BMI Showcase in London, England, a concert that was broadcast on the internet. The group performed tracks like "Valentine's Day," "Cowboy Dreaming," and "Kingdom Comes."[2]

In 2007, the reunited Waterfront secured single of the week for a two week period on the O2 / Napster mobile download portal – with a new acoustic alternative country track, "Valentine’s Day".

As of 2009, the band were recording songs for an upcoming album release, samples of which were available on their MySpace page. According to this "The new material takes Waterfront in a completely new adult contemporary direction - allowing Phil and Chris to draw on their alternative country influences (Ryan Adams, Keith Urban, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams, Counting Crows and the Wallflowers)".[3].

The new CD album entitled 'Ghosts Of The Good' was released by Chordamundo Records in November 2011 and it includes 11 tracks and a lot of collaboration from contributing musicians - such as Jamie Crompton (ex Suzie Quattro band lead guitarist). There are ten new songs and then a bonus 'Country Makeover' release of their 1987 hit "Cry".

Discography

Singles

Details relate to the UK releases.

Album

Year Album Chart positions Track listing
UK US
1989 Waterfront [9]
  • 1989 (UK)
  • 837 970-2 (CD)
  • 837 970-1 (LP)
  • 837 970-4 (MC)
  • 1989 (US)
- -
  1. "Tightrope"
  2. "Cry"
  3. "Platinum Halo"
  4. "Nature of Love"
  5. "Move On"
  6. "Dancing with Strangers"
  7. "Set You Free"
  8. "Broken Arrow"
  9. "Soul Survivor"
  10. "Waterfront"
  11. "Saved"
Year Album Chart positions Track listing
UK US
2011 Ghosts Of The Good
  • 2011 (UK)
- -
  1. "Valentines Day"
  2. "Fallen Angel"
  3. "Sweet Johnny"
  4. "All things must pass"
  5. "Long time running"
  6. "Ghosts Of The Good"
  7. "Jimmy River's song"
  8. "Another Page"
  9. "Wounded Man"
  10. "Hello goodbye again"
  11. "Cry (Country Makeover)"

Notes

References

External links