Coast to Coast (band)
Coast to Coast was a British band from Northamptonshire, that was signed to Polydor Records. They are best known for their 1981 Top 10 hit in the UK with "(Do) The Hucklebuck".
Career
Formed in 1977 by Bud Smith (bass) and Bob Debank (guitar), who then auditioned Alan Mills for the lead vocalist. They were joined by Sonnie Torlot (saxophone), Jamie Ling (guitar), Bud Smith (double bass. guitar and saxophone) and Earl Barton (drums).[1]
By 1980 tensions surfaced and Mills and the band parted company. Sandy Fontaine (Sandy Richardson), who later changed his name to Alex Giannini (actor and writer died 02 October 2015, who married Harry Secombe's daughter Jennifer) replaced Mills as the lead singer in 1980. Although the British Hit Singles & Albums book cited Sandy Fontaine as the singer for "(Do) The Hucklebuck", it was actually Alan Mills' vocal that appeared on the single. Fontaine's vocal was added to the album version. The song reached number 5 in the UK Singles Chart in 1981,[2] it was a cover version of a song recorded by Roy Milton and Chubby Checker amongst others.
The follow-up release, another cover version this time of Brenda Lee's hit, "Let's Jump the Broomstick" sung by Sandy Fontaine, peaked at number 28 in the same chart in June 1981.[3]
The group disbanded in 1982. A few reforms with new members have been tried with little success, not matching the impact of the original band.
Bud Smith and Sonnie Torlot have the performing rights to the band name "Coast to Coast."
Band members
- Alan Mills (vocals) 1977-1980
- Sandy Fontaine (vocals) 1980-1982
- Sonnie Torlot (sax, vocals).1978-1982
- Jamie Ling (guitar, vocals).1979-1982
- Bud Smith (bass, vocals).1977-1982
- Earl Barton (drums)1980-1982
- Bob Debank (guitarist, vocals) 1977-1979 (Founder member along with Bud Smith) departed from the band before signing a record contract with Polydor.
Discography
Albums
- 1981 Coastin' (Metronome Records).
EP.
Rock This Joint/The South's Gonna Rise Again. Dixieland Rock./The Great Pretender. YORKIE.
SINGLES
Do The Hucklebuck./Telephone Baby. POLYDOR.
Jump The Broomstick./Roller Coaster Rock. POLYDOR.
Baby Why Let Go./Your Mama's Back. POLYDOR.
Coastin./Born To Rock'n'Roll, POLYDOR.
Rollercoaster Rock./you Mama's Back./and Born to Rock n roll. Writers. Dapin and Snute. ( Bud Smith and Sandy Fontaine.)
Singles
| Year | Title | UK[4] | GER[5] | AUS[6] | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Coast To Coast EP | - | - | - | Yorkie |
| 1979 | (Do) The Hucklebuck | - | - | - | Yorkie |
| 1980 | (Do) The Hucklebuck | 5 | 37 | 70 | Polydor |
| 1981 | Let's Jump The Broomstick | 28 | - | - | Polydor |
| 1981 | Coastin' / Born To Rock & Roll | 76 | - | - | Polydor |
| 1981 | Baby, Why Let Go? | - | - | - | Polydor |
| 1982 | Dance On / Coastin` | - | - | - | Metronome |
References
- ↑ Amitty.co.uk - accessed May 2010 - deadlink 1 February 2016
- ↑ Pure80spop.co.uk
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 112. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ http://www.musicvf.com/Coast+to+Coast.art
- ↑ http://hitparade.ch/song/Coast-To-Coast/%28Do%29-The-Hucklebuck-27552
- ↑ http://www.austchartbook.com.au/
External links
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