Double (band)

Double
Background information
Origin Zürich, Switzerland
Genres Pop rock[1]
Years active 1983–1987
Labels Polydor Records, A&M Records
Website http://www.doublecity.com
Past members Kurt Maloo
Felix Haug
Notable instruments
Saxophone

Double (pronounced "doo-blay") was a Swiss music duo best remembered for their hit single "The Captain of Her Heart".[2][3][4][5]

Biography

Double formed in 1983 in Zürich, Switzerland by Felix Haug (drums and keyboards) and Kurt Maloo (guitar and vocals) out of the trio Ping Pong of which both Maloo and Haug were members. Ping Pong formed in 1981, and had some early success with a single entitled "Rhythm Walk", and also recorded some never-released tracks (due to legal issues) with Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music.

Ping Pong had some success with singles and several appearances around Europe in music festivals.

Prior to releasing their debut album, the duo issued several singles, of which "Naningo", "Rangoon Moon", and "Woman of the World" were the most popular. Naningo, unlike their later albums, began as post-punk. The high point of Double's career came shortly after the late 1985 release of their first full length album, Blue. The album contained two of the band's earlier singles as well as the international smash hit, "The Captain of Her Heart"; a plaintive, atmospheric, piano-led ballad which was an immediate success throughout Europe upon its 1986 single release. It reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart,[6] and eventually hit the US Billboard Hot 100 at the end of the year, climbing to #16.

Their next album, Dou3le followed in 1987 but, despite including the acclaimed single "Devils Ball", it failed to emulate the success of its predecessor. The pair began work on a third album, but split by early 1989 due to musical differences, though they remained friends. Haug began to compose music for films and advertising, while Kurt Maloo pursued a solo career, in the course of which he has released five albums – Single (1990), Soul and Echo (1995), Loopy Avenue (2006), Summer Of Better Times (2009) and What About (2014).[7]

During the late 1990s the pair reunited in Can Studio in Cologne to record nine new tracks. The duo were happy with the results, but it was felt there was not enough material for an album. With the project postponed until 2003, the pair returned to the project, for the 20th anniversary of the band, however Felix Haug died following a heart attack on 1 May 2004. Maloo took the results of this session and gave the tracks to Pit Baumgartner for remixing. These were included on Maloo's 2006 album Loopy Avenue.[8][9]

Members

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

  1. ↑ Talevski, Nick (2006). Rock Obituaries – Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 258. ISBN 978-1-8460-9091-2.
  2. ↑ Waterman, Michael (26 June 2010). "The Captain Of Her Heart – Double". toponehitwonders.com. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Double". discogs.com. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Double Blue review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. 1 2 3 Roberts 2006, p. 166.
  7. ↑ http://oldschool.tblog.com/post/1970485172
  8. ↑ http://www.doublecity.com/bio.html
  9. ↑ http://www.ivibes.nu/?article=6561
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