Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners - the name consistently spelled without an apostroph… Read Full Bio ↴Dexys Midnight Runners - the name consistently spelled without an apostrophe - were a British post-punk and Northern Soul band who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. The word Dexys in this case, comes from a colloquialism of dextroamphetamine, a type of amphetamine diet pill that was a popular 'upper' drug with England's Northern Soul scene in the 1960s.
Founded in 1978 by former singer of the Killjoys, Kevin Rowland, and guitarist Kevin "Al" Archer, in Birmingham (United Kingdom), the band was unique in that musically, they seemed best suited to the budding Mod/Skinhead Revival scene in the United Kingdom, but in many ways, especially fashion, they came off as rather hard to 'sell' to any particular scene. Musically, they've always been a sort of "soul-fusion."
An early single, "Geno" (written as an ode to American Northern Soul singer, Geno Washington), was immensely popular, despite being repeatedly bad-mouthed by the NME. In fact, "Geno" remains their biggest-selling single in the UK, thanks in part to at least one re-issue.
The following album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980), was an interesting punk and soul fusion, and despite (or perhaps because of) decidedly mixed reviews by the press, it was extremely well-received by the public.
Their second album, Too Rye Aye (1982), had a decidedly different sound, thanks largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara). The sound was still obviously soul influenced, at the very least, but this time it was Celtic soul. The album's first UK single was even titled "Celtic Soul Brothers."
Too-Rye-Aye was the most popular Dexys album Stateside, in fact it was the only one to break US charts, (though the album itself was only a modest to intermediate success in the US). This is largely because the US a-side single for "Come On Eileen" was debatably too popular (the single has been re-issued at least once in the UK; despite this, "Geno" was still their biggest-selling UK single). Undoubtedly the most "pop radio"-oriented song of the entire Dexys Midnight Runners catalogue.
A third album, Don't Stand Me Down was released in 1985 ending a three year silence from the band. It featured a noticeably different line-up. The ever-experimental Rowland abandoned the Too-Rye-Ay Celtic Soul/New Wave formula in favor of a more laidback Van Morrison conversational album. The previous album was a "Big Band" sound when compared to the new one (though, amusingly, the number of guest musicians featured on Don't Stand Me Down, plus the credited band members, seemed to outnumber all previous members of Dexys combined, including ex-Dexys who had recorded only song before leaving).
Don't Stand Me Down was well-received by critics though universally ignored by the music-buying public due in large part to Rowland stubbornly refusing to release any song from the album as a single, until considerably "late" after its release, as well as confusing listeners who may have been expecting a sequel to Too-Rye-Ay's Dance Pop. Sales of the album were sparse and it was considered a failure by the label. In the 20-plus years since it's original release it has come to be viewed by many as Rowland's magnum opus.
After Rowland's first solo endeavor in 1988, Dexys was briefly reformed in 1993, by Rowland with Big Jim Patterson, though this endeavor resulted in little, if anything more than a television performance.
In 2003, the career retrospective album ('don't call it a "greatest hits" collection'), Let's Make This Precious was released, featuring two new tracks, "Manhood" and "My Life In England, Part One." The new tracks were touted as singles and received regular radio play in the UK, though never commercially released outside the album.
Rowland officially announced in June 2005 that Dexys were back in the studio, recording and seeking a new contract. The current line-up includes Rowland Mick Talbot (former member of Merton Parkas and Hammond player for Paul Weller).
In the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, notably, Dexys Midnight Runners are the only band to have all of their albums listed, and with a full page review for each album (understandably, most albums only get a half-page review). All three albums received glowing reviews, save Too-Rye-Aye, wherein it was noted "[[i]Too-Rye-Aye] is the worst of the three Dexys albums; but if this is the worst album in your collection, pat yourself on the back."
Founded in 1978 by former singer of the Killjoys, Kevin Rowland, and guitarist Kevin "Al" Archer, in Birmingham (United Kingdom), the band was unique in that musically, they seemed best suited to the budding Mod/Skinhead Revival scene in the United Kingdom, but in many ways, especially fashion, they came off as rather hard to 'sell' to any particular scene. Musically, they've always been a sort of "soul-fusion."
An early single, "Geno" (written as an ode to American Northern Soul singer, Geno Washington), was immensely popular, despite being repeatedly bad-mouthed by the NME. In fact, "Geno" remains their biggest-selling single in the UK, thanks in part to at least one re-issue.
The following album, Searching for the Young Soul Rebels (1980), was an interesting punk and soul fusion, and despite (or perhaps because of) decidedly mixed reviews by the press, it was extremely well-received by the public.
Their second album, Too Rye Aye (1982), had a decidedly different sound, thanks largely to an immense line-up change, most notable for the fact that the horn section of ...Young Soul Rebels had been replaced by "the Emerald Express," the band's Celtic folk section (featuring violinist Helen O'Hara). The sound was still obviously soul influenced, at the very least, but this time it was Celtic soul. The album's first UK single was even titled "Celtic Soul Brothers."
Too-Rye-Aye was the most popular Dexys album Stateside, in fact it was the only one to break US charts, (though the album itself was only a modest to intermediate success in the US). This is largely because the US a-side single for "Come On Eileen" was debatably too popular (the single has been re-issued at least once in the UK; despite this, "Geno" was still their biggest-selling UK single). Undoubtedly the most "pop radio"-oriented song of the entire Dexys Midnight Runners catalogue.
A third album, Don't Stand Me Down was released in 1985 ending a three year silence from the band. It featured a noticeably different line-up. The ever-experimental Rowland abandoned the Too-Rye-Ay Celtic Soul/New Wave formula in favor of a more laidback Van Morrison conversational album. The previous album was a "Big Band" sound when compared to the new one (though, amusingly, the number of guest musicians featured on Don't Stand Me Down, plus the credited band members, seemed to outnumber all previous members of Dexys combined, including ex-Dexys who had recorded only song before leaving).
Don't Stand Me Down was well-received by critics though universally ignored by the music-buying public due in large part to Rowland stubbornly refusing to release any song from the album as a single, until considerably "late" after its release, as well as confusing listeners who may have been expecting a sequel to Too-Rye-Ay's Dance Pop. Sales of the album were sparse and it was considered a failure by the label. In the 20-plus years since it's original release it has come to be viewed by many as Rowland's magnum opus.
After Rowland's first solo endeavor in 1988, Dexys was briefly reformed in 1993, by Rowland with Big Jim Patterson, though this endeavor resulted in little, if anything more than a television performance.
In 2003, the career retrospective album ('don't call it a "greatest hits" collection'), Let's Make This Precious was released, featuring two new tracks, "Manhood" and "My Life In England, Part One." The new tracks were touted as singles and received regular radio play in the UK, though never commercially released outside the album.
Rowland officially announced in June 2005 that Dexys were back in the studio, recording and seeking a new contract. The current line-up includes Rowland Mick Talbot (former member of Merton Parkas and Hammond player for Paul Weller).
In the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, notably, Dexys Midnight Runners are the only band to have all of their albums listed, and with a full page review for each album (understandably, most albums only get a half-page review). All three albums received glowing reviews, save Too-Rye-Aye, wherein it was noted "[[i]Too-Rye-Aye] is the worst of the three Dexys albums; but if this is the worst album in your collection, pat yourself on the back."
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Dexys Midnight Runners Lyrics
01. The Celtic Soul Brothers More please and thank you Introducing the Celtic Soul Brothe…
All In All Oh, what's the matter? Oh no. It's no better. I've been thi…
All in All (This One Last Wild Waltz) Oh, what's the matter? Oh no. It's no better. I've been thin…
Because of You Because of you, these things I do. Because of you, because…
Breakin Like a madman who's walking the morning Headin' for the wall…
Burn It Down I'll only ask you once more You only want to believe This…
Celtic Soul Brothers More please and thank you Introducing the Celtic Soul Brothe…
Come on Eileen Come on, Eileen Come on, Eileen Poor old Johnnie Ray Sounde…
Come On Eileen (single edit) (Come on Eileen) (Come on Eileen) Poor old Johnny Ray Sound…
Dance Stance I'll only ask you once more You only want to believe This…
Geno Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno! Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno, Geno! …
I Couldn't Help If I Tried You gave me your ace card I gave you my time In…
I Couldn't Help It If I Tried You gave me your ace card I gave you my…
I Love You I was thinking of a compromise When I saw the beauty…
I'll Show You I'll show you them now, those boys without cares. Who'd swap…
I'm Just Looking Youre looking to win it, but not taking it in…
Jackie Wilson Said Jackie Wilson said it was reet petite I kind of love…
Keep It The world lives in your front room You're sitting happy…
Knowledge of Beauty I've often thought about The men where I came from And tim…
Let What's that, what's that on the start? Oh, oh let's get…
Let's Get This Staight From the Start What's that? What's that on the start? Let's get this straig…
Let's Get This Straight What's that, what's that on the start? Oh, oh let's get…
Let's Get This Straight From The Start What's that? What's that on the start? Let's get this straig…
Let's Make This Precious Pure, this must be, it has to be. Pure, let's make…
Lets Make This Precious Pure, this must be, it has to be. Pure, let's make…
Liars A to E Nobody tells you, you end up knowing (knowing) Bad habits, y…
Listen To This I was thinking of a compromise When I saw the beauty…
Love They all dedicate lines to you Thin lines, easy seen through…
Love Part 1 I was thinking of a compromise When I saw the beauty…
Love Part 2 They all dedicate lines to you Thin lines, easy seen through…
Manhood It's just your manhood Kev oh it's your manhood, Your a…
My Life in England Part 1 I thought they said neat when the schoolkids called me…
Old And then the same thing comes from us And then the…
One Of Those Things You know, recently I was thinking I was thinking about one…
One Way Love They all dedicate lines to you Thin lines, easy seen through…
Plan B You've always been searching for something But everything se…
Respect What you want, baby, I got it What you need, do…
Seven Days Too Long The first time I called you, Girl, they said you…
Show Me Show me them now Those wild little boys The ones that spelle…
Soon I wont need to think of nice things to say, I…
T.S.O.P. Yeah Ooh yeah Let′s get it on It's time to get down, yeah Le…
Tell Me When My Light Turns Green Seen quite a bit in my twenty-three years Ive been manic-dep…
Thankfully Not Living in Yorkshire It Doesn't Apply I've never seen it but I still believe it I'd like…
The Celtic Soul Brothers More please and thank you Introducing the Celtic Soul Brothe…
The Occasional Flicker No, I don't want sympathy, I just want somewhere for these…
The Waltz Oh, what's the matter? Oh no. It's no better. I've been th…
There There My Dear Dear Robin Hope you dont mind me writing, its just…
There, There, My Dear Dear Robin Hope you dont mind me writing, its just that…
This is What She Well, you know the kind of people That put creases in…
This is What She's Like I don't like these kind of people No? May I state…
Until I Believe In My Soul I'll need tonight to sit and think about this Think what…