Red Box
Red Box is a British pop group formed in the 1980s. The group was originall… Read Full Bio ↴Red Box is a British pop group formed in the 1980s. The group was originally a five-piece band, and released its debut single "Chenko" on Cherry Red Records in 1983. Following this, the band slimmed down to a duo, Simon Toulson-Clarke and Julian Close, and took on a more synthpop direction. Their second single "Saskatchewan" (a cover of the Buffy Sainte-Marie song) brought them to the attention of WEA, who signed the duo.
In 1985 they enjoyed their first UK hit single, "Lean On me (Ah-Li-Ayo)", an anthemic song which was promoted with an unusual video in which a British sign language interpreter provided a translation of the song's lyrics. The following year, Red Box (with the help of numerous guest musicians) released the album The Circle and the Square.
Toulson-Clarke responded to WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio with the sardonic "For America", which lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media, as well as alluding to American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. Unsurprisingly, the song was not a hit in the USA, though it did reach the top ten in several countries including the UK.
In 1990 they scored a club hit with Enjoy which was essentially a remix of an old B-side by Paul Oakenfold under the Solid Gold Easy Amex name. This record charted at Number 75 on Independent Radio's Network Chart (also used by Number One Magazine) but missed the Gallup UK Singles Chart as used by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. By now the 'group' was essentially just Simon Toulson-Clarke with the following Train single and Motive album more akin to solo releases. The Train single was pulled from shelves for reasons unknown to even the band, Motive got very little press, and Red Box ended up going on a hiatus. Toulson-Clarke continued to work in the music industry. In 1997, Toulon-Clarke, Alistair Gavin (who worked on Motive), and Phill Brown formed SPA and released an eponymous album, which itself was a concept album dedicated to deceased American comedian Bill Hicks.
In 2010, the current incarnation of Red Box is still headed up by the group’s original protagonist, Simon Toulson-Clarke who has gathered together a group of musicians for their new album "Plenty".
As well as Toulson-Clarke on vocals, the group includes Derek Adams (formerly of Dream Academy and The Act) and the young singer-songwriter, Emily Maguire. Unlike the early, frenetic days of the 1980s, Red Box had the relative luxury of time and space to work on "Plenty". As Simon explains, they 'were able to apply a fine filter to the whole process; selecting the material and working through the best possible arrangements that they could find for each song'.
In 2019, their fourth studio album Chase the Setting Sun was released.
Discography - Singles:
* Chenko (Cherry Red Records CHERRY 73 - Jan 1984)
* Saskatchewan (Sire Records W9157)
* Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) (Sire Records W 8926 - Aug 1985) UK #3 (Gallup)
* Chenko (WEA YX 59 - Jan 1986)
* For America (WEA YZ 84 - Oct 1986) UK #10 (Gallup)
* Heart Of The Sun (WEA YZ 100 1987) UK #71 (Gallup)
* Chenko (Tenka-Io) (WEA YX 125 - Jan 1986) UK #77 (Gallup)
* Enjoy - with Solid Gold Easy Amex (Eastwest Records YZ 466 - May 1990) UK #75 (Network Chart)
* Train (Eastwest Records YZ 531) - Oct 90
Discography - Albums
* The Circle & The Square (WEA), 1986
* Motive (EastWest), 1990
* Plenty (Cherry Red Records) 2010
* Chase the Setting Sun, 2019
In 1985 they enjoyed their first UK hit single, "Lean On me (Ah-Li-Ayo)", an anthemic song which was promoted with an unusual video in which a British sign language interpreter provided a translation of the song's lyrics. The following year, Red Box (with the help of numerous guest musicians) released the album The Circle and the Square.
Toulson-Clarke responded to WEA's request for something to appeal to American radio with the sardonic "For America", which lambasted what he saw as the style-over-content approach of the American media, as well as alluding to American military involvement in Grenada and Nicaragua. Unsurprisingly, the song was not a hit in the USA, though it did reach the top ten in several countries including the UK.
In 1990 they scored a club hit with Enjoy which was essentially a remix of an old B-side by Paul Oakenfold under the Solid Gold Easy Amex name. This record charted at Number 75 on Independent Radio's Network Chart (also used by Number One Magazine) but missed the Gallup UK Singles Chart as used by the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles. By now the 'group' was essentially just Simon Toulson-Clarke with the following Train single and Motive album more akin to solo releases. The Train single was pulled from shelves for reasons unknown to even the band, Motive got very little press, and Red Box ended up going on a hiatus. Toulson-Clarke continued to work in the music industry. In 1997, Toulon-Clarke, Alistair Gavin (who worked on Motive), and Phill Brown formed SPA and released an eponymous album, which itself was a concept album dedicated to deceased American comedian Bill Hicks.
In 2010, the current incarnation of Red Box is still headed up by the group’s original protagonist, Simon Toulson-Clarke who has gathered together a group of musicians for their new album "Plenty".
As well as Toulson-Clarke on vocals, the group includes Derek Adams (formerly of Dream Academy and The Act) and the young singer-songwriter, Emily Maguire. Unlike the early, frenetic days of the 1980s, Red Box had the relative luxury of time and space to work on "Plenty". As Simon explains, they 'were able to apply a fine filter to the whole process; selecting the material and working through the best possible arrangements that they could find for each song'.
In 2019, their fourth studio album Chase the Setting Sun was released.
Discography - Singles:
* Chenko (Cherry Red Records CHERRY 73 - Jan 1984)
* Saskatchewan (Sire Records W9157)
* Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) (Sire Records W 8926 - Aug 1985) UK #3 (Gallup)
* Chenko (WEA YX 59 - Jan 1986)
* For America (WEA YZ 84 - Oct 1986) UK #10 (Gallup)
* Heart Of The Sun (WEA YZ 100 1987) UK #71 (Gallup)
* Chenko (Tenka-Io) (WEA YX 125 - Jan 1986) UK #77 (Gallup)
* Enjoy - with Solid Gold Easy Amex (Eastwest Records YZ 466 - May 1990) UK #75 (Network Chart)
* Train (Eastwest Records YZ 531) - Oct 90
Discography - Albums
* The Circle & The Square (WEA), 1986
* Motive (EastWest), 1990
* Plenty (Cherry Red Records) 2010
* Chase the Setting Sun, 2019
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Red Box Lyrics
Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen…
Bantu Bantu, bantu Some day, uhuru Hero, hero This day, you sta…
Billy's Lane Billy came down from northern Scotland, only yesterday. Over…
Billy's Line Billy came down from northern Scotland only yesterday Over …
Billys Line Billy came down from northern Scotland only yesterday over l…
Brighter Blue When I was lost, I found you Something old, something new …
Casbah This is the oldest dance Deepest beat and the lovers' tranc…
Chenko we stand alone with your metal and our stones we're…
Don't Let Go Don't let go I no longer know Every night I don't want to…
For America Deviate to contemplate This audio visual opiate One hundred …
Green I've always thought of you as green, not yellow I was…
Heart of the Sun heart of the sun circular one you're never going to…
Hungry Days when I can taste my life Days when I taste…
Hurricane On the run we take the evening train Ride it there…
I've Been Thinking Of You I've been thinking of... I've been thinking of... I've bee…
It's True Nobody's perfect You find any way that you can You're losi…
Leaders in Seventh Heaven gather round did you know we live on dangerous ground?…
Lean On Me Are we happy are we scared? Are we shouting never heard? Are…
Lean on Me (Ah-Li-Ayo) Are we happy? Are we scared? Are we shouting? Never heard! A…
Lean on Me Reprise Are we happy are we scared? Are we shouting never heard? A…
Let it Rain I was dead before I ever touched the floor I was in…
Living in a Box RESUMEN LETRAS ESCUCHAR OTRAS GRABACIONES TAMBIÉN SE BUS…
Living in Domes O hey ho living in domes open air homes effortless…
Moving Well there's a small time breeze And he goes where he…
Never Let it Be Said Never let it be said I have been misunderstood Understand, …
New England In house and health Make a little bit, break a little…
Now Ask If you fall Climb up that old stone wall Don't let me…
Plenty Friend I'm at the end, how come I find nothing has…
Sacred Wall Nobody wants Nobody dreams Everyone loves the same It's a…
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Hey, hey, hey, hey, way, way, way, way, way-…
Say What's in Your Head Say what's in your head Say what's in your heart Lie down…
Soldier of Love (for Max) Chorus: I'm back in the race My one saving gr…
Stay Took a slow turn south, watched the sky Saw the sun…
The Clapping Song Look at you with your natural flair How're you liking the…
The Power Is Down Holy Moses Israel When are you going to turn the light…
The Sign I saw the sign I saw time Late in the sun I say…
Train Work all day, sleep all night When do we come out…
Walk on My Hands Would you believe there's a fork in my road? Down the…
Walk Walk in and out of hallelujah! this heat is turning my…
Without House without a home Fire without a flame Heart without a …