A Certain Ratio (aka ACR or A.C.R.) are a post-punk/funk band from Manchest… Read Full Bio ↴A Certain Ratio (aka ACR or A.C.R.) are a post-punk/funk band from Manchester, UK, formed in the late 1970s by Simon Topping, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Moscrop, Donald Johnson and Pete Terrell. Revitalised by their 40th anniversary tour, the band returned to the studio to record their first album in 12 years - Loco - released on Mute on 25 September 2020.
Along with Gang of Four and The Pop Group, ACR are recognised as one of the first exponents of punk-funk, a style which fused the energy and aggression of punk rock with the rhythms and musicianship of funk and soul.
In 1979, ACR released their debut single "All Night Party"/"The Thin Boys" on the late Tony Wilson's and the late Rob Gretton's Factory Records, Manchester's legendary DIY collective/record label.
ACR's early sound consisted of repetitious, effects-heavy guitar lines over a funky rhythm section with Latin percussion and ethereal electronics, over which lay Simon Topping's dark, moody vocals. Examples of this can be heard on tracks such as 'Do The Du', 'The Fox' and 'Winter Hill'.
The band were initially criticised as being 'style over substance', as much attention was paid to the band's stage clothing and album artwork, all carefully orchestrated by Factory boss Tony Wilson. But ACR nevertheless gained a large following. They completed visits to the US, where their music was popular particularly in the clubs of New York.
Early albums include "To Each..." and the studio/live album "The Graveyard And The Ballroom".
During the early 80s, the band's personnel changed as Pete Terrell and Simon Topping left, the latter to study percussion in New York. Jeremy Kerr took over vocal duties, while keyboardist Andy Connell joined. During this time, ACR's music became more jazz/latin influenced on the albums "Sextet", featuring vocalist Martha Tilson (of Occult Chemistry), and "I'd Like To See You Again". The latter album contained fewer actual songs but more instrumental tracks than previously. In 1985, Factory released the 'best of...' album "The Old & The New" which contained that year's single "Wild Party", a monstrous piece of funk which demonstrated ACR at their peak. ACR released a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing" as a 12" single with Donald Johnson on vocals. This was an indication of where the band were heading.
In 1986, ACR released the album, "Force". This was a more commercial release than previous albums, containing jazz-tinged pop songs with the occasional vocals of Corinne Drewery (of Swing Out Sister) and saxophone by Anthony Quigley (who had recently joined the band).
ACR left Factory Records for the major label A&M. In 1990, the album "Good Together" was released which contained collaborations with Bernard Sumner (New Order/Electronic) and Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays). This album developed the pop sound of "Force" and merged it with acid house electronics. This was shortly followed by "MCR", a mini album of new tracks and remixes from 'Good Together'. 'ACR:MCR' was seen as a return to ACR's roots as it was more dance orientated and harder edged. Vocalist, Denise Johnson (ubiquitous backing singer who provided vocals for many Manchester bands, including Electronic) joined the band in the studio and on the road around this time.
During the nineties, after leaving A&M, ACR recorded for Rob Gretton's new label, Manchester-based Rob's Records; producing more polished house-based pop funk.
ACR continue to record and gig, maintaining a loyal following. Their early music has been acknowledged to have influenced bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Radio4, LCD Soundsystem and Interpol.
Their back-catalogue has been re-released on Creation Records, Soul Jazz Records and LTM Records.
----------
Throughout ACR's existence, its members have been involved in many diverse projects, usually connected to the Factory Records roster of bands.
After leaving ACR, Simon Topping contributed vocals and percussion to Quando Quango's album PigsandBattleships and later formed the latin/techno dance act T-Coy. Donald Johnson drummed in Electronic's live shows and was involved with his brother Derek's soul band 52nd Street. Martin Moscrop and Anthony Quigley played in the bands The Swamp Children and Kalima. Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell went on to form the successful pop band Swing Out Sister. Martin Moscrop also took the role of musical supervisor on Michael Winterbottom's Factory 'biography' film 24 Hour Party People.
Manchester, UK
1978
Martin Moscrop
Jeremy Kerr
Donald Johnson
Simon Topping
Pete Terrell
Andy Connell
Anthony Quigley
Martha Tilson
Denise Johnson
Liam Mullan
www.acrmcr.com
Along with Gang of Four and The Pop Group, ACR are recognised as one of the first exponents of punk-funk, a style which fused the energy and aggression of punk rock with the rhythms and musicianship of funk and soul.
In 1979, ACR released their debut single "All Night Party"/"The Thin Boys" on the late Tony Wilson's and the late Rob Gretton's Factory Records, Manchester's legendary DIY collective/record label.
ACR's early sound consisted of repetitious, effects-heavy guitar lines over a funky rhythm section with Latin percussion and ethereal electronics, over which lay Simon Topping's dark, moody vocals. Examples of this can be heard on tracks such as 'Do The Du', 'The Fox' and 'Winter Hill'.
The band were initially criticised as being 'style over substance', as much attention was paid to the band's stage clothing and album artwork, all carefully orchestrated by Factory boss Tony Wilson. But ACR nevertheless gained a large following. They completed visits to the US, where their music was popular particularly in the clubs of New York.
Early albums include "To Each..." and the studio/live album "The Graveyard And The Ballroom".
During the early 80s, the band's personnel changed as Pete Terrell and Simon Topping left, the latter to study percussion in New York. Jeremy Kerr took over vocal duties, while keyboardist Andy Connell joined. During this time, ACR's music became more jazz/latin influenced on the albums "Sextet", featuring vocalist Martha Tilson (of Occult Chemistry), and "I'd Like To See You Again". The latter album contained fewer actual songs but more instrumental tracks than previously. In 1985, Factory released the 'best of...' album "The Old & The New" which contained that year's single "Wild Party", a monstrous piece of funk which demonstrated ACR at their peak. ACR released a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing" as a 12" single with Donald Johnson on vocals. This was an indication of where the band were heading.
In 1986, ACR released the album, "Force". This was a more commercial release than previous albums, containing jazz-tinged pop songs with the occasional vocals of Corinne Drewery (of Swing Out Sister) and saxophone by Anthony Quigley (who had recently joined the band).
ACR left Factory Records for the major label A&M. In 1990, the album "Good Together" was released which contained collaborations with Bernard Sumner (New Order/Electronic) and Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays). This album developed the pop sound of "Force" and merged it with acid house electronics. This was shortly followed by "MCR", a mini album of new tracks and remixes from 'Good Together'. 'ACR:MCR' was seen as a return to ACR's roots as it was more dance orientated and harder edged. Vocalist, Denise Johnson (ubiquitous backing singer who provided vocals for many Manchester bands, including Electronic) joined the band in the studio and on the road around this time.
During the nineties, after leaving A&M, ACR recorded for Rob Gretton's new label, Manchester-based Rob's Records; producing more polished house-based pop funk.
ACR continue to record and gig, maintaining a loyal following. Their early music has been acknowledged to have influenced bands such as Franz Ferdinand, Radio4, LCD Soundsystem and Interpol.
Their back-catalogue has been re-released on Creation Records, Soul Jazz Records and LTM Records.
----------
Throughout ACR's existence, its members have been involved in many diverse projects, usually connected to the Factory Records roster of bands.
After leaving ACR, Simon Topping contributed vocals and percussion to Quando Quango's album PigsandBattleships and later formed the latin/techno dance act T-Coy. Donald Johnson drummed in Electronic's live shows and was involved with his brother Derek's soul band 52nd Street. Martin Moscrop and Anthony Quigley played in the bands The Swamp Children and Kalima. Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell went on to form the successful pop band Swing Out Sister. Martin Moscrop also took the role of musical supervisor on Michael Winterbottom's Factory 'biography' film 24 Hour Party People.
Manchester, UK
1978
Martin Moscrop
Jeremy Kerr
Donald Johnson
Simon Topping
Pete Terrell
Andy Connell
Anthony Quigley
Martha Tilson
Denise Johnson
Liam Mullan
www.acrmcr.com
Lucinda
A Certain Ratio Lyrics
Once
There was
No time
Just once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once
Once
Once
Who has the coke? Let it shine
Stay, baby, I know you're gonna be mine
Baby, I know you're gonna be mine
Demons and angels
Can never complain
Demons and angels
Once
I knew them
Once
I saw them
Once
Once
There was
No time
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Hide my face
Gotta stretch my back
Disgrace
Sewn black
Can you believe it?
Demons and angels
Suddenly from my mind
Demons and angels
Suck out my inside
Once
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once
I knew them
Once
Once
Once
There was
No time
Just once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once
Once
Who has the coke? Let it shine
Stay, baby, I know you're gonna be mine
Baby, I know you're gonna be mine
Demons and angels
Can never complain
Demons and angels
Once
I knew them
Once
I saw them
Once
Once
There was
No time
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Hide my face
Gotta stretch my back
Disgrace
Sewn black
Can you believe it?
Demons and angels
Suddenly from my mind
Demons and angels
Suck out my inside
Once
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once
I knew them
Once
Once
Once
Writer(s): Donald Johnson, Jeremy Kerr, Martin Richard Moscrop, Simon Topping, Peter Terrel, Donald R Johnson
Contributed by Taylor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@aryansinha1001
There was no time
Just once, no time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once, Once, Once
Who has the coke
Let it shine
Stay baby I know you're gonna be mine
Baby, I know you're gonna be mine
Demons of angels
Demons of angels
Once
I knew them
Once
I saw them
Once
There was no time
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Hide my face
Gotta stretch my back
Disgrace, sewn black
Can you believe it?
Demons of angels
Suddenly from my mind
Demons of angels
Suck out my inside
Once
This once
No time
Can you believe it?
Lucinda
Can you believe it?
I saw them
Once
I knew them
Once, Once, Once
@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.
they always had killer bass in their songs
@rayres1074
A dance-punk/dream pop masterpiece - what a song both groovy and atmospheric song!
@Allforthenookie69
At least a couple Nintendo composers have heard this song.
@robbysalz8710
I think this every time I hear either song haha!
@figit090
Cane here to say this! It has to have influenced them...
@angelopark4826
Link?
@PeteAxeShields
Used to listen to this album loads back in 82 - wonderful to hear it again and great that it still sounds totally fresh and original
@christopherwest4580
This bassist is just legendary.
@brainhamster
i've been looking for this song since about 1986. i forgot what it was called.
@thedarknight5714
Glad you finally found it ha ha.